Crime & Safety

Artesia Man Arrested in Connection with May 22 Carjacking in Hawaiian Gardens

A 25-year-old Artesia man will appear in court on Monday in connection with a gang-related carjacking that occurred in Hawaiian Gardens on May 22.

A 25-year-old Artesia man is behind bars today in connection with a gang-related carjacking that took place in Hawaiian Gardens this past May.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's detectives arrested Dennis Mello during the execution of a search warrant at his Artesia home on Friday morning, sheriff's Sgt. Charles Calderaro said.

Fingerprints taken by the sheriff's department crime lab identified Mello as a suspect in a May 22 assault and carjacking in Hawaiian Gardens, Calderaro said.

Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The victim told detectives he was washing his vehicle that day when eight to 10 men approached him, assauted him as he tried to get away, then stole his vehicle.

Sheriff's gang investigators from the Lakewood Station's Operation Safe Streets Bureau conducted the investigation, Calderaro said.

Find out what's happening in Cerritos-Artesiawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Mello was booked at the Lakewood Station on suspicion of carjacking and held in lieu of $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in a Bellflower courtroom on Monday.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Cerritos-Artesia