Media Contact: Sgt. Hauptmann
Office: 818-937-8888
Cell: 818-299-1565
Email: GPDPIO@Glendaleca.gov

Three Arrested In Possession of Loaded Handgun

On November 28, 2021 at approximately 11:15 a.m., an officer assigned to Glendale PD’s patrol bureau located a stolen license plate in a motel parking lot on the 6700 block of San Fernando Rd. Assisting units arrived, and officers determined which motel room was associated with the vehicle.

Officers approached the room, and 42-year-old Joel Hernandez of Sylmar answered the door. The room was also occupied by 31-year-old Jonathan Esquivel of Palmdale (who was on active probation) and 32-year-old Marisa Gomez-Kawakami of North Hollywood. Esquivel was discovered to have a switchblade and two containers of heroin on his person.

A search of the hotel room produced a loaded semi-automatic handgun, several debit, credit, access, and California Driver’s License cards belonging to over ten different individuals, two methamphetamine pipes, a baggie of methamphetamine, several vehicle and miscellaneous keys, and papers containing personal identifying information of other individuals. During the investigation, officers could see Fentanyl inside of the vehicle that was associated with the motel room. A subsequent search produced several tools commonly used for burglary, a digital scale, an Employment Development Department (EDD) card belonging to another individual, and several vehicle and miscellaneous keys.

Hernandez, Esquivel, and Gomez-Kawakami were arrested and booked for being ex-felons with a firearm and receiving known stolen property. Hernandez was also arrested for identity theft, possessing a large capacity magazine, and possessing burglary tools. Esquivel was also arrested for the switchblade found on his person and for violating the terms of his probation. Gomez-Kawakami was also arrested for receiving known stolen property, identity theft, and for bringing a controlled substance into jail when a bag of methamphetamine was located on her person.