Creative Marketing
Tuesday, March 20 at 7:20 p.m. – Lincoln and Pico boulevards – A 19-year-old fellow had been working in a video game store – in that strip mall by Tommy’s Burgers -– since October 2006 and giving deep discounts and sometimes free merchandise to friends and other customers in an effort to promote customer loyalty, he said. Trouble was, he didn’t own the store. On March 19, store security figured things out, and the next day they detained the individual and called SMPD. The fellow admitted to the alleged conduct – “free stuff and tremendous discounts” amounting to $1,200 – and he was arrested for grand theft and taken to jail.
A Homeless Incident
Sunday morning, March 18 at 10:30 a.m. – 2200 block of Ocean Avenue – Two transient individuals, acquainted with each other, met on the street adjacent to the beach parking lot. He tells her that he wants sex. She says no. An argument ensues. He punches her in the face. Witnesses call the police. Responding paramedics treat her for facial lacerations, and responding officers detain the gentleman a block away at Ocean Avenue and Bay Street. She identifies him in a show-up, and he is arrested for assault and battery… and public intoxication.
Another Deadly Weapon
Monday, March 19 at 6:00 p.m. – 2100 block of Wilshire Boulevard – The 75-year-old owner of an office building was checking on his property when he saw a 40-year-old (or so) transient fellow standing at the top of a stairway inside. The owner told the transient that he was loitering and had to leave; the transient became irate and yelled at the owner. The transient then hit the owner in the stomach with his fist, and – holding what appeared to the owner to be a “black writing pen” – jabbed at his chest and stomach with a thrusting motion. The owner backed away and then fled. He summoned police on his cell phone, and responding officers detained the transient in the 1800 block of Wilshire Boulevard. The property owner identified the detainee, and he was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. The weapon was not recovered.
Montana Robbery
Saturday, March 17 at 11:05 a.m. – 1400 block of Montana Avenue – An employee left her shift at Starbucks and went to make a company bank deposit down the street. On her way to the bank, she was approached from the rear by a Suspect and felt a sharp object pressed into her lower back. He asked for the bag with the cash, and she – fearing for her safety – turned it over to him. He fled on foot. The loss: $1,600 cash. The suspect: White male, in his 20s, 6 foot 5 inches, 160-170 pounds, light complexion, wearing black beanie, black sweater with hood, black jeans and black gloves.
