By Lookout Staff

Dec. 14 - Two men were taken into custody last week after police officers suspected the car they were in might be stolen.

Suspicions were raised when police made a traffic stop in the 1700 block of Centinela Avenue at approximately 3 p.m. Thursday, police said. During the traffic investigation, the passenger ran from the vehicle to the 1700 block of Wellesley Avenue in West Los Angeles.

Officers conducting a preliminary investigation at the scene discovered that the automobile might be an unreported stolen vehicle, said Lt. Frank Fabrega, the police department spokesman.

The pursuing officers established a perimeter with the help of the Los Angeles Police Department and captured the suspect two hours later. He was taken into custody.

Santa Monica Police officers identified the suspect who ran from the scene as a 37-year-old African-American man.

Officers also took the driver of the vehicle, a 35-year-old African-American man, into custody at the scene of the traffic stop.

The investigation is on-going.