Merry Christmas?
How did you spend your Christmas Eve? Herewith are a few samples of the varied ways in which Santa Monica Police Department officers spent theirs. It’s not exactly cuddling by the fire in front of the Christmas tree, but then Law Enforcement never sleeps.
On Lincoln Boulevard
Wednesday, December 24 at 11:35 p.m. – 1800 block of Lincoln Boulevard – Officers saw a man jaywalking and stopped to talk with him. During the conversation, they realized that he was drunk. Before they arrested the man, a transient, another man walked up to the officers and said that the first man had tried to take his sleeping bag and had thrown rocks at him, several of which had hit him in the head. The drunken man was arrested and later booked for public intoxication, attempted robbery, and assault with a deadly weapon.
On Kansas Avenue
Wednesday, December 24 at 4:20 p.m. – 2500 block of Kansas Avenue – Officers responded to a report of Armed Robbery, and the victim said that two men had approached her on foot and demanded money. One was armed with a hand gun; the other with a box cutter. She gave them her cash, and they fled in a 1999 Ford Windstar, burgundy in color, license number unknown.
Suspect 1 (hand gun) is described as Hispanic, 19 years old, 5-foot-5, 150 pounds, short black hair, brown eyes, medium complexion, wearing a white T shirt and blue jeans. Suspect 2 (box cutter) is described as Hispanic, 19 years old, 5-foot-7, 150 pounds, black hair, brown eyes, medium complexion, with a thin goatee, wearing a blue striped sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call SMPD detectives at 310.458.8451 (M – F, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.) or the Watch Commander at 310.458.8427 (24 hours). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may call the WeTip hotline at 800.78.CRIME (27463).
On Ocean Park Boulevard
Wednesday, December 24 at 8:00 a.m. – 2400 block of Ocean Park Boulevard – Officers responded to a report involving a hazardous materials investigation. A woman told the police that a man had died on December 14 in an adjacent apartment building and she was concerned because she felt that the clean-up of the property in his apartment had not been conducted to proper health and safety standards. The officers spoke to the owner of the adjacent apartment building who said that the L.A. County health inspector had inspected the premises and approved them. The police took a report pending further review.
Hotel Room Burglar
Monday, December 29 at 9:30 p.m. – 1400 block of Ocean Avenue – Officers responded to a report of Burglary at the Ocean View Hotel. The victim reported that he had returned to his room with his family and found a man in the room in possession of the victim’s backpack. The victim managed to detain the man until police arrived, and the man – a transient – was arrested and later booked for burglary and violation of parole.
Pickpocket on the Pier
Saturday, December 27 at 6:15 p.m. – 300 “block” of Santa Monica Pier – A man walked into the Santa Monica Police substation on the Pier and told officers that his wallet had just been stolen. He said that he believed he had been pick-pocketed while he was watching a street performance [or is that Pier performance?]. He had not seen the culprit and so was unable to offer any description.
Suspicious in the Carport
Tuesday, December 23 at 5:46 a.m. – 300 block of California Avenue – Officers responded to a report of a Suspicious Person looking at vehicles in a carport. When they arrived, they saw a man removing a surfboard from inside one of the cars. The police later learned that the car did not belong to the man, a transient, and that he had broken a side window to gain access to the car. He was arrested and later booked for auto burglary.
