By Tim Broughton
Carrier Bag Charge.
On Monday, May 1, at 4:40 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call informing them that a fight was in progress at the Von’s Supermarket, located at 710 Broadway. The officers sped to the location and upon arrival met with the store security guard who was also the victim in this case. The security guard told the officers that he had spotted the suspect enter the store and, after remembering this individual as a repeat theft offender at the store, decided to keep an eye on the man. He said that this man grabbed a paper carrier bag that was located at one of the checkout counters and walked around the store placing numerous items of merchandise inside the bag as he did so. He added that when the suspect attempted to leave the store without paying for the items he approached the suspect and challenged him. He said that he had grabbed the carrier bag from the suspect and that the suspect had retaliated by swinging a closed fist at him. A struggle had ensued causing all of the contents of the carrier bag to spill onto the ground at which point the suspect ran away from the location. The officers went in search of the suspect and found a man who fit the description loitering in the 1500 block of Sixth Street. The officers detained this man and returned to the store with him so the security guard could identify the suspect. The security guard positively identified this 25-year-old Los Angeles resident and the officers arrested the man and took him off to jail where he was later charged with robbery. Bail was set at $50,000.
Mental Rental.
On Tuesday, May 2, at 5:39 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department rushed to Seamist Bike Rental, located at 1619 Ocean Front Walk after they had received a report of a man attempting to grab money from the cash register at the business. The officers arrived at the location and immediately spotted the suspect, whom they detained while they began their investigation. The officers learned that the suspect had entered the store and begun to act in a crazy fashion, harassing patrons and staff members. This man had then attempted to take money from the cash register. While the officers were detaining this man he became unruly and began to yell and struggle with the officers. A struggle ensued and during this period the man spat at one of the officers. The officers determined that this man was under the influence of alcohol so after a few minutes of resistance by the suspect the officers overpowered this man and arrested him. This 52-year-old homeless man was later charged with public intoxication, resisting arrest, and assault on a police officer. Bail was set at $20,000.
He Had Two Girls And A Gun.
On Wednesday, May 3, at 12:34 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department who were on patrol in the area of the 1600 block of Ocean Avenue spotted a vehicle driving along the street that was exhibiting several code violations including not being fitted with a front license plate as well has having dark tinted front windows. The officers lit up their patrol vehicle lights and performed a traffic stop on the suspect car. The officers noted that the contained three individuals, a male driver and two female passengers. The officers discovered that the driver was driving on a suspended license and that neither of the female passengers possessed a valid drivers’ license. The officers asked all three of the occupants to exit the vehicle so that the vehicle could be impounded and as one of the female passengers was getting out of the car she confessed to the officers that she was in possession of methamphetamine. The officers then searched this car and discovered that it contained a loaded .45 caliber handgun. The officers checked the serial number of the handgun and determined that it had been stolen from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Mission Hills Division area. The officers arrested the driver of the vehicle as well as the female passenger who had been in possession of the methamphetamine. The driver, aged 21 and from North Hills, was charged with carrying a loaded firearm in public, being a convicted felon in possession of a loaded firearm, being a gang member, possession of methamphetamine and last but not least driving on a suspended license. This man’s bail was set at $50,000. The female passenger, aged 34 and from Canoga Park, was charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of narcotics paraphernalia. Her bail was set at $1,000. The second female passenger was advised to go home.
Purse Plucker.
On Friday, May 5, at 8:05 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department responded to a radio call informing them that a woman had been the target of an attempted purse snatch in the area of the 1600 block of 11th Street. The officers hastened to the location and met with the victim. The victim told the officers that she had been strolling on the sidewalk when the suspect approached her. She said that she had her purse hanging from a strap over her shoulder and that suddenly the suspect grabbed at the purse and attempted to wrestle it away from her. She added that she had held on to the purse for dear life and that she had been able to get herself away from the suspect who then fled on foot in the direction of 12th Street. Other officers who had responded to the call apprehended the suspect in the 1600 block of 12th Street and detained him. The suspect was driven to the location where the other officers were detaining this man and the victim positively identified the would-be robber. The officers arrested the suspect, aged 40 and homeless and he was later charged with robbery. Bail was set at $50,000.
