A traffic stop in San Mateo on Friday evening, Oct. 30, led to a chase and then a search that turned up what police say are two illegal machine guns, according to the San Mateo Police Department.
The stop and the chase
At about 6:41 p.m., officers from the department’s Crime Reduction Unit stopped a Dodge Journey near East Hillsdale Boulevard and Saratoga Drive for loud music and failing to make a full stop, police said. The driver first pulled over near a car wash next to the police station. As officers walked up, he sped west on East Hillsdale. Police said he drove on the wrong side of the road. Officers lost sight of the car as it headed east on East Hillsdale toward Curtiss Street.
Officers then went to an address tied to the driver in the 100 block of 36th Avenue. They found the Dodge parked in a carport with the driver standing nearby, police said. He ran, then gave up after a short foot chase. Police said he tried to throw away a backpack that held evidence of marijuana sales.
What the search found
Officers got a warrant and searched a home on the same block at about 11:30 p.m. Four people came out after police first got no answer. The search found a “significant collection” of firearms and parts, police and KRON4 reported, including:
- Two Spike’s Tactical AR-15-style rifles identified as machine guns
- Five Anderson Manufacturing AR-15 lower receivers
- Twelve .223-caliber magazines, some loaded, and two .40-caliber magazines
- Two scopes and a large amount of ammunition
The arrests
Police said the two suspected machine guns were in a bedroom linked to Kaeli Lavea, 22, of San Mateo. She was arrested on suspicion of possessing a machine gun and an assault weapon. Israel Lavea, 19, of San Mateo, was arrested on suspicion of felony evading with wanton disregard for safety, evading by driving against traffic, resisting an officer and possessing marijuana for sale.
These are arrests, not convictions. Both are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.