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.
Sunday, Dec. 18, at 12:40 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1500 block of Ocean Avenue — The Shore Hotel — regarding a report of a man who had fallen or jumped from the fourth floor balcony and was lying on the sidewalk. When officers arrived, they located the victim, who was lying semi-conscious on the sidewalk. He was treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Officers went to the man’s hotel room and made contact with two people who were inside the victim’s room. Officers learned that the three were partying when the victim allegedly went out to the balcony and jumped off. Officers searched the room and found marijuana, hydrocodone, LSD and a prescribed cough syrup. Both suspects were placed under arrest for being under the influence. The man who was injured was said to still be in critical condition with injuries throughout his head and body. His name was not released by police. The other two suspects were identified as Jet Eric Reich, 19, of Thousand Oaks; and Soo Min Kim, 20, of Los Angeles. Bail was set at $2,500 for each.
Editor's note: An earlier version of this report said the man who fell or jumped from the balcony was under the influence of drugs. The crime report provided by police did not confirm whether or not the victim was under the influence of a controlled substance.
Monday, Dec. 12, at 5:30 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 200 block of Pico Boulevard — Bay Shore Lanes — regarding a report of a woman who was unable to pay her bill. When officers arrived, they contacted the manager, who told them that the suspect ordered and ate food inside the bowling alley restaurant and then refused to pay for it, saying she had forgotten her wallet. Officers made contact with the suspect, who told them that she wanted to be taken to jail. As officers were preparing to place her under arrest, they searched her and found several receipts from restaurants outside the city. Officers called those restaurants and learned that the woman had walked out without paying her bill at each restaurant. The suspect was eventually booked for defrauding an innkeeper. She was identified as Penelope Murstein, 60, of Los Angeles. Her bail was set at $500.
Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 1:40 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1800 block of Wilshire Boulevard — Rite-Aid — regarding a shoplifter fighting with employees. When officers arrived, they made contact with the suspect and detained him. An employee told officers that the suspect was seen taking items from the shelves and then left the store without paying for them. Employees confronted the man and a struggle ensued. Employees used pepper spray to subdue the suspect. Officers searched the suspect’s jacket and recovered the stolen property and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine. The suspect was arrested and booked for robbery and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was identified as Floyd Howard, 43, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 8:25 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 3100 block of Fifth Street regarding a report of a possible robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they were contacted by the alleged victim, who said that he was inside his home when his dog suddenly began barking in the backyard. The man walked out to see what was going on and found the suspect with his bicycle. The man confronted the suspect, who fled on foot through the alley. Officers searched the area and located a man matching the suspect’s description. The man was positively identified and placed under arrest for theft, loitering, receiving stolen property and possession of burglary tools. He was identified as Alvin Kelly, 50, of Venice, Calif. Bail was set at $20,000.
Thursday, Dec. 15, at 5:45 a.m.,
Officers were working in the area of Fourth Street and Colorado Avenue when they were flagged down by a taxi driver who said that he picked up a fare at UCLA who wanted to be driven to Downtown. The driver did so and demanded $30 for the ride. The suspect allegedly refused to pay and asked to be taken to jail. Officers did just that, placing the man under arrest for defrauding an innkeeper and an outstanding warrant in the amount of $26,000. He was identified as Jordan Cusulos Waugh, 22, a transient. His bail was set at $26,500.
Thursday, Dec. 15, at 9:07 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1400 block of Palisades Park regarding a report of an assault. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim who said he was working a private event at the Senior Center. The suspect, who was not invited, was asked to leave after he was seen taking food. The suspect allegedly kicked the victim and threw an apple, striking the victim in the chest. Prior to leaving, the suspect also spit in the victim’s face. Officers located the suspect a short distance away and he was identified and placed under arrest for battery and a local warrant. He was identified as Earl Jay Buckley, 52, a transient. His bail was set at $20,250.
Saturday, Dec. 17, at 7:35 p.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the 900 block of Arizona Avenue when they saw a man riding his bike with no headlight during the evening hours. As officers attempted to make contact with the man, he allegedly fled into a nearby alley and into a carport located in the 1300 block of Ninth Street. The suspect was eventually located and detained. During the investigation, the suspect told officers that he did not have any identification and admitted to being on probation for burglary. Officers searched the suspect and said they found in his jacket a replica, semi-automatic handgun (.177 mm air gun) that resembled a Beretta PX4. They said they also found a knife and pot. Officers determined that the suspect matched the description of a suspect wanted for several robberies where a handgun was used. He was placed under arrest for riding without a headlight or rear reflector, possession of marijuana, probable cause robbery and a probation violation. He was identified as Lorenzo Brooks, 46, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
