By BY DAILY PRESS STAFF Staff Writer KEVIN HERRERA compiled these reports.
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.
SATURDAY, JULY 7, AT 1:40 A.M. Santa Monica Police officers responded to the 2800 block of Washington Avenue after receiving a report about an assault that had just occurred in the area. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who said he was walking down the street with a friend when three suspects in a parked car began yelling racist comments at them. The men jumped out of the car and pulled out a knife and waived it at the two men walking, striking one of them several times with their fists. The three men then allegedly brought a pit bull out of the car and told the dog to “sick ‘em.” The dog attacked and bit one of the victims in the cheek. The injury was not serious, police said, and the victim was able to fight off the attackers, who jumped in their car and fled. A neighbor who witnessed the incident called police and provided a description of the attackers. With the help of the Los Angeles Police Department, officers were able to locate the vehicle in the Pacific Palisades. Officers responded to that location and arrested the three suspects and towed the vehicle. The dog was also located, but not impounded. The suspects were identified as Anthony Dee Butterfield, 21, of Mar Vista, and Justin Ryan Thomas, 21, and Colin Taylor West, 19, both from the Pacific Palisades. All three were booked for assault with a deadly weapon and for making criminal threats. Bail was set at $50,000.
SUNDAY, JULY 8, AT 6:30 P.M. Officers responded to the 2500 block of the beach boardwalk regarding a call about a group of people spray-painting the walls. Officers arrived and detained the suspects, who were later identified by witnesses. Officers searched the backpack of one of the suspects and found spray cans that were believed to have been used in the crime. The suspect with the spray cans was arrested and charged with vandalism, a misdemeanor. The suspect was identified as Francisco Lopez, 19, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $500. Officers said the vandalism was more graffiti art than gang graffiti.
SUNDAY, JULY 8, AT 3:25 P.M. Officers responded to the 2400 block of Main Street — Piero Hair Salon — after receiving a report about an assault that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with one of the salon employees who said they were punched in the face by a man who was known for being a troublemaker. The employee said they tried to approach the man so they could ask him to leave when the suspect turned around and threw a punch. He then attempted to run out of the salon, but was detained by other employees and held until police arrived. The suspect was arrested for assault and battery. He was identified as Peter Boules, 29, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.
FRIDAY, JULY 6, AT 1 P.M. Officers responded to the corner of Fourth Street and Olympic Boulevard regarding a man who was lying in the roadway. When officers arrived, they approached the man, who said he was merely trying to solicit money. Officers asked for his identification. The man did not have any I.D. Officers searched him and said they found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke rock cocaine. The man was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. He was identified as Marcus Boyce Turner, 49, a transient. His bail was set at $250.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, AT 7:10 P.M. An officer on routine patrol in the 1600 block of Lincoln Boulevard spotted a suspicious man running from the parking lot of the Norms Restaurant. Seconds later, a man in the parking lot yelled out to the officer that the man running just tried to rob him at gunpoint. The officer pursued the suspect, and with the help of the police helicopter, was able to apprehend him in the 900 block of Colorado Avenue. The man was found hiding in between two buildings, police said. The victim told officers that he was with his friends walking to his car, which was parked in the lot at Norms, when the suspect approached and produced a handgun. The suspect, who was booked for attempted armed robbery, allegedly asked for money and tried to take the victim’s car. A struggle ensued between the suspect and the victim. The victim managed to gain control of the gun, at which point the suspect fled on foot. The gun later turned out to be a BB gun, but police said it looked real enough. The suspect was identified as Alonzo Rubalcava, 24, from the City of Bell. No bail was set because he was on probation.
MONDAY, JULY 2, AT 1:25 P.M. Officers responded to the 700 block of Broadway — Vons — regarding shoplifting suspects in custody. When offices arrived, they made contact with store security who said two suspects, a man and a woman, walked into the grocery store carrying a satchel. The two grabbed a shopping cart and began to put things in it. When they got to a somewhat secluded part of the store, security observed the two putting the items into the satchel bag and then walk out of the store, failing to pay for the items. The two then walked off in different directions, but both were quickly detained. Officers found $268 worth of goods in the satchel bag, everything from cosmetics to toothbrushes and food. The suspects were charged with commercial burglary. They were identified as Paul Fabian Washington, 52, of Santa Monica, and Chevonne Victoria Reed, 39, of Wilmington. No bail was set because they both were on probation.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 13, 2007. Read the original PDF.