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At 2:48 a.m. on April 2, Santa Monica Police responded to the 1900 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding a theft suspect in custody. When officers arrived at the scene, they spoke to an employee who said that the suspect entered the store and purchased a pair of sandals, left the store, and a short time later returned to the store. The suspect walked to the back of the store, selected another pair of sandals, and said that he wanted to exchange the sandals that he just bought. The employee asked for the receipt, the suspect said he did not have one, and the employee informed the suspect that it was the store’s policy that no exchange could be made without the receipt. The suspect walked out of the store with the merchandise. Once outside the store, the suspect was apprehended. Ralph Booth Williams, 51, a black male transient, was booked for strong arm robbery. Bail was set at $50,000.
At 11:35 a.m. on April 2, the Santa Monica Police responded to the 100 block of Strand Street regarding a vandalism suspect. When officers arrived, they spoke to the reporting party who said the suspect was pushing a cart in the middle of the street when he began ramming parked cars with his cart and kicking the vehicles. The suspect was positively identified by a witness. Anthony Carlos Vasquez, 32, a male Hispanic transient, was placed under arrest and transported to Santa Monica Jail.
At 7:35 p.m. on April 2, Santa Monica Police responded to the 100 block of Santa Monica Place, at the Robinson May store, regarding a theft suspect in custody. When officers arrived to the scene, they spoke to the employee who said the suspect entered the store and selected jewelry items from the counter and left the store failing to pay for the items. The jewelry taken is estimated to be $450 in value. Salina Del Carmen Galindo, 48, a female Hispanic from Los Angeles, was placed under arrest and booked for grand theft. Bail was set at $20,000.
At 8:14 a.m. on April 3, Santa Monica Police responded to the 200 block of Broadway regarding a bicycle theft that just occurred. When officers arrived, they contacted the victims, who said the suspect cut the lock and stole the bike. Responding officers stopped the suspect, who was riding a bike and pulling a second bike. The victim positively identified the bike and suspect. The stolen bike was valued at $500. Emery Gene Lambus, 52, a male black transient, was arrested. He also had an outstanding warrant. Bail was set at $20,366.
At 2:07 a.m. on April 4, a Santa Monica Police officer was in the area of the 1700 block of Cloverfield Boulevard when he stopped a bicyclist for a vehicle code violation. During the investigation, the officer recovered a burglary tool and garage opener on the man. Through his conversation with the officer, Melvin Gilbert Thomas, 39, a black male from Los Angeles, was later arrested and charged with possession of burglary tools and parole violation. No bail was set.
At 2 p.m. on April 5, Santa Monica Police responded to the 2700 block of Wilshire Boulevard, at the Washington Mutual bank, regarding a forgery suspect who was there. When officers arrived, they spoke to an employee who said the suspect was in a vehicle heading westbound on Wilshire Boulevard. An employee said the suspect attempted to deposit a forged check into his account. The check was retained by the bank employee and later booked into evidence. The officer stopped the suspect on the 200 block of Wilshire Boulevard. Andre Arthur Weisbarth, 19, a white male from Los Angeles and second suspect in the vehicle, Steven Amin Anavim, 20, a white male from Beverly Hills, were arrested and booked for commercial burglary. Bail was set at $20,000.
At 6:51 p.m. on April 8, Santa Monica Police responded to the 1000 block of Broadway regarding an assault. When officers arrived to the scene, they located the victim, who was bleeding in the face and said he was assaulted by three suspects. The victim was treated by the Santa Monica Fire Department and paramedics. The victim said he was walking out of the liquor store and, for an unknown reason, three suspects attacked him and punched and kicked him in the upper body. The suspects were later stopped in the 1000 block of Santa Monica Boulevard and after a field show up, the victims identified two suspects. The third was not apprehended. Caesar Lopez Bermudez, 30, a male Hispanic male transient, and Rigoberto Mendoza, 18, a male Hispanic transient, were booked for assault with a deadly weapon. The other suspect was described as a male Hispanic between 20 to 30 years old, with medium build and complexion, wearing a bulky jacket and carrying a backpack.
At 3 a.m. on April 10, a Santa Monica Police officer was in the alley south of the 2100 block of Ocean Park Boulevard when he saw two subjects in the alley wearing dark clothing. During his investigation, the officer located three additional suspects inside a vehicle. All five were detained. Officers recovered car stereos, electronic equipment and other items which they believed were either taken in a residential or automobile burglary. The five suspects were arrested and transported to Santa Monica Jail. The suspects identified were Kevin Andrae Boland, 19, and Nigel Justin Boland, 19, both black males from Pacoima, Micheal Moguel, 18, a black male from Los Angeles, Dyllon Arthurs, 19, a black male from Los Angeles, and Godfrey Jenkins, 19, a black male from Los Angeles. They were booked for commercial burglary and bail was each set at $20,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 16, 2005. Read the original PDF.