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, Sept. 8, at 2:30 a.m.,
An officer who was sitting in his patrol car at the corner of Main and Kinney streets was approached by a woman who struck him on the arm. The woman allegedly stepped back and said, "Yeah, I hit you. What are you going to do about it?" The officer got out of the car and told the woman to get out of the street and onto the sidewalk. She allegedly struck him again, this time in the chest. At that point the officer grabbed her and handcuffed her. He put her into the back of his patrol car and she was booked for assault. She was identified as Rachel Lindsey Szpunar, 33, a transient. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, Sept. 7, at 8:35 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 200 block of Ocean Avenue regarding a report of a man on the ground crying hysterically. Officers went to speak with the man to see what was troubling him and they immediately smelled alcohol. The officers asked the man if they could search him. He apparently said yes or grunted in an affirmative tone. Officers said they found a pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine, one bag containing a small amount of marijuana and an assortment of tools commonly used to steal cars and bikes. The suspect did admit that he had recently used drugs and had been drinking vodka, police said. He was placed under arrest and booked for being drunk in public; possession of marijuana, burglary tools and drug paraphernalia; and a probation violation. He was identified as Wiley Lamont Laye, 43, of Los Angeles. No bail was set.
Friday, Sept. 6, at 12:40 p.m.,
Officers saw two bicyclists ride through a red light at the intersection of Colorado and Ocean avenues. They then rode their bikes on the sidewalk and then crossed into Palisades Park. Officers stopped the cyclists to issue a citation for the violations. After speaking with them for a few minutes the officers searched them and allegedly found a glass pipe and a small bag containing meth. Both had outstanding warrants for their arrest. They were eventually booked for possession of meth and drug paraphernalia; a probation violation and for riding a bike on the sidewalk. They were identified as Jason Mosca, 35, and Charles Christopher Neumann, 51; both transients. No bail was set.
Tuesday, Sept. 3, at 11:47 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 800 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a report of domestic violence. When officers arrived they found a woman being treated by paramedics. After being treated, the woman told officers she and her boyfriend had been drinking booze while sitting on a wall. The boyfriend demanded that she give him her bottle of vodka and some money. When she refused he allegedly pushed her off the wall, causing her to hit her head on the ground. She said she was missing a bank card, cell phone and charger and some money from her backpack. The boyfriend was eventually arrested and booked for robbery and aggravated assault. He was identified as John Matthew Tayon, 33, a transient. His bail was set at $75,000.
editor@www.smdp.com
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
