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.
Thursday, Aug. 6, at 6:55 p.m.,
Santa Monica police officers were inside a restaurant in the 200 block of Wilshire Boulevard — California Pizza Kitchen — when they observed an individual walk away from the counter, failing to pay, and then walked out of this restaurant. Officers checked with the waiter to see if the individual who just left had paid his bill of $8.23. The waiter said the suspect had not. Officers located the suspect outside in the alley. Officers escorted the suspect back to the restaurant. The suspect then allegedly attempted to pay for his meal with $3 in cash and a gift card from Banana Republic. The suspect appeared to be intoxicated and did not have any additional money to pay the bill. The suspect was offered the opportunity to go to an ATM to get more cash, but he declined to do so. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for defrauding an innkeeper. He was identified as Kevin Coleman, 37, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $500.
Sunday, Aug. 9, at 3:25 p.m.,
Officers on routine patrol near Lincoln Boulevard and Raymond Avenue conducted a traffic stop. As the driver exited the vehicle, officers said they say a glass pipe fall from his lap and break on the roadway. While outside the vehicle, the suspect allegedly spit out two pieces of what officers believed was crack cocaine. The suspect was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. He was identified as James Starlipher, 40, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $10,000.
Saturday, Aug. 8, at 4:10 p.m.,
Officers on routine patrol observed a teenager writing on a street sign with a marker. Officers said a second suspect was acting as a lookout while the vandalism occurred. The officers detained the suspects and observed fresh graffiti on the street sign. Adjacent to the suspects was a marker. The suspects were taken into custody for conspiracy to commit a crime and vandalism. They were identified as Amir Lopez and Carlos Gomez, both 18 from Santa Monica. Their bail was set at $500.
Thursday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Sears — regarding a theft suspect in custody. When officers arrived they made contact with store security who told them that the suspect entered a dressing room with several pairs of pants and a belt. When he left the dressing room, the suspect only had one pair of pants in his possession, police said. The suspect was escorted back to the store after he left, failing to pay for the items, valued at $121. Security said the suspect had in his possession the pants and wire cutters. He was placed under arrest for burglary. The suspect was identified as John Arceneaux, 47, a transient. Bail was set at $20,000.
Thursday, Aug. 6, at 7:30 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Sears — regarding a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said the suspect walked into the store and removed two shirts valued at $20 from hangars and placed them in a handbag. She then walked out of the store, failing to pay for the shirts. Security detained the suspect and she was placed under arrest for police for burglary. She was identified as Jessica Sanchez, 19, of Inglewood. Her bail was set at $20,000.
Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 9:55 p.m.,
Officers responded to the 2000 block of Lincoln Boulevard regarding a disturbance. When officers arrived, they observed a group of individuals in front of the nonprofit HIV agency Common Ground. As officers drove by, several of the individuals left. Officers made contact with one of them. During a conversation, officers discovered the suspect was on parole. Officers searched the suspect and located needles and other paraphernalia used to prepare heroin for use. The suspect was booked for a parole violation and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was identified as Aaron Kidwell, 31, a transient. He was not eligible for bail.
Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 8 a.m.,
Officers responded to the 1200 block of California Avenue regarding a report of vandalism. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim who told them that her vehicle had been damaged by an ex-boyfriend. The damage consisted of pink and brown liquid, feathers placed on the vehicle and a flattened tire. Officers located the suspect and placed him under arrest for vandalism. The suspect was identified as Michael Villegas, 40, from Santa Monica. His bail was set at $1,000.
Editor-in-Chief Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
