The feelings weren’t mutual
By
ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16, AT 10:15 A.M., Santa Monica Police officers responded to Virginia Avenue Park, where a city employee said she saw a man masturbating on the grass.When officers arrived, they located the suspect and arrested him for indecent exposure and public intoxication. He was identified as Valentino Vasquez, 55, a transient. His bail was set at $10,000.
ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 14, AT 2:48 A.M., officers stopped a man in the 200 block of Broadway for riding his bicycle on the sidewalk in violation of the municipal code. During an interview with the suspect, officers asked if he was on probation or parole. The man said he was on parole for drugs and burglary. When asked if he had any drugs in his possession, the bicyclist said he had a glass pipe, which was later recovered, police said. The man was placed under arrest for possession of drug paraphernalia and during a search, officers recovered two screwdrivers stashed in the suspect’s waistband and three flashlights. The man was identified as Eric Stephen Owens, 42, of Santa Monica. He was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia and for a parole violation. No bail was set.
ON THURSDAY, JUNE 15 AT 8:50 A.M., officers responded to the corner of Ocean Avenue and Pico Boulevard regarding an assault investigation.When officers arrived they spoke to a woman who said that while she was walking another woman began yelling racial slurs at her and spat at her. The alleged victim is African-American. The other woman is Caucasian, police said. Officers located the suspect in the 1600 block of Ocean Avenue and she was identified by the alleged victim. She was arrested for assault and battery. She was identified as Nicolle O’neill, 45, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $20,000.
ON THURSDAY, JUNE 15, AT 2:40 P.M., an officer was driving eastbound on Colorado Avenue, approaching Cloverfield Boulevard, when he saw a suspect writing on a traffic control box. The officer later determined the suspect was writing gang graffiti. He was arrested for vandalism. He was identified as Gregory Wherry, 19, of Carson. No bail amount was provided by police.
ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16, AT 1:40 A.M., police responded to the 1800 block of the beach regarding a strong-arm robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke to the alleged victim who said he was confronted by two men on the beach who forcibly took his wallet and cell phone. The suspects fled and were later arrested in the 1700 block of the beach, after the victim positively identified them as his attackers. The men were identified as Joel Sanchez, 25, of Huntington Park, and Obedio Reyes, 19, of Los Angeles. Both were booked for robbery. Their bail was set at $50,000 each. Police said the wallet contained $87, all of which was recovered along with the cell phone.
ON FRIDAY, JUNE 16, AT 1:12 A.M., officers responded to the 500 block of the pier to investigate a report of a robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who said he was robbed by two male suspects, who reached into his pocket and removed $2. The suspects were located in the 1700 block of Ocean Front Walk a short time later and, after being positively identified by the alleged victim, were arrested and booked for robbery. One suspect was a 14-year-old who was released to his mother, police said. The other suspect, 23-year-old Noel Cabrera of Los Angeles, was held on $50,000 bail.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 24, 2006. Read the original PDF.