“Air Conditioned”
Saturday, March 31 at 1:00 a.m. – 2800 block of Pico Boulevard – An off-duty police officer (not SMPD) heard a commotion in front of the “Air Conditioned” lounge, and so he went outside and found two men about to get into a fight. One of them (hereinafter “the Suspect”) was holding a black ink pen in a stabbing position and making threatening statements to the other. The off-duty officer intervened, separated the combatants, identified himself as a policeman and directed the Suspect to drop the pen, which he did. However, the Suspect continued to be agitated, yelled at the officer and challenged him to fight, and eventually punched him in the face with a closed fist. The officer controlled the Suspect, dropped him to the ground, and held him there until the SMPD arrived. The Suspect was taken to jail and booked for assault with a deadly weapon.
Towelettes
Saturday, March 31 at 4:15 a.m. – 600 block of 26th Street – A resident heard his car alarm go off outside and saw a man standing next to the car who then fled on foot between two buildings.
The resident called the police. Responding officers set up a perimeter and then observed and detained a man emerging from the bushes in the 600 block of 25th Street. That man was identified by the car owner and another witness. Investigation revealed that the car had in fact been broken into, but the only thing taken was a packet of “Wet Ones” towelettes. The identified man had the packet, as well as a rubber-coated flashlight and a pair of gloves. He was arrested, taken to jail and booked for automobile burglary
Neighborhood Watch
Wednesday, April 4 at 10:25 a.m. – 700 block of Pacific Coast Highway – Police were called by residents of a gated condominium development who reported that a strange man had been seen hiding in doorways, the laundry room and otherwise about the property. After exchanging information among themselves, residents called police. Responding officers found the man in a stairwell, and he was arrested for attempted burglary and for prowling, the latter offence being defined in Penal Code section 647(h) as being one “who loiters [delays or lingers without a lawful purpose for being on the property and for the purpose of committing a crime as opportunity may be discovered], prowls or wanders upon the private property of another, at any time, without visible or lawful business with the owner or occupant.” Santa Monica police report that the man was also on probation and had an extensive criminal record, including burglary, trespass, narcotics violations and possession of stolen property. Nothing was taken on April 4.
