Rude or Threatening
Tuesday, March 6 at 11:25 a.m. – AM/PM minimart at 332 Pico Boulevard – A man (“Suspect”) drove up to the store, and his passenger got out and went in to the AM/PM. While the passenger was in the store, the Suspect took out a handgun and pointed it at the store from inside his vehicle. The passenger left the store, got in the car,and the two men drove away. Store employees, having seen the man with the gun, called the police and supplied the vehicle license number. As a result of follow-up investigation, officers identified both the Suspect and the passenger. Turns out that the Suspect had just purchased a black sidearm “air gun.” He was arrested for displaying a gun in a rude and threatening manner in violation of Penal Code section 417. (“Every person who, except in self-defense, in the presence of any other person, draws or exhibits” any firearm or any deadly weapon whatsoever “in a rude, angry or threatening manner” is guilty of a crime.)
Suspicion
Wednesday, March 7 at 2:00 p.m. – 1400 block of Oak Street – A police detective driving in the area observed a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a residence. When the man behind the wheel saw the detective, he drove off. The detective then saw another gentleman walk out from between two buildings toward the spot at which the suspicious vehicle had been parked. With the assistance of officers responding to the call the detective had made (he “called it in” at the outset), the man on foot was detained. He had several “shaved” keys that could be used to gain access to a variety of locked vehicles. He was arrested and booked for possession of burglary tools.
One Man’s Trash Is…
Thursday, March 8 at 9:45 a.m. – 600 block of Raymond Avenue – Officers responded to several complaints that morning from residents to the effect that a person or persons were taking (recyclable) trash from their (recyclable) trash cans. On Raymond, police found a woman with a shopping cart full of items removed from the (recyclable) trash. She was arrested, taken to jail and booked for violation of Santa Monica Municipal Code section 5.08.300. She was later “cited out” – released from jail and given a citation.
Oh, yes: SMMC sec. 5.08.300 (entitled “Interference with Collection”) provides: “No person unauthorized by the City or by the owner of a refuse container shall remove any refuse container or any refuse placed in said container or bundled for collection by the City. All such refuse placed for collection by City employees shall be the property of the City of Santa Monica.” A violation may be either an infraction (fine not exceeding $250) or a misdemeanor (fine not exceeding $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both).
