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, Sept. 13, at 8:47 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1900 block of Main Street — Star Liquor — regarding a possible burglary or robbery that just occurred. While responding to the call, officers saw a vehicle with a broken rear window fleeing eastbound on Pico Boulevard from Fourth Street at a high rate of speed. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to yield. Officers gave pursuit, following the car as it traveled on several side streets before the driver lost control and struck a parked car on the 1900 block of 11th Street. The three suspects inside the car suffered injuries and were detained for further investigation. Officers who responded to the liquor store made contact with an employee who told them that two of the suspects entered the store and stole beer from the cooler. When the suspects ran out of the store, the employee followed them to the rear alley where the driver was waiting. As the suspects jumped into the car, the employee smashed the rear window. The driver sped away. All three were detained. Two were treated at a local hospital and later transported to jail. The third suspect was not arrested at that time because of the severity of his injuries, which required hospitalization. The suspects were identified as Juan Luna, 25, of Maywood; Jonathan Ruiz, 24, of Downey; and Manuel Betancourt, 19, of Downey. Luna was charged with burglary, felony DUI, felony evading causing injury and conspiracy. His bail was set at $100,000. Ruiz was booked for burglary and conspiracy. His bail was set at $20,000. Betancourt was expected to be booked for burglary and conspiracy.
Monday, Sept. 12, at 2:08 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Sears — regarding a report of a shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said that they watched as the suspect entered the store pushing a baby stroller with no infant inside. They said she went around the store and selected several items of clothing and then placed them in the bottom rack of the stroller, covering them with a baby blanket. She then paid for other items she selected, but not two pairs of shorts. When she left the store, security detained her without incident and recovered the items. The suspect was placed under arrest and booked for petty theft. She was identified as Maria Olivera, 20, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $1,000.
Monday, Sept. 12, at 7:55 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of 20th Street regarding a report of a vehicle burglary that recently occurred. When officers arrived, officers found a silver BMW 750 with its trunk lid open. Officers made contact with the victim, who told them that a set of golf clubs were missing. Witnesses to the crime provided police with a description of the suspect’s vehicle and the license plate number, which led officers to an address in Santa Monica. Officers responded to the area of 10th Street and Carlyle Avenue, where they located the suspect vehicle. Two men were inside the car. They were detained while officers searched the vehicle and recovered the golf clubs. The suspects were placed under arrest and booked for burglary. They were identified as Adam Grunbaum, 20 and Masoud Taniwal, 23; both from Santa Monica. Bail was set at $20,000.
Tuesday, Sept. 13, at 7:58 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Sears — regarding a report of a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with security guards, who said they saw the suspect enter the store and conceal several items in a bag she was carrying. She then left the store without offering to pay for them. She was detained and admitted to store security that she planned to steal because she was homeless and had no money. During a search of the suspect, officers found a switchblade knife. The suspect was placed under arrest and booked for burglary and possession of a switch blade knife. She was identified as Jacqueline Omoyele, 38, a transient. Her bail was set at $50,000.
Wednesday, Sept. 14, at 2:03 p.m.,
Officers on routine patrol saw a driver make an unsafe right turn at Fifth Street and Colorado Avenue, nearly cutting off another vehicle. Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Main Street and found that the driver and the passenger were extremely nervous, with the passenger unable to control his shaking. The driver admitted to officers that he did not have a driver’s license and was on probation for drug-related offenses. The driver gave officers consent to search his vehicle. Officers said they recovered several baggies containing methamphetamine inside the car and in the passenger’s pocket. Both were arrested and booked for possession of a controlled substance. The suspects were identified as Parker Johnson, 30, of Sherman Oaks, and David Pringle, 46, a transient. Parker was on probation so no bail was set. Pringle had two warrants for his arrest. His bail was set at $85,000.
news@www.smdp.com
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
