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, July 26, at 8 p.m.,
Police officers took into custody a man who they believe was responsible for vandalizing more than 20 restaurants over the last few months. Police received a valuable tip on July 2 when the owner of The Yard restaurant on Broadway called them to report damage to his restaurant’s awning. The owner told police that he was sitting outside his restaurant that night when he saw an older white pickup truck stop in front. A man got out and threw a coffee cup containing some kind of oily substance onto the awning, causing extensive damage. He then drove off. The owner was able to write down the license plate number and gave it to officers. Damage to the awning was estimated at $4,000. The description given by the owner of the suspect was consistent with that of a suspect who vandalized 20 other restaurant awnings, police said. Officers were able to track down the pickup by using the license plate number and conducted a surveillance operation in Malibu. Officers eventually located the suspect on the beach and took him into custody without incident. He was transported to the Santa Monica Jail and booked for felony vandalism. He was identified as Barry Wagner, 51, a transient from Whittier, Calif. His bail was set at $20,000.
Wednesday, July 26, at 4:45 a.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the 900 block of Ocean Avenue when they observed a male suspect riding his bike on the wrong side of the street. Offices pulled the man over to issue a citation. While talking with the suspect, officers learned that he was on parole for grand theft auto. When asked about the bike, the suspect said he came to Santa Monica from San Bernardino to purchase the beach cruiser from a homeless person for $20. The suspect could not provide the name of the man or his contact information. The suspect admitted that the bike was probably stolen since he purchased it for such a low amount. Officers believed the bike belonged to someone living on the 900 block of Montana Avenue. They placed the suspect under arrest for possession of stolen property and a parole violation. He was identified as Ezequiel Bermudez, 46, of San Bernardino, Calif. No bail was set.
Wednesday, July 26, at 8:45 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 700 block of Raymond Avenue regarding a report of a suspect trespassing on a vacant property. When officers arrived, they located the suspect in the backyard of the property. He was passed out. Resting on his foot was a glass pipe with a white residue consistent with methamphetamine, police said. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation. He was identified as Eric Thomas Ambrose, 33, a transient.
Thursday, July 27, at 2:29 p.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol on the 1900 block of Colorado Avenue when they saw a man they knew was on parole for assault. Officers conducted a consensual search of the suspect’s backpack and recovered a prescription pill bottle with several different medications inside. The pills were identified as hydrocodone, morphine sulfate and Diazepam. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance and for a parole violation. Police did not provide the suspect’s name. No bail was set.
Friday, July 28, at 6:09 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2000 block of Lincoln Boulevard — Jack in the Box — regarding a report of domestic violence. When officers arrived, they made contact with the victim, who was seated in her vehicle located on the 800 block of Grant Street. The victim told officers that she and her husband, who allegedly had been drinking alcohol, began arguing after the fast food joint did not have a particular meal he wanted. The husband then demanded to drive and the victim refused to let him since he had been drinking. The argument led to a physical altercation. The suspect allegedly began choking the victim and struck her in the face while yelling that he was going to kill her. The suspect fled when he realized police had been called. The victim suffered minor injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene. The suspect was detained in the 2300 block of 10th Street. He was booked for attempted murder, domestic violence, making criminal threats, damaging a cell phone and a probation violation. He was identified as Daryl Wayne Sellers, 53, of Los Angeles. No bail was set.
Saturday, July 30, at 6:50 a.m.,
Officers responded to the area of Pico Boulevard and Ninth Street regarding a report of a commercial burglary that occurred a few hours earlier. When officers arrived, they made contact with a witness who said that she was awakened by a loud bang outside her window around 2 a.m. When she looked outside, she said she saw two men taking property from the adjacent automotive business. The suspects were seen walking into an apartment on Ninth Street. Officers went to the apartment and made contact with the occupants. Property from the business was found inside the apartment and the witness positively identified one of the suspects. Officers placed two men in the apartment under arrest for burglary. They were identified as Jamerson MacKinnley, 22; and Horace Harris, 36; both from Oakland, Calif. Both were held on $50,000 bail each.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
