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, Sept. 6, at 8:18 p.m.,
Officers stopped a bicyclist for committing a vehicle code violation. Officers asked the bicyclist for some proof of ownership for the bicycle. The rider told officers he purchased the bicycle in Venice. Unconvinced, officers searched the suspect and found tools used to commit burglaries, police said. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for being in possession of stolen property, possession of burglary tools and a vehicle code violation. He was identified as James Humphrey, 49, a transient. His bail was set at $46,000.
Monday, Sept. 7, at 11:49 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Sears — regarding a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said the suspect entered the store and removed socks and a DVD from the shelves and tried to conceal them. He then allegedly left the store, failing to pay for the items. Once outside the store, the suspect, Juan Martinez, 27, of Pasadena, was confronted by store security and detained until police arrived. Officers placed Martinez under arrest for petty theft. His bail was set at $1,000.
Monday, Sept. 7, at 3:33 p.m.,
Officers were patrolling Parking Structure 4 in the 1300 block of Second Street when they observed a person loitering in the structure. Officers made contact with the individual. As officers questioned the suspect they discovered the suspect was on parole. Officers searched his vehicle and located marijuana and rock cocaine, police said. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance and loitering. He was identified as Johnny Gillespie, 62, of Santa Monica. He was not eligible for bail.
Sunday Sept. 6, at 12:50 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2400 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding a report of an assault that recently occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim who said a man threw several things at him, including a cement block. The victim told officers that the suspect had vandalized or damaged his business and that on this occasion he ordered the suspect to leave. The suspect allegedly became agitated and assaulted the business owner. As officers tried to detain the suspect, he tried to fight them, police said. The suspect, Jon Worsley, 43, a transient, was eventually taken into custody and booked for assault with a deadly weapon. His bail was set at $30,000.
Monday, Aug. 31, at 9:17 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 800 block of Broadway — Swingers — regarding vandalism in progress. When officers arrived at the restaurant, they spoke with a witnesses who said they observed a man use a tool to etch into glass. The witness stated that there were three people who took part in the vandalism. During their investigation, officers located similar vandalism on several glass windows in the area. Officers detained three individuals nearby that matched the description given by the witness who made the original call. Officers believed the three were responsible and placed them under arrest for vandalism. Two of the suspects were 17 years old, and the third was identified as Dwayne Mitchell, 19, of Santa Monica. He was not eligible for bail. The juveniles were released to their parents.
Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 2:17 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1100 block of Ocean Park Boulevard regarding a report of a man yelling in an apartment complex. When officers arrived, they saw a man outside the apartment complex. The man said he was locked out and was trying to get his backpack from a friend who lived in the building. The man allegedly was screaming the resident’s name out. The screaming is what initiated the call to police. After speaking with the man for a few moments, the officers felt he was intoxicated. He would not follow instructions and tried to grab an officer’s radio, police said. The officer tried to detain the suspect, who became more noncompliant. The suspect was placed under arrest and booked for assault on an officer, resisting arrest and public intoxication. He was identified as Reed Lucas, 33, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
Friday, Sept. 4, at 2:09 a.m.,
An officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of Neilson Way and Bay Street for a vehicle code violation. As the officer tried to get the driver to pull over, the driver allegedly tried to evade, forcing the officer to drive in front of the suspect’s car to prevent it from continuing to accelerate. The officer determined the driver was under the influence of alcohol. He was arrested and booked. The driver was identified as Brandon Manning, 27, of Venice. His bail was set at $5,000.
