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.
SUNDAY, DEC. 16, AT 5:30 P.M. Santa Monica police officers responded to the 500 block of Santa Monica Boulevard — Goodwill — regarding a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they made contact with store employees who said the suspect walked into the Goodwill, opened up his backpack and stuffed two pairs of blue jeans into it before walking out without paying for the items. Once outside the store, employees detained the suspect until police arrived. The suspect was placed under arrest for burglary, allegedly telling the officers that he stole the $8 jeans because they were easy to take. The suspect was identified as Faustino Gomez, 38, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
SUNDAY, DEC. 16, AT 11:45 A.M. Officers responded to the 200 block of Pico Boulevard regarding an assault with a deadly weapon. When officers arrived, they made contact with the alleged victim, who said he was working on his car in his garage when a man approached him. The victim told the man to leave. He did, but returned a few minutes later. The two began to argue, at which point the suspect pulled out a knife and began walking towards the victim, police said. The victim picked up a hammer to defend himself, at which point the suspect fled. He was later detained by police and arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Ernie Altamirano, 44, a transient. His bail was set at $30,338. Police said he had outstanding warrants.
SATURDAY, DEC. 15, AT 1:10 A.M. Police responded to the 2300 block of 28th Street regarding a burglary investigation. When officers arrived, they spoke with a witness who said he saw a suspicious man hiding between two apartment buildings. Officers located the man, who was dressed in dark clothing and had a black stocking on his head. He also was wearing gloves, police said. Officers arrested the suspect on suspicion of burglary. He was identified as Isiah Ransom Gunn, 20, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $50,000.
FRIDAY, DEC. 14, AT 11 A.M. Police responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade — Crocs retail store — to investigate a report of embezzlement. When officers arrived, they spoke with store security who said two employees had been funneling money into their private accounts. The employees allegedly took old sales receipts and pretended as if they were returning items purchased. The refunds for the items went straight into their credit card accounts. After about a month and a half, store security noticed an unusual number of returns being credited to two accounts and began investigating. Police said the amount of fictitious returns was at least $5,000. The employees who were arrested for commercial burglary/embezzlement were identified as Geanitha Marshall, 24, of Los Angeles, and Karla Cannon, 19, from Anaheim. Marshall was not allowed to post bail because she was on probation, police said. Bail for Cannon was set at $20,000.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 12, AT 1:30 A.M. Police responded to the 100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard — Ye Old King’s Head Pub — regarding a report of a patron causing a scene. When officers arrived, they spoke with employees at the pub who said the customer was being disruptive and was escorted outside by security. As the customer got to the front door, he used his right hand to shatter a window valued at $2,000, police said. The suspect was taken into custody for felony vandalism. While at the police station, officers discovered the suspect had in his possession a small amount of cocaine. He was booked for drug possession and the vandalism. The suspect was identified as Felix Hernandez, 24, from Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
TUESDAY, DEC. 11, AT 8:50 P.M. Police responded to the 1100 block of Alley Five, just off Washington Avenue, after receiving a call about a suspicious person walking through the area looking into cars. Officers detained the suspect and asked him for identification. When the suspect said he didn’t have any, officers searched him and found a credit card that belonged to someone else. The suspect could not explain how he came into possession of the credit card. He was placed under arrest for possession of a lost or stolen credit card. The suspect was identified as Juan Alberto Suazo, 44, a transient. His bail was set at $500.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 21, 2007. Read the original PDF.