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.
Monday, July 4, at 6:25 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers were on routine patrol in the area of Lincoln and Pico boulevards when they were flagged down by a man who said he had just been beaten up and robbed. The victim, who said his cell phone was stolen, told officers the suspects were riding in a green Honda that was traveling east on Pico and provided a license plate number to the officers as well. Officers caught up to the vehicle at Pico and 22nd Street and a felony traffic stop was conducted at Centinela Avenue. The victim told officers that he was standing on the southeast corner of Lincoln and Pico using his phone when one of the suspects approached him and suddenly struck him in the face with a clenched fist and then took his device. The victim was able to tackle the suspect as he tried to run to a waiting vehicle. The victim said that as they went to the ground, two more suspects got out of the car and beat him until he let the first suspect go. All three then jumped into the Honda and a fourth suspect drove them away from the scene. All four were placed under arrest. The victim’s phone was recovered, along with several other phones that appeared to be stolen as well. Detectives were able to later link the suspect’s to two earlier robberies in the LAPD’s Pacific Division. The four suspects were identified as Xzavier Savery, 19, a 16-year-old juvenile; Derrick Johnson, 18; and Isaac Jernigan, 19. All are residents of Inglewood. Bail was set at $50,000 for the adults. Three counts of robbery were filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, police said.
Friday, July 1, at 2:10 p.m.,
Officers responded to the Nike Store at Santa Monica Place regarding suspects in custody who tried to pay for $1,000 worth of merchandise with two bogus gift cards. When officers arrived, they made contact with the suspects and determined that they had already used similar stolen or fraudulent credit cards to make purchases at several other Santa Monica stores. Both were placed under arrest and booked for burglary, grand theft, and fraudulent use of an access card. The suspects were identified as Jason Smith, 35, and Branden Finley, 36; both from Los Angeles. Bail was set at $20,000 each.
Friday, July 1, at 7:25 p.m.,
Officers responded to the area of Santa Monica Boulevard and Berkeley Street regarding a drunk guy walking in and out of traffic. When officers arrived on scene, they saw a man passed out on a sidewalk. Officers made contact with the man and determined he was too drunk to take care of himself. They placed him under arrest for public intoxication and transported him to the Santa Monica Jail. He was identified as Hector Ruiz Hernandez, 34, a transient. His bail was set at $250.
Saturday, July 2, at 1:48 a.m.,
Officers were on patrol in the 700 block of Wilshire Boulevard when they saw a suspicious man standing near the rear of several businesses that were closed. Officers made contact with the suspect, who allegedly admitted to being a felon in possession of narcotics for sale. The suspect was searched and officers found a clear Zip-Lock baggy containing meth. The suspect was placed under arrest for drug possession. He was identified as Richard Price, 35, of Santa Monica. No bail was set.
Saturday, July 2, at 2:21 p.m.,
Officers working on the beach responded to a radio call about a man who was drunk near Tower 18. When officers arrived, they made contact with witnesses who said the suspect was extremely intoxicated and could not care for himself or the 9-year-old boy who was with him. Police said the suspect was passing out face-first in the sand. Officers tried to place him under arrest, but the suspect allegedly became combative. Officers used their Taser to subdue him. He was arrested and booked for public intoxication, obstruction and willful cruelty to a child. He was identified as Antonio Cherez, 34, of Sun Valley. His bail was set at $15,000.
Saturday, July 2, at 5 p.m.,
Officers were investigating a report of a prowler on the 1200 block of Oak Street when they found a wallet they believed was left behind by the suspect. Officers went to the 600 block of Marine Street and found the owner of the wallet, who told officers that she lost the wallet when it was stolen from her locker at work. On July 4, officers identified a suspect in connection with the theft, along with several other auto burglaries. Officers spoke with the suspect’s family and he later turned himself in to police. The suspect cooperated with officers and was arrested for burglary and a probation violation. He was identified as Zachary Wolf, 18, of Santa Monica. No bail was set.
Sunday, July 3, at 8:53 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue regarding a 911 caller who told dispatch that he had just shot his mother while at the beach. When officers arrived, they located the caller and determined he was mentally unstable due to heavy drug use. There was no shooting, police said. Officers searched the suspect and found a meth pipe and he was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia. The suspect was identified as Mettric Jelks, 36, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $250.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
