Big Gulp.
On Wednesday, August 30, at 2:07 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department responded to a radio call informing them that a theft had taken place at the Von’s Market, located at 710 Broadway in Santa Monica. The officers rushed to the location and as they arrived at the market they spotted a man nearby who fit the description of the suspect. The officers detained this individual while they investigated. The officers spoke with staff members at the Von’s market who told them that this man had entered the store bereft of a shirt. This is a violation of the company dress code for patrons. The staff also recognized this person as being someone who had a history of theft from the store. The loss prevention agent at the store approached this man as he loitered around the alcohol aisle of the store and asked the man to leave. The subject responded by grabbing a bottle of wine, running out of the store and stopping behind the store whereupon he opened the (screw-top) bottle of wine and began to drink with gusto. The loss prevention agent had followed the man and subsequently called the police when he saw that the man was attempting to consume the entire bottle of wine. After swallowing several large gulps of wine the man smashed the bottle on the ground and shortly afterwards the police arrived. The officers arrested the suspect, aged 30 and homeless and he was later charged with theft. The man was released after being issued with the citation.
Not Music To Their Ears.
On Thursday, August 31, at 10:16 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to investigate a report of a disturbance at the Universal Music Group, located at 2220 Colorado Blvd. As the officers were en route to the location they learned that an individual had been throwing rocks at employees of the business as well as several windows. When the officers arrived at the Universal Music Group building they spotted the suspect and detained him. The officers investigated and discovered that this individual had been denied entry to the business and that this appeared to be a pattern for this man due to the fact that he had been escorted off the premises several times in the past. The officers were told that on this occasion the suspect had responded to the requests to leave the premises by going outside and throwing rocks at the security guards striking them numerous times before then throwing rocks at the windows of the building smashing several panes of glass. The security guards were not injured in this rock throwing assault. The victims were desirous of a prosecution so the officers arrested this 23-year-old homeless man and he was later charged with assault with a deadly weapon, vandalism and resisting arrest. Bail was set at $30,000.
Unwanted Passenger.
On Thursday, August 31, at 7:21 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department went to the Thrifty Car Wash, located at 2537 Lincoln Blvd. in order to investigate a report of a person who had positioned himself in the passenger seat of a patron’s vehicle and was refusing to vacate. When the officers arrived at the location they spoke with the victim who said that they had been cleaning the inside of their vehicle when the suspect had got into the passenger seat and refused to leave. The victim added that they had removed the keys for the ignition for fear that the suspect may have attempted to take the vehicle. The officers asked the suspect to get out of the car but the suspect refused so the officers forcibly removed this man from the car. The officers arrested the suspect, aged 40 and homeless and he was later charged with malicious mischief to a vehicle. The suspect was released after being issued with a citation.
Check Mate.
On Thursday, August 31, at 4:20 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call informing them that a disturbance had taken place at the Chess Park, located at 1650 Ocean Front Walk. The officers rushed to the scene in order to investigate. Upon arrival at the location the officers determined that a verbal altercation had occurred between the suspect and the victim over an unknown matter. The victim, sensing that the suspect was about to become violent had used his cell phone to call the police and the suspect, upon discovering this had picked up a 40-ounce beer bottle (type of beer unknown) and held it at the victim as he made threats to end the victim’s life. The victim was scared that this man was going to throw the beer bottle at him so he began to walk away. The suspect followed for a brief time but eventually ran off. The officers, with the help of the victim, discovered the suspect nearby and subsequently arrested this 32-year-old homeless man and he was later charged with criminal threats and assault. Bail was set at $50,000.
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.
