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 27, at 12:07 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the Von’s market located on the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding a shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke with store security who said the suspect and another man entered the grocery store. The suspect then placed a 30-pack of beer in a shopping cart and left without paying. Security placed the suspect under arrest, while the other man fled on foot. Officers took custody of the suspect, who was later booked at the Santa Monica Jail for burglary and a probation violation. He was identified as Frank Ashby, 48, of Santa Monica. He was not eligible for bail.
Sunday, March 27, at 3:44 p.m.,
Officers responded to Nordstrom at Santa Monica Place regarding a shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived, security at the mall told them that they saw the suspect enter the store, walk to the watch department, remove three watches and place them in his jacket pocket. The suspect then left the store without paying for the watches. Security tried to stop him, but he allegedly ran off. A passerby assisted security as the suspect ran down an alley. Security brought him back to the store and held him until police arrived. The suspect was booked for burglary and a probation violation. He was identified as Timmie Foreman, 51, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, March 26, at 6:21 p.m.,
Officers responded to the Sears on Colorado Avenue regarding another shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said the suspect entered the business, removed some perfume and walked to the jewelry department. There, the suspect grabbed a pair of earrings and walked to the women’s clothing area, police said. The suspect placed the earrings in her pants pocket, went upstairs and removed the perfume from its packaging. She allegedly placed the perfume in her jacket pocket and left the box on the display. She then left the store without paying for the items. Security stopped her and placed her under citizen’s arrest for theft. The suspect was booked for theft. She was identified as Florida Martinez, 29, of Los Angeles. Her bail was set at $1,000.
Friday, March 25, at 7:35 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2500 block of Kansas Street regarding a report of a man with a knife. When officers arrived, they made contact with the victim who told them that he and the suspect started arguing while making dinner. The suspect allegedly became more aggressive and grabbed two butcher knives and threatened the victim. The victim, who was letting the suspect stay at the apartment until he got back on his feet, asked the suspect to leave. When he tried to take the suspect’s belongings outside, the suspect chased him. The officers were outside as the two ran out of the apartment. Police arrested the suspect for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Matthew Claggett, 32, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $30,000.
Wednesday, March 23, at 9:08 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 2500 block of Pearl Street regarding a suspect chasing a Southern California Edison meter reader with a paid of scissors. When officers arrived, they made contact with the victim, who told them he was walking in the alley checking meters when he walked by the suspect, who was rummaging through trash cans. The SoCal Edison employee said, “Good morning,” and that’s when the suspect allegedly started cursing at him. He displayed a large pair of scissors and started walking towards the employee, who, fearing for his safety, pulled out his dog repellent and sprayed the suspect directly in the face. The suspect chased the victim for about 30 feet before stopping. He was found a short distance away by officers, who placed him under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and a probation violation. Officers recovered the scissors. The suspect was identified as Hae Lee, 57, a transient. He was not eligible for bail.
Tuesday, March 22, at 9 a.m.,
Officers served a search warrant at a home in Inglewood. During the search, officers said they found 12.73 grams of cocaine, 4.6 ounces of marijuana and a digital scale and packaging equipment. Officers located the work address of the suspect in Santa Monica. Officers contacted the suspect, David Huerta, 24, of Inglewood, who was in possession of 1.69 grams of pot and some cash, police said. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for possession of narcotics for sale and possession of marijuana for sale. His bail was set at $30,000.
Tuesday, March 22, at 12:08 p.m.,
Officers responded to the area of 20th Street and Wilshire Boulevard regarding a suspect possibly exposing his penis. When officers arrived, they saw a man hiding behind a tree who matched the description of the suspect. As officers approached him, the suspect told officers he had not taken his psych meds. As other officers arrived, the suspect told the officers, “You’re not taking me anywhere.” Officers said they could smell alcohol on his breath. When officers tried to calm the suspect down, he allegedly struck one of the cops in the chest with a closed fist. Officers were able to handcuff the suspect, who was arrested for battery on a peace officer, resisting arrest, public intoxication and a parole violation. He was identified as Robert Farlow, 40, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
Editor’s note: Crime Watch did not appear in the Friday, April 1 issue of the Daily Press because of the paper’s special April Fools’ issue.
