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.
Wednesday, May 9, at 4:15 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers on routine patrol responded to the Apple Store on the Third Street Promenade after they received a report that someone set off the store’s burglar alarm. When officers arrived, they found one of the front glass doors broken out and a large sledgehammer lying on the ground. During an interior check of the store, officers could see that many items that are usually on display were missing. Surveillance video showed four suspects — two African-American men and two African-American women, all in their 20s — stealing items. Three of the suspects fled north on foot while another ran south on the promenade. Officers searched the area and found a bag hidden behind a wall at 233 Wilshire Blvd. containing several Apple computers and phones valued at approximately $31,000. During their investigation, officers said they saw a tan colored Chevy Impala driving by the scene with two black women in the front seats. Officers stopped the car and saw two black men hiding in the backseat. The women were wearing clothing that matched the clothing worn by the suspects in the surveillance video. Further evidence linking the four to the crime was allegedly found inside the vehicle. Officers placed all four suspects under arrest for conspiracy to commit a crime. The suspects were identified as: Markeishia Harris, 19, a transient; Orenthal Sanders, 19, of Los Angeles; Aaron Sanders, 18, of Los Angeles; and a 17-year-old resident of Los Angeles. The minor was transported to a juvenile hall facility with no bail. Bail was set at $20,000 for Harris and Aaron Sanders. Orenthal Sanders was held without bail because of a prior juvenile warrant.
Saturday, May 12, at 11:12 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2100 block of Delaware Avenue regarding a report of two suspicious people loitering outside a home and talking loudly about being sold bad drugs near the corner of 22nd Street and Delaware. When officers arrived, they made contact with one of the men. While speaking with him, officers learned that he had a no-bail warrant for a narcotics charge. He was placed under arrest. During a search, officers said they found a baggy of methamphetamine and a glass pipe. The suspect was transported to the Santa Monica Jail and booked for violation of probation and the warrant. He was identified as Michael Patrick Sammut, 40, a transient. No bail was set.
Saturday, May 12, at 8 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1600 block of 10th Street regarding a report of a suspicious man who was looking into parked cars. When officers arrived, they allegedly saw the man take several things out of his pockets and place them on the ground. As officers got closer they found some glass vials containing pot and some cash on the ground. The suspect at first denied knowing anything about the marijuana or the cash. When the officers pressed him further, the suspect allegedly admitted that the stuff was his. He was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana for sale. He was identified as Candido Valdez, 40, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Friday, May 11, at 1:26 a.m.,
Officers responded to the emergency room at Saint John’s Health Center regarding a report of a patient trying to commit healthcare fraud. When officers arrived, they made contact with a social worker at the hospital who said the patient provided documentation belonging to someone else. During the investigation, officers learned that the suspect was in possession of a forged California driver’s license and Social Security card. Further, the suspect had used the forged information to obtain services from a clinic in Venice and was now trying to obtain similar services using a different name at Saint John’s, police said. The suspect was cleared of any medical condition and placed under arrest for forgery. He was identified as Faruq Arshad, 36, of Inglewood, Calif. His bail was set at $20,000.
Friday, May 11, at 11:30 a.m.,
Officers responded to the Wells Fargo branch on the 2400 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding a report of a man trying to cash a forged check in the amount of $2,800. When officers arrived, the suspect was still inside the bank. He was taken into custody without incident. Officers spoke with the bank manager, who confirmed the check was forged, police said. The suspect was placed under arrest for trying to cash a fake check. He was identified as Michael Morgan, 52, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
Thursday, May 10, at 4:50 a.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol on the 1400 block of the Third Street Promenade when they saw a man standing at a payphone. Officers asked the man if he needed any help. The man told officers that he had tried to overdose on meth the day before and needed medical attention. Officers asked if they could search the man. He allowed them. During the search, officers said they found a baggy containing meth. He was placed under arrest and transported to jail. Once at the jail, officers said they found a folded dollar bill on the rear floorboard where the suspect was sitting. Inside the dollar bill was a white, powdery substance that was later determined to be cocaine. The suspect was eventually booked for possession of meth and cocaine. He was identified as Michael James Reiling, 23, a transient. His bail was set at $10,000.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
