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At 11 p.m. on May 2, Santa Monica police responded to the 1500 block of 10th Street regarding a residential burglary. When officers arrived at the scene, they could hear commotion inside the apartment. When they entered, they saw a male and female who had blood on their hands and face. A third person was being detained by the male victim. The male victim said that while inside his apartment with his girlfriend, three suspects entered and displayed a baseball bat and attempted to steal items inside the apartment. During a fight that ensued, two of the suspects fled and the victims were able to detain the third. The suspects that fled took approximately $550 worth of jewelry. Otto Leonel Menendez, 20, of Hawthorne, was taken into custody and transported to Santa Monica Jail, where he was booked for residential robbery. Bail was set at $50,000.
At 4:53 p.m. on May 2, Santa Monica police responded to the 1200 block of Third Street Promenade Court No. 2 regarding an auto theft in progress. When officers arrived at the scene, they saw a subject detaining a male subject who turned out to be the suspect in the incident. Officers handcuffed the suspect, who according to witnesses was seen in the alley entering the victim’s vehicle. While inside the vehicle, the suspect attempted to start the engine and was stopped by witnesses. Arthur Joe Cano, 43, of Picoima was arrested and charged with car-jacking and robbery. Bail was set at $100,000.
At 2:58 p.m. on May 3, Santa Monica police responded to the 1600 block of Ocean Front Walk regarding an assault investigation. They spoke to the victim, who said the suspect approached him and began to swing a fiberglass ax handle at him and attempted to strike him. The victim fled and called police. Responding officers saw the suspect in the area of Ocean and Bay. A field show up was conducted in which the victim positively identified the suspect. Tachowa Covington, 46, a transient, was booked for assault with a deadly weapon. Bail was set at $30,000.
At 5:38 p.m. on May 6, Santa Monica police responded to the 1300 block of 14th Street regarding a possible burglary in progress. When officers arrived to the scene, they detained the described suspect and during their search located two bindles containing a white powder resembling cocaine. The suspect was arrested and transported to Santa Monica Jail. A preliminary test was conducted on the substance, which tested positive for cocaine. Morton Bernard Maser, 54, of Santa Monica, was booked for possession of a controlled substance. -Staff writer Ryan Hyatt compiled this report.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 13, 2005. Read the original PDF.