Full Notification

TITLE: Several Arrested for Burglary at the Islamic Center of the South Bay, Lomita #LASD, @LMTLASD

DATE: Wednesday, July 09, 2014

TIME: 12:00PM

LOCATION: 25800 block Walnut Street, Lomita

VICTIM: Islamic Center of the South Bay

SUSPECT(S): Matthew Pacheco, John Gerlak, Carlos Perez, Adam Collras

UNIT: Lomita Sheriff Station

NARRATIVE:
On July 9, 2014, Matthew Pacheco, resident of Long Beach, John Gerlak, resident of Rancho Palos Verdes, Carlos Perez, resident of Long Beach and Adam Collras, resident of Lomita were arrested for Burglary, Conspiracy to Commit Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property and Possession of Narcotics.

On July 6, 2014, the Islamic Center of the South Bay was burglarized. The crime was captured on video. The video showed two men, later identified as Matthew Pacheco and John Gerlak entering the place of worship and taking numerous televisions, laptop computers and other electronic equipment. The two men fled in a white Chevrolet work truck loaded with the stolen property.

On July 9, 2014, Lomita Station detectives reviewed the video surveillance footage and began following leads. The investigation led the detectives to two locations where they believed the stolen property was taken after the burglary. One location was an apartment in Harbor City and the other location was an apartment above an adult bookstore in Lomita.

Detectives went to the locations and secured them in order to prevent the stolen property from being moved. They prepared search warrants for the locations and numerous items stolen from the Islamic Center were recovered: three (3) flat screen televisions and a wireless microphone. Along with the stolen property, detectives recovered narcotics in the apartment in Lomita.

Lomita Code Enforcement accompanied the detectives during the service of the search warrant and identified numerous code enforcement violations. Based on the violations an abatement investigation was opened.

While detectives were executing the search warrants, Matthew Pacheco returned to the Lomita location and ran from the detectives. Lomita Station patrol deputies quickly ascended on Pacheco’s location and set up a perimeter surrounding him. After the containment was set up, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s K-9 Units responded and located Pacheco hiding in a yard on 251st Street in Harbor City.

All four suspects were transported and booked at the Lomita’s Sheriff Station.

The suspects are scheduled for arraignment on Friday, July 11, 2014 at the Torrance Courthouse.

There are no booking photos available at this time.

Written by:
Sergeant Mark Moffett

For media inquiries, please contact:
Lomita Station,
Sergeant Moffett 310-891-3215
Detective Mckaig 310-891-3217
Detective Duckworth 310-891-3217


Forwarded by:
Graciela Medrano, Deputy
Don Walker, Deputy
Pauline Panis, Sergeant
Sheriff's Headquarters Bureau - Newsroom
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