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.
Saturday, June 1, at 12:55 p.m.,
Santa Monica Police officers responded to the 600 block of Wilshire Boulevard —Whole Foods — regarding a report of an assault, with several witnesses following the suspect eastbound on Wilshire. When officers arrived they located the suspect, who was allegedly uncooperative at first, but eventually complied with the officers. The alleged victim, and 80-year-old man, said he was walking out of Whole Foods with some pizza when he was slapped in the face and thrown to the ground by the suspect, who then sat on his chest, cut his hand with a knife and yelled at him. The suspect took his wallet and the pizza he just purchased. Police said they recovered the wallet, but a driver's license and $150 in cash were not recovered. The suspect was booked for robbery, elder abuse, receiving stolen property, resisting arrest and a probation violation. He was identified as Bulmaro Magallan, 29, a transient. No bail was set.
Saturday, June 1, at 6:23 p.m.,
Officers received a report of an auto burglary that just occurred near the corner of Cloverfield Boulevard and Colorado Avenue. Witnesses provided a license plate number, which returned a stolen vehicle out of Los Angeles. While responding to the call, a second report was made stating that a traffic collision had just occurred at the corner of Harvard Street and Broadway involving the suspect vehicle. The occupants were detained by officers. Police said inside the suspect vehicle was a 17-year-old who was injured. Officers made contact with the alleged victim of the auto burglary who said he was walking to his car at the Colorado Center when he saw a black Honda parked alongside his car. Sensing something wasn't right, the man backed up and recorded the license plate and called police. The Honda then sped away and out of sight. While driving on Broadway the suspects failed to stop at a stop sign and collided with another vehicle. After being identified by the alleged victim and receiving treatment at a local hospital, the suspects were arrested and booked for various charges, including burglary, grand theft auto and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The suspects were identified as Robert Wittman, 20, and Michael Chambers, 20, both of La Puente, Calif. Bail was set at $100,000 each.
Saturday, June 1, at 9:30 p.m.,
Officers responded to the Vons located at 1311 Wilshire Blvd. regarding a report of a suspected shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived they found security guards standing outside the store with the suspect, who was receiving treatment from the Santa Monica Fire Department. Officers were told that the suspect was seen concealing food inside his jacket. He then walked out of the store without paying. When he saw security following him, he took off running. He quickly tripped and fell to the ground, striking his head on the concrete. Meat valued at $35 fell out of his jacket, police said. The suspect was transported to a local hospital for treatment and then placed under arrest for burglary. He was identified as Brian Thompson, 32, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, June 1, at 10:35 p.m.,
Officers responded to the beach parking lot located on the 1400 block of Pacific Coast Highway regarding a traffic accident that escalated into a fist fight. When officers arrived they saw one vehicle with heavy front-end damage attempting to leave. A second car with damage to the driver's side rear was parked by the Santa Monica Pier's pedestrian bridge. As officers approached the first car, the driver continued to idle forward. Officers ordered him to stop, but he continued driving. Police said an officer reached for the driver's arm, at which point he allegedly pushed the officer away. The officer grabbed the suspect and a struggle ensued. The suspect was taken to the ground with help from other officers and placed under arrest. The driver of the second car said he was in line waiting to leave the parking lot when the other car hit him at a high rate of speed. He got out of his car to exchange insurance information, at which time he said the driver of the first car and his passenger got out, said they were gang members and told the victim to leave. He didn't. That's when the two alleged gang members began beating the driver about the head and face, knocking him to the ground. Witnesses in the area pulled the suspects off the driver and called 911. Both suspects were arrested. Aswad Humphries, 37, of Los Angeles was booked for resisting arrest, assault and battery, and hit and run. His bail was set at $20,000. Don Taylor, 31, of Los Angeles, was booked for assault and battery. His bail was set at $20,000.
Thursday, May 30, at 5:10 a.m.,
Officers on patrol were driving through a parking lot located at 1550 Pacific Coast Highway when they saw three men exit a red Ford Explorer. One of the men raised his arm in the air and, using what looked like a key or some access device, activated the Explorer's alarm. Officers ran the Explorer's plates and learned that it had been stolen out of North Hollywood. Offices followed the suspects and found the device in the sand near them. They went back to the car and used the device to unlock the car. They went back to the suspect who was first seen with it and placed him under arrest for grand theft auto. He was identified as Rene Serrano, 18, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $35,000.
editor@www.smdp.com
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
