Crime Watch: Transient arrested for attempted murder
Crime Watch is a weekly series culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Saturday, Nov. 3, at 5:30 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers were ordered to check in on a patient at UCLA Medical Center who claimed to have been stabbed in the chest earlier that morning while walking on Seventh Street near Olympic Boulevard. The man told officers that as he was walking someone came up from behind him and started stabbing him in the chest. The victim turned and kicked the suspect, who fled on a bicycle. The victim walked to Samoshel — a homeless shelter and access center — to treat his injuries. He tried to locate the suspect, but when he had no luck he decided to go to the hospital for treatment. With the help of officers assigned to the Homeless Liaison Program, detectives were able to identify the suspect. An arrest warrant was issued and the suspect was picked up by the LAPD on Nov. 9 for riding his bike without a headlight. Santa Monica police took custody of the suspect and he was booked for attempted murder. He was identified as Steve Benavidez Rodriguez, 50, a transient. His bail was set at $100,000.
Friday, Nov. 9, at 7:09 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1800 block of Lincoln Boulevard regarding a report of shoplifting. When officers arrived they spoke with the gas station manager who told them that the suspect entered the store, poured himself some coffee and then stuffed several pastries into his jacket and then walked out without paying for anything. The manager confronted the suspect and asked for the items back. The suspect allegedly began yelling and struck the manager in the upper body with a clenched fist. The manager, fearing for his safety, ran into the store to call police. The suspect followed and knocked over a cell phone rack, damaging products. He then allegedly tore open several bags of chips and threw them all to the ground. He then fled. Officers located the suspect about an hour later on the 500 block of Olympic Boulevard. He was detained and positively identified by the store manager. The suspect was placed under arrest for robbery. He was identified as Graham Acen Cox, 32, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
Friday, Nov. 9, at 6:15 p.m.,
Officers on patrol were at the corner of 15th Street and Wilshire Boulevard when they saw a man allegedly walk against a red light at 14th Street. Officers drove up to the man so they could warn him about the red light violation. The suspect allegedly started running north on 14th Street. Officers gave chase and saw the suspect throw something before he stopped running. Officers detained him and searched the area. They said they found a glass pipe used for smoking methamphetamine. Officers knew the suspect from a prior arrest in which he allegedly tossed drugs before being arrested. Police felt they had their man and placed him under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation. He was identified as Carlos Joaquin Vidal, 41, a transient. His bail was set at $20,250.
Wednesday, Nov. 7, at 9:01 p.m.,
Officers on patrol on the 1800 block of Lincoln Boulevard saw a red Subaru with a defective rear license-plate light. Officers conducted a traffic stop on the 700 block of Michigan Avenue. During the stop the driver allegedly told officers that he did not have any identification on him and provided a name and birth date. Officers ran the information through their computer and determined the driver was trying to pull a fast one. The driver’s true identity was determined and officers learned that he did not have a driver’s license at all. Further more, the man was on probation for burglary in another county. He was placed under arrest for providing false information and being unlicensed. Officers searched the vehicle and said they found methamphetamine stashed in the driver’s side floorboard. The suspect was ultimately booked for drug possession, and the two other charges, plus a probation violation. He was identified as Francisco Narvaez, 19, of Bellflower, Calif. No bail was set.
Tuesday, Nov. 6, at 11:31 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 700 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a report of a man selling joints for $1. When officers arrived they found the suspect and detained him. He was found to have a blue container with what appeared to be five marijuana cigarettes inside. He told officers that he was not offering them for sale and that the pot was for personal use. Officers contacted a witness who told them that she saw the suspect offer the pot to all who passed by him for $1. Officers also found a cardboard sign which read that he was selling the cigarettes for $1 each. He was placed under arrest for possession and a probation violation. His bail was set at $20,000. He was identified as Matthew Augustadt, 39, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.
Thursday, Nov. 1, at 4:49 p.m.,
Police responded to a home located on the 1900 block of 20th Street regarding a report that it had been burglarized. When officers arrived they made contact with the owner who said that he left his home around 7 p.m. on Oct. 31 for about 30 minutes. When he returned, he said he noticed that the screen to a kitchen window had been removed and that his Apple computer was missing. Evidence was collected and on Nov. 9 investigators were able to identify a suspect. A warrant was issued and the next day officers found the suspect sleeping inside his car on the 2300 block of Kansas Avenue. Officers took the suspect into custody. In the backseat of the car police said they found the computer. The suspect was booked for burglary. He was identified as Chase Kelly Scott, 20, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
