Melons and meth: Street vendor search reveals drug stash

Now, we bring you the tale of how a Hermosa Beach melon vendor was hiding a stash of meth even as he refused to comply with city citations. KNX’s Nataly Tavidian has the story.

First let’s start with a social media post from last week .

“Watermelon with a side of meth???” said the caption of this Sept. 2 social media post from Hermosa Beach Police Department. It showed a watermelon cart with a colorful umbrella, as well as stashes of cash and baggies, as well as a man being handcuffed.

According to the department, people who want to sell things on the sidewalk are welcome to get permits from the city of Hermosa Beach. However, some vendors don’t get them.

“Due to recent complaints, officers have issued multiple citations to vendors in the downtown pier area. One fruit vendor in particular refused to comply with multiple citations issued during the last month.

Officers pilled that vendor over for a traffic stop.

“So, officers conducted a registration check and realized that the plate on the vehicle was expired in 2021,” officer Keaton Dadigan told KNX. “But the plate had current registration tabs on it, which is a misdemeanor.”

Then, the plot unfolded even more. Tavidian explained that they found out there was a warrant for his arrest and discovered narcotics in his vehicle.

“ He was probably at the end of his shift… when he was loading up his truck, when this incident occurred” said Dadigan. “It’s kind of two separate issues the street vending and the meth located inside of his truck.”

Police said the man was arrested, that his vehicle was towed, and that his fruit cart was held by the city.

“ While exiting the vehicle, he mentioned to officers that he had drugs inside of the car,” Dadigan added. “Officers placed him under arrest for the misdemeanor violation of having, falsified registration and for his outstanding warrant. And during a search to the vehicle, they located, multiple baggies of narcotics, which include methamphetamine, inside of his vehicle.”