Probable cause
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.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26, AT 1:25 P.M., Santa Monica police officers on routine patrol in the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade observed a man smoking a cigarette in violation of the municipal code. Officers approached the suspect to issue him a citation and discovered that he had a warrant for narcotics charges and another warrant for possession of a dangerous or deadly weapon out of San Francisco. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for the outstanding warrants. Officers searched the suspect’s handbag and found a small amount of tar heroin, marijuana and Vicodin, which he did not have a prescription for, police said. The suspect was booked for the warrants and possession of narcotics. He was identified as Logan Barret Jensen, 26, from San Francisco. His bail was set at $48,627.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26, AT 9:10 P.M., Officers responded to the 1200 block of 17th Street regarding a report of an assault in progress. When officers arrived, they observed a man matching the suspect’s description running from a residence, trying to hide in between vehicles and behind bushes, police said. Officers detained the suspect and made contact with the alleged victim, who said she and her boyfriend were involved in an argument when he grabbed her by the throat and began choking her, almost to the point of losing consciousness. The girlfriend was able to break free from his grasp and a friend called police. Officers arrested the boyfriend for attempted murder. He was identified as Michael Campos, 31, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $50,000.
TUESDAY, DEC. 25, AT 4:30 P.M., Police responded to the 1500 block of Second Street regarding a suspect yelling and challenging passerbys to a fight. When officers arrived, they made contact with the suspect, who was observed yelling at pedestrians. He appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, police said. Witnesses told the officers that the suspect was yelling at women and children. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for public intoxication. Officers discovered that the suspect had several outstanding warrants, one of which was for $10,000. The suspect was identified as Donald Eugene Miles, 43, a transient. His bail was set at $20,927.
MONDAY, DEC. 24, AT 2:40 P.M., Police 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 walked over to the jewelry department. Employees said the suspect then picked a watch off the display rack and then walked up to the second floor where he placed the watch in his pocket. He then went to the men’s section and took four pairs of jeans to a dressing room. After a few minutes, the suspect reappeared with only one pair of pants, employees said. He then walked out of the store and was detained by security. It turns out that the suspect rolled up the pairs of jeans and tucked them in his pants. Employees also found clippers that were used to cut off security censor tags. The jeans were valued at $110. The suspect was taken into police custody and booked for burglary and possession of burglary tools. The suspect was on probation. He was identified as Benjamin Edward Mohagen, 40, from Pacific Palisades. His bail was set at $20,000.
TUESDAY, DEC. 25, AT 7:30 A.M., Police responded to the 2900 block of Arizona Avenue regarding a report of domestic violence. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim who said he and his girlfriend were lying in bed when an argument broke out over a text message. The girlfriend slapped her boyfriend several times, took his cell phone and then left the apartment, police said. When she returned, the two began arguing again. The girlfriend hit her boyfriend, prompting him to call the police. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for assault and battery. She was identified as Jennifer Lynn Smith, 36, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.
SUNDAY, DEC. 23, AT 12:30 A.M., Police on routine patrol near the corner of Ocean Park and Lincoln boulevards observed a suspect riding a bike on the sidewalk without proper lighting, a violation of the municipal code. Officers stopped the suspect to issue him a citation and discovered that he was under the influence of a controlled substance. In the process of searching the suspect, a baggy with a white substance slipped out of the suspect’s pocket, police said. The suspect grabbed the baggy and took off on foot. Officers gave chase and arrested the suspect at his home in the 800 block of Caesar Street. Officers said the baggy contained three rocks of crack cocaine. He was arrested for being under the influence, possession, and resisting arrest. The suspect was identified as Michael Noel Moch, 38, of Santa Monica. No bail was set because the suspect was on parole.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 26, AT 12:30 P.M., Officers on routine patrol in the 700 block of Broadway saw two suspects drinking what appeared to be alcohol from a paper bag. Officers approached the suspects and found that they had a beer. During questioning, one of the suspects allegedly gave the officers a phony name. Officers arrested the suspect for drinking in public. At the police station, the suspect continued to give officers a fake name and presented documents that appeared to be phony. Officers searched the suspect and found his real identification tucked in his sock. When officers ran his name through a database they discovered that the suspect was a parolee at large from Minnesota. He was placed on a parole hold so no bail was set and booked for possession of forged and counterfeit documents. He was identified as John Joseph Blake, 55.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 4, 2008. Read the original PDF.