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.
Friday, Sept. 26, at 1:30 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers were notified by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department that they had a murder suspect in custody. When officers arrived at the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station, they took the suspect into custody and transported him to the Santa Monica Jail where he was booked for murder. The crime in question occurred around April 5, 2001. On that day officers responded to an abandoned structure in the 1500 block of Seventh Street after receiving a report from a construction crew that a dead body had been found. Officers did discover the body of a white woman, approximately 30 years old, in a building scheduled for demolition. Police believed at the time that the woman had been strangled. The suspect was identified as Edric Dashell Gross, 43, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $1 million.
Saturday, Sept. 27, at 5:20 a.m.,
An officer on routine patrol in the 1800 block of Ninth Street observed a bicyclist riding eastbound on Pico Boulevard in the westbound lane, a violation. The officer stopped the cyclist to warn him about the violation. During the stop, the officer obtained consent to search the cyclist and found marijuana and methamphetamine. The officer placed the cyclist under arrest for possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and two outstanding warrants. The suspect was identified as Nilo Edgardo Arrabal, 45, a transient. His bail was set at $11,500.
Saturday, Sept. 27, at 4:20 p.m.,
An officer on routine patrol in the 300 block of Colorado Avenue noticed two people fighting outside of Sears. When the officer went to confront the two men, they stopped fighting. The officer spoke to both and learned that one of them was a security guard for Sears and he was struggling with a suspect who allegedly stole a jacket. The suspect had a restraining order preventing him from entering Sears after prior shoplifting convictions, police said. The suspect was taken into custody and booked for robbery, violation of probation and violation of a court order. He was identified as Frank Stephen Ashby, 45, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
Saturday, Sept. 27, at 9:52 p.m.,
Officers on patrol in the 100 block of Marine Street noticed a man standing in the street about to snort cocaine from a small plastic baggy. Officers contacted the suspect and recovered the baggy along with additional bags of cocaine from the suspect’s pockets. The suspect was placed under arrest and later booked for possession of a controlled substance. He was identified as Joseph Adam Stiteler, 28, of Culver City. His bail was set at $10,000.
Friday, Sept. 26,
Officers placed Poohand Melgerei, 80, of Santa Monica, under arrest and booked for vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence resulting from a fatal car accident that occurred on May 15 in 1800 block of 10th Street. Police said Melgerei backed up and hit an 84-year-old woman, who was transported to a local hospital and later died. Melgerei was being held on $2,500 bail.
Thursday, Sept. 25, at 3:10 p.m.,
Police responded to the 500 block of Olympic Boulevard — OPCC Access Center — regarding a report of an assault and battery that occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim who said she was struck by the suspect, who attempted to cut in front of her in the food line. The suspect fled after the attack, but returned two hours later and was detained by officers. The victim positively identified the suspect, who was placed under arrest for assault and battery. The suspect also had an outstanding warrant. The suspect was identified as Genita Madora Williamson, 37, a transient. Her bail was set at $70,000.
Thursday, Sept. 25,
Officers took into custody a suspect wanted in connection with a grand theft investigation. Officers said the suspect stole a guitar valued at $3,100 from Tornavoz Music on 19th Street. Police said the store manager believed the guitar was stolen by a former employee on March 24. The manager looked up the employee’s MySpace page on the Internet and allegedly saw a picture of the employee with the guitar. The former employee was booked for grand theft. He was identified as Andrew Todd Brandmeier, 26, of Marina del Rey. His bail was set at $20,000.
Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 1:30 a.m.,
A patrol supervisor in the 2000 block of Sixth Street observed a vehicle being driven down the street without license plates attached. The officer conducted a traffic stop and smelled marijuana. The officer searched the driver and the vehicle and found four grams of pot and 3.6 grams of psilocybin mushrooms. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of narcotics and for violation of probation. The suspect was identified as Daniel Philip Reinhart, 19, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
Monday, Sept. 22, at 10 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Santa Monica Boulevard regarding a strong arm robbery that occurred. When officers arrived, they made contacted with the alleged victim who said she was slapped by her boyfriend, who stole her purse after she declined his marriage proposal. She followed her boyfriend until police arrived. He was taken into custody for robbery and domestic violence. The suspect was identified as Scott Justin Steffes, 38. Police said he refused to give his address. His bail was set at $50,000.
Editor in Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports. news@www.smdp.com
