Full Notification

On Thursday, June 25, 2015, at approximately 2:25 a.m. a Manhattan Beach police officer was patrolling the residential neighborhoods when he observed three vehicles in a convoy.  One of the vehicles was in violation of several traffic violations and was stopped for further investigation.  The driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, identified as Margarito Valdez Gomez (48yrs) of Los Angeles was found in possession of seven catalytic converters, which appeared to be newly removed from vehicles.

As the officer furthered his inquiry, it was learned that thirty minutes prior to the stop, El Segundo Police Department had responded to a theft of catalytic converters where the witness saw three vehicles leaving the area. 

Based on the evidence and witness statements, Margarito Gomez was arrested for suspicion of grand theft and possession of stolen property.

Detectives who followed up on the case met with victims from El Segundo, as well as a victim in Manhattan Beach.  Four of the catalytic converters were matched with their cars and the three remaining have yet to be identified with a vehicle’s owner.  The stolen catalytic converters were removed from Honda Accords and Toyota Camrys. 

Arrested:

Margarito Valdez Gomez

12/28/1966

Los Angeles, CA