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.
Friday, March 14, at 9:20 p.m.,
A Santa Monica Police officer responded to the 2600 block of Wilshire Boulevard — Sonny McLean's Irish Pub — regarding a customer who was refusing to pay for his meal. When the officer arrived he met an employee who pointed the suspect out. The employee said the man refused to pay and wanted to go to jail. The officer took the suspect into custody for defrauding an innkeeper. He was identified as Craig William Clark, 60, of Malibu, Calif. His bail was set at $500.
A day later at 9:45 a.m., police responded to the Denny's located at 1560 Lincoln Blvd. regarding a report of two people refusing to pay for their meals. When officers arrived an employee pointed out the suspects, who had ordered food and some coffee. The employee said that after the two finished their meal they told the cashier that they didn't have any money. After investigating, police said one of the men, later identified as Clark, told the other that he would buy him breakfast. Since the other believed in good faith that he was going to get his meal covered, cops let him go. Clark was placed under arrest for burglary this time around because police said they had evidence that he went into the restaurant with the intent of not paying for the meal. His bail was set at $20,000.
Sunday, March 16, at 12:45 a.m.,
Officers saw a man riding his bike along the 1300 block of Fifth Street. The cyclist didn't have a light attached to the front of his bike, a violation of the California Vehicle Code. Officers made contact with the cyclist and learned that he was on probation. When asked by cops if he had anything illegal in his possession, the man allegedly said he had a "crack pipe" in his pocket. Officers confiscated the pipe, which was in a cigarette pack. The man was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was identified as James Love, 51, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $10,000.
Friday, March 14, at 3:25 p.m.,
Officers responded to a report of a theft in the area of Ocean Avenue and Bicknell Street. When officers arrived they made contact with a woman who said she accidentally left her purse and phone at a coffee shop on the Third Street Promenade. When she returned her phone was missing. She told police that she immediately ran to the Apple Store on the promenade and had employees there track her phone. A tracking app indicated that the phone was near Ocean Avenue and Strand Street. An officer in that area saw a woman he recognized for being on probation for theft. On a hunch, he approached her and found her to allegedly be in possession of a tan purse and cellphone. Another officer brought the alleged victim to the location and she positively identified her stolen property. The suspect was placed under arrest for theft and a probation violation. She was identified as Amanda Dale Jones, 28, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $10,000.
Friday, March 14, at 3:15 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 900 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding a report of a fight in progress. When officers arrived they made contact with a woman who said she was assaulted. She told officers that she and a friend were riding on a bus to downtown L.A. when they got into an argument. They got off the bus on Wilshire and the male friend allegedly punched her in the back of the head and pushed her into some bushes. He then snatched a bag from her, which contained some personal items. An officer in the area heard the suspect's description on their police radio and detained someone matching that description at the corner of 11th Street and Wilshire. The woman was transported to that location and positively identified the suspect as the one who assaulted her and took her property. The suspect was placed under arrest for robbery. He was identified as Phillip Tyrone Young, 53, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $50,000.
Friday, March 14, at 6:20 p.m.,
Officers responded to the GAP store located at 1931 Wilshire Blvd. regarding a theft in progress. When officers arrived they detained a woman inside the store who employees said was acting suspicious. She had entered the store earlier that day and then left abruptly. When she left, GAP security went to the video tape and said they saw the woman carrying a reusable grocery bag that appeared to be full. Security checked the store and found a broken security tag and some pliers on the floor. When the woman returned, security detained her after they allegedly saw her placing more items into the same bag. An officer searched the bag and found several pairs of pliers and a cut-off security tag. An employee identified items in the bag as store merchandise. Another officer saw a Volkswagen parked in front of the store with the engine running and the keys locked inside. Officers determined that the car belonged to the suspect. They searched the car and found several pieces of clothing with security tags. But there were no receipts. The total value of the merchandise believed stolen was more than $650. Officers placed the woman under arrest for commercial burglary. She was identified as Sylvia Irene Bonilla, 51, of Culver City. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Thursday, March 13, at 10 a.m.,
Officers responded to a report of a strong-arm robbery along the 1900 block of Sixth Street. When officers arrived at the scene they made contact with a woman who said a man ran up to her and grabbed her cell phone while she was waiting for a bus on Lincoln Boulevard. She ran after the man, yelling for him to stop. A passerby on a bike heard the commotion and chased after the suspect. Both the woman and the cyclist trapped the suspect behind a secured gate. The suspect allegedly slid the woman's phone under the gate and she retrieved it. She used her phone to call police, but the suspect was able to run away. A description of the suspect was broadcast over the police radio and a man matching that description was located. The woman positively identified him as the suspect and he was placed under arrest for strong-arm robbery. He was identified as Deantre Myshaun Julian, 25, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $76,000.
kevinh@www.smdp.com
