By Lookout Staff

January 9, 2023 -- Officers arrested an armed felon after he allegedly passed out at the wheel of a car blocking a busy Santa Monica intersection Sunday night, according to police.

Laryrece Hunter, a 30-year-old male from Inglewood, was found by police at around 10 p.m. in a stopped car with the engine running at 5th Street and Wilshire Boulevard, police said. "Additional SMPD units arrived to assist, and a handgun was seen visible in the open glove box," said Lt. Rudy Flores, the Police Department spokesman. SMPD’s tactical Rescue Vehicle (Bearcat) responded to the scene and established a perimeter around the surrounding blocks, Flores said.

"After numerous unsuccessful attempts to contact the driver over a PA system, SMPD officers were able to enter the vehicle and safely detain then extract the driver," he said.

Hunter "was found to be under the influence of drugs," and officers found "a white crystalized substance believed to be methamphetamine in the vehicle and on Hunter’s person," Flores said.

Officers also discovered Hunter was a convicted felon and transported him to the SMPD jail, where he was booked on multiple charges.

The charges were DUI, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drugs with a loaded handgun.

Anyone with more information about the suspect or Sunday night's incident should call SMPD detectives at 310-458- 8451 or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8426.