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.
FRIDAY, JUNE 15, AT 4:15 P.M. Santa Monica police officers responded to the 200 block of Broadway regarding a report of a strong-arm robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who said he as standing on the street corner about to smoke a cigarette when he was approached by a man who wanted one as well. Before the smoker could even pull out a cigarette, the man who approached him grabbed the whole pack and walked away. The victim said the man was acting irrationally, so he didn’t confront him. Instead, he contacted police on the Third Street Promenade, who were able to locate the suspect and placed him under arrest for stealing the smokes. The suspect was identified as Eddy Mandell Martin, 31, of Los Angeles. No bail was issued because he was on probation, police said.
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, AT 4:15 P.M. Deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department arrested Rashaan Amir Rucker, who was wanted in connection with a strong arm robbery at Virginia Avenue Park in March. Police said Rucker was playing basketball at the park when he asked to borrow a cell phone from a person he was playing with. Rucker allegedly walked off with the phone and made threats to the phone’s owner when he asked for it back. The incident was reported and a warrant issued for Rucker’s arrest. Rucker, 30, of Los Angeles was booked for robbery and his bail was set at $50,000.
TUESDAY, JUNE 12 Officers arrested Victoriano Ramos, 29, of Los Angeles for embezzling funds from his employer, Above The Fold, a newspaper stand and magazine rack on the Third Street Promenade. Officers said the owners of the business contacted detectives in May to report a theft after noticing their profits were down, although sales had stayed the same. After an investigation, detectives determined that Ramos was responsible for the theft and arrested him. His bail was set at $20,000.
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, AT 4:40 A.M. Officers on routine patrol in the 900 block of Olympic Boulevard noticed two men who they recognized from prior contacts. Considering that the men were on parole and had both been arrested for narcotics violations, the officers decided to pull over and question them. A search was conducted and officers found marijuana on each individual. There was less than an ounce in each man’s possession, police said. The two were arrested for possession of a controlled substance. They were identified as Richard Joseph Measel, 44, a transient, and Juan Francisco Larios, 26, also a transient. No bail was set for both men since they were in violation of their parole, police said.
THURSDAY, JUNE 15, AT 5:50 A.M. Officers in the 100 block of Broadway noticed a man smoking in violation of the municipal code. Officers approached the man and explained the current smoking ban to him. At that point the suspect became irate, police said. Officers ran a warrant check and found out that the suspect was a sex offender who had failed to register, a violation. Officers also found a credit card and some prescription drugs that belonged to someone else. The suspect was arrested for possession of stolen property and for failing to register. He was identified as Charles Bernard Tolbert, 49, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, AT 1:40 A.M. Officers responded to the 2600 block of Wilshire Blvd. — Grand Custom Tailors — regarding a report of vandalism. When officers arrived, witnesses at the scene said a man, for no apparent reason, used his hands and his feet to break a plate-glass window in the front of the business and then continued walking down the street, acting irrational. Officers detained the suspect in the 2700 block of Wilshire Boulevard. He was arrested for felony vandalism. He was identified as Harry James Finnell, 21, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.
SATURDAY, JUNE 16, AT 12:45 A.M. Officers responded to the 1600 block of 14th Street, regarding a man who was seen lying on the ground. When officers arrived, they found a man who was intoxicated. Officers said marijuana was found on him and he was arrested for public intoxication and drug possession. He was identified as Ari Jeremy Raz, 23, from Culver City. His bail was set at $250.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 22, 2007. Read the original PDF.