Busted: Never let them see you sweat
By
On Saturday, June 3, at 9:52 p.m., Santa Monica Police officers in the area of Lincoln and Ocean Park boulevards observed a man walking fast and sweating profusely. Officers stopped the man to see if he was in need of medical assistance, and during their discussion with the individual officers, determined he was a parolee at large. Upon learning that he would be arrested, police said the man voiced concern for his girlfriend, who was staying alone at the Rest Haven Motel. The man was taken to the Santa Monica jail and detained.
Officers went to the motel to check on the girlfriend. When they arrived, police saw the front door of the motel room open, and observed a woman holding a hypodermic needle, attempting to inject herself with what appeared to be a controlled substance, police said. Officers were able to stop the woman and detain her. Officers learned the substance in the needle was methamphetamines. They placed the woman under arrest and recovered baggies containing crystal methamphetamine, as well as a glass pipe, hypodermic needle and other paraphernalia used to smoke or inject meth.
The woman was identified as Sue Ann Hoy, 35, of Santa Monica. The parolee was identified as Sergio Paez, 37, also of Santa Monica. Hoy’s bail was set at $20,000. No bail was set for Paez because of a parole warrant issued.
On Wednesday, May 17, at 3:14 p.m., police responded to the 1200 block of Third Street Promenade — Barnes & Noble — regarding a theft investigation. When they arrived, they spoke to a store manager who said employees were conducting inventory when they found a large amount of books to be missing. The manager said he conducted an internal investigation and discovered the suspect was an employee of the book store and that this employee had taken 23 books valued at $3,520,78. The books were recovered and returned to the store, and the employee was arrested on June 1 and booked for grand theft. He was identified as Alexandre Costa, 24, of Playa Vista. His bail was set at $20,000.
On Wednesday, May 31, at 10:15 p.m., police responded to the corner of Arizona Avenue and Berkeley Street regarding a hit-and-run accident that had just occurred. Officers responding to the crash were given a description of the vehicle believed responsible for the accident. While en route, officers spotted the car, a silver BMW, in the 1200 block of 20th Street and noticed the vehicle was unoccupied. Armed with a description of the suspect, officers in the 1800 block of Wilshire Boulevard saw an individual who matched that description. Police stopped the individual in the 100 block of 19th Street and began to question him. During their investigation, police said they noticed the scent of alcohol on the suspect’s breath. When officers asked the suspect if he had been drinking, the suspect became uncooperative. He was placed under arrest for driving under the influence and for leaving the scene of an accident. He was identified as Steven Yokoyama, 35, of Marina del Rey. His bail was set at $40,000.
On Sunday, June 4, at 8:25 p.m., police responded to the 1600 block of Cloverfield Boulevard — Ralph’s — regarding a theft suspect who allegedly became combative. When officers arrived, they spoke with an employee who said the alleged thief walked into the store, stole 10 doughnuts and two 20-ounce cups of coffee. When the man left the store without paying for the items, an employee confronted him and a fight ensued, police said. The suspected thief was later arrested and booked for strong arm robbery. He was identified as Gabriele Barcellesi, 36, of Los Angeles. No bail was set.
On Friday, June 2, at 9:36 p.m., officers were called to the 400 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding an assault investigation. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who said he was in a gas station when he saw another man yelling at a woman, possibly his girlfriend. When he tried to leave the location, he said the yelling man followed him out into the parking lot and asked him, ‘What’s your problem?’ The alleged victim said he refused to answer and tried to walk away. That’s when the aggressor pushed him in the back. The alleged victim notified police and the man accused of assault was arrested. He was identified as Chad Pardee, 33, of Las Vegas. His bail was set at $20,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 9, 2006. Read the original PDF.