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, March 25, at 9:35 p.m.,
Santa Monica Police officers traveling on Lincoln Boulevard saw a driver make an unsafe lane change, causing another driver to brake suddenly. Officers pulled the driver over and noticed in the back seat a large package of marijuana. The seatback was down and officers could see into the trunk where they said there were more packages containing the drug. Police pulled the vehicle's three occupants out and had a K-9 confirm the presence of marijuana. The driver and passengers allegedly admitted they just purchased the pot from someone in a truck. The driver said he was heading home, but couldn't find the on-ramp to Interstate 10. All three suspects were arrested, the vehicle was impounded and the drugs confiscated. The suspects were identified as Ricardo Gonzalez, 49, of Encino, Calif.; Doan Meshell Engel, 41, of Encino, Calif.; and Tamra Joan Hathaway, 48, of St. Paul, Minn. Bail was set at $100,000 for each suspect.
Saturday, March 29, at 11 p.m.,
Officers were investigating a hit-and-run traffic collision at the corner of Fifth Street and Wilshire Boulevard when they saw two women, one of whom was stumbling. Officers stopped them for questioning and felt one was drunk. Concerned for their safety, an officer called for a taxi to pick them up and take them home. As they were waiting for the cab, however, officers working the Third Street Promenade broadcasted over the radio a report of two women who allegedly left the Monsoon restaurant without paying their bill. The description of the suspects matched the two women waiting for the cab. Officers continued questioning them. The one who was allegedly drunk became agitated, clenched her fist and began kicking officers, police said. She also pulled an officer's hair. She was eventually handcuffed and booked for assault, being drunk in public and resisting arrest. She was identified as Clene Evonne Clark, 31, of Valley Village, Calif. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, March 29, at 4:25 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Bloomingdale's — regarding a report of embezzlement. When officers arrived, they spoke with store security who said two employees were under investigation for purchasing high-priced items and then issuing returns to their credit cards without actually giving the merchandise back. The estimated loss was $140,000. Both suspects were taken into custody and booked for conspiracy. They were identified as Jason Mercer, 30, and Maria Elena Quiros, 49; both from Pacific Palisades. No bail information was provided by police.
Thursday, March 27, at 1:35 p.m.,
Officers spotted a suspicious man driving in and out of several parking structures in Downtown at a high rate of speed. They saw the man allegedly make an unsafe lane change as he turned onto the eastbound Interstate 10 on-ramp. Officers conducted a traffic stop and learned that the driver did not have a valid license. He then dropped a screwdriver out of a bag he had with him while reaching for his ID card. Officers determined that the suspect was on probation and searched the car. During their search, officers said they found an envelope that contained roughly 150 concert tickets. The tickets were reported stolen from a car parked in one of the Downtown structures. The driver was taken into custody for burglary, receiving stolen property, driving with a suspended license and a probation violation. He was identified as Dominique Jason Phillips, 24, of Los Angeles. No bail was set.
Thursday, March 27, at 5:50 p.m.,
Officers and a park ranger went to Douglas Park, located at 2439 Wilshire Blvd., to investigate a report of vandalism. When they arrived they spoke with witnesses who said the suspect shattered one of the windows of a city-owned building at the park. Officers spotted the suspect a short distance away and detained him. The suspect said he was upset that his friend did not get into a rehab center so he punched the window, which cut his hand. After taking him into custody for vandalism, officers searched him and said they found .04 grams of methamphetamine in one of his pockets. The suspect was booked for vandalism and drug possession. He was identified as Daniel Hammell, 53, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $10,571.
Wednesday, March 26, at 2:45 p.m.,
An officer on bike patrol responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade regarding an assault. Witnesses told the officer that the suspect kicked and then pushed a Downtown ambassador. The suspect was located a short time later at the corner of Ocean and California avenues and placed under arrest for assault. While in custody the man allegedly admitted to the crime, saying he attacked the ambassador because his walkie-talkie was making too much noise and interrupting the music he was playing on his guitar. The suspect was identified as Anthony Vito Iovino, 47, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.
kevinh@www.smdp.com
