Tim Broughton
Prescription For Disaster.
On Monday, January 9, at 4:35 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to the Drugtown Pharmacy, located at 802 Seventh St. in order to investigate a report of a possible fraud that was taking place at the store. When the officers arrived at the location they met stealthily with the pharmacist outside the store and learned that the suspect had attempted to fill a prescription that was made out to another person. They also discovered that this suspect was also trying to pay for the suspicious prescription with the other person’s identification and check. After conversing with the pharmacist the officers entered Drugtown and detained the suspect. The officers discovered that this individual was in possession of the other person’s driver’s license and had also used the other person’s check at a local doctor’s office. Based upon the evidence the officers arrested this 26-year-old of an undisclosed place of residence and she was later charged with check forgery, identity theft and receiving stolen property. Bail information was not available at time of going to press.
Booked.
On Wednesday, January 10, at 4:30 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to the Santa Monica Main Library in order to investigate complaints from library staff about a large group of transients who had been camping on the steps and near the entrance to the library overnight and who had allegedly created a public nuisance by leaving trash everywhere and blocking access to the public building. When the officers arrived most of the transients had departed to pastures anew but they did find one female who had remained at her “campsite.” The officers spoke with this woman in order to issue her a citation but the woman was uncooperative and refused to identify herself so the officers arrested her for the municipal code violation and took her off to jail. When they arrived at the Santa Monica Jail the woman became belligerent and combative and as the jailer was searching her she deliberately elbowed the jailer in the chest. This 21-year-old resident of Canton, North Carolina was thus charged with battery upon a jail staff member. Bail information was not available at time of going to press.
Whole Lotta Trouble.
On Thursday, January 11, at 7 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to Whole Foods Market, located at 500 Wilshire Blvd. in order to investigate a suspect who was in custody at the location for theft and battery. Upon arrival the officers met with the staff at the store and learned that this suspect had entered the store, selected numerous examples of merchandise, and attempted to leave without paying for the items. The suspect had been intercepted by a security guard who asked her to return the merchandise. The suspect refused to do that so the security guard retrieved the items and told the suspect to leave the store and never return. The suspect had started to walk away and so the security guard had walked back into the store but the suspect had suddenly about turned and attacked the security guard by aiming a kick at him, spitting at him and punching him in his face. The security guard was desirous of a prosecution so the officers arrested this 45-year-old homeless woman and she was charged with battery and theft. Bail information was not available at time of going to press.
A Bag Of Secrets.
On Friday, January 12, at 7:32 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call informing them that a theft had occurred at Victoria’s Secret (a well-known emporium of decorative ladies undergarments.) The officers rushed to the location in order to uncover what had happened and when they arrived they spoke with the store employees. The officers learned that the male suspect had entered the store carrying a large shopping bag and that when this man had exited the store a security alarm had been triggered. The employees then reviewed the security footage, which showed the man placing numerous items if lingerie into the carrying bag prior to his departure. The suspect had fled the location but at 8:07 p.m. the suspect had returned to the store and the officers had responded a second time but when they arrived the suspect had left once again. The officers went in search of this man and found him lurking inside Parking Structure Number Four where they detained him. After searching the suspect’s vehicle the officers discovered that he was in possession from Victoria’s Secret in addition to items that appeared to have been purloined from other retail outlets in the area. This 35-year-old resident of Tarzana was arrested and charged with burglary, possession of burglary tools and possession of stolen property. Bail information was not available at time of going to press.
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.
