A routine patrol in North Hollywood turned into a felony bust Thursday when LAPD officers stopped a car near Whitsett Fields Park and ended up seizing a stolen handgun and about a pound of methamphetamine, according to police. Three people were arrested as part of a targeted patrol initiative in the area.
Officers were monitoring the neighborhood around Whitsett Fields Park when they spotted three people behaving suspiciously inside a parked car and ran the plates, finding the registration had been expired for about a year despite a current sticker on the license plate, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. After impounding and searching the vehicle, officers discovered a stolen gun under a seat and roughly one pound of methamphetamine. Two men were arrested on allegations involving narcotics with a firearm, and a woman was taken into custody on suspicion of methamphetamine possession.
"These individuals were most likely delivering methamphetamine to the unhoused individuals in tents and RVs located by the parks," Cpt. Warner Castillo of LAPD's North Hollywood division told NBC Los Angeles. Police said the case will be submitted to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for review and potential charges.
Stop Took Place Near Community Fields
The stop unfolded in the vicinity of Whitsett Fields Park, a multi-field recreation complex that hosts youth leagues and neighborhood programming. According to the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, the fields sit near Whitsett Avenue and Vanowen Street and are a frequent gathering spot in the Valley. Officers did not indicate that any park users were involved or harmed during the incident.
How This Fits Into Wider Enforcement
Pound-level meth seizures like this are consistent with typical street-distribution quantities and are often found alongside illegal firearms during enforcement operations, according to law enforcement. Agencies have recently reported far larger busts, including a February removal of roughly 1,500 pounds, and federal filings have detailed investigations in which pound quantities of meth were allegedly sold in tandem with dozens of firearms, as outlined in a press release from the ATF.
Legal Next Steps
The LAPD said investigators are continuing to process evidence tied to the stop, and prosecutors will review the case for potential charges. If charges are filed, the defendants could face narcotics and weapons counts, depending on the District Attorney's assessment and the outcome of the ongoing investigation.
