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.
Friday, Sept. 21, at 1:40 a.m.
Santa Monica police responded to the 1900 block of Main Street — Star Liquor — regarding a robbery in progress. When officers arrived, they made contact with the store employee, who said he was standing behind a counter going over the night’s receipts when the suspect walked in and ordered the cashier to give him all the money in the register. When the cashier refused, the suspect allegedly reached over the counter and grabbed the cashier by the shirt, ordering him again to give up the cash. The cashier broke loose, at which point the suspect walked around the counter and tried to open the register. At that point, the cashier grabbed a gun he had hidden and in an attempt to scare the suspect, he fired one round into the ground, police said. But the suspect continued to take money from the register — $290 — and then walked out of the store. The cashier called for help. Another employee and some bystanders came to his aid and tackled the suspect, holding him until police took him into custody. The suspect, who was on parole, was identified as Charles Christopher Wykle, 39, a transient. No bail was set.
Saturday, Sept. 22, at 7:35 a.m.
Police responded to the corner of Ocean Avenue and Santa Monica Boulevard regarding an assault of a Big Blue Bus driver. When officers arrived, they made contact with the driver, who said that the suspect got onto the bus but refused to pay. The driver told the passenger that he had to pay or get off the bus. The suspect refused and became irate, yelling at the driver and other passengers, who also ordered the man to pay or leave. Eventually, the suspect got up and began to walk off the bus, but before he left, he allegedly swung an aluminum crutch, striking the bus driver in the shoulder. The driver called police and the suspect was arrested about a block away for assault and battery. He was identified as John Edward Slate, 47, a transient. His bail was set at $46,349. Slate had several warrants and was on probation, police said.
Monday, Sept. 24, at 8:40 a.m.
Police responded to the 1800 block of Wilshire Boulevard — Rite Aid — after receiving a call about a disturbance. When officers arrived, they spoke with the store manager, who said that a homeless woman known for making a scene walked into the store and refused to leave. She eventually went into a bathroom and locked herself in. The manager began pounding on the door, asking the woman to leave. Eventually, she did, but before she walked out the door, she allegedly punched the manager in the shoulder. Officers detained the woman outside the store and she was arrested for assault and battery. She was identified as Charlotte Genine Hashem, 46, a transient. Her bail was set at $21,000.
Monday, Sept. 24, at 1:50 p.m.
A detective was on patrol in the 1500 block of Harvard Street — because of an increase in burglaries in that area — when he observed a man on a bicycle who was riding in and out of carports. The detective stopped the man to question him. The detective searched the man’s backpack and found a pair of bolt cutters and channel locks used to break open the locks on storage containers. The detective also found syringes. The suspect was placed under arrest for possession of burglary tools and drug paraphernalia. He was identified as Joseph Michael Mais, 43, from Rosemead. No bail was set because the suspect was on parole, police said.
Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 9:55 p.m.
Officers responded to the 1400 block of Lincoln Boulevard — Savon — regarding an armed robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with the store manger, who said that two suspects made their way into the store at closing time and brandished a firearm. They ordered everyone to the ground and removed money from the registers. Officers said the suspects made off with roughly $1,000. The suspects fled in a gold or black 1990 Ford Crown Victoria with faded black paint, police said. Witnesses described the suspects as a male Hispanic, 22, 5-feet, 8-inches tall, 175 pounds, and a black male in his 20s, 6-feet tall, 150 pounds with a medium complexion. Both were wearing dark sweaters and painter’s masks. If anyone has any information regarding the robbery, they are urged to call the SMPD.
Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 9:45 p.m.
Officers on routine patrol near the corner of Main and Hill streets were flagged down by a resident who said he saw a man walking up and down Main Street trying to open doors to businesses that were closed. Officers detained the suspect, and during a search of his property, found a pill bottle filled with marijuana. The suspect said he had a medical marijuana prescription, but failed to produce it. He was arrested for possessing less than an ounce. He was identified as Fabrice Camara, 41, a transient. His bail was set at $75.
Staff Writer Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 5, 2007. Read the original PDF.