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# Five suspects arrested for robbing street performers with racial slurs
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/crime-watch-20080620/
- Published: 2008-06-20T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-25T00:16:54.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: local, Promenade, #archive-import

*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. Robbery with racial slurs SUNDAY, JUNE 8, AT 9:45 P.M., Santa Monica police officers responded to a radio call of unknown trouble in the 1400 block of Court 3\. When officers arrived they made contact with four alleged victims who are street performers on the Third Street Promenade. The men told officers that they were walking down an alley to their car, which was parked in an adjacent structure, when five suspects attacked and robbed them, all while yelling racial slurs at the African-American victims. The suspects, one of whom hit one of the victims with a concrete block, took a backpack belonging to one of the performers and fled in a vehicle. The performers jotted down the suspects’ license plate. Officers were able to locate the vehicle a short time later on Interstate 10\. The performers positively identified the suspects, who were placed under arrest for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. Bail was set at $50,000 for each suspect. They were identified as Johnny Salcido, 21, of Los Angeles; Victor Refugio Cortez, 20, of Los Angeles; Alfonso Tores, 38, from South Gate; Pablo Antonio Sanchez, 26, from Paramount; and Gina Lynn Powell, 26, from Los Angeles.

TUESDAY, JUNE 10, AT 12:50 P.M., Officers responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade — Sephora — regarding a theft that just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with employees at the perfume store who said that the suspect walked into the shop and took several bottles of perfume and cologne and then walked out without paying for the items. Once outside the store a security guard tried to stop the suspect, but the suspect pushed the security guard away and fled on foot. A community service officer detained the suspect a short distance away from the store and held him until police arrived. The suspect was placed under arrest for robbery and theft with a prior. He was identified as Victor Hugo Martinez, 52, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $50,000\. The items stolen were valued at $278, police said. All the items were recovered.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11, AT 1:17 A.M., Officers responded to the corner of Fifth Street and Broadway after receiving a report that a traffic service officer was assaulted. When officers arrived they made contact with the traffic service officer who said a driver spit on him as he attempted to issue a parking ticket. The driver drove off, but not before the traffic officer jotted down his license plate. The driver was apprehended a short time later and placed under arrest for assault. Officers also discovered that the suspect was in possession of marijuana. The suspect was identified as Yimeng Zheng, 21, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.

THURSDAY, JUNE 12, AT 7:15 P.M., Officers responded to the 200 block of Broadway — Buddha’s Belly — regarding a customer who refused to pay for his meal. When officers arrived they made contact with the restaurant manager who said the suspect ate a meal and then left the restaurant without paying. When confronted, the suspect refused to pay. The manager called police and officers placed the suspect under arrest. Officers said the suspect appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. The suspect was booked for defrauding an innkeeper and for being drunk in public. He was identified as Carlos Francisco Anzora, 44, from Los Angeles. His bail was set at $500.

FRIDAY, JUNE 13, AT 2:30 A.M., Officers on routine patrol in the 900 block of Olympic Boulevard conducted a random vehicle license plate check and discovered that there was a warrant issued for the owner of the vehicle. Officers conducted a traffic stop at which point they confirmed that the driver was the one named in the warrant. Officers detained the driver and searched the vehicle, at which point they found heroin and prescription drugs. The passenger in the vehicle was placed under arrest along with the driver for possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia. The driver, who was identified as Malcom Jamal Walker, 23, of Culver City, was also booked for driving on a suspended license. His bail was set at $20,000\. The passenger was identified as Brittany Sharee Rouse, 22, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $10,000.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, AT 4:43 P.M., Officers responded to the 1200 block of Sixth Street after receiving a report of a battery that just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with the alleged victim who said he was attacked and had his bag stolen. Armed with a description of the suspect officers were able to locate him a short distance away. He was placed under arrest for robbery and an outstanding warrant. The victim’s belongings were recovered, which included an ID and some vegetables, police said. The suspect was identified as Ronald Steven Barlish, 67, a transient. His bail was set at $50,396.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, AT 7:35 P.M., Officers responded to the 2400 block of Pico Boulevard — Rite Aid — regarding a theft that just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with store security who said a female customer walked into the drug store and placed several items in her bag before walking out of the store, failing to pay for the items. Security detained the suspect until police arrived. Officers placed the woman under arrest for petty theft. The suspect was identified as Diana Nurtasovn Jambekova, 19, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $1,000\. Officers said the woman took toiletries and some beverages valued at $111.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 11:15 A.M., Officers responded to a local hospital regarding an assault with a deadly weapon that just occurred. When officers arrived at the hospital they made contact with the alleged victim who said she was struck in the head with a coffee mug and had her cell phone stolen by a female acquaintance when she attempted to call 911\. The victim told officers that the assault occurred because there was an argument involving the purchasing of drugs. After the assault, the suspect drove the victim to the hospital. The suspect was arrested by police at the hospital for assault with a deadly weapon and for forbidding someone from calling 911\. The suspect was identified as Susan Elaine Hauch, 53, a transient. Her bail was set at $100,000.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, AT 7:45 P.M., Officers responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade — Abercrombie & Fitch — regarding an assault that just occurred. When officers arrived they spoke with store employees who said the suspect punched the store manager in the eye. The manager tried to escort the suspect out of the store because she was making a disturbance. That’s when the suspect allegedly punched the manager. The suspect was placed under arrest for assault and battery, and for being drunk in public. She was identified as Ncinsie Angel Garcia, 28, of Los Angeles. Bail was set at $20,000.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 20, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062008.pdf?ref=smdp.com)