On Saturday, Nov. 26, at 9:55 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department went to the area of Main Street and Bicknell Avenue after receiving a report of an armed robbery. When they arrived, the officers spoke with the two victims who told them that two men had robbed them, and that these men had informed them that they possessed a gun. The robbers then fled, with the victim’s possessions, in an older model, dark colored Honda Accord. Officers observed these robbers traveling northbound in the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue, and attempted to stop them at the corner of Ocean Avenue and Idaho Avenue, but the robbers kept going and a chase ensued. The robbers drove eastbound on Idaho and then turned north onto Second Street whereupon one of the robbers (passenger) leapt from the vehicle and a short foot pursuit took place. The officers soon caught this running robber, and he was taken into custody. Other officers chased the robber who was driving the Honda Accord until he too jumped from the vehicle, while it was still moving, in the 800 block of Second Street. The officers caught him as well, however the driverless car continued moving along Second Street for about 100 feet, crashing into three parked cars before coming to a rest. After investigating, the officers discovered that this vehicle was stolen from an address in Los Angeles. The victims positively identified the robbers and they (the robbers) were taken to jail where the first suspect, aged 18, and a resident of Los Angeles was charged with robbery, vehicle theft, conspiracy, obstructing police officers, and failing to obey an officers’ lawful order. His accomplice, aged 25, and also of Los Angeles, faced all the above charges, except failing to obey a lawful police officer’s charge. However, he received a charge of violation of parole instead. The bail for the 18-year-old was set at $50,000. The 25-year-old was not granted bail at all.
Editor’s Note: These reports are part of a regular police coverage series entitled “Alert Police Blotter” (APB), which injects some minor editorial into certain police activities in Santa Monica. Not all of the Mirror’s coverage of incidents involving police are portrayed in this manner. More serious crimes and police-related activities are regularly reported without editorial in the pages of the Santa Monica Mirror and its website, smmirror.com.
