By Tim Broughton
A Spiritually Arresting Experience.
On Thursday, August 17, at 7:14 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were on routine patrol in the area of the McDonald’s fast food outlet, located at 1540 Second St., when they chanced upon two individuals standing in the doorway of the business. These individuals were smoking cigarettes which is a violation of Santa Monica Municipal Code 4.44.020 which prohibits such activity within 20 feet of a publicly accessed doorway. The officers spoke with these two men and asked the pair for their respective names. Both men refused to provide the officers with any information and began to walk away from the officers so the officers immediately apprehended the pair in order to ascertain their identities. One of these two men resisted the officers and a struggle ensued. However, this conflict was short lived as the officers utilized their superior training, abilities and experience to suppress the efforts of this man. As a precaution the officers also summoned the assistance of colleagues via their radios and in no time at all additional officers arrived at the scene. The officers then searched these men and discovered that one of the individuals possessed a receptacle that contained psilocybin mushrooms (known as “Magic Mushrooms” these contain psychedelic compounds that create effects including euphoria, altered thinking processes and visual hallucinations. Some people have claimed that by ingesting these mushrooms they have had a profound spiritual experience) in addition to prescription pills. The officers arrested these men and they were taken off to jail. Suspect number one, aged 26 and from Los Angeles was charged with possession of an opiate, possession of a controlled substance and smoking within 20 feet of an entrance. Bail was set at $1,000. Suspect number two, aged 19 and also from Los Angeles was charged with resisting arrest, a violation of parole and smoking within 20 feet of an entrance. Bail was not granted to this individual.
Light Fingered.
On Thursday, August 17, at 12:27 p.m. Officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to the Bloomingdale’s store, located at 315 Colorado Blvd. in order to investigate a report of an employee who had stolen money from the store. Upon arrival at the store the officers met and spoke with the Asset Protection Manager, who told the officers that the individual in question had in fact been the focus of an internal investigation regarding suspected thefts dating back to May, 2017. The Asset Protection Manager also informed the officers that on the above date this female employee had been monitored by security personnel as she removed approximately $320 from two cash registers. The subject had subsequently been questioned by the Asset Protection Manager during which she had confessed to taking a total of $1,500 from the store. The store was desirous of a prosecution so the the officers arrested this 27-year-old Chatsworth resident and she was charged with grand theft. Bail was set at $20,000.
Swindler’s List.
On Thursday, August 17, at 7:18 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call requesting their presence in the 300 block of California Avenue in regard to a subject who had been seen acting in a suspicious manner as well as attempting to force his way through a side gate to a property. The officers sped to the scene and spotted the suspect sitting down in a carport attached to the property. The officers asked this man what his name was and the man gave a name that turned out to be false. The officers utilized their extensive array of technological tools and discovered this man’s true identity in addition to the fact that he was wanted by the Burbank Police Department for residential burglary and check fraud. The officers also discovered that this man was also on felony probation for burglary. During the routine search of this man the officers discovered that he was in possession of methamphetamine and numerous checks belonging to a third party. The officers arrested this 26-year-old resident of Burbank and he was later charged with a long list of offenses that included possession of blank checks with intent to defraud, possession of forged checks, possession of a bank card with intent to defraud, possession of stolen property and possession of methamphetamine. He was also held without bail on the Burbank burglary warrant.
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.
