A man suspected of stealing a vehicle in Long Beach, driving under the influence of marijuana and leaving the scene of a collision in Santa Monica was arrested, police said Thursday.
Officers in the 700 block of Montana Avenue near Seventh Street around 11:20 p.m. Wednesday observed a vehicle that ran a red light and committed other traffic violations while driving recklessly in the area before colliding into another vehicle at Seventh Street and Wilshire Boulevard, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.
The suspect failed to stop after the collision and continued driving erratically down the Santa Monica Pier ramp into the Newcomb Lot without regard to public safety, police said.
The pursuit was terminated once the vehicle was boxed in near the Carousel building at the Pier, police said. Detectives identified the suspect as Nehemias Rivera-Menjivar of Wilmington, who attempted to run away after the vehicle came to a stop.
Rivera-Menjivar was shot with a stun gun, but it did not affect him, police said. After several demands from responding officers, Riveria-Menjivar was finally taken into custody, police said.
Riveria-Menjivar admitted that he was under the influence of marijuana, police said.
Riveria-Menjivar, who turned 22 Thursday, was arrested and booked on suspicion of hit-and-run, reckless driving, evading law enforcement, DUI, and resisting and obstructing an arrest.
Anyone with information regarding the hit-and-run collision was urged to contact Sgt. Nick Krueger at nick.krueger@santamonica.gov or the watch commander at 310-458-8427.