> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Not made in the shade - URL: https://www.smdp.com/not-made-in-the-shade/ - Published: 2008-09-12T15:00:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-25T01:00:02.000Z - Author: Guest Author - Tags: Opinion, Pico, #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. FRIDAY, SEPT. 5, AT 12:47 A.M., Santa Monica police responded to the 1400 block of Montana Avenue — Senses Optique — regarding a report of a suspicious person inside the eye glass store. When officers arrived, they made contact with store employees who said two women walked into the store who resembled a pair who stole sunglasses from the store two weeks ago. The employees believed the two were going to steal again and notified the police. Officers arrived, but the suspects had already left the store. Officers detained the suspects a few blocks away. Officers searched the suspects and found three pairs of sunglasses. Employees at the store said the sunglasses matched pairs sold at the store that were missing. Officers placed the suspects under arrest for burglary, grand theft and violation of probation. The suspects were identified as Tonisha Deshon Williams, 28, of Los Angeles; and Laverne Victoria Tolbert, 35, also of L.A. Tolbert was also booked for possession of stolen property. Bail was set at $20,000\. The sunglasses were valued at $1,325. TUESDAY, SEPT. 9, AT 12:03 P.M., Police responded to the 2400 block of Pico Boulevard — Rite Aid — regarding a report of a theft that just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said the suspect walked into the store and grabbed several electronic items and walked out of the store, failing to pay for the items. Once outside the store, security guards confronted the suspect and a fight ensued. The suspect was apprehended a few blocks away by responding officers. The suspect was booked for robbery and violation of probation. He was identified as Duane Thomas, 50, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000\. The items allegedly stolen were valued at $286. SATURDAY, SEPT. 6, AT 2:51 P.M., A police officer on routine patrol in the 1600 block of Pico Boulevard conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle with expired tags. After contacting the driver, the officer saw an open bindle of cocaine in the car’s ashtray. The driver was detained and during a search, police found a Vicodin pill in his pocket. The driver was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and transported to the Santa Monica Jail to be booked. While at the jail, officers conducted a thorough search of the suspect and found another bindle of cocaine. He was booked for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He was identified as Esteban Reynoso, 18, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000. FRIDAY, SEPT. 5, AT 5:10 P.M., Officers conducted a traffic stop at the corner of 14th Street and Michigan Avenue after watching a driver enter the street from a driveway in an unsafe manner. Officers recognized the driver as being on parole and searched the vehicle. They found a pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamines. Officers placed the driver under arrest and transported him to the Santa Monica Jail. During a search there, officers found cocaine hidden on the suspect. He was booked for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, bringing a controlled substance into a jail, and for violation of parole. The suspect was identified as Gil Salazar Verastegui, 24, of Santa Monica. No bail was set. TUESDAY, SEPT. 2, AT 10:45 P.M., Police responded to the 700 block of Broadway — Vons — regarding two theft suspects in custody for allegedly trying to steal food. When officers arrived, they made contact with store security who said the suspects walked into the store and placed several food items into baskets and then walked out without paying for the items. They were detained outside the store and held until police arrived. The suspects were placed under arrest for conspiracy to commit a crime and burglary. They were identified as Ryan Christoph Gragg, 19, a transient; and a 17-year-old juvenile, a transient. Bail was set at $20,000 for Gragg. The total value of the items recovered was $89.11. TUESDAY, SEPT. 2, AT 2:20 A.M., Police on routine patrol in the 1900 block of Main Street noticed a vehicle that was parked on the side of the road with the driver slumped over the steering wheel, the car lights on and the engine still running. Officers made a U-turn and contacted the driver, who appeared to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The officers conducted a field sobriety test on the driver and determined that she was under the influence. She was placed under arrest for DUI. The vehicle was searched and officers discovered cocaine and a crack pipe. The driver was booked for DUI, and for being in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. The suspect was also found to be in violation of probation. She was identified as Jennifer Green Fishman, 35, from Pacific Palisades. Her bail was set at $16,000. *Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 12, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/091208.pdf?ref=smdp.com)