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.
Wednesday, June 10, at 8:36 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to a report of a possible assault with a deadly weapon that occurred at an apartment in the 2200 block of Stewart Street. When officers arrived, they spoke with several witnesses who said they heard noises that made them think a fight was going on inside the apartment. Officers entered the apartment and said they found a man on the floor who was bleeding from the head. Fire fighters were called and the victim was transported to a local hospital with severe head trauma. Officers arrested the suspect at the scene and he was booked for attempted murder and a parole violation. No other information was made available because the incident is still under investigation, police said. The suspect was identified as Osvaldo Garcia, 29, from Santa Monica. His bail was set at $1 million.
Sunday, June 7, at 8:13 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of the Santa Monica Pier — Pacific Park — regarding a report of a suspect being detained by Pacific Park security for vandalism. When officers arrived, they spoke with security guards who said they entered a bathroom and saw the suspect kneeling beside a trash can. Security said the suspect had a marker in his hand and had begun to write something on the trash can when security arrived. The suspect was placed under arrest for vandalism and a probation violation. He was identified as Omar Evenor Rodriguez, 23, from Los Angeles. His bail was set at $10,000.
Saturday, June 6, at 9:48 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1800 block of Wilshire Boulevard — Rite Aid — regarding a report of a petty theft. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said they saw the suspect walking through the store, carrying two bags. Security said they watched the suspect use old newspapers to wrap store items up and place them in the bags she brought into the store. The suspect then allegedly walked out of the store, failing to pay for the items. Store security detained the suspect until police arrived. Officers said they recovered several items from the store, including mascara, lipstick, hydrogen peroxide, ear wax removal syringe and solution, Lindora shake mix, automotive tire gauge and dual action cleanse fat burner. The items were valued at $114. The woman was placed under arrest for burglary. She was identified as Dana Trembley, 49, of Pacific Palisades. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Friday, May 5, at 2:53 a.m.,
An officer on routine patrol near Main Street saw a bicyclist riding without a headlight, a violation of the vehicle code. The officer also noticed the cyclist was wearing a black baseball hat, a black hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, a black bandana covering his face, a black backpack and brown gloves and camouflage shorts. The officer made contact with the suspect and searched him. The officer found the suspect’s wallet and looked for any identification. Instead, the officer allegedly found several small baggies commonly used to package and sell narcotics. The officer said he also found a small amount of what appeared to be methamphetamine. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance and transported to the Santa Monica Jail. Once at the station, officers found a collapsible baton in the suspect’s backpack, two flashlights, two screwdrivers, Allen wrenches and binoculars. The suspect was ultimately booked for possession of a controlled substance, burglary, and violation of probation, among other charges. The suspect was identified as Christopher Barret Johnson, 25, of Santa Monica. No bail was set.
Wednesday, June 3, at 10:36 a.m.,
Santa Monica College police officers were contacted by a student who reported the theft of a textbook. The victim told officers she was studying in a cubicle at the college library and left her books at the cubicle while she went to the bathroom. When she returned approximately five minutes later, she discovered one of her textbooks was missing. The victim asked a student sitting nearby if he had seen anyone take her book. The witness said he didn’t see anyone take the book, but he did see two suspicious females leaning over the cubicle the victim was using. The victim told officers that she contacted a local bookstore that sells and buys back textbooks, many from SMC students. Employees at the bookstore said they had the victim’s book and provided police with information on the person who sold it to them. Officers used that information to identify one of the suspects, who was a student at SMC. Additional information was gathered and a second suspect was arrested. Both were booked for burglary and conspiracy to commit a crime. The first suspect was identified as Kelsey Boucher, 18, of Los Angeles, who was also booked for receiving stolen property. Her bail was set at $20,000. The second suspect was identified as Karmel Gates Wiggins, 18, also of Los Angeles. She was also booked for possession of marijuana. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Wednesday, June 6, at 3:55 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2000 block of Ocean Park Boulevard — Carrow’s Restaurant — regarding a report of a customer refusing to pay his bill. When officers arrived, they found the suspect surrounded by Santa Monica fire fighters who happened to be eating at the restaurant when they heard the restaurant manager yelling for help after confronting the suspect. The manager said the suspect allegedly failed to pay for two previous meals, and was now refusing to pay for a third. The manager said the suspect consumed around $54 worth of food during the three meals. Receipts were provided and the suspect was placed under arrest for burglary and interfering with an officer. He was identified as Alexander Jong Lee, 21, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports. news@www.smdp.com
