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, Feb. 22, at 12:27 a.m.,
A Santa Monica police officer on patrol in the 1100 block of Court 15 spotted a suspicious vehicle parked in the alley. The officer approached the vehicle and discovered a young male adult inside the car with three male juveniles and two female juveniles. The officer smelled the strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle. The officer discovered the adult in possession of over 80 grams of pot, a digital scale and a large amount of cash. The juveniles were released to their parents and the man was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana, furnishing marijuana to minors and violation of probation. The suspect was identified as David Judah Azaria, 18, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1:10 a.m.,
Officers in the 2900 block of Pico Boulevard — Lares Restaurant — responded to a report of vandalism. The restaurant manager told officers that a man was banging on the front door of the restaurant and vigorously shaking it. The manager told the man the restaurant was closed. The man didn’t seem to care and continued shaking the door until he eventually broke it, police said. He walked away. Officers spotted the suspect a short time later and tried to detain him. He allegedly fought with officers, who eventually placed him under arrest for felony vandalism, resisting arrest and violation of probation. He was identified as Donald Wesley Mosley, 46, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, Feb. 21, at 1:08 a.m.,
Officers on patrol in the 1300 block of Seventh Street noticed a vehicle that was parked in an odd manner with headlights on. The officers made contact with the driver of the vehicle and learned he had at least one alcoholic beverage that evening. Officers searched the suspect and discovered he was in possession of a small baggy filled with cocaine. The man was placed under arrest and booked for possession of a controlled substance. He was identified as Manuel Francisco Cubillas, 37, of Chatsworth. His bail was set at $10,000.
Friday, Feb. 20, at 3:27 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1500 block of Second Street — McDonald’s — regarding a report of an assault and battery. A restaurant employee told officers that she was punched several times by a female suspect after she asked the woman to leave. The manager intervened and stopped the suspect’s alleged assault. The suspect fled and was located a block or so away by officers, who placed her under arrest for assault and battery. The suspect was identified as Bridgette T. Briggs, 29, a transient. Bail was set at $20,000.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 12:20 p.m.,
While on patrol near the corner of Cloverfield Boulevard and Delaware Avenue, an officer saw a death threat against a Santa Monica police officer written in gang graffiti on a wall. Officers later obtained several search and arrest warrants for those believed to be involved in the death threat. Contraband was found and several arrests were made. The first suspect arrested was identified as Abel Jimenez, 24, of Santa Monica. He was booked for making criminal threats, vandalism, engaging in felonious criminal conduct in furtherance of a criminal street gang and violation of probation. His bail was set at $80,000. The second suspect arrested was identified as William Edward Crishon, 19, from Santa Monica, who was booked for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale, being in a place where a controlled substance was used, possession of drug paraphernalia, felonious criminal conduct in furtherance of a street gang and violation of probation. His bail was set at $60,000. The third suspect arrested was identified as Rafael Ramos, 18, of Santa Monica, who was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia, being in a place where a controlled substance was used and violation of probation. His bail was set at $10,000. The fourth and final suspect was identified as Kenneth Keith Jones, 18, of Santa Monica who was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia and being in a place where a controlled substance is used. Bail was set at $500.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 1:50 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 2900 block of Main Street regarding a report of a theft. The alleged victim told officers her purse, which contained her car keys, was stolen from inside a bar. The woman went to check on the status of her car and reported seeing an unknown man sitting in the driver’s seat. She later discovered items were missing from her car. Officers detained the man and two others believed to be involved. All three were booked for auto burglary and conspiracy to commit a crime. Officers later discovered that some of the victim’s property was found in the possession of the suspect believed to have been in the car. The first suspect was identified as Raafat Maher Bikhit, 23, of Santa Monica. He was also booked for possession of stolen property. His bail was set at $20,000. The second suspect was identified as Juan Carlos Solis, 22, of Santa Monica, who was also booked for violation of probation. His bail was set at $20,000. The third suspect was identified as David Nicholas Szyszkowski, 23, of Los Angeles. He was also booked for being in possession of marijuana. His bail was set at $20,000.
Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 1:18 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2400 block of Montana Avenue regarding a report of a traffic services officer who was allegedly struck by a vehicle. When officers arrived, the traffic officer said they gave a man a warning for being parked illegally. He refused to move his car and as the traffic officer was about to issue the driver a ticket, he allegedly struck the officer with his vehicle and drove off. The traffic officer was not injured. Officers located the driver in the area. He was positively identified and booked for assault with a deadly weapon. The vehicle was impounded. The suspect was identified as John Chien, 44, of Malibu. His bail was set at $30,000.
Editor in Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
