> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cat nipped in the bud - URL: https://www.smdp.com/cat-nipped-in-the-bud/ - Published: 2008-05-09T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T00:02:20.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import *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. SATURDAY, MAY 3, AT 1:20 P.M., Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1800 block of 20th Street regarding a fight in progress. When officers arrived they saw two people arguing over a cat; one of the suspects was armed with nunchucks. During their investigation, officers smelled the strong scent of marijuana. After receiving permission to enter the suspect’s residence, officers found several marijuana plants and a small prescription bottle containing hashish. The suspect was arrested for felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He was identified as David H. Cox, 29, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $30,000. FRIDAY, MAY 2, AT 4:40 P.M., Officers responded to the 2800 block of Wilshire Boulevard — Magnolia Audio Video — regarding a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. When officers arrived, they spoke with store employees who said the suspect walked into the store and began to act irrationally, screaming and yelling. Employees asked the suspect to leave the store. That’s when the suspect allegedly grabbed a six-foot-long metal pipe and threatened to strike employees. He eventually left the location and was arrested about a block away. The suspect was booked for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Larry Henderson Black, 50, of Inglewood. No bail was set because the suspect was on probation, police said. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, AT 11 A.M., Officers responded to the 600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard — The Bookmark Cafe— regarding a robbery that just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with employees at the cafe who said the suspect walked in and grabbed money from the tip jar and fled. Employees followed the suspect while calling the police using their cell phones. They were able to direct the officers to the suspect’s location. When offices arrived, they tried to detain the suspect, who refused to cooperate and took a fighting stance, police said. Eventually the suspect complied with officers and was arrested for robbery, resisting arrest and violating the terms of his probation. Police said the suspect was still clutching the $2 he stole in his hand when he was arrested. The suspect was identified as James Michael Roberts, 64, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000. TUESDAY, APRIL 29, AT 1:40 A.M., Officers responded to an apartment complex in the 1700 block of Pico Boulevard regarding a report of an assault with a deadly weapon. When officers arrived they saw the alleged victim leaning outside a window yelling for help. Officers noticed that the victim had injuries to his face and a cut on his forehead that was bleeding. Officers detained the suspect as he tried to leave the apartment. Officers said the two were fighting over unpaid rent when the suspect picked up a cordless phone and struck the victim several times on the head. The suspect was booked for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Erick Stephen Owens, 44, of Santa Monica. No bail was set because Owens was on parole, police said. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, AT 1:40 P.M., Officers responded to the 2600 block of Lincoln Boulevard — Albertsons — regarding an armed robbery that just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with store employees who said the suspect walked into the store and grabbed a pint of Smirnoff Vodka before walking out without paying. Employees confronted the suspect in the parking lot and that’s when he allegedly pulled out some box cutters and threatened to stab the employees. Employees called police and the suspect was apprehended a short distance away from the store. The suspect was booked for armed robbery. He was identified as Harlan Deanne, 27, a transient. No bail was set. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, AT MIDNIGHT, Officers responded to the corner of 19th Street and Pico Boulevard regarding a purse snatching that just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with the victim who said she was walking down the street when the suspect came from behind her and grabbed her purse. The victim spotted a Santa Monica College officer and he alerted police. Officers located the suspect behind some dumpsters and placed him under arrest for grand theft. The suspect was identified as Rigoberto Ruiz, 52, of Cuba. His bail was set at $25,000. TUESDAY, APRIL 29, AT 6 A.M., Officers responded to the 1100 block of 18th Street after receiving a report about a possible break-in that just occurred. When officers arrived they spoke with a resident who said he heard what sounded like two juveniles trying to kick his door in and gain access to what they may have thought was an abandoned apartment. Officers fanned out in search of the suspects and detained two juveniles near the corner of 17th Street and Wilshire Boulevard. Officers said the suspect’s shoes matched prints found on the victim’s door. The juveniles were transported to juvenile hall for burglary. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 9, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/050908.pdf?ref=smdp.com)