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, Nov. 25, at 9:55 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the area of Main Street and Bicknell Avenue regarding a report of an armed robbery that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victims who said they were robbed by two men who said they had a gun. After taking the property, the suspects fled in an older model Honda Accord. Officers on patrol spotted the car in the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue and attempted a traffic stop. The suspects failed to yield and a short pursuit ensued. The suspects fled eastbound on Idaho Avenue to Second Street where officers saw the passenger jump out of the car and run while the driver continued northbound. Officers chased after the suspect on foot and quickly apprehended him. Additional officers continued chasing the driver until he too jumped from the moving vehicle on the 800 block of Second Street. After a short foot pursuit, he was taken into custody. The unmanned car traveled approximately 100 feet before sideswiping three parked cars and coming to a stop. The vehicle turned out to be stolen out of Los Angeles, police said. The suspects were positively identified and were transported to the Santa Monica Jail and booked for multiple violations, including robbery, vehicle theft, and conspiracy. During a follow up investigation, it was determined that the suspects were also responsible for three additional street robberies in Los Angeles and one attempted robbery in Los Angeles, police said. Evidence from all the robberies was recovered from the vehicle. The suspects were identified as Clement Huerta-Cruz, 18, and Osmar Davila, 25; both from Los Angeles. Bail for Huerta-Cruz was set at $50,000. No bail was set for Davila.
Sunday, Nov. 27
Santa Monica police took into custody a suspect wanted in connection with a residential burglary who had been arrested by Long Beach police. Officers said that on Nov. 14 at 1:10 p.m. they responded to the 1400 block of Washington Avenue regarding a report of a residential burglary. After an investigation, officers determined that the suspect used a brick to break a window and gain entry. Several rooms were ransacked and property was stolen. The forensics team processed the scene and was able to collect physical evidence which identified a man who had just been released from prison and was currently on parole. The same suspect was also linked to another residential burglary that took place on the 1900 block of Sixth Street on Nov. 21. The suspect was eventually booked for both burglaries. He was identified as Richard Gene Copp, 54, of Long Beach. His bail was set at $50,000.
Friday, Nov. 25, at 1:43 p.m.,
Officers responded to an apartment complex located on the 1300 block of Euclid Street regarding a trespassing complaint. When officers arrived, they learned that the suspect was a former resident of the apartment complex and had been evicted a month prior. Officers approached the suspect, who was on the balcony of his former apartment. During their conversation with him, officers felt the man was under the influence of drugs.. The suspect was placed under arrest for being under the influence of a controlled substance and a probation violation. He was identified as Tommy Burton, 57, a transient. His bail was set at $10,000.
Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 10 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a report of vandalism. When officers arrived, they made contact with a witness who said they saw a man kick a city-owned parking meter several times, causing it to break and fall to the ground. The suspect then walked off with two people toward a bowling alley. That’s where officers detained the man without incident. He was identified by the witness and placed under arrest for vandalism. Damage to the parking meter was estimated at $600. The suspect was identified as Robert Sanders, 32, a transient. His bail was set at $5,000.
Monday, Nov. 21, at 2:35 p.m.,
Officers responded to the area of Main and Bay streets regarding a report of a strong-arm robbery that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the victim who said that he was waiting at a bus stop when he was approached by the suspect. The suspect stepped in front of him and allegedly grabbed his iPhone. The victim, fearing for his safety, gave up the phone and the suspect fled westbound on Bay Street toward the beach. Officers checking the area detained the suspect in a parking lot located on the 2000 block of Ocean Avenue. The suspect was said to be in possession of an Airsoft pistol and the victim’s iPhone. The victim identified the suspect and he was placed under arrest for robbery and a probation violation. No bail was set. The suspect was identified as Jonathan Lee Atwood, 24, a transient.
Monday, Nov. 21, at 10:55 a.m.,
Officers responded to Olympic High School regarding a report of a student being detained for possession of a controlled substance. When officers arrived, they made contact with the principal who said the student, who was enrolled in the Off Campus Learning Center, was in class acting strangely. The student was taken to the principal’s office and eventually searched. During the search, school officials said they recovered hashish. The student was placed under arrest and booked for possession of concentrated cannabis. He was identified as Ryan Schweers, 18, of Santa Monica.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
