City of San Fernando resident Edward Perales, 68, was arrested on Monday, Nov. 25, by the San Fernando Police Department (SFPD).
SFPD Seargent Walter Dominguez said Perales, a convicted felon, was taken into custody around 1 p.m. after a traffic stop. Based on an ongoing investigation, a warrant was issued for Perales for possession of firearms, he said. Federal law prohibits the possession or ownership of firearms by felons.
According to court documents, Perales is accused of possession of two handguns, one shotgun and ammunition. An arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 8, in the amount of $1,0075,000 by Judge David Walgren.
Upon arrest, Perales was turned over to the custody of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. His bench warrant hearing was heard the same day at the San Fernando Courthouse, where Perales pled not guilty to all counts, denying any and all allegations, according to court documents. The case was re-assigned to Judge David Stuart, and bail was reduced to $50,000.
On Wednesday, Nov. 27, Perales was released on bail. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 9 at 8:30 a.m. at the San Fernando Courthouse.
Perales has previously been charged and served time for felony crimes including second-degree robbery, kidnapping, possession of a controlled substance and sexual assault through rape with a foreign object.
Over the last year, he has been reported to have yelled obscenities and harassed neighbors, made a death threat to a local business owner and brazenly brandished firearms in view of his neighbors. It was reported that Perales would regularly sit on his front porch with a handgun and stand on his balcony holding an automatic weapon. Perales also flaunted weapons on his public social media accounts.
In recent years, Perales became heavily involved with far-right groups and the local ultra-conservative “parental rights” groups Leave Our Kids Alone (LOKA) and the SFV Alliance. He has attended multiple anti-LGBTQ+ rallies and events, including the “War on Children” rally at California State University, Northridge, the City of San Fernando Drag Queen Story Hour protest, the “Time To Stand” event in downtown LA and the “White Rose” rally in Fontana.
In September, Perales appeared on LOKA leader Manuk Grigorian’s podcast alongside other SFV alliance members talking about the Drag Story Hour protest, when they illegally blocked Pickle the Drag Queen from entering the San Fernando Public Library in October 2023.
During the protest, Perales was recorded calling Pickle the Drag Queen a “pedophile” and telling her to “go k*ll yourself.” He was also recorded telling documentarian Kelly Stuart that he should “just hit her on the back of the head, and f*cking knock her f*cking sh*t out.”
Perales is an avid supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, attending multiple rallies and wearing clothing he made with slogans such as “TRUMPERO” and “SHOOT YOUR LOCAL PEDOPHILE.”
He has been photographed with multiple local politicians and supported candidates Benito Bernal and City of San Fernando City Councilmember Victoria Garcia, whose swearing-in ceremony he attended in April.