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, Nov. 28, at 10:26 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers were on routine patrol in the 3100 block of Lincoln Boulevard when the vehicle in front of them allegedly made an unsafe lane change. Officers stopped the driver to issue a ticket. As officers approached the vehicle, the driver opened the door and yelled, “Why are you stopping me?” Officers said the driver started reaching toward the back of his car. Officers had the driver exit the car, at which point the driver allegedly started yelling at officers and ran back to the vehicle. Officers were able to stop him. Officers later learned that the driver was in possession of a controlled substance (Vicodin) without a prescription. The driver was placed under arrest for possession, obstruction and an unsafe lane change. He was identified as Matthew Fitzgerald, 48, a transient. His bail was set at $10,000.
Monday, Nov. 29, at 1:55 a.m.,
Officers observed a vehicle fail to stop for a flashing, four-way stop light at Ocean Park Boulevard and Centinela Avenue. Officers conducted a traffic stop to issue a citation. Officers made contact with the driver, who allegedly showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol. Officers conducted a field sobriety test and determined that the driver was impaired. They placed him under arrest for DUI. He was identified as Matthew Kepnes, 29, of Massachusetts. His bail was set at $5,000.
Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 1:04 a.m.,
Officers on routine patrol saw a woman walking down Lincoln Boulevard near Grant Street. The female was allegedly staggering in the street as she walked along parked cars. Officers made a U-turn and drove up to the woman. She said she was fighting with her boyfriend and was just going for a walk. Officers believed she was a hooker. Officers talked with her and said they observed signs of her being under the influence of a stimulant (no odor of alcohol, white film on tongue, constricted pupils and pronounced neck pulse). Officers placed the suspect under arrest for being under the influence, solicitation and prostitution. The suspect was identified as Monica Rose, 36, of Los Angeles. Officers said she originally gave them a false name. When she was booked at the police station, officers said they learned she had a felony warrant. No bail was set.
Tuesday, Nov. 30, at 1:20 p.m.,
Officers received a report of a person making criminal threats in the 1700 block of 15th Street. When officers arrived, they were advised by the victim that the suspect came over to her residence and threatened to kill her and her family because of some prior argument. A witness confirmed this information and officers arrested the suspect for making criminal threats and a probation violation. She was identified as Jannette Chaidez, 25, of Santa Monica Her bail was set at $50,000.
Thursday, Dec. 2, at 2:40 p.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol near the corner of Sixth Street and Santa Monica Boulevard when they observed a person walk up to another and strike him in the face with his fist. The victim fell to the ground as a result of the punch. The suspect stood over the victim and continued to beat him, police said. As officers got out of their patrol car, the suspect allegedly took a fighting stance as if he was going to attack the officers. Police were able to take him into custody. The victim said he did not know why the suspect hit him. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for battery, obstruction and public fighting. He was identified as Anthony Lomas, 23, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $500.
Thursday, Dec. 2, at 12:27 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1200 block of 12th Street regarding a possible gunshot fired in an apartment. The reporting party said they heard a man yelling inside an apartment, heard a gunshot and the yelling stopped. When officers arrived, they made contact with the man inside the residence. The man said he was cleaning and had a gun. However, later the suspect said he did not have a gun. SWAT and the Crisis Negotiation Team responded. After 90 minutes of talking with the suspect, he exited the residence. Officers searched the residence and did not see any signs of a gun being fired. The suspect was arrested for obstruction. He was identified as Jeffrey Johnson, 45, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $10,000.
Saturday, Dec. 4, at 5:15 a.m.,
Officers responded to Shutters on the Beach regarding a report of unknown trouble. When officers arrived, they were met by a woman in her underwear. She told officers that she and her boyfriend had been out at a club in West Hollywood and drank several bottles of wine and were “very drunk.” They took a taxi back to their hotel. Once they entered the room, they became involved in an argument. The victim said she thought she hit the suspect, but not more than once and that she never bit him. She could not remember because she was so drunk, police said. She said her boyfriend strangled her while she was on the bed. She feared for her safety and ran to the lobby to call for help. Officers talked to the boyfriend who said he had locked himself out of the room. Once inside, he said his girlfriend started hitting and biting him. The suspect attempted to restrain her and may have put his hands on her neck. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for domestic violence. He was identified as Fred Pletcher, 44, of Vancouver. His bail was set at $20,000.
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