By Lookout Staff

May 5, 2021 -- Over the past three days police made two separate arrests involving firearms in Santa Monica.

On Sunday, shortly after 1 a.m. police responded to a call regarding an assault involving an assault with a deadly weapon the 200 block of Bay Street.

Blake Josephs Sheets (Photos courtesy SMPD)

The victims, who were standing outside a liquor store told police that a man, accompanied by four other men "approached and attempted to engage them about their vehicle," said SMPD spokesman Lt. Rudy Flores. An argument broke out after the victims "refused the subject’s advance and asked to be left alone," Flores said. The suspect walked to a black BMW with Texas plates parked nearby and returned with a handgun, which he pointed directly at the victims, he said.

"The suspect then joined up with his friends and fled in a separate vehicle," Flores said.

Officers located the vehicle a short distance away and detained the occupants. The victims identified Blake Josephs Sheets, a 21-year-old male white, "as the person who pointed the gun at them."

Officers located a loaded firearm in the black BMW that was parked where the took place, and Blake was arrested and booked for assault with a deadly weapon.

The four other men were interviewed and released, Flores said.

The second arrest took place shortly before noon on Tuesday near the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center.

Officers accompanied by a Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health Clinician responded to a call asking police to remove an individual trespassing in a carport. The officers contacted the subject, who they later identified as Javier Alvarez, a 38-year-old male from East Los Angeles, Flores said. "During a search of Mr. Alvarez’s belongings, officers located an unregistered and unmarked loaded handgun along with approximately 97 grams methamphetamine," Flores said.

Javier Alvarez

Alvarez was booked into the Santa Monica Jail for having a concealed firearm without being registered, carrying a loaded firearm that was unregistered and possession of Methamphetamine.

Evidence seized from Javier Alvarez

Alvarez was scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, Flores said.

Anyone with more information concerning the should call the Criminal Investigations Division at 310-458-8451 or the Santa Monica Department’s Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.