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, Sept. 12, at 12:50 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1800 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a report of an assault that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with a woman who said that she was just assaulted and had her cell phone stolen from her by her ex-boyfriend. She said that she and the ex were both students at Santa Monica College until their break-up earlier this year. They dated for approximately one year, police said. She went on to say that she takes the bus to school and this morning noticed her ex riding the same bus. When she got off at 18th Street and Pico Boulevard, she told officers that the ex walked up behind her, grabbed the back of her neck and made some comment about a guy she was supposed to be dating. The suspect then took her cell phone and walked off. Officers from the Santa Monica College Police Department assisted in the investigation by looking for and locating the suspect, who is a student at the school. Officers searched the suspect and found the victim's cell phone. The suspect was placed under arrest for robbery and battery. The suspect was identified as Aaron Fort, 18, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $50,000.
Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 8:02 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 600 block of Wilshire Boulevard — 7-Eleven — regarding a report of an intoxicated man using the payphone outside the store to call 911 several times. When officers arrived, they made contact with the suspect, who was on the payphone with SMPD dispatch. The suspect first questioned who the officers were and then asked for a ride to West Los Angeles. The suspect was displaying obvious signs of being drunk and was unable to care for himself, police said. A records check showed that the suspect had called 911 six times that day and multiple times the day before. The fire department even went out to assist him. The suspect was placed under arrest for abusing the 911 system and for being drunk in public. He was identified as Edward Gaynor, 46, a transient. His bail was set at $500.
Friday, July 13, at 3:30 p.m.,
A community service officer responded to Gooding & Co., a classic car auction house located at 1517 20th St., regarding a report of embezzlement. When officers arrived, an executive with the company told them that an employee who worked as an assistant to the president of the company was allowed to make purchases on his behalf. From May 2011 until her termination in June of 2012, the suspect is believed to have embezzled more than $16,000 from the company through numerous purchases for personal goods and services, such as gifts, airline tickets and dinners. The alleged thefts were discovered when company purchases were audited. The employee admitted to them and was fired, police said. On Sept. 11 at 2:30 p.m., the suspect was arrested by detectives for embezzlement and grand theft. She was identified as Brittany Sochard, 28, of San Francisco. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Sunday, Sept. 9, at 6:41 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 2300 block of Virginia Avenue regarding a report of a woman who refused to pay her cab fare. When officers arrived, they made contact with the taxi driver who said he picked the woman up around 2:30 a.m. in La Mesa near San Diego and drove her to Santa Monica. She paid $70 for the gas and went into her apartment for the rest of the $350 fare. When she returned about an hour later, the taxi driver said she did not have the money, so he called police. The woman was placed under arrest for defrauding an innkeeper. She was identified as Stephanie Metzier, 35, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $500.
Saturday, Sept. 8, at 4:57 p.m.,
Officers were on patrol in the 1500 block of Ocean Avenue when they saw a man smoking a cigarette in Palisades Park, a violation of the municipal code. When officers made contact with the suspect, he said that he did not have any identification on him. A computer check revealed that the man was on probation and subject to a search. Officers said they found methamphetamine in his backpack and placed him under arrest for possession of a controlled substance, a probation violation and smoking in a public park. The suspect was identified as Jermaine McCraw, 38, of Los Angeles. No bail was set.
Saturday, Sept. 8, at 4:15 p.m.,
Officers set up a perimeter near Third Street and Bicknell Avenue after an automated license plate reader got a hit on a stolen vehicle that was abandoned. While searching for suspects, a man drove up to officers and told them that he recognized a woman who was currently being detained within the perimeter. He told officers that she, another woman and a man tried to steal some of his stuff while he was at a beach parking lot with two girlfriends. He said he and his friends were transferring items from one car to another in the parking lot when they saw three people rifling through their stuff. When he confronted the three, a man produced a cell phone that belonged to the victims and apologized for taking it. The three then fled before the man could get their names. Officers searched the suspects inside the perimeter and said they found a shaved car key used to steal cars. Police placed three people under arrest after they were identified by the man from the attempted beach robbery. They were booked for grand theft auto. They were identified as Fabiola Payan, 23, of Newhall, Calif.; Armando Morales, 43, of Sylmar, Calif., and Priscilla Gomez, 39, of Pacoima, Calif. Bail was set at $35,000 for Payan and Morales. Gomez was on parole at the time of the arrest and no bail was set.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
