Four, Including 14-Year-Old Boy, Charged in Home Invasion Robbery that Triggered SWAT Response

Three men and a boy who were arrested by Long Beach officers on suspicion of carrying out a home invasion robbery that may have been tied to marijuana sales at the location are now facing a slew of newly filed charges, police said Thursday.

The break-in occurred in the 3200 block of Chestnut Avenue about 1:30 a.m. Monday, said Long Beach police Lt. David Faris. Charges were filed against the four suspects by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday.

The arrestees included Bishop Tumulak, 21, of Lakewood; Kaelenn Maea, 19, of Carson; Faasoa Savaii, 18, of Long Beach; and a 14-year-old boy from Long Beach whose name has not been released.

The charges against Tumulak include home invasion robbery, fleeing a pursuing police officer while driving recklessly, and carrying a concealed firearm in his vehicle. Tumulak posted $100,000 bail and was released Tuesday, according to L.A. County jail records.

Maea is facing charges that include home invasion robbery, fleeing a pursuing police officer while driving recklessly, carrying a concealed firearm in his vehicle, carrying a concealed firearm on his person, and assault on a police dog. Maeaa was being held in lieu of $596,000 bail, according to police.

Savaii’s charges include home invasion robbery, fleeing a pursuing police officer while driving recklessly, and carrying a concealed firearm in his vehicle. He’s being held in lieu of $610,000 bail, according to police.

The juvenile is being held without bail at Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall on charges of alleged home invasion robbery and possession of a firearm, according to police.

According to the LBPD, officers responded to a burglary call at a home in the 3200 block of Chestnut Avenue. Officers saw a car speeding away from the scene and began a pursuit. The driver of the suspect car lost control and slammed into a power pole at the intersection of 25th Street and Chestnut Avenue.

Two of the four male suspects in the car then got out and began running away, according to the department. At least one of them appeared to be armed with a handgun. Meanwhile, the two remaining suspects in the car were arrested.

A perimeter was set up and officers began to search for the two suspects. An area homeowner called 911 to report a suspicious person in the 2400 block of Chestnut Avenue, according to the LBPD.

Officers responded and took the third suspect into custody. With help from the sheriff’s department and a Los Angeles police helicopter, the fourth suspect was spotted hiding in the backyard of a nearby house in the 2500 block of Cedar Avenue. That person then began jumping fences between houses in an attempt to escape, the LBPD reported.

A Long Beach SWAT unit using a police dog finally corralled the suspect, who was taken into custody. A search of the area revealed two handguns, which police say they recovered. Two of the suspects injured in the car crash were taken to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries before being booked.

Detectives later determined that alleged marijuana sales from the targeted house may have been the possible motive for the robbery, police said.

Anyone with information on the incident was asked to call LBPD Detective Ben Vargas at (562) 570-7464. Tipsters can also call (800) 222-TIPS. All tips can be made anonymously.

--City News Service, photo via Shutterstock