By Tim Broughton
A Stick Up.
On Wednesday, July 5, at 4:38 p.m. Officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call regarding a possible disturbance at Hot Dog on a Stick, located at 1663 Ocean Front Walk. The officers hastened to the location and as they were en route they were informed by dispatch that the nature of the disturbance was that a woman was at the location harassing employees. Upon arrival at Hot Dog on a Stick the officers were directed by employees towards a woman who was at that time sitting on a nearby bench. The officers detained this subject as they investigated the possible crime. The officers learned that the woman had approached the counter of Hot Dog on a Stick and requested that they furnish her with a free sample of lemonade and ice. The employees of the business gave the woman the free sample and subsequently this woman began to yell obscenities at the employees. The woman then threatened to stab one of the employees and due to the fact that this particular employee had experienced similar incidents with this woman the employee felt in fear of her life and as a result called the police. This employee was desirous of a prosecution and so the officers arrested the suspect. Aged 57 and homeless, and she was later charged with criminal threats. Bail was set at $50,000.
Combo Crime.
On Thursday, July 6, at 3:11 p.m. Officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to attend to a possible theft that had occurred at the 7-11 Store, located at 1865 Lincoln Boulevard. The officers were given a description of the suspect over their radio and told that he had fled eastbound on Pico Boulevard. As the officers approached the vicinity of the store they spotted a man who matched the given description sitting on a bus bench at the intersection of Pico Boulevard and Euclid Street. The officers detained this man while they made their inquiries. The officers learned that this man had entered the 7-11 Store and selected a Slurpee drink, a doughnut, and a bag of chips and had exited the store without attempting to pay for the items. The manager had followed the suspect out of the store and confronted the suspect as the suspect was drinking the Slurpee and eating the doughnut and chips outside the store. The suspect responded to the manager’s request for payment by yelling at the manager and adopting a fighting stance while issuing threats. At that moment the store clerk exited the store and pulled the manager away and the police were summoned. After the suspect had been [positively identified by the manager of the store the officers arrested this 32-year-old Santa Monica resident and he was charged with robbery, criminal threats and a violation of probation. Bail was not granted.
Bad Judgement?
On Tuesday, July 4, at 9:23 p.m. Officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were sitting in their patrol vehicle while parked in the 200 block of Arizona Avenue. The officers’ attention was drawn towards a man who was standing in the street and yelling incoherently for no apparent reason. The officers watched as this man suddenly ran towards the drivers’ side of the patrol car and then, and quite suddenly, as the man arrived at the patrol car he put his hands through the open window and grabbed the arm of one of the officers. The officer reacted by forcing his way out of the patrol car and as he did so he accidentally knocked the suspect to the ground. The other officer then exited the patrol vehicle and a struggle ensued but after a few moments the officers overpowered this individual and he was arrested, taken off to jail and charged with delaying an officer with force and violence. Bail for this 48-year-old homeless man was set at $25,000
It’s A Sign!
On Wednesday, July 5, at 9:16 a.m., while on routine patrol in the area of the 1600 block of Fifth Street, an officer of the Santa Monica Police Department spotted a man walking across the road in an area that was signposted with “No Crossing” signs. The officer attempted to get the man’s attention and commanded that the man stop crossing the road but the subject ignored all attempts by the officer to do this. The officer was able to stop this man a short distance away and asked this man if he would consent to a search. The man agreed and the officer discovered that this man was in possession of a wallet containing the personal belongings of a third party. It was also discovered that this third party did not know the suspect. The officer arrested this 26-year-old homeless man and he was later charged with appropriation of lost property, delaying an officer, failing to obey posted signs, and a Santa Monica warrant. Bail was set at $11,000.
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.
