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, Aug. 31, at 12:02 a.m.,
Santa Monica officers were on routine patrol in the 1400 block of Ninth Street when they observed two people riding bikes without lights. Officers stopped the suspects to write them a citation. During their investigation, officers searched the riders’ backpacks for identification and said they found over 3 grams of psilocybin, a hallucinogen known as magic mushrooms. Officers arrested Giovanni Figueroaobando, 25, for possession of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $10,000. According to police records, Figueroaobando was arrested on his birthday.
Sunday, Aug. 15, at 3:38 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1300 block of Ocean Avenue regarding a report of someone trespassing on private property. When officers arrived, they made contact with a security guard who said that a man was refusing to leave. Officers contacted the man, who said he was just trying to find a place to sleep. Security wanted to press charges so the suspect was arrested for trespassing after he refused to leave the location. He was identified as Leon Redus, 52, of Arkansas. His bail was set at $500.
Friday, Sept. 3, at 4:48 a.m.,
Officers were on patrol in the area of Fourth Street and Santa Monica Boulevard when a man came running up to their vehicle. The man said he was collecting cans out of the trash can near the rear of REI when a homeless man who was sleeping behind the trash can jumped up and started yelling at him. The alleged victim advised the suspect that he would only be a few minutes. The suspect then pulled out some box cutters and allegedly lunged at the victim. The victim, fearing for his life, ran away and contacted officers. Officers located the suspect and arrested him for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Enrique Perez, 21, a transient. His bail was set at $30,000.
Friday, Sept. 3, at 2:28 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 200 block of Broadway (Nordstrom) regarding a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said the suspect entered the store, went to the men’s section and removed belts and placed them in his pants before leaving the store without paying for the items. Security detained the suspect and called police. Officers searched the suspect and said they found other items that belonged to Nordstrom. Officers said they also found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamines. Officers arrested the suspect for burglary, a probation violation and possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was identified as Fred Andrews, 35, a transient. He was not eligible for bail.
Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 11:45 a.m.,
Officers responded to the corner of 14th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard regarding an assault that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim who said the suspect, whom she has known for 10 years, invited her into his van. The suspect told the victim that she owed his father $200. The victim denied that she owed any money. The suspected allegedly started driving the vehicle and stopped in an alley. The suspect then struck the victim in the face several times, police said. The suspect reached into the victim’s pocket and removed $40. The suspect then told the victim to get out of the vehicle. She did and he drove away. As officers were writing the report, the victim called and stated the suspect was back in the area of 14th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. Officers returned to the area and located the suspect and his vehicle. As officers checked the suspect’s vehicle, they located a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine. Officers also located rock cocaine and Oxycodone pills inside of the vehicle, police said. Officer arrested the suspect, Bradley Pearce, 56, of Santa Monica, for robbery, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia and a probation violation. His bail was set at $50,000.
Wednesday, Sept. 1, at 2:43 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard (Zvezda) regarding a theft that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with store employees who said that two suspects — one male and one female — entered the store and one distracted a worker while the other removed a bracelet. The worker did not notice the item had been removed until she asked the suspects to leave the store. As the suspects were leaving, the man allegedly tried to steal a shawl. The suspects fled and the worker lost sight of them. Later that night, someone working next door saw the suspects at the Vons on Seventh Street and Broadway. The witness followed the suspects and contacted police. Officers detained the suspects, one of whom was allegedly wearing the stolen bracelet. Both were identified by the employee at Zvezda and were placed under arrest for burglary. They were identified as Douglas Saim, 52, a transient, and Ruth Cowan, 61, a transient. Bail was set at $20,000.
Monday, Sept. 6, at 1:02 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue (Sears) regarding a theft suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said that the suspect entered the store, removed a pair of pants and left the store without paying for them. Security detained the suspect and he was arrested for theft. He was identified as Robby Vavra, 47. No other information was provided. His bail was set at $20,000.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
