By By Daily Press Staff
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, AT 12:30 P.M. Police on routine patrol in the 500 block of Santa Monica Boulevard were flagged down by a man who said he was assaulted while walking down the street. The alleged victim said a homeless man approached him, yelled at him and then spit in his face repeatedly. The victim called out to police, who arrested the suspect a few blocks away for assault and battery. The suspect was identified as James Morris Armstrong, 58, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14, AT 9:15 P.M. Police responded to the 1300 block of Stanford Street regarding an assault. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who said he was working in his front yard when an acquaintance passed by. The two began to argue and the suspect allegedly picked up a chair and threw it at the homeowner, striking him in the head and the ribs, police said. The suspect was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Randy Norman Birchall, 45, a Santa Monica resident. No bail was set because of a probation violation, police said.
FRIDAY, MARCH 16, AT 1:10 P.M. Officers responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade — Sephora — regarding a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke with store security, who said the suspect walked into the perfume and cosmetics store and placed several items into a bag and walked out without paying for the items. Once outside the store, security stopped the suspect and searched the bag. Inside they said they found $36 worth of lip gloss. Police took the suspect into custody for shoplifting. He was identified as Stephen Henry Harrington, 19, of Soquel, California. No bail was set.
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, AT 9 P.M. An officer on routine patrol in the 2600 block of Lincoln Boulevard noticed a man riding a bike without a light, a violation of the vehicle code. The officer stopped the suspect to issue a citation and discovered he had no identification. The officer searched the suspect’s belongings and discovered several bottoms of vitamins that looked like they had just been purchased. Since the suspect was in front of Albertsons, the officer went to the grocery store to see if employees recognized the suspect. Once inside, the officer viewed video from the store’s surveillance cameras and saw the suspect grab several bottles of Centrum vitamins and stuff them in his jacket before walking quickly out of the store, police said. Based on the video, the officer arrested the suspect for commercial burglary. He was identified as Mehrdad Akbari, 26, a transient. His bail was set at $145,000 because of several outstanding warrants, police said.
Staff Writer Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 23, 2007. Read the original PDF.