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.
Friday, Dec. 24, at 4;20 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1400 block of the Third Street Promenade regarding a fight in progress. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim who said he was walking down the promenade when the suspect confronted him. The suspect allegedly was using a bullhorn and walked in front of the victim and yelled, “You are going to hell, heathen.” As the victim continued to walk, the suspect walked in front of the victim again and yelled, “I want you to die, faggot.” The victim told the suspect to leave him alone, at which point the suspect struck him in the mouth with the bullhorn. The victim tried to kick the suspect and missed. The suspect then struck the victim in the face several times with a closed fist, police said. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for assault and battery, as well as a probation violation. He was identified as Richard Levik, 51, of Mar Vista. His bail was set at $20,000.
Monday, Dec. 20, at 7:50 p.m.,
Officers on routine patrol stopped a pedestrian who committed a traffic violation by crossing the street against a red light. During the stop, officers discovered the individual was on probation for narcotics. Further investigation revealed that the suspect was in possession of a syringe and tar heroin. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for possession of drugs and a hypodermic needle, a probation violation and the traffic violation. He was identified as Julian Mayers Johnson, 23, of Venice. His bail was set at $10,000.
Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 10:46 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 500 block of Olympic Boulevard regarding a fight in progress. When officers arrived, they made contact with a witness who identified one of the people involved in the fight. Officers approached the suspect, who was sitting on the edge of the sidewalk. The suspect was allegedly yelling and appeared intoxicated. Witnesses told officers that the suspect had been inside the Access Center and wanted to use a chair that someone else was sitting in. The suspect then allegedly started yelling and was asked to leave. As he was leaving, he swung his fist at one victim and grabbed the hair of another, police said. The suspect was arrested for assault, battery and public intoxication. He was identified as Fatu Fatu, 37, a transient in Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.
Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 9:02 p.m.,
Officers were contacted by a citizen who said there was an aggressive panhandler at the corner of Second Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. As officers were walking to the location, another citizen advised them that the same individual was unruly and harassing her. Officers observed the suspect, who was allegedly yelling unintelligibly. Officers felt the suspect was drunk. As officers were talking with the suspect, he attempted to grab a chair to balance himself and the chair fell over, police said. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for public intoxication. As they were doing a pre-booking search, officers asked if the suspect had anything on him that he shouldn’t. He allegedly said, “I have speed in my pocket.” Officers located a plastic baggie with a white crystal that later tested to be methamphetamine. Officers booked the suspect for possession of a controlled substance, probation, public intoxication and a warrant. He was identified as Scott Savitch, 33, of Tujunga. His bail was set at $70,000.
Saturday, Dec. 25, at 2:48 p.m.,
Officers responded to the area of 22nd Street and Wilshire Boulevard regarding a report of an assault and battery that just occurred. When officers arrived, they were advised by witnesses that the suspect was on top of a woman as she was laying on a bench, face down. The victim said that the suspect was attempting to get money out of her pockets. Officers were able to detain the suspect and he was placed under arrest for attempted robbery and public intoxication. He was identified as Robert Sanders, 31, a transient. No bail information was provided by police.
Saturday, Dec. 25, at 12:54 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2100 block of Virginia Avenue regarding a report of vandalism. When officers arrived, they made contact with the victim who advised them that she and her boyfriend were at Burger King and were involved in an argument. The victim said she went out to her vehicle to let her boyfriend “cool off,” while he was in the bathroom. When she got into her vehicle, she drove out of the parking lot. Her boyfriend called her from a payphone and asked where she was. She told him to go back into the parking lot. The victim said she was in the lot waiting for her boyfriend. As he was walking up to the car, she decided to play a little joke and acted like she was going to drive off. The boyfriend didn’t find it funny and allegedly broke the rear and passenger-side windows. The victim then drove away and called police. Officers located the suspect and placed him under arrest for vandalism. He was identified as Douglas Leeper, 31, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
