On Aug. 19 at about 2:15 p.m. a group of officers assigned to patrol the Downtown area due to an increase in theft-related offenses observed a male suspect, a known parolee, rummaging through a white bag that contained mail issued in another person's name. One of the officers, in plain clothes, monitored the man as he finished looking through the mail and walked away, leaving behind the bag of items and a purple bicycle next to a tree.
The belongings were ultimately collected. Uniformed officers contacted the suspect, identified as Joseph Vincent Ramirez, homeless, and asked him about the items he left on Third Street Promenade.
Ramirez, who was holding a California identification card issued to another person, told the officers that the bicycle belonged to a friend and the bag and mail were his. Ramirez gave the officers consent to look through the bag; inside, the officers located several additional pieces of mail addressed to the same person as was listed on the ID card Ramirez had in his possession. Ramirez was found to be in violation of his parole.
Joseph Vincent Ramirez, 33, was transported and booked for misappropriation of lost or stolen property, a probation violation and the parole violation. He was denied bail.
Note: Crime Watch is 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.
