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.
Saturday, March 5, at 10:30 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers were advised by an undercover officer that a hand-to-hand sale of drugs just went down at the Burger King at 20th Street and Pico Boulevard. The suspect who purchased the drugs left the location in a car. Officers stopped the car and made contact with the suspect. He allegedly told officers that he had marijuana in his front pocket. Officers recovered a small plastic bag with pot inside. Officers also located two small bindles of methamphetamines. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for possession of a controlled substance and marijuana. He was identified as Caeser Santiago, 30, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $10,000. The driver of the car was also arrested and released from the police station pending further evidence. Officers said they located a meth pipe that was hidden under her breast.
Saturday, March 5, at 6:38 p.m.,
Officers responded to the Rite-Aid located in the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding a theft suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said the suspect entered the business, removed his shirt and took one off the sales rack and put it on. The suspect also picked up other clothing for sale and left the store without paying. Security detained him and placed him under citizens arrest. Officers took the suspect into custody. During the booking search, they said they found prescription drugs in his satchel. The suspect allegedly did not have a prescription for the pills and therefore was booked for burglary and possession of narcotics without a prescription. He was identified as Marc Zell, 32, a transient. His bail was set at $25,000.
Friday, March 4, at 9:15 a.m.,
Officers responded to the intersection of Chelsea Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard to investigate a traffic accident involving a possible driver under the influence of alcohol. When officers arrived, they made contact with the driver, who appeared to be impaired. Officers had the driver perform a series of balance and coordination tests. Upon completion, officers placed the driver under arrest for DUI. He was identified as Dominic Friesen, 36. He was booked for possession of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $1,500. Police did not provide information on the controlled substance in question or the city in which he lived.
Monday, Feb. 28
Officers were able to identify a suspect wanted in connection with a December theft at Bloomingdale’s. Officers said the suspect was caught on tape stealing a camera from an unsuspecting shopper who was waiting for his wife to finish shopping. Staff at the store told the victim that the camera case was turned into the customer service center, but the camera was missing. Video showed the suspect sitting next to the victim before grabbing the camera case. The suspect was identified as Barry Brams, 59, who refused to tell officers where he lived, police said. The suspect was booked for burglary and a probation violation. He was not eligible for bail.
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Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
