Copper Wire, Taped Cellphones Found During Santa Monica Traffic Stop

SANTA MONICA, CA — An overnight traffic stop in Santa Monica turned up an unusual collection of suspected stolen property, including heavy-gauge copper wire, burglary tools, stolen license plates and three cellphones wrapped in clear tape, according to police.

Santa Monica Police Department officers were conducting extra patrols near Cloverfield Boulevard and Pearl Street at about 2:01 a.m. Monday when they spotted a vehicle displaying an altered, unreadable license plate, police said. Officers stopped the vehicle a short distance away near 25th Street and Pearl Street.

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During the investigation, officers determined the driver, Walter Hernandez, 28, was driving without a valid license and observed open containers of alcohol inside the vehicle, according to police.

A subsequent search uncovered burglary tools, about 10 feet of heavy-gauge copper wiring, drug paraphernalia, multiple vehicle key fobs and two license plates that did not belong to the vehicle, police said. One of the plates had been reported stolen from a BMW. Officers also recovered three cellphones wrapped in clear tape inside a backpack.

Hernandez and his passenger, Cristian Alberto Portillo, 41, were arrested on suspicion of possessing burglary tools, theft of copper wire, possession of stolen property and criminal conspiracy, police said.

Hernandez was also arrested on suspicion of offenses related to the altered license plate, driving without a valid license, possessing an open container of alcohol and possessing drug paraphernalia, according to police.

Police said Portillo was additionally found to have an outstanding Ventura County felony warrant for grand theft and criminal conspiracy.

The vehicle was towed and the recovered property was booked into evidence. Detectives are continuing to investigate the origin of the copper wiring, license plates, vehicle key fobs and other items recovered during the stop.