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, Nov. 1, at 10:43 p.m.,
Santa Monica Police officers responded to the corner of 16th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard regarding a report of a auto burglary in progress. The reporting party said they saw a man standing next to a car who was using a pair of pliers to open the door. When officers arrived, they made contact with the suspect, who told them that he owned the car and had locked his keys inside. Officers looked inside the car and saw some keys on the driver’s side floor board. They said they also saw a baggy on the front passenger seat that contained a white powdery substance that resembled cocaine. The driver told officers that he drove to the location himself and was about to get a cup of coffee before going to work. When officers pointed out the cocaine, the suspect told them that he had just dropped off a friend and it was not his. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation. He was identified as Ubaldo Gonzalez, 40, of Compton, Calif. His bail was set at $10,000.
Saturday, Nov. 5, at 10:05 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2000 block of Ocean Front Walk regarding two people arguing and throwing traffic cones. When officers arrived, they detained the two people who were arguing. Officers recognized the two from a prior arrest for domestic violence against one another. A record check showed that both had court orders keeping them away from each other. Police placed both under arrest for violation of a court order. They were identified as Jose Zarate, 21, of Los Angeles, and Dallas Booth, 24, a transient. No bail information was given by police.
Sunday, Nov. 5, at 10:43 p.m.,
Officers on routine patrol near the corner of Lincoln and Ocean Park boulevards noticed a suspicious person who appeared to be hiding near the front of the Blockbuster Video store as customers were entering and leaving. As additional officers were responding, the suspect entered the store and allegedly continued acting suspicious, causing one of the employees to believe he may have a knife and was about to commit a robbery. Officers entered the store and detained the suspect. No weapons were found, however, police said they recovered a methamphetamine pipe. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was identified as Clarence Johns, 42, a transient. His bail was set at $250.
Sunday, Nov. 5, at 11:10 a.m.,
Police responded to the 1700 block of Pico Boulevard — Santa Monica Check Cashing — regarding a report of someone trying to cash a fake check. As the suspect left the store, he was detained by officers. Police spoke with the owner of the business, who said the suspect tried to cash a bogus check. The owner had been notified by another check cashing business about the suspect. Officers confirmed that the check in question was linked to a closed business account and place the suspect under arrest for burglary and trying to cash a fictitious check. He was identified as Orlando Estrada, 29, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
Thursday, Nov. 3, at 3:38 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2200 block of Broadway — Nordstrom — regarding a report of a shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security, who told them that they saw the suspect take some earrings from a display and place them in his pants pocket. The suspect then allegedly left the store without paying for them. He was detained outside the store by security and the earrings recovered. Police said the suspect had no money and said he entered the store with the intent to steal. He was placed under arrest and booked for burglary. He was identified as Houston Trost, 18, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.
Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 3:28 a.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the area of Seventh Street and San Vicente Boulevard when they saw a red Jeep Cherokee with expired tags and heavily-tinted windows. Officers conducted a traffic stop. During their conversation with the driver, officers learned he did not have a valid driver’s license. He was placed under arrest. Prior to towing the Jeep, officers searched it and allegedly recovered property from an address on Adelaide Drive. A check of the property revealed that a vehicle had been broken into and the contents stolen. The two passengers were determined to be on probation for theft and all were arrested for burglary. They were identified as Jaime Rodriguez, 35, Christian Frausto 30, and Jeannie Carbajal, 26; all from Wilmington, Calif. In addition to burglary, they were booked for receiving stolen property and possession of burglary tools. Bail was set at $20,000 each.
Tuesday, Nov. 1, at 7:42 a.m.,
Officers were flagged down by a pedestrian on the 2300 block of Main Street. The pedestrian told officers that a man was vandalizing cars as he walked north on Main Street. Officers detained a suspect in the 100 block of Bay Street. After their investigation, officers believed the suspect used a multi-tool he had in his possession to scratch the sides of eight vehicles. The suspect was positively identified and placed under arrest for felony vandalism. He was identified as Dana Morgan, 33, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
