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, Feb. 24, at 3:55 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the corner of Lincoln and Pico boulevards regarding a report of a fight in progress. When officers arrived, they saw several groups of students congregating in the area, but no one was fighting. While watching the group, they saw someone riding his bike on the southwest sidewalk in front of Tommy’s burgers. Officers made contact with the suspect near the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Bay Street to issue him a citation for riding on the sidewalk. During their conversation with the suspect, the officers asked if they could search him. He consented. During their search, officers said they found 80 illegal fireworks in the suspect’s pockets. He was placed under arrest for possession of dangerous fireworks and riding a bicycle on a sidewalk. The suspect was identified as Ronnie Lynn Vaughn Jr., 18, of Venice, Calif. His bail was set at $500.
Friday, Feb. 24, at 5:14 a.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the 2500 block of Main Street when they conducted a periodic check of a business where homeless people were known to camp. In doing so, officers said they found two people camping at the rear of the business. Officers made contact with the campers, one of whom was new to the area. He was warned that camping is illegal in Santa Monica and released. The second camper was a regular in Santa Monica and had been advised several times before about the camping law. Officers placed the man under arrest. While searching the suspect, officers said they found a fraudulent California driver’s license. The suspect was eventually booked for trespassing and possession of deceptive government identification. He was identified as Derek Earl Taylor, 56, a transient. His bail was set at $1,000.
Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 1:25 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1400 block of Second Street — Jinky’s Café — on a report that a woman was refusing to pay for her food. When officers arrived, they contacted the manager who said the suspect entered the restaurant, placed her order and after eating asked staff if she could have an “IOU.” The suspect had no money to pay for her meal and she was placed under arrest. Once at the police station, the officers determined that the suspect had a warrant for a prior theft. The suspect was booked for defrauding an innkeeper and the warrant. She was identified as Taneshia Sandershaynes, 35, a transient. Her bail was set at $500.
Wednesday, Feb. 22, at 8 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 800 block of Idaho Avenue regarding a theft that just occurred. When officers arrived, they learned that a man had just stole a beach cruiser that was locked to a pole in the 800 block of Idaho and proceeded to walk away toward Wilshire Boulevard with the bike. Officers located the suspect and the bicycle at a nearby bus stop. A witness identified the suspect as the one who stole the bike. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for possession of stolen property and a warrant for public intoxication. The suspect was identified as Jeffrey Ward Hill, 50, of Culver City, Calif. His bail was set at $750.
Monday, Feb. 20, at 11:15 p.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the 2100 block of Alley 8 when they saw a suspicious man walking away from an area where there had been several auto burglaries recently. Officers made contact with the suspect and learned that he was on probation and subject to a search by officers. A probationary search was conducted and officers said they found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke meth. The suspect was placed under arrest and booked for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was identified as Michael Patrick Winnen, 32, a transient. His bail was set at $10,000.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
