By By Daily Press Staff
Crime Watch is a weekly series culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Stealing is not a game TUESDAY, MARCH 20 AT 7:20 P.M. Police responded to the 1900 block of Lincoln Boulevard — EB Games — regarding an employee in custody who was allegedly caught giving away, or selling at a discount, merchandise at the video game retailer. When officers arrived, they spoke with store security who said an employee had been giving friends free video games and treated other merchandise as promotional items, giving them to customers for free or at a discount because he thought this was done to keep customers coming back. The employee said he had been doing that since October, police said. In March alone, store security said the employee gave away or sold at a discount more than $1,000 in merchandise. The employee was arrested and booked at the Santa Monica jail for grant theft. He was identified as Angel Augustin Ledezma, 19, of Culver City. His bail was set at $20,000.
SUNDAY, MARCH 18 Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department arrested a suspect wanted for allegedly trying to cash a fake check at a Bank of America in Santa Monica in February. Police said the suspect walked into the Fourth Street branch Feb. 27 at 12:45 p.m. and tried to cash a fictitious check. The bank teller told police they thought the check looked suspicious, so they decided to call the account holder, who told the teller that they did not authorize anyone to make any withdrawals. Noticing something was wrong, the suspect left the bank, police said. With the suspect’s identification presented to the teller, SMPD detectives were able to issue a warrant for the suspect. LAPD officers on routine patrol in the 77th Division saw the suspect and arrested her. She was identified as Valeria Maria Level, 33, of Los Angeles. Bail was set at $20,000 FRIDAY, MARCH 23 AT 11 A.M. Police responded to the 1900 block of 17th Street regarding a burglary. When officers arrived, they spoke with the victim who said she had returned to her apartment to find the door open with signs of a forced entry. Missing was a woman’s Schwinn bicycle valued at $600, police said. During the investigation the victim’s son arrived at the apartment with the bike. Police said the son gained entry into the apartment and took the bike. He was arrested for burglary, six outstanding warrants and for a felony probation violation. He was identified as Jimmy Lee Lopez, 19, a transient. No bail was set.
FRIDAY, MARCH 23 AT 10:45 A.M. Police responded to the 300 block of San Vicente Boulevard Alley North regarding a disturbance call. When officers arrived, they spoke with the a mover who said he was struck by an impatient female driver who was mad that he had parked his moving truck in the alley to unload furniture. The victim said he and the driver got into a verbal exchange when she continued to honk her horn in a vain attempt to make him move. When he refused her demands, the woman allegedly inched her car forward and struck the mover in the leg with her front bumper, police said. The victim received no injuries. The driver was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. She was identified as Jane Lynn Westad, 53, a Santa Monica resident. Her bail was set at $30,000.
THURSDAY, MARCH 22 AT 11:10 P.M. Officers responded to the 1000 block of 12th Street regarding an armed robbery investigation. When police arrived, they spoke with two victims who said they were walking down the 800 block of Washington Boulevard earlier in the evening when they were approached by two men, one of whom had a four-to six-inch knife and threatened to stab them if they did not give up a purse. The other man was acting as a lookout, police said. Once they had the purse, the two men ran away and the victims flagged down a motorist who gave them a ride back to their house so they could call the police. In the purse was the victims’ cell phone, a wallet with cash, and her IDs. A subsequent investigation resulted in the arrest of one of the suspects, Antonio Gomez, 21, of West Los Angeles. He was charged with armed robbery. His bail was set at $100,000.
SUNDAY, MARCH 25 AT 2 A.M. Police responded to the 800 block of 15th Street regarding a burglary in progress. When officers arrived, they spoke with a homeowner who said a man was trying to break into their storage shed, The resident said he yelled at the suspect, who closed the shed’s doors and ran. He was detained in the 1300 block of Montana Avenue. During an interview with police, the suspect said he was looking for tools but was not going to steal them, police said. He was arrested for burglary. He was identified as Julian Mark Friedman, 50, of Pacoima. His bail was set at $50,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 30, 2007. Read the original PDF.