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# Man arrested after rape and robbery on Ocean Avenue beach path
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/crime-watch-20070727/
- Published: 2007-07-27T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-27T20:43:35.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Venice, #archive-import

*Suspect arrested for rape on beach*

*By By Daily Press Staff*

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, AT 4:20 A.M. Santa Monica Police officers responded to 1700 block of Ocean Avenue after receiving a report about a rape that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with the victim who said she was walking along the bike path from Venice when she was approached by a man. The two began talking and walked together for several minutes before the man allegedly struck the woman several times in the face, dragged her onto the beach and then raped her. The victim said the suspect then took her wallet and other belongings and ran off. She gave chase, but the suspect got away. Witnesses heard the victim screaming that she had been raped and saw the suspect. They gave a description to officers, who quickly located the suspect at the corner of Third Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. The suspect was arrested for robbery, rape and kidnapping. He was identified as Christaphore Michael Ruffin, 19, a transient. His bail was set at $100,000.

SATURDAY, JULY 21, AT 4:20 A.M. Officers responded to the 1500 block of 26th Street regarding a burglary investigation. When officers arrived, they spoke with an employee of a local business who said they heard what sounded like someone on the roof trying to break in. Officers searched the area and found a suspect hiding on the roof. Near the suspect was 110 feet of copper piping that had been removed from an air conditioning unit. The suspect, who police believe broke into another building to gain access to the roof, was arrested and booked for burglary. He was identified as Robert Steven Sanders, 27, of Venice. His bail was set at $20,000.

THURSDAY, JULY 19, AT 8:40 A.M. Officers on routine patrol in the 1700 block of Pearl Street noticed a vehicle that failed to stop at an intersection. Officers conducted a traffic stop and interviewed the driver, who was driving on a suspended license. Officers towed the vehicle and, during an inventory search, discovered a gym bag containing more than 55 grams of marijuana. The suspect was arrested for driving on a suspended license and for possession of a narcotic with the intent to distribute. The suspect was identified as Karlo Joel Bantan, 21, of Long Beach. His bail was set at $20,000.

TUESDAY, JULY 17, AT 6:20 P.M. Officers responded to the 1300 block of Third Street — Gap — regarding two shoplifting suspects in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke with store employees who said two men walked into the Gap with a bag from Banana Republic and began browsing. Employees said the two men placed several items in the bag before walking out of the store, failing to pay for any of the items. Once outside the store, the two men were detained by store security and held until police arrived. They were booked for burglary. They were identified as Christopher Major-Middleton, 25, from Philadelphia, and Michael Louis Minter, 32\. Bail was set at $20,000 each.

SUNDAY, JULY 22, AT 11 A.M. Officers responded to the 300 block of Colorado Avenue — Macys — regarding two shoplifting suspects in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke with store security who said two suspects walked into the department store and began browsing the aisles. One suspect went into a fitting room with several items while the other slipped an empty shopping bag under the door. Store security said the suspect in the fitting room placed clothing in the empty bag and then the two walked out of the store, failing to pay for the items. Security gave chase and the suspects were found hiding in between two cars parked in a nearby structure. The two were booked for burglary. One of the suspects was a 14-year-old juvenile. The other suspect was identified as Juan Alatorre, 18, from Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000\. Roughly $300 worth of merchandise was recovered.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 27, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/072707.pdf?ref=smdp.com)