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, March 8, at 1:42 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1400 block of Lincoln Boulevard — CVS — regarding a robbery that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the pharmacist who said two men walked up, with one providing a note demanding prescription drugs. The pharmacist believed the man was armed and gave him some Valium, Xanax, and Norco, a pain reliever. Officers reviewed video footage from the pharmacy and the next day they located one of the suspects. He was placed under arrest after being positively identified by the pharmacist, police said. Officers arrested another man a short time later who was believed responsible for the robbery. Both were booked for robbery. The first suspect was identified as Phillipe Quinones, 40, of Santa Monica. He was also arrested for providing a false name to police, possession of a hypodermic needle, and outstanding warrant and violation of probation. His bail was set at $86,000. The second suspect was identified as Kai Sinclair Teeguarden, 24, a transient. He was also booked for possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of probation. His bail was set at $50,000. Some of the drugs were recovered, police said.
Monday, March 9, at 1:30 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 600 block of Wilshire Boulevard — 7-Eleven — regarding a report of a man interfering with business. When officers arrived, they made contact with a convenience store employee who said a man was digging in the trash can out front and was aggressively panhandling. The clerk asked the man to leave, but he refused. Officers were notified and made contact with the man, who allegedly gave them a fake name. Officers placed the man under arrest, but he resisted and refused to get into the police car. At one point the man kicked the car, causing visible damage, police said. He was eventually subdued and booked for felony vandalism, removing items from a trash can, resisting arrest, providing a false name to police, an outstanding warrant and violation of probation. The suspect was identified as Sherome Purcell, 27, a transient. No bail was set.
Wednesday, March 11, at 4:40 p.m.,
Officers on patrol in the 1200 block of Seventh Street observed a man urinating in the alley. Officers contacted the man and determined he was too drunk to care for himself and placed the man under arrest for public intoxication and urinating in public. The suspect was identified as Mark Lawrence Johnson, 46, a transient. His bail was set at $250.
Friday, March 13, at 4:10 p.m.,
Investigators from the SMPD Vice Unit conducted a prostitution sting at Oriental Shiatsu Massage, located in the 1900 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Detectives said they received several tips that the massage parlor was operating as a brothel. Officers arrested a woman for prostitution and disobeying several requirements of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. The suspect was identified as Sung Ja Anderson, 38, from Los Angeles. Her bail was set at $2,000.
Friday, March 13, at 1:55 p.m.,
Officers responded to a report of a robbery in the 1500 block of Fifth Street. The victim told officers that an acquaintance grabbed her wallet out of her hand and took off running. A responding officer saw the suspect running from the victim and gave chase. The officer caught up with the suspect and placed him under arrest for robbery, resisting arrest, two outstanding warrants and violation of probation. He was identified as Joshua Slavash Basseri, 22, a transient. His bail was set at $67,500.
Sunday, March 15, at 9:09 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1500 block of Lincoln Boulevard — Denny’s — regarding a report of a man who refused to pay his bill. When officers arrived, they made contact with the store manager who said the suspect ordered $28.19 worth of food, ate it and then continued to sit in the restaurant for roughly four hours. When the waitress asked the man to pay his bill, the man allegedly laughed at her. Officers later learned that the man had no money and placed him under arrest for defrauding an inn keeper and violation of probation. The suspect was identified as Nicholas Ray Velasquez, 26, a transient. His bail was set at $500.
Editor in Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports. news@www.smdp.com
