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.
Monday, July 27, at 5 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers were on routine patrol in the 1100 block of Alley 2 when they observed a vehicle driving away at a high rate of speed. Officers stopped the vehicle and determined that the driver had a suspended license. Officers searched the vehicle and found several items that they believed were taken from another car. Officers placed the suspects under arrest for burglary. They were identified as Orion Alvarado, 19; Miller Alas,18; Aaron Escalante, 23; Luisa Bolanos, 20; and Maritza Ortiz, 20; all from Los Angeles. Their bail varies from no-bail to $20,000.
Sunday, July 25, at 1:55 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1300 block of Santa Monica Boulevard regarding a fight in progress. When officers arrived, they made contact with witnesses who led officers to a parking lot where they observed four people fighting with each other. The officers attempted to break up the fight, but the suspects allegedly continued to brawl. A short time later, all four suspects were taken into custody. The suspects were identified as Gilbert Benavidez, 27, of West Covina; Richard Benavidez, 26, of La Puente; and Henry Rios, 22, and Alonso Zazueta, 23, of Los Angeles. They were arrested and booked for fighting in public. Their bail was set at $10,000.
Sunday, July 25, at 8:30 a.m.,
Officers were on patrol in the area of Walgrove Avenue and Dewey Street when they observed a driver hit the center divider and continue northbound. The officers made a U-turn to follow the vehicle. Officers conducted a traffic stop in the area of 21st and Navy streets. Officers said the driver had poor balance, coordination and smelled like alcohol. Officers conducted a field sobriety test and determined the driver was driving while intoxicated. The suspect, Kevin Jarre, 54, of Santa Monica, was arrested and booked for driving while impaired. His bail was set at $5,000.
Thursday, July 23, at 1:17 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1100 block of Lincoln Boulevard regarding a burglary that just occurred. When officers arrived, they were flagged down by the alleged victim who told them that she heard her dog barking, looked out the window and saw someone trying to steal her bicycle. She immediately called police. Officers located the suspect riding a bicycle a short distance away. The victim was transported to the location and positively identified the bike as hers. The suspect was placed under arrest and booked for burglary and possession of stolen property. He was identified as Deantre Julian, 20, of Santa Monica. No bail information was provided.
Wednesday, July 22, at 12:30 a.m.,
Officers conducted a traffic stop at Pacific and Rose avenues after observing a driver commit several vehicle code violations. During the traffic stop, officers said they could smell marijuana within the vehicle. The driver gave the officers permission to search inside the vehicle for contraband. During the search, officers said they found marijuana and hashish. The suspect was booked for possession of concentrated cannabis, driving on a suspended license and a probation violation. The suspect was identified as Deshanwn Lunkin, a transient. His bail was set at $37,000.
Wednesday, July 22, at 5 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 200 block of Colorado Avenue regarding an armed robbery that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim and two witnesses who said they were walking westbound on Colorado from Main Street when a vehicle pulled up and three men jumped out. They approached the victim and asked for some money for a taxi. The victim pulled out his wallet to give them some cash. As he pulled out his wallet, the suspects allegedly grabbed the wallet and ran back to the car. The victim was able to give the officers a partial description of the license plate for the suspects’ car. Officers were able to locate the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Officers placed the four suspects inside the car under arrest for robbery. They were identified as Carols Diaz, 29; Ivan Ramirez, 19; Rafeal Rivera, 20; and Kevin Perez,19; all of Los Angeles. Their bail varied from $100,000 to no-bail.
Wednesday, July 22, at 10:55 p.m.,
Officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for violating traffic laws. When officers made contact with the driver they noticed a glass pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine or methamphetamine, police said. Officers asked the driver what the pipe was for and the driver allegedly told them she used it to “smoke cocaine.” The driver, Dolores Collins, 34, was arrested and booked for possession of drug paraphernalia and warrants. Her bail was set at $46,796.
Monday, July 20, at 6:39 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1500 block of Ocean Avenue — Pacific Sands Motel — regarding a subject selling drugs from inside one of the rooms. When officers arrived, they knocked on the door to a room where four people were inside. The officers were invited into the hotel room and observed one of the individuals with a glass pipe in his hand, police said. The man also appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. When the man refused to put the pipe down, officers tried to pry it from his grasp. The suspect allegedly resisted and was eventually placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance — cocaine. He was identified as Domingo Alvear, 40, of Huntington Beach. His bail was set at $100,000.
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
