Man arrested after LAPD seizes massive gun collection at Holmby Hills mansion
HOLMBY HILLS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles police and federal agents seized more than 1,000 firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition after executing a search warrant at a home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood.
One man was arrested and is expected to be booked on weapons charges. He was later identified as Girard Damien Saenz from Los Angeles. He shows up on property records alongside Cynthia Beck, a former mistress to Gordon Getty, one of the world's richest men. It is unclear how Saenz and Beck are connected.
The weapons were found stacked all around the home, described as a large house with multiple rooms that was cluttered with guns and ammunition.
The weapons were described as a wide range of makes and models - assault weapons, rifles, shotguns and handguns - of different ages.
Many were modern and some went back 50 years or more. A few were even collectibles that dated back to the Civil War.
"I had never seen so many weapons in my career of 31 years," said LAPD Lt. Chris Ramirez. "That's such a big arsenal in a residence like this, in this type of neighborhood. It's astounding."
Authorities served the search warrant early Wednesday after the LAPD received a tip that someone was manufacturing and selling weapons out of the home. ATF agents assisted with the execution of the search warrant.
Ramirez noted it is not illegal for someone to own a large collection of firearms. But he said it is illegal to sell weapons from one's home without going through the extensively regulated state and federal processes.
The suspect is expected to be booked initially for unlawful transportation, giving, lending or selling an assault weapon. More local and federal charges could be added later as officers catalog and trace every weapon seized from the home.
Saenz was the only person home and the only person taken into custody. Officials say it's not clear yet if he owns the home or was renting.
ATF agents and officers spent all day in the area of Sunset Boulevard and Beverly Glen sorting through and documenting the collection of weapons.
Holmby Hills is a small, wealthy neighborhood in the hills northeast of UCLA that is perhaps best known as the home of the Playboy Mansion.
Neighbors were appalled to hear about the discovery and arrest.
"I would never, ever think anybody would be wanting to pack so much in this neighborhood. It scares the wits out of you," said Rabbi Chaim Mentz. "What does my next door neighbor have? What does your next door neighbor have?"
