Outriggers, Anyone?
The Santa Monica Police Activities League is partnering with the Marina del Rey Outrigger Canoe Club, the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica, Santa Monica Explorers, and the Boys and Girls Club of Venice to sponsor a free youth program of outrigger canoe paddling – developing technique and teamwork, improving fitness, and gaining appreciation and respect for the ocean. Two introductory sessions for boys and girls aged 11 to 18 will be held on Thursday, April 10 at 4 p.m. and Saturday, April 12 at 10:30 a.m. at Mothers Beach, Palawan Way, Marina del Rey, and further training sessions are tentatively scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. For more information, go to marinaoutrigger.org – “new paddlers” page, or email youth@marinaoutrigger.org.
Stop That Bus!
Wednesday, April 2 at 3:00 p.m. – 1300 block of Ocean Avenue – A gentleman in Palisades Park was taking photos of the flag at the Veterans’ Memorial when another fellow (“Suspect”) accused the gentleman of taking pictures of him. Suspect tried to hit the photographer with his cane, but the gentleman escaped. When the photographer related these events to officers on patrol, he told them he saw Suspect board a bus, which the officers stopped at Santa Monica Boulevard and Bundy Drive, removed Suspect from the bus, had him identified by the photographer, and arrested him for assault with a deadly weapon.
The $400 Shopping Cart
Thursday, April 3 at 4:10 p.m. – Albertson’s market at 3105 Wilshire Boulevard – A woman walked into the store and filled her shopping cart with $400 worth of groceries. $400! When she walked out with the shopping cart but without having paid for the groceries, she was detained by store employees. She allowed as how she “forgot” to pay and offered to do so. Trouble was, she had no money. The employees called the police, who arrested her for commercial burglary. The fact that she had no money meant she entered the building with the intent to steal, which elevated the theft to burglary.
Deadly Weapons
Monday, March 31 at 12:55 p.m. – Cabo Cantina at 1240 Third Street Promenade– An employee was cleaning some things with a hose at the back of the restaurant when a man in a truck piled with cardboard to be recycled wanted to use the hose. The employee said no, which led to an argument, which led to a fight, which led to the truck driver pulling a knife and threatening the employee. The truck driver put the knife away, but the fight continued, and the driver then picked up a stick and hit the employee on the head with it. The fight ended; the employee went inside and called the police, who arrested the driver for assault with a deadly weapon. Either one.