Local detectives seize weapons, make arrests during gang-enforcement effort

June 22, 2016 7:47 PM PT

Police seized two stolen handguns, a sawed-off shotgun, several bullets and shotgun shells in a registered gang member’s home last week, authorities said.

Two detectives on Friday evening approached Erick Pellecer Pelayo, a 19-year-old on probation for robbery, after seeing him unloading a car in an alley in the 500 block of South Lake Street, said Burbank Police Sgt. Claudio Losacco.

The detectives, members of Burbank and Glendale’s AB 109 Task Force, were conducting gang enforcement along the Glendale/Burbank border in collaboration with Burbank’s new hybrid gang detail.

In the passenger compartment of the car, investigators found two expended shotgun shells, and in Pelayo’s wallet, they found five credit cards in other people’s names and a bogus driver’s license, Losacco said.

The weapons, including two handguns reportedly stolen out of Los Angeles, were seized after investigators searched his home, which was located nearby.

Pelayo told police he’d fired the shotgun in the air while driving on a freeway recently, but denied shooting at someone, Losacco said.

He was charged this week with one count of possessing a short-barreled shotgun with a special allegation that it was for the benefit of a criminal street gang, as well as one count of identity theft and two counts of possessing stolen handguns, Losacco said.

Around the same time, Burbank’s gang officers reportedly stopped a 26-year-old gang member on probation who was driving near Flower Street and Sonora Avenue.

In a locked container in the van, officers found Social Security cards, blank checks, several pay stubs, foreign identification cards and a W-2 statement — all belonging to other people.

The driver, identified as Ricardo Ruiz, along with his girlfriend, Christina Lupercio, 33, who walked up to the car during the stop and told officers the car was hers, was arrested on suspicion of identity theft. Lupercio also had outstanding warrants for her arrest.

They were both charged with three counts of identity theft and two counts of receiving stolen property, Losacco said.

Alene Tchekmedyian, alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com

Twitter: @atchek