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.
Saturday, Dec. 24, at 10:46 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1000 block of Pico Boulevard after a couple called in to report a naked woman at their doorstep. The couple told officers that the woman showed up nude asking for help. The couple let her in the residence, provided her with clothing and called police. Officers said the woman was laughing uncontrollably and would suddenly fall asleep as she was talking with officers. She did not know where she was and could not explain how she got to the home with no clothes on. Believing she was under the influence of drugs, officers placed the woman under arrest. She was booked for being under the influence of a controlled substance and her bail was set at $2,500. She was identified as Rachel Szpunar, 31, of Los Angeles.
Saturday, Dec. 24, at 12:55 a.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the 400 block of Wilshire Boulevard when they saw a vehicle heading eastbound on Wilshire Boulevard with one of its headlights out. As they followed the vehicle, officers said they noticed the driver was swerving. They conducted a traffic stop at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Ninth Street. During the stop, officers said they could smell alcohol and asked the woman to step out of the car. She allegedly told officers that she had consumed alcohol an hour before getting into the car and consented to performing a set of field sobriety tests. After the tests were completed, officers felt the driver was under the influence of alcohol and placed her under arrest for DUI. While at the Santa Monica Jail, officers learned that the suspect lied about her identity to try and hide the fact that she had a suspended license for a previous DUI conviction, police said. The false information charge was added and her bail set at $15,000. She was identified as Gaby Nyois Moretta, 29.
Friday, Dec. 23, at 3:40 p.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the area of Colorado Avenue and 17th Street when they observed a man on a bicycle who appeared to be tampering with a parked car. Officers made a U-turn, at which time the bicyclist rode off and the parked car pulled away from the curb. Officers were behind the vehicle when the driver allegedly failed to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk at the corner of 17th Street and Broadway. Officers conducted a traffic stop and determined that the driver was unlicensed. As he exited the car, officers said they saw several bindles of cocaine on the driver’s side floorboard. Officers searched further and found more bindles of cocaine and methamphetamine hidden throughout the car. The driver was placed under arrest for possession and transportation of a controlled substance. He was identified as Isreal Hernandez-Cruz, 32, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $30,000.
Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 9:45 p.m.,
Officers responded to Santa Monica Place — Ben Bridge Jeweler — regarding an attempted armed robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the store manager and several witnesses who said that the suspect entered the store around 9:45 p.m. wearing a dark colored hoodie and a black ski mask. The suspect then produced a handgun and ordered the employees to get back. He then attempted to break a glass display containing Cartier watches. He failed after two attempts and eventually ran out of the store toward Fourth Street. Detectives were able to identify the suspect and took him into custody on Dec. 23. The suspect, who turned out to be a security guard at Santa Monica Place, was booked for attempted robbery and an outstanding warrant. He was identified as Gerald Rogers, 28, of Inglewood. His bail was set at $50,416.
Friday, Dec. 16, at 8:24 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 3200 block of Wilshire Boulevard — BevMo — after receiving a call that a suspected thief had returned to the store. When officers arrived, employees told them that the suspect made off with over $350 worth of wine in November and threatened employees who tried to confront him. When the suspect returned, a manager tried to stall him until police arrived, but the suspect fled. Officers were able to identify the suspect and arrested him while he was driving in the 2400 block of Ocean Park Boulevard on Dec. 22. He was taken into custody without incident, police said. He was booked for robbery, violation of probation and two outstanding warrants. He was identified as Darrell Wilbert Allums, 53, a transient. His bail was set at $57,500.
Wednesday, Dec. 21, at 12:40 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Sears — regarding a report of a shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said the suspect entered the store, took some shirts off the sales rack and then grabbed some earrings. She allegedly hid the earrings on her but paid for the shirts. When she left, security confronted her. She was cited and released. The suspect was identified as Lopez Pastora, 59, of Los Angeles.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
