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.
Sunday, May 26, at 8:08 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the rear parking lot of the Serenity Manor located at 1458 26th St. regarding a man who just assaulted a security guard with a large metal pipe. When officers arrived they saw the suspect in the parking lot with the approximately 18-inch pipe in his hands. The suspect allegedly took a fighting stance and threatened to beat the officers with the pipe. Officers ordered the suspect to drop the pipe, but he instead raised it over his head and began walking toward the officers. Police used a Taser to take down the suspect, but it didn't work. The suspect pulled out the Taser darts from his chest and rose to his feet with the pipe and continued walking toward the cops. Police told the man to stop or they would use lethal force. He turned and ran from the officers. Police chased him and used the Taser again; this time it worked. The suspect was handcuffed. Numerous people told officers that the suspect had been kicked out of Serenity Manor, which helps recovering alcoholics and their families, a day earlier because he allegedly assaulted someone there. When organizers told the suspect they were calling police to escort him off the property he allegedly struck a security guard in the arm with the pipe, causing him to fall to the ground. Security guards drew their handguns and held him at bay until police arrived. The suspect was placed under arrest and booked for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, a probation violation and resisting arrest. He was identified as Nico Short, 31, a transient. No bail was set.
Sunday, May 26, at 9:40 p.m.,
Officers responded to the Mariasol restaurant located at the end of the Santa Monica Pier regarding a report of a customer who refused to pay his bill. When officers arrived they spoke with the manager, who said that the customer ate his meal and drank a beer. He then went to the restroom and allegedly tried to leave the restaurant without paying his bill. Employees confronted him and held him until police arrived. The suspect told officers that he left $40 cash on his table, $20 for his meal and $20 for a tip, but he did not have any receipt and the restaurant disputed his claim. He was placed under arrest for defrauding and innkeeper. He was identified as Michael Staley, 41, a transient. His bail was set at $500.
Sunday, May 26, at 9:33 p.m.,
Officers responded to the corner of Seventh Street and Santa Monica Boulevard regarding a report of a woman who was screaming that her boyfriend had just hit her. When officers arrived they spoke with a witness who said the couple had just entered an apartment complex on the 600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Officers could hear a man and a woman screaming from a unit in the building and went to investigate. Police said the boyfriend had scratches to his face and was bleeding. He told officers that his girlfriend was extremely drunk and started striking him following an argument. The girlfriend did not have any visible injuries. She was placed under arrest for domestic battery. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Monday, May 27, at 8:13 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1500 block of Palisades Park regarding a report of a woman who had just pulled a newly planted palm tree out of the ground, breaking it at its base. When officers arrived they spoke with a witness who identified the suspect. They told officers that for no reason the woman pulled the tree out of the ground and threw it. The suspect refused to speak with police and was subsequently placed under arrest for vandalism. She was identified as April Rangall, 42, a transient. Her bail was set at $1,000.
Friday, May 24, at 4:09 p.m.,
Officers working the Third Street Promenade were flagged down by a security guard at Sephora who told them that a woman walking away from the store had just stolen merchandise. Officers detained the woman at Third Street and Wilshire Boulevard and said they found several items from the store. The woman allegedly admitted to stealing. She was detained and searched. Officers said they found several syringes and tar heroin. The woman was ultimately booked for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, petty theft and two bench warrants. She was identified as Brittany Bregel, 28, of the Pacific Palisades, Calif. Her bail was set at $90,000.
Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m.,
Officers responded to Bloomingdale's at Santa Monica Place regarding a report of a man in custody for trying to purchase $800 worth of merchandise using a line of credit that was obtained in another person's name. When officers arrived they spoke with an employee who said they remembered the suspect from a prior encounter at the store. They notified security, who made contact with the person whose identity was used to obtain the credit. That person did not know the suspect. Security searched the suspect and found two driver's licenses with different names and a JC Penney card in the name of the same person he was claiming to be at Bloomingdale's. The suspect was placed under arrest for burglary, forgery, obtaining credit in another's name and a no-bail warrant. He was identified as Fidel Salazar Felix, 53, of Highland, Calif.
editor@www.smdp.com
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
