Broken Rules Britannia.
On Sunday, September 4, at 12:20 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to The Britannia
(a British themed pub and restaurant), located at 318 Santa Monica Boulevard, in order to investigate a report of vandalism. When the officers arrived at the location they spoke with numerous witnesses who told them that they had suddenly heard a loud bang followed by a smashing noise and that this had been caused by a man throwing a brick through the door of the pub causing it to shatter. They added that they had seen the suspect run away in the direction of the Third Street Promenade. The officers, armed with a detailed description of the suspect went in search of the alleged vandal and soon spotted the man loitering suspiciously in the 1400 block of Third Street Promenade. The owners of The Britannia Pub were desirous of a prosecution so the officers arrested the suspect, aged 56 and homeless, and he was charged with vandalism before being released on his own recognizance.
Off-Road Vehicle.
On Sunday, September 4, at 10:59 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a report that there had been a vehicular accident in the area of 11th Street and Pier Avenue and that the driver of the single car involved had ran from the scene. The officers arrived at the location and learned from witnesses that the vehicle had struck a curb before hitting a light pole and then careering over the front lawn and garden of a property in the 1000 block of Pier Avenue. The witnesses said that the driver had hurriedly leapt out of the damaged, and now immobile, car and had run towards Lincoln Boulevard. The officers jumped into their police cruiser and drove towards Lincoln Boulevard where they were flagged down by another witness who pointed the suspect out to the officers. The officers arrested the suspect, aged 38 and a resident of Santa Monica and he was taken to jail where he was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving with a blood alcohol level above .08 percent and leaving the scene of an accident. Bail was set at $15,000.
It Didn’t Register.
On Wednesday, September 7, at 12:20 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were requested to hasten to the McDonald’s fast food outlet, located at 1540 Second Street, in order to attend to a report of a case of alleged vandalism. When the officers arrived at the restaurant they spoke with the security guard at the business who pointed towards the suspect who was standing nearby in the 100 block of Colorado Avenue. The officers detained the suspect while they investigated the alleged crime. The officers spoke with staff members at the fast food burger store and learned that the suspect had entered the store and approached a patron. The suspect had asked this patron to give him some money at which time a store employee had informed the suspect that the solicitation of patrons for financial donations (begging) was prohibited inside the restaurant. The suspect, apparently upset at this company policy, responded by pushing a cash register off the counter causing it to smash onto the floor. At that point, the officers discovered, the suspect had walked out of the McDonald’s. The officers arrested the suspect, aged 23 and a resident of Los Angeles, and he was taken to jail where he was later charged with felony vandalism. Bail was set at $20,000.
Burglar Gets Drunk.
On Wednesday, September 7, at 7:10 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a report of a man causing a disturbance in the 1500 block of Princeton Street. The officers sped to the scene and as they were en route they were told by dispatch that this man was apparently drinking alcohol in public, throwing trash onto a property in the area and attempting to open the doors of cars that were parked on the street. When the officers arrived at the location they spotted the suspect and detained this man while they investigated. The officers deduced from this man’s demeanor, along with the telltale odor of alcohol upon his breath, that the man was intoxicated. Given that this man was not in a fit state to car for himself due to the influence of the alcohol that he had evidently consumed the officers arrested this man and prior to putting him in the police vehicle they searched his belongings. The search yielded several items of “booty” that did not belong to the suspect, namely an iPad and a rather valuable cosmetic bag. The officers, as a result of further investigation, determined that these items had been taken from a nearby vehicle and they were able to return the items to the rightful owner. This 62-year-old resident of Santa Monica was later charged with being drunk in public, burglary, and being in possession of stolen property Bail was set at $20,000.
