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, April 27, at 2:20 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to McKinley Elementary School after a teacher there found marijuana and cigars on an 8-year-old student. Officers said the student removed a fresh cigar from a coat pocket, which caught the teacher’s eye. The teacher asked the student what else he had in his coat. The student allegedly pulled out several more cigars and a small plastic baggy filled with marijuana, along with some lip gloss. The student told officers that the jacket he was wearing was his mothers and that she gave it to him to wear that morning. Officers said the student said his mother opens the cigars, takes out what’s inside and puts some other stuff inside and smokes it inside and outside the house. Officers contacted the mother and asked her to come to the school for questioning. She was arrested for child endangerment. While at the Santa Monica Jail, officers allegedly found Valium on her. She was booked for child endangerment and possession of a controlled substance. The suspect was identified as Myra Chaidez, 31, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $15,000.
Tuesday, April 27, at 8:20 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1400 block of Sixth Street regarding a burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they made contact with a witness who said they saw the suspect kick a side door open and enter a home. Officers were able to confirm that a burglary did occur and based on a description of the suspect were able to locate him a short time later. The witness positively identified the suspect, police said, and he was placed under arrest for burglary. Officers searched the suspect and found some items that may have been stolen from the home and a switchblade knife. The suspect was booked for burglary, possession of stolen property and a switchblade, and a probation violation. The suspect was identified as Antonio Davison, 23, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Monday, April 26, 8:56 p.m.,
Officers were on routine patrol in the 1100 block of Wilshire Boulevard when they observed a man riding a bike on the sidewalk in violation of the municipal code. As officers contacted the suspect, he alleged stated he knew he was not supposed to ride on the sidewalk. As officers talked with the suspect, they were able to get his consent to search a bag on the bicycle. Officers said they found items used to package drugs, a scale and marijuana. The suspect was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale, possession of more than 28.5 grams of pot and a probation violation. He was identified as Robert Cheatham, 38, of Venice. He was not eligible for bail.
Monday, April 26, at 4:35 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1800 block of Lincoln Boulevard regarding a taxi cab driver asking for assistance. Upon arrival, officers made contact with the driver who said he was preparing to get gas at the station when a man approached him and asked for a ride to Union Station. The man appeared to be intoxicated, the driver told police. As the driver was walking to his cab, he had a white envelope in his hand that contained cash. The suspect allegedly tried to grab the envelope, but he was too slow. The driver ran back to his cab. The suspect allegedly reached in and tried to grab the envelope again and a GPS device but he was thwarted by a passenger. Officers were able to locate the suspect a short time later and he was arrested for attempted robbery. He was identified as Ryan Nash, 31, a transient. No bail information was available.
Monday, April 26, at 3:20 p.m.,
Officers were on patrol in the 1300 block of Fourth Street when they observed a man jump off his skateboard and kick a Santa Monica Daily Press newsstand. The suspect was arrested for vandalism. He was identified as Rael Salisman, 34, a transient. His bail was set at $500.
Thursday, April 29, at 2:05 p.m.,
Officers were serving a narcotics search warrant in the 1000 block of Hill Street when they allegedly located a small bindle of methamphetamine in a suspect’s pants. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for possession of a controlled substance and warrants. The suspect was identified as Sergio Fernandez, 38, of Santa Monica. He was not eligible for bail.
Thursday, April 29, at 2:25 p.m.,
Officers were serving a search warrant in the 2200 block of Colorado Avenue when they allegedly found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke rock cocaine. Officers said the pipe was warm to the touch, meaning that it was used recently. The pipe was found inside the pocket of a shirt that was stashed in a closet. Officers placed the suspect under arrest and he was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia and for being under the influence of drugs. He was identified as Michael Williams, 57, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $2,500.
Saturday, May 1, at 10:02 p.m.,
Officers were flagged down in the area of Main and Bicknell streets regarding a man who just parked his car and went to a restaurant in the 2000 block of Main Street. As officers investigated, they observed that the vehicle was parked 3 feet from the curb. A witness said the driver appeared to be intoxicated. The witness walked the officers to the restaurant and pointed out the suspect. When officers contacted the driver, he allegedly said, “my wife was driving.” Officers believed the man had been driving while impaired, possibly because he was using an opiate. Officers arrested the suspect for driving under the influence. He was identified as Michael Federici, 54, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $5,000.
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
