The Brief

LOS ANGELES - Four people were cited for multiple misdemeanor violations after being caught illegally taking spiny lobsters in Los Angeles during the closed season.

What we know:

On Aug. 1 around 3 a.m., California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) officers noticed suspicious activity near Royal Palms Beach in San Pedro.

They observed four people in diving gear illegally taking spiny lobsters and returning to shore with them.

Photo courtesy California Department of Fish and Wildlife

The recreational and commercial spiny lobster season had been closed since March.

The suspects tried to run away but were taken into custody.

Officers recovered 236 spiny lobsters in the back of their pickup truck, 210 of which were undersized.

Officials said the suspects did not ha

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