Crime Watch: Trash can rummaging leads to arrest
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.
Sunday, Nov. 4, at 3 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers on patrol along the 1400 block of Lincoln Boulevard pulled into a nearby alley and saw a man rummaging through one of the city trash cans in violation of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. Officers made contact with the man, who could not provide any form of identification. The suspect was placed under arrest for the municipal code violation. While searching him, officers said they found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke drugs. The suspect was transported to the Santa Monica Jail and booked for possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was identified as Charles Edward Chalk, 56, a transient. His bail was set at $250.
Saturday, Nov. 3, at 6:25 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1200 block of Third Street — Barnes & Noble — regarding a suspected shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived they made contact with security guards who said that the suspect came into the store with a book bag and a long jacket covering the top. The suspect then allegedly went to the audio-book section, picked two books, removed the security sensors and placed the books inside the bag. The suspect then exited the store without offering to pay for the books. She was detained in a nearby alley by security and held until police arrived. Officers searched the bag and found the books and a hand-held pry fork used to remove security tags. The suspect was placed under arrest for burglary and possession of burglary tools. She was identified as Do T. Van, 30, of Garden Grove, Calif. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Friday, Nov. 2, at 2:35 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1500 block of Second Street — Santa Monica Bike Center — regarding a report of an assault that just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with the alleged victim who said that he was working inside the bike shop when the suspect came in and began yelling at another employee at the front of the store. The employee remembered the suspect from a prior incident in which he allegedly tried to assault them with bodily fluids. The employee told the suspect he was not welcome and that he would not be able to get his bike serviced. The suspect became irate, the employee said, and picked up his bike and threw it outside the Bike Center’s doors. When he left, the employee went to the front doors to prevent the suspect from re-entering. The suspect allegedly pulled out some scissors and tried to stab the employee with them. He moved away and called police. The suspect was detained in the 100 block of Colorado Avenue. He was identified by the employee and arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Donald Defreitas, 49, a transient. His bail was set at $30,000.
Thursday, Nov. 1, at 12:30 p.m.,
Officers received a report that a robbery suspect had been detained by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in West Hollywood. Officers went to collect the suspect. He was transported to the Santa Monica Jail and booked for robbery. Police said the suspect on Oct. 26 climbed to the roof of a building located along the 900 block of Wilshire Boulevard. He was joined by a woman who said that once on the roof the man tried to rape her. She pushed him away, making him angry that he was rejected, police said. He then demanded the woman’s cell phone. She refused and the suspect then punched her in the face and took the phone. He climbed down and fled. The woman had bystanders call police for her. The suspect was identified as Steven Paul Brotherhood, 22, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7:07 p.m.,
Officers were on patrol near the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and the Third Street Promenade when they saw a man walking in the intersection who was almost hit by a passing motorist. Officers tried to make contact with the suspect, but he continued walking northbound on Third Street. When officers approached the man from behind, he allegedly turned around and tried to strike one of the officers with a clenched fist. The suspect was immediately taken to the ground and after a short struggle he was taken into custody. The suspect suffered no injuries and was taken to jail and booked for resisting arrest, assaulting a police officer and for walking in the roadway. He was identified as Nico Lael Short, 31, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 8:30 p.m.,
Officers responded to the corner of Neilson Way and Hollister Avenue on the report that a robbery just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with the alleged victim, who told them that she was riding her bike and stopped for a red light at Neilson Way. As she waited she said a man approached her and grabbed onto the handlebars of her bike. Before she could react, the suspect punched her once in the face, causing her to fall to the ground, police said. The woman tried holding onto her bike and was struck again in the face. The suspect then rode off toward Main Street. Officers checking the area located and stopped the suspect in the 1700 block of Ocean Avenue. The woman identified the suspect and he was placed under arrest for robbery and a probation violation. He was identified as Frank Valentino Hernandez, 48, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $50,000.
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
