Mace was no match for men in blue
By DAILY PRESS STAFF 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.
FRIDAY, MAY 4, AT 12:30 A.M. Santa Monica police officers responded to the 2000 block of Ocean Avenue after receiving a call about a man who was standing on a park bench screaming. When officers arrived, they made contact with the suspect, who was waiving a can of mace, threatening to spray the officers if they moved in to handcuff him. The officers called for backup and were able to distract the suspect long enough to get the jump on him, at which time they grabbed the mace and subdued the man. Once in custody, the suspect continued to make threats and told the officers that he wish they would have shot him. The suspect was arrested for assault on a police officer. He was identified as Walter Thomas Strenger, 45, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
FRIDAY, MAY 4, AT 1 A.M., Officers responded to a report of malicious mischief in the 400 block of Washington Avenue. When officers arrived, they spoke with a witness who said they saw a group of men walking down the street kicking sideview mirrors of parked cars. Officers conducted a search of the area and found the suspects in a friend’s apartment. They were arrested and charged with vandalism. They were identified as Patrick Inad Haddad, 23, and Francis Phillip Levangietorsney, 21, both of Santa Monica. Bail was set at $20,000 each.
FRIDAY, MAY 4, AT 10:45 A.M., Officers responded to the 1000 block of Maple Street regarding an attempted rape. When officers arrived, they spoke with the victim who said she was going in and out of her house, taking out the trash, when she was confronted by a man inside her home. He grabbed her around the neck, threw her on the bed and began groping her. The woman said her attacker then straddled her and tried to rape her, but she managed to fight him off. The suspect fled and the victim called police. Armed with a description of the suspect, officers located him in the 1300 block of Oak Street a few minutes later. He was arrested for assault with the intent to commit rape and assault by means to produce great bodily injury, police said. He was identified as Romero Urbina, 44, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $100,000.
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, AT 1:50 A.M., Officers responded to the 1300 block of 11th Street regarding a report of a prowler. When officers arrived, they spoke with a homeowner who said a friend was sleeping on their sofa when they awoke to the sound of someone trying to open the front door. When the friend sat up, they saw a figure standing at the window, trying to open it. The friend yelled out and the suspect ran, police said. On Friday, May 4, at 5:55 p.m., officers arrested the suspect at the corner of 11th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. Police said the suspect was detained for an unrelated issue and when officers ran his name through the computer, a warrant for his arrest flashed across the screen. The suspect was arrested for attempted burglary. He was identified as David Saiid Canin, 20, of Santa Monica. No bail was set.
WEDNESDAY, MAY 2, AT 11 A.M., Officers responded to the 1700 block of Eighth Street regarding a report of a strong-arm robbery. When officers arrived, they spoke with the alleged victim who said he was hanging out with friends when he got into an argument with someone there. The victim, who police said was a transient, told officers that the aggressor asked him for $5 and when he refused, the man punched him. The victim said the suspect threatened to keep beating him up if he didn’t give up the cash. When he did, the suspect then asked for the victim’s bike. The suspect hopped on and rode off with the bike and the money. The victim, who was punched so hard he needed stitches to close a gash above his eye, called police and gave officers a description of the suspect. Officers arrested the suspect a short time later for robbery. He was identified as Gentleman John Clark, 32, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
MONDAY, APRIL 30, AT 8:51 P.M. Officers responded to the 1200 block of Third Street — Old Navy — regarding a shoplifter in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke to store security who said the woman walked into the store with a big black purse that was empty and had no money in it. She began browsing the women’s section, placing several items into her purse. She then walked out of the store without paying for the items, at which time she was apprehended by store security. The items were valued at $144. The woman was booked for burglary. She was identified as Jannette Chaidez, 22, a transient. Her bail was set at $35,750 because of outstanding warrants, police said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 11, 2007. Read the original PDF.