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, JULY 20, AT 7:40 A.M., Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1500 block of Lincoln Boulevard — Denny’s — regarding a report of patrons failing to pay their bill. When officers arrived they made contact with restaurant employees who said a group of young people ate food valued at $40.21 and then ran out without paying. Employees were able to provide officers with a description of the suspects and their license plate number. Officers found the suspects driving eastbound on Interstate 10 and conducted a traffic stop. One of the employees was transported to the location and positively identified the suspects, who were placed under arrest for defrauding an innkeeper. Some of the suspects also were in possession of marijuana. The suspects were identified as Luis Miguel Astorga, 26; Julian Lopez, 18; Johanna Leon Nunez, 18; Roxane Marie Chavez, 20; and Kathleen Ugalde, 19, all from Los Angeles. Bail was set at $500 for all suspects except Chavez, who had a warrant. Her bail was set at $10,500, police said. Astorga, Nunez and Chavez were found to be in possession of marijuana at the time of the arrest.
FRIDAY, JULY 18, AT 10:25 P.M., Officers with the California Highway Patrol arrested a suspect wanted in connection with a burglary that occurred in January. Police said CHP officers stopped the suspect and ran his name through a database and learned that he was wanted. The suspect is believed to have entered a residence in the 700 block of 26th Street when the owner was away on vacation. Police said the suspect entered through a window and while he was inside he used the victim’s shower and slept in her bed. He later left the residence, taking a sleeping bag, floor mat, towels and a bottle of tequila. SMPD forensics specialists were able to lift fingerprints from the crime scene and identified the suspect as Richard Michael Duff, 31, a transient. He was booked for burglary. No bail was set.
SATURDAY, JULY 19, AT 1:115 P.M., Officers responded to the 1400 block of Palisades Park regarding a strong arm robbery that just occurred. When officers arrived they made contact with the alleged victim who said she was standing in the park with her purse and a bag of oranges when a man grabbed her belongings and tried to take them away from her. A struggle ensued and the man eventually made off with the oranges. He sat down in the park and began to eat them. Officers placed him under arrest for strong arm robbery. He was identified as Jeffrey Scott Cole, 50, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
THURSDAY, JULY 17, AT 3:10 P.M., Police responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade — Lucky Brand Dungarees — after receiving a call about a woman trying to cash $300 worth of stolen traveler’s checks. Officers said the store manager became suspicious and called American Express to verify the checks. The manager was informed that the checks were no good. The suspect left the store prior to the officers’ arrival. She was apprehended a short time later and booked for burglary, attempting to pass a false check, conspiracy to commit a crime and for a traffic warrant. The suspect was identified as Maia Kay Holts, 24, of Los Angeles. Her bail was set at $46,000.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, AT 8:45 P.M., Officers responded to the 1800 block of 19th Street regarding a brawl between twin brothers. When officers arrived they arrested the men, one for assault and the other for assault with a deadly weapon, which turned out to be a chair that was allegedly used to hit one of the brothers on the head. The fight apparently started after one of the brothers locked the other out of their house. The two were identified as Jonathan and Nathaniel Jerald Jeter, both 18 and from Santa Monica. Jonathan was cited for assault and battery. Nathaniel was booked for assault and battery. His bail was set at $30,000.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, AT 2:55 P.M., Police arrested a suspect in Los Angeles wanted in connection with a home-invasion robbery that occurred in November of 2007. Officers said the suspect broke into a home in the 1100 block of Princeton Street, ripped the phone cord out of the wall so the victim could not call police and then took cash and jewelry from the victim while holding him at knifepoint. Detectives were able to determine the suspect’s identity and later arrested him for armed robbery. The suspect was identified as Evan Myers Jr., 28, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $100,000.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, AT 4:30 P.M., Officers responded to the 2300 block of Pico Boulevard, rear alley, regarding a report of a strong arm robbery that just occurred. When they arrived they made contact with the alleged victim who told officers that the suspect had forcibly taken her pull cart, which contained her personal items. The suspect then left the area. The victim knew the suspect and provided a description to officers, who arrested the suspect for strong arm robbery, violation of a court order, and for violation of probation. He was identified as Olvaro Vasquez, 38, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 25, 2008. Read the original PDF.