Alert: Police Blotter:

Money and BeltSaturday, February 28. Officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called to a disturbance on the Santa Monica Pier. Upon arrival, the officers were confronted with a woman who was aggressively panhandling to the Pier patrons and parking tollbooth attendants. Officers approached the woman, but then noticed that she had a belt in her hand that could be used as a weapon. The officers suggested that the woman drop the belt, but she refused. Despite the belt, the officers gained control of the woman, and handcuffed her in order to prevent her from assaulting them. Once handcuffed, however, the woman did in fact assault an officer by spitting on one of them, so they arrested her, and she was later booked for battery on a police officer. Drugs, Money, and a GunTuesday, March 3, 6:05 p.m. Members of the Santa Monica Police Department’s Vice and Narcotic Unit served a search warrant on the home of a suspected drug dealer, who had allegedly been plying his trade in Santa Monica. Once inside the man’s home, the investigators discovered approximately one ounce of methamphetamine (speed), over $5000 in banknotes (cash), and a firearm (gun). The man was then arrested and booked for the following offenses: Possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance while armed, participation in criminal activity in furtherance of a criminal street gang, and storing a firearm accessible to children.MoneyWednesday, March 4 at 2:10 p.m. Officers paid a visit to the Indymac Federal Bank situated on the 800 block of Wilshire Boulevard, in response to a report of a man attempting to cash a fraudulent check. They spoke with a bank teller, who told them that the man had attempted to cash a check for the amount of $4,999. The teller stated that she had immediately identified the check as a counterfeit when the man presented it. Officers questioned the suspect (to coin a phrase), and after doing so arrested him for attempting to pass a counterfeit check and for commercial burglary.Punch DrunkWednesday, March 4, 6:13 p.m. Officers patrolling the area of Third Street Promenade and Santa Monica Boulevard saw a man punching a metal traffic signal box with repetition whilst yelling (unknown comments) at passing pedestrians. The officers, upon observing this behavior, came to the conclusion that this man was under the influence of alcohol (drunk) to the degree that he was unable to care for his own safety. The officers arrested the man and then discovered a switchblade knife upon his person. He was booked for the two offenses of public intoxication and possession of a switchblade knife.