By DAILY PRESS STAFF
PICO NEIGHBORHOOD A busy week for Santa Monica police got even busier Wednesday evening when a resident pulled a gun on an officer conducting an undercover operation, authorities said.
Jason Anthony Hurtado, 25, was arrested and booked for assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer, being a convicted felon in possession of a fire arm and for violation of his parole, said SMPD Sgt. Renaldi Thruston.
As of Thursday evening he was being held in the Santa Monica Jail as detectives prepared to present their case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is urged to contact the SMPD at (310) 458-8451. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hot-line at (800) 78-CRIME (27463).
Earlier this week, officers responded to the 2000 block of Court 19 after shots were fired. Officers later discovered that a 28-year-old Gardena man, who was said to reside in Santa Monica, suffered gunshot wounds and later died while being treated at an area hospital.
Witnesses said two African-Americans were involved in the shooting.
Then on Monday officers responding to a noise disturbance arrested a transient who was wanted in Arizona in connection with the murder and sexual assault of an 81-year-old woman.
Later that day officers assigned to the narcotics unit assisted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in arresting a Canadian national for his alleged role in a scheme to smuggle Ecstasy into the United States and exchange it for caches of cocaine.
In the arrest of Hurtado, police said an undercover officer approached the suspect, identified himself at which time Hurtado allegedly pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officer. Hurtado then dropped the weapon and fled on foot. He was apprehended a short time later, police said. The weapon was recovered.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 4, 2008. Read the original PDF.