A traffic stop on a Dodge Journey in San Mateo on Friday turned into a foot chase and ultimately a search that uncovered a cache of firearms, including two machine guns, inside a nearby home. Police arrested 19-year-old Israel Lavea and 22-year-old Kaeli Lavea, both of San Mateo, in connection with the find.
Traffic Stop Turns Into Foot Chase
According to KRON4, San Mateo police stopped the Dodge Journey for traffic violations near a car wash, but Israel Lavea sped off as officers approached the vehicle, according to police. Officers chased the car west on East Hillsdale Boulevard, and police say Lavea drove on the wrong side of the road during the pursuit before officers lost sight of the car as it headed east on East Hillsdale Boulevard toward Curtiss Street.
The trail led investigators to a residence connected to Israel Lavea in the 100 block of 36th Avenue, where officers found the Dodge Journey parked in a nearby carport with Lavea standing near it. He fled on foot from officers before surrendering and was taken into custody, the outlet's report states. Police also recovered a backpack that Lavea had tried to discard, and said a search of it revealed evidence consistent with marijuana sales.
Search Warrant Uncovers Machine Guns and Rifle Parts
Police obtained a warrant to search the residence and, once inside, found what the report describes as a significant collection of firearms, firearm components and ammunition, along with a large quantity of ammunition. The haul included two Spike's Tactical AR-15-style firearms identified as machine guns, which were found in Kaeli Lavea's room, per the same account.
Investigators also recovered five Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 lower receivers, two firearm scopes, two .40-caliber magazines and twelve .223-caliber magazines, some of which were loaded. The report does not specify whether the firearms were legally owned, loaded at the time of discovery, or registered.
Charges Against the Siblings
Israel Lavea was arrested on allegations that include felony evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, evading a peace officer by driving against traffic, resisting an officer, and possession of marijuana for sale. Kaeli Lavea was arrested on allegations of possession of a machine gun and possession of an assault weapon, the station reported.
Possession of marijuana for sale in California falls under Health and Safety Code section 11359, which allows prosecution for possessing cannabis for sale except where otherwise permitted by law. Evading a peace officer while driving with wanton disregard for safety is addressed under Vehicle Code section 2800.2, while unlawful possession of an assault weapon falls under Penal Code section 30605. Possession of a machine gun is addressed separately under Penal Code section 32625. It remains unclear what booking status, bail amounts or court dates have been set for either suspect, as that information was not available.
A Statewide Push Against Illegal Gun Possession
The San Mateo case lands amid broader state efforts to track down illegally held firearms. The California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General has said its Armed and Prohibited Persons System program aided in seizing 1,437 firearms from illegally armed individuals statewide in 2025. The arrests underscore how local traffic stops can sometimes unravel into much larger weapons cases.
