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.
Thursday, July 21, at 12:56 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the 2200 block of Virginia Avenue regarding a report of men spray painting the north walls of the Virginia Avenue Park restroom. When officers arrived, they saw two men leaving the park. When the men saw the officers, they allegedly started running back into the park, exiting on Virginia Avenue. A perimeter was established and one of the men was found hiding in some bushes. The second suspect was not found. During their investigation, officers learned that the suspects were using black spray paint to put up gang graffiti at various locations within the park. The suspect, who is a documented gang member, had black paint on his hands at the time of the arrest, police said. He was also identified by witnesses. The suspect was arrested and booked for vandalism, promoting a criminal street gang, obstruction and a parole violation. He was identified as Isaias Lopez, 20, of Los Angeles. No bail was set.
Thursday, July 21, at 9:55 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 600 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a report of an assault in progress. When officers arrived, they detained a man who a witness said was striking a woman. Officers located the woman in the 700 block of Pico Boulevard. Both the suspect and the alleged victim told officers that they were arguing, but no punches were thrown. Officers spoke with the witness again. He told them that he saw the suspect yelling at the victim and after violently grabbing her, he struck her on the top of her head with a closed fist. Based on this information, officers placed the suspect under arrest for domestic battery, public intoxication and a probation violation. He was identified as Robert Herrera, 42, of Marina del Rey. His bail was set at $20,000.
Friday, July 22, at 4:18 p.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the area of 14th and Maple streets when they saw a vehicle traveling eastbound on Maple that allegedly failed to yield at a stop sign. Officers pulled the driver over to issue a citation. The driver could not provide a valid driver’s license. A computer check revealed that the driver was unlicensed and possessed two warrants for her arrest. While conducting a search of the vehicle prior to it being towed to the impound yard, officers said they found drug paraphernalia under the front passenger seat where a second suspect was seated. Both suspects were placed under arrest and transported to the Santa Monica Jail where they were booked. Kaitlin Brodie, 21, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., was booked for being an unlicensed driver, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to stop at a stop sign, a probation violation and two outstanding warrants. Her bail was set at $65,000. Jason Jolly, 22, also of Thousand Oaks, was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $250.
Thursday, July 21, at 1:16 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Bloomingdale’s — regarding two suspected shoplifters being detained by store security. When officers arrived, they made contact with security who said that the suspects are custodians who are contracted by Bloomingdale’s to clean the store each morning. Due to recent thefts of property from the stockroom over the last couple of months, cameras were installed to monitor the area. In doing so, security were able to watch as the suspects entered the stockroom and proceeded to take property and move it to another part of the stockroom. Both suspects were detained and later admitted to stealing several items each over the last several months, police said. The suspects returned some of the property before being placed under citizen’s arrest. Both were booked for burglary and conspiracy. They were identified as Abel Agustin Rodriguez, 21, of Inglewood; and Ernesto Roman, 23, of Inglewood. Bail was set at $20,000 for each.
Saturday, July 23, at 9:33 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1200 block of the beach regarding a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. When officers arrived, they made contact with the victim who said that he had recently traveled with a friend — the suspect — from Santa Rosa, Calif. and they were camping behind a lifeguard tower. During the night, the suspect suddenly attacked the victim. The victim told police that the suspect choked him and tried to poke out his eyes. At some point during the confrontation, the victim said he passed out and when he awoke a few minutes later, he noticed that the suspect had fled with his money and that he had a stab wound to his right thigh area. At the hospital, the victim provided the name of the suspect and some identifying features. He told officers he believed the suspect would try and use the money he stole to buy a Greyhound bus ticket to see his family. The victim was treated for a moderate stab wound to his right thigh and a swollen eye. Officers located the suspect at the Greyhound bus station in Los Angeles a few hours later. After confirming his identity, the suspect was placed under arrest and booked for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as David Jason Gordon, 37, of Santa Rosa, Calif. His bail was set at $50,000.
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