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, April 24, at 6 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the 2400 block of La Mesa Drive regarding a report of an attempted residential burglary that just occurred. While en route, officers saw a man walking in the 2100 block of La Mesa who appeared to be intoxicated and was wearing a woman’s coat, black athletic pants and black sandals. Officers detained the man and began a conversation. The man allegedly told officers that he was hanging out in a Beverly Hills park with friends earlier in the day and could not recall how he ended up on La Mesa, alone and nude. The suspect said that in an attempt to find some clothes he tried to enter a home through an open window, but he eventually fled because he felt he made too much noise. The suspect then said he found sandals in the back yard of another house and the coat and pants he was wearing from a parked car that was left unlocked. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for attempted residential burglary and possession of stolen property. His bail was set at $50,000. He was identified as Meir Simcha Zupnik, 19, of Los Angeles.
Saturday, Nov. 23, at 10:07 p.m.,
Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 1900 block of 19th Street after seeing a car with expired tags. While talking with the driver, officers learned that he was on probation for narcotics. Officers ordered the driver to exit the vehicle. When he did, officers said they could see a baggy on the floor by the driver’s seat that contained what was later determined to be heroin. The suspect told officers that he was also in possession of methamphetamines. Officers recovered the drugs and placed the suspect under arrest for transportation of controlled substances. While at the police station being booked, officers said they found two counterfeit $20 bills on the suspect. He was booked for the drug offenses as well as being in possession of phony money, the probation violation and for driving a car with expired tags. He was identified as Salvatore James Troy, 44, of Culver City. His bail was set at $30,000.
Saturday, April 23, at 4:14 a.m.,
Officers were in the 1200 block of Ocean Avenue when they saw a man in Palisades Park after the park had already closed for the evening. Officers approached the suspect, who told them he was on probation for drugs. Officers searched the suspect and found drug paraphernalia inside his pants pocket. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia and being in the park after hours. He was transported to jail and later released with a citation. He was identified as Angel Anthony Espinoza, 35, Los Angeles.
Friday, April 22, at 9:43 p.m.,
Officers responded to the Rite-Aid located on the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding an attempted robbery in progress. When officers arrived, they made contact and detained the female suspect, who allegedly tried to steal a bottle of wine from the store. Employees of Rite-Aid told officers that the suspect and a male companion entered the store and walked straight to the wine section. The suspect selected a bottle and placed it in her purse. Security watched her as she left the store without paying for the wine. She was confronted outside of the store by security and tried to run away, ultimately fighting with security, police said. Officers took her into custody and she was booked for robbery, obstructing and resisting arrest. She was identified as Ailena Lauren Vargas, 20, a transient. Her bail was set at $50,000. The male companion walked away during the struggle and could not be located.
Thursday, April 21, at 6:15 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 1800 block of Lincoln Boulevard regarding a report of a man exposing his penis to a child. When officers arrived, they made contact with the father of the victim, a 9-year-old boy, who told officers that he had just parked his car on the west side of Lincoln and was exiting when he saw the suspect standing on the sidewalk directly across from the passenger side of the car. The father said the man was motioning toward his son while exposing himself and masturbating. A passerby saw the incident and called police while the victim was removed from the area by the family. Officers located the suspect inside the 7-Eleven on the corner of Pico and Lincoln boulevards and detained him. The witness positively identified the suspect, who was arrested and booked for lewd and lascivious acts involving a child under the age of 14. The suspect was identified as James Kevin Beach, 39, a transient. His bail was set at $25,000.
Thursday, April 21, at 10:40 a.m.,
Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of Broadway. During the stop, the female driver was informed that she had a warrant for her arrest. Officers detained her and searched her vehicle and discovered cocaine in the trunk. The suspect was transported to jail and booked for drug possession and possession with the intent to sell. She was identified as Eden Beloved Noe, 32, of Westchester. Her bail was set at $30,000.
Wednesday, April 20, at 7:30 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 2200 block of Colorado Avenue — The Plaza at the Arboretum — regarding a report of vandalism and trespassing. When officers arrived, they made contact with the building manager who said the suspect was a former tenant who was recently evicted. She told police that the suspect was seen earlier hanging around the building and appeared to be drunk. She called police, but officers couldn’t locate him. Sometime in the early morning hours she said the suspect returned to his former apartment and forced his way through the door. The manager said that she saw the damage to the front door and believed the suspect was still inside. Officers went to the unit and found the suspect asleep inside. Officers took the suspect into custody for trespassing and vandalism. Once at the jail, officers said the suspect vandalized a metal screen which covers an alarm. Felony vandalism was added to his booking sheet. The suspect also had an outstanding warrant, police said. He was identified as Paul David Taylor, 46, of Windsor Hills. His bail was set at $50,565.
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