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.
Wednesday, April 4, at 10:54 a.m.,
Santa Monica police officers responded to the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Marine Street on the report of an assault with a deadly weapon that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who said he was sitting on the ground in front of 3101 Lincoln Blvd. — George’s Burgers — when he was approached by the suspect, who started accusing him of making a derogatory statement towards him. The man said he never spoke to the suspect, who removed a folding knife from his pants pocket and allegedly tried to stab the man several times. The man said that he was able to push the suspect away from him and use his cell phone to call police. The suspect was located roughly two blocks away at a bus bench. He was detained and the alleged victim positively identified him. The suspect was found to be in possession of the knife. He was eventually arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a shopping cart and several outstanding warrants. He was identified as Isaac Sterling, 64, a transient. His bail was set at $37,026.
Wednesday, April 4, at 5:30 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2400 block of Pico Boulevard — Rite Aid — regarding a report of a robbery that just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with a security guard who told them that he was working undercover when he saw the suspect take several small bottles of wine and place them into his backpack before walking out of the store. The guard followed the suspect, who allegedly took a fighting stance and proceeded to threaten the guard with bodily harm. The guard retreated into the store and called police. Officers conducted a search of the area. They eventually detained the suspect, who was positively identified by security, and placed him under arrest for robbery and a probation violation. He was identified as George Valdovinos, 21, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
Wednesday, April 4, at 9:20 p.m.,
Officers on routine patrol in the 2300 block of Lincoln Boulevard saw a man riding his bike on the sidewalk in violation of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. Officers made contact with the suspect and learned that he was on probation and subject to a search. Officers said they recovered several pills that the suspect did not have a prescription for. He was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and a probation violation. He was identified as David Schneider, 34, a transient.
Thursday, April 5, at 1:40 p.m.,
Officers responded to an apartment complex in the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a report of a residential burglary that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim who said that two men who also lived in the apartment complex kicked in his front door while he was away and removed an Xbox video game console. All three had been involved in a dispute. Both suspects were apprehended and allegedly admitted to the crime while also returning the stolen property. They were arrested for burglary and violation of parole or probation. They were identified as Cornell Germany, 33, of Santa Monica, and Cornelius Faison, 23, of Santa Monica. No bail was set.
Friday, April 6, at 11:20 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade — Brookstone — regarding a suspect in the store attempting to steal an iPod. When officers arrived, they made contact with a store employee who told them that 30 minutes earlier the suspect entered the store, cut a security cable and ran off with an iPod Nano before employees could realize what happened. They discovered the crime when the alarm sounded and they viewed security camera footage. Feeling emboldened, the suspected thief returned to the store and tried to swipe an iPod Touch. He cut the security cable, the alarm went off and he fled. A customer followed the suspect and later pointed him out to officers, who placed him under arrest in the 300 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Only an iPod Touch was recovered. The suspect was booked for burglary and violating his probation. He was identified as Eugenio Garaygordobil, 40, a transient. No bail was set.
Saturday, April 7, at 2:35 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1300 block of 18th Street regarding a report of a suspicious person in a carport. When officers arrived, they made contact with the suspect, who was extremely intoxicated, police said. The suspect had a digital camera in his pocket but he allegedly could not identify what it looked like. Based on that, and that he was in a private carport, he was placed under arrest for prowling. He was identified as Armando Tello, 19, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $5,000.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
