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, Feb. 13, at 3:15 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers were walking in the area of the 2900 block of Fourth Street when they saw a man looking into vehicles parked on the roadway. The man then tried to open the passenger door of one of the cars. The officers decided to follow the man, and watched him peer over a wall into a residence, before continuing on. Eventually he entered an apartment complex in the 200 block of Ashland Avenue. The officers contacted the man when he walked out of the complex and questioned him about where he lived. He replied “OCP,” and the officers asked him if he was referring to “OPCC,” a local homeless service provider, to which he said “yes.” Further investigation revealed that the man was in possession of two personal MP3 players, neither of which he could unlock using a password. The officers arrested the man, who they identified as Michael Spence, 56, a transient. He was not eligible for bail.
Saturday, Feb. 12, at 6:59 p.m.,
Police officers responded to Lincoln Boulevard and Grant Street on a report of an assault. The victim reported that several males approached her and began cursing at her. At one point, one of the men pushed her to the ground. The victim stated that she grabbed a box cutter to defend herself, and the suspect fled in a vehicle. Officers located the vehicle nearby, and arrested the suspect, identified as Abraham Smith, 40, a transient. He was arrested on suspicion of battery, his bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, Feb. 12, at 12:53 p.m.,
Officers responded to Sears on reports of an alleged shoplifter in custody. Upon arrival, witnesses told the officers that the woman in question had taken perfume, jewelry and a blanket and exited the business. Loss prevention officers detained the suspect and brought her back into the businesses. Officers arrested Leonela Contreras, 42, a transient, on suspicion of burglary. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, Feb. 12, at 3:21 p.m.,
Officers stopped a car in the 2600 block of 23rd Street after witnessing the driver wearing headphones over both ears. As the officers approached the vehicle, they detected the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle. The officers asked if the man had anything illegal inside the car. At first, he replied that he did not, but upon further questioning admitted that he had marijuana and marijuana-infused cookies in the car. The man consented to a search of the vehicle, at which point officers found concentrated marijuana and a digital scale. Officers arrested the drive, Monssee Bjorn, 28, of Los Angeles, on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale and possession of concentrated marijuana. His bail was set at $20,000.
Friday, Feb. 11, at 2:43 p.m.,
Officers responded to TJ Maxx regarding an employee that had allegedly attempted to steal merchandise from the store. Upon arrival, officers were told by loss prevention officers that they had received information that an employee was voiding transactions and allowing customers to take items without paying. An analysis of the previous 90 days revealed that the employee had voided $1,687.77 worth of merchandise. Officers arrested Jameecia Malone, 32, of Los Angeles, on suspicion of embezzlement, and additional charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription after a booking search revealed cylclobenzaprine and hydrocodone in her purse. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Thursday, Feb. 10, at 7:38 p.m.,
Officers pulled over a man riding his bicycle on the sidewalk without a headlamp in the 1800 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Officers located a white, powdery substance that turned out to be methamphetamine. Officers arrested the man, Balibinder Sihota, 41, of Santa Monica, for possession of a controlled substance, riding without a headlight and riding on the sidewalk. His bail was set at $10,0000.
Monday, Feb. 7, 8:47 a.m.,
Officers responded to 21st Street at Wilshire Boulevard on a reported assault. A woman told officers that she had been jogging west on Wilshire Boulevard when a man, who had been walking east, jumped in front of her and began screaming unintelligibly in her face. The man had raised two plastic bags above his head, but then continued walking east on Wilshire. The woman told officers she had been scared that the man would throw her onto the sidewalk. Officers located the suspect, Michael DeMartin, a transient, nearby. He was placed under citizen’s arrest for assault, and charged with a parole violation. He was not eligible for bail.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
