By By Daily Press Staff
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.
MONDAY, DEC. 17, AT 12:45 A.M. Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1800 block of Michigan Avenue regarding a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim, who said he had just dropped off a friend at her residence when a man opened the unlocked passenger side door of the car and placed a knife up against the victim’s throat, causing superficial stab wounds. Police said the suspect was the ex-boyfriend of the female friend and was apparently jealous of the driver who dropped her off. The suspect threatened the driver and ran off before police arrived. Armed with a description of the suspect, officers found him in the area and he was positively identified by the victim. The suspect was placed under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Christopher Eric Moss, 28, of Santa Monica. No bail was set because the suspect was on felony probation, police said.
SUNDAY, DEC. 16, AT 11:03 P.M. Police officers assigned to the Pico Neighborhood observed a person walking on the sidewalk with what appeared to be a 40-ounce bottle of beer in his left hand. Officers stopped the suspect to investigate and discovered that he was on parole for narcotics violations. Officers searched the suspect and found what appeared to be white residue in a cigarette box that they believed to be cocaine. As officers were about to place the suspect under arrest, he allegedly ran away on foot. He was apprehended a few seconds later and transported to the Santa Monica Jail, where he was booked for having an open container of alcohol in public and for possession of a controlled substance. No bail was set.
THURSDAY, DEC. 20, AT 4:45 A.M. Officers on routine patrol in the 2000 block of Pico Boulevard saw a green Kia Sofia traveling westbound that appeared to have a broken left brake light. Officers conducted a traffic stop and questioned the driver, who allegedly gave officers a fake name. Officers asked if the driver had a license. He said he did not and was taken into custody, after which his real identity was discovered. Officers said the suspect had a suspended license for driving under the influence and was booked for driving on a suspended license and for giving officers a false name. The suspect was identified as Francisco Blas, 48, from Mar Vista. His bail was set at $10,000.
FRIDAY, DEC. 21, AT 12:15 A.M. Officers responded to the 1800 block of Lincoln Boulevard regarding a person who allegedly threatened a gas station attendant. When officers arrived, they spoke with the gas station attendant, who said he was counting cash with another employee just after his shift had ended when a man approached and demanded that he be let into the store to get some ice cream. Because they were counting the night’s receipts, the employees would not open the door. The man became irate and threatened to harm the employees. He then left the area. Armed with a description of the suspect, officers were able to locate him a short distance away from the gas station. He was placed under arrest for making criminal threats. He was identified as Alan Daniel Maman, 30, of Panorama City. His bail was set at $50,000.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19, AT 4:10 P.M. Officers from the Homeless Liaison Team did a check at Ralphs in the 1600 block of Cloverfield Boulevard after receiving a report about chronic camping, drinking and drug use. When officers arrived, they found a man holding a burnt marijuana cigarette, which he quickly placed on the ground upon being contacted by cops. Officers questioned the suspect and found that he was on parole for theft charges and had previous arrests for narcotics. Officers called the suspect’s parole agent, who ordered that the suspect be placed on a parole hold for violating the conditions of his release. The suspect was taken to jail and booked for possession of marijuana and for a parole violation. He was identified as Paul Windham, 48, a transient. No bail was set.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 19, AT 2 P.M. Officers responded to the 900 block of Wilshire Boulevard — Sunkissed Tanning Salon — regarding a fraud in process. When officers arrived, they spoke with the salon manager who said that someone had come into the business asking for money on behalf of Santa Monica High School for a calendar. The man apparently was asking for donations in exchange for advertising in the calendar. Management became suspicious and called police. Officers made contact with the high school and learned that no such calendar existed. As the officers were at the salon, one of the employees recognized the suspect, who was standing nearby. Officers detained the suspect and after some further investigation, placed him under arrest on suspicion of fraud. The suspect was identified as Lawrence Miller, 20, of Palmdale. His bail was set at $20,000.
SATURDAY, DEC. 15 Officers responded to the 1500 block of 17th Street after receiving a report about a credit card theft that occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman who said that she noticed some strange charges on her credit card bill. The purchases were made at stores located within a block of her home, leading her to believe that one of her neighbors had grabbed her credit card off her coffee table. Officers found there were $380 worth of allegedly illegal charges that were made. Officers conducted an investigation and arrested Kevin Fitzgerald O’Donnell, of Santa Monica, for suspicion of credit card theft. No bail was set, police said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 28, 2007. Read the original PDF.