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.
Tuesday, July 10, at 10:27 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to Pacific Coast Highway at the California Incline regarding a report of an assault that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with a man who said he was driving south on PCH when he was cut off by another driver who suddenly pulled out of a driveway in the 500 block of PCH. The man honked his horn and had to stop suddenly to avoid hitting the other car. The alleged victim said the other driver continued to brake hard as if he was trying to get the other to ram into him. The driver who was cut off pulled ahead of the other and eventually stopped on the side of the road because he felt the suspect was driving too close behind him. The suspect allegedly followed, got out of his car and pulled out a machete and threatened the other with it. The victim told the suspect that he was going to call the police, at which point the suspect allegedly drove forward, striking the victim in the legs. The victim, who was not injured, moved to the side and the suspect left. Officers eventually located the suspect in one of the beach parking lots. He was positively identified and the machete was recovered. The suspect was placed under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and exhibiting a deadly weapon. He was identified as Rolando Antonio Menendez, 71, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $30,000.
Tuesday, July 10, at 1:40 a.m.,
Officers were on patrol along the 900 block of 12th Street when they saw a vehicle towing a trailer with no tail lights, a violation of the vehicle code. Officers pulled the driver over on the 1300 block of Montana Avenue and made contact with those inside. Both the driver and passenger told officers that they were on probation and both consented to a search. Officers said the passenger was found to be in possession of a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. The suspect was placed under arrest and transported to the Santa Monica Jail where officers said two baggies of meth were found inside his wallet. The suspect was ultimately booked for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia and a probation violation. He was identified as David Alvarado, 27, of Corona, Calif. His bail was set at $10,000.
Wednesday, July 11, at 3:49 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard regarding a report of a sexual assault suspect who was being followed by the boyfriend of a victim. The suspect was detained on the 1200 block of Sixth Street by officers. After the suspect was identified, he allegedly tried to run from officers. He was taken to the ground and handcuffed. Officers then turned their attention to the boyfriend and his girlfriend, who told officers she was walking alone on the 700 block of Santa Monica Boulevard when she felt someone grab and squeeze her butt twice. The woman said she spun around and slapped the suspect on the left arm. She scolded him while the suspect just stood there and laughed. She then called her boyfriend, who responded within minutes and confronted the suspect, telling him he was calling the police. The suspect was booked for sexual battery, resisting arrest and a traffic warrant. He was identified as Keith Fleming, 24, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,565.
Wednesday, May 23, at 7:05 p.m.,
Officers working the front lobby of the Public Safety Facility were contacted by two Santa Monica High School students who said someone had brandished a firearm at them earlier in the day. They told officers that as they left the campus a group of Latino men were standing at the corner of Seventh Street and Pico Boulevard. The group began whistling at the students and yelling, “This is Santa Monica Gang.” Fearing the group wanted to fight, the students kept walking toward their car, which was parked at the Civic Center. The students drove off and picked up a friend at L&L Hawaiian Barbecue. While there they were confronted by the same group of men, one of whom lifted up his shirt and displayed a large caliber handgun. The group began yelling profanities and racial slurs, stating that they “could finish this right now,” police said. The students were able to drive away. Investigators assigned to the case were able to identify one of the suspects involved and on July 16 served a search warrant with the assistance of the SWAT team at the home of one of the suspects. A 24-year-old man was taken into custody and a handgun was recovered at the home, which is located on the 1500 block of Princeton Street. The suspect was booked for assault with a deadly weapon and participating in a criminal street gang. He was identified as Masoud Skamm Taniwal. His bail was set at $90,000.
Friday, July 13, at 8:51 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Bloomingdale’s — regarding a report of two shoplifters in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke with security who said the women walked into the store with several bags and placed two wallets and a cell phone case inside of them. They then left without offering to pay. Security detained them, recovered the stolen items and called police. Items belonging to other stores in the area were also found. The suspects were arrested and booked for burglary, conspiracy and petty theft with a prior. They were identified as Beranna Moody, 27, and Alicia Brown, 23; both from Los Angeles. Moody’s bail was set at $20,000. No bail was set for Brown.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
