Transients cause trouble on city streets By Daily Press staff
■ Five intoxicated Santa Monica transients allegedly beat and stabbed a man on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
At 2:45 a.m. Santa Monica police arrived at Third Street and Arizona Avenue where they found a man severely beaten and stabbed.
Five transients were congregated a short distance away. The victim was able to identify the transients as his attackers before being taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. The police arrested the following alleged attackers: The suspects are Victor Lee Williams, 18, of Los Angeles. Andrew Allan Knaak, a 22-year-old white male from Santa Monica. Frederick Coney Jr., a 22-year-old black male from Santa Monica. Brandon Shipley, a 30-year-old male black from Santa Monica. Wayne Charles Richards, a 19-year-old white male from Santa Monica. All five suspects are transients and all were booked into the Santa Monica Jail. ■ Santa Monica transient Jelani Asad was arrested for allegedly making threats to a woman, police said.
At 6 p.m. on Nov. 20, the victim was sitting on the 2400 block of Main Street when Asad allegedly approached her and demanded money. The victim refused. Asad became angry and began yelling at her. The victim walked away, but Asad followed, allegedly screaming threats at her, police said.
The victim called Santa Monica police, who took Asad into custody.
Asad, a 31-year-old male black transient of Santa Monica, was arrested and booked on charges of criminal threats. ■ Four teenagers robbed two people at gunpoint near the beach two weeks ago. On Monday, Nov. 18, the victims were walking on the 1900 block of Ocean Front Walk. At about 8:03 p.m. they were approached by four teenage males, one of whom pulled out a handgun and demanded the victims’ money.
The victims dropped their money and belongings on the sidewalk, which the teenagers grabbed and fled on foot.
They stole cash, a cell phone and a wallet. The teenager with the gun is described as a black male, 16 years old, 5’10” and 160 pounds. He was wearing a white T-shirt and black pants. The second suspect is a black male, 16 years old, 5’10”, and also was wearing a white T-shirt and black pants.
The other two suspects fit similar descriptions.
With any information regarding these crimes, call the Santa Monica Police Department’s Robbery/Homicide Unit at (310) 458-8451.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 3, 2002. Read the original PDF.