An officer patrolling a Ramada Inn in Burbank arrested two convicted felons on suspicion of possessing firearms and resisting arrest, a police sergeant said Thursday.
When officers arrested Sun Valley resident Yessinia Ventura, 28, they confiscated an unloaded handgun and 73 pages of identity theft paperwork that included bank account, credit cards and personal information belonging to several victims, said Burbank police Sgt. Claudio Losacco.
An officer patrolling about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday the Ramada Inn parking lot, 2900 N. San Fernando Blvd., spotted Ventura and Sun Valley Cody Carter, 28, and as he got closer to them noticed “the odor of marijuana emitting from them,” Losacco said.
The officer got out his car, approached the couple, discovering that the odor was stronger from Carter, who he tried to detain, Losacco said.
Carter kept walking and the officer saw Carter reach for his waistband and grabbed his hand, fearing he was reaching for a weapon, the sergeant said.
As Carter pulled away, the officer saw the grip of a handgun in Carter’s waistband, Losacco said.
Ventura reached for Carter’s waistband in an attempt to retrieve the handgun, but the officer was able to pull Carter away from Ventura, Losacco said.
During the struggle, the loaded gun fell to the ground and Ventura fled on foot, he said.
The officer was able to handcuff Carter, who was in possession of some marijuana, and an arriving officer arrested Ventura as she ran through the parking lot, Losacco said.
Neither handgun was registered or reported stolen, he said.
Carter and Ventura were arrested for being convicted felons inpossession of firearms and resisting arrest, Losacco said.
Ventura also was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, the sergeant said.
They were booked into the Burbank City Jail, where Carter was being held without bail, Losacco said.
Ventura’s bail was set at $45,000, he said.
The pair was due to be arraigned Friday in the Burbank Branch of the Los Angeles Superior Court, according to Losacco.
— Wire reports