Full Notification

Stolen Police Unit Investigation/ Arrest
 
On June 18^th, 2019 Montebello Police Investigators received a tip regarding the location of the stolen black and white police vehicle that was stolen on May 17^th, 2019 from Montebello.  On June 18^th, Investigators located the vehicle in a remote area in the Angeles National Forest off of Highway 2. The vehicle was off an access road down the side of an embankment, not visible from the highway. 
 
The vehicle was stripped of various vehicle parts and police equipment.  A portion of the police rifle that was taken with the vehicle was recovered with the vehicle.  The vehicle was badly damaged as a result of being pushed over the embankment.      
 
Over the past several weeks, using a variety of investigative techniques, investigators identified several individuals of interest.  During the investigation, it was discovered those individuals may be in possession of illegal weapons and police vehicle equipment.  Search warrants were obtained for the residences and vehicles of those individuals.
 
With the assistance of the Task Force for Regional Auto Theft Prevention (TRAP) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), search warrants were served on Monday, August 12, 2019.  Several items taken off of the stolen vehicle and from within the stolen vehicle were located during the search warrants.
 
Some of the items recovered include; the Remington shotgun that was inside of the police vehicle when it was stolen.  Parts from a rifle believed to be from the rifle that was in the vehicle when it was stolen. The red and blue light bar that was on the stolen vehicle was also located and confirmed to be property of the Montebello Police Department.
 
In February of this year, the Montebello Unified School District Police reported that approximately $26,000 in police radios were stolen from decommissioned police vehicles that were parked in their parking lot. Recovered yesterday, at one of the residences, was one of those police radios.  
 
Eddy Saldivar, 22 years of age of Montebello, Hunter Crist, 21 years of age of Montebello, and 21-year-old Matthew Moran from Commerce were arrested.  These suspects were booked for grand theft auto and possession of stolen property.   
 
Each of these suspects had police-type equipment installed on their personal vehicles, including some items that were stripped from the stolen police vehicle.
 
Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact the below Montebello Police Department personnel. 
 
 
Contact Information:
 
Sergeant Jennifer Carrera / Montebello Police Department (323) 887-1200 ext. 297.
Detective Paul Antista / Montebello Police Department (323)887-1200 ext 249   
 
CURRENT STATUS:
This is an on-going investigation.