Clumsy crook gets nabbed by SMPD
By BY DAILY PRESS STAFF Staff Writer Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
MONDAY, FEB. 26 AT 7:25 P.M. Santa Monica police officers responded to the 700 block of Broadway — Vons — regarding a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke to store security who said a man walked into the grocery store and took two bottles of Smirnoff vodka and left without paying for the items. Once outside the store, two employees returning from a break saw the man staggering near the parking lot. They said the man was so drunk that he dropped one of the bottles of causing it to shatter. He then tripped over a bicycle on the sidewalk and dropped the second bottle, employees reported. The man picked himself up and walked back into the store, pulled another bottle off the shelf and tried to walk out a second time without paying, police said. While he was successful the first time, the second time around he was apprehended by store security. Police placed the suspect under arrest and transported him to the Santa Monica Jail, where he was booked for commercial burglary. The suspect was identified as Felipe Joe Archuleta, 41, and transient. No bail was set because the crime is being considered a parole violation.
SUNDAY, FEB. 25 AT 1:25 P.M. Police responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade — Sephora — regarding a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke with security who said a woman walked into the perfume store and began browsing the racks. At one point, she allegedly began stuffing perfume bottles and makeup into her handbag and a shopping basket. She then placed the basket on a counter by the cash registers and told employees that she was stepping outside for a moment but would be back to pay for the items, police said. Instead, the woman left the store and ran through the promenade. She was apprehended at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Third Street. Inside her purse, security officers found over $460 worth of perfume and makeup, including an $85 bottle of Vera Wang’s perfume and a bottle of Clinique’s “Happy,” police said. The suspect was taken into custody by police and booked for grand theft. She was identified as Nicole Fullmer, 28, of West Los Angeles. Her bail was set at $20,000.
SUNDAY, FEB. 25 AT 11:50 A.M. Police responded to the 1600 block of Cloverfield Boulevard — Ralphs — regarding a shoplifting suspect in custody. When officers arrived, they spoke with security officers who said a woman walked into the grocery store and ordered a sandwich from the deli. She then grabbed a shopping cart and began to walk through the isles, placing items in the cart and a plastic bag from Ralphs, police said. She then walked to the front of the store and left the cart inside before walking out the door with the plastic bag filled with items. Store security stopped her in the parking lot and looked through the bag, where they found more than $160 worth of items, including $125 worth of champagne, police said. She was taken into custody by police and booked for burglary. She was identified as Cindy Birchall, 50, of Los Angeles. No bail was set because of outstanding warrants, police said.
SUNDAY, FEB. 25 AT 5:30 P.M. Officers responded to the 1200 block of 16th Street regarding a report of an assault. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman who said she was walking to her apartment when another woman approached her and spit in her face. The victim told police the suspect was homeless and had been hanging around the area. Armed with a description of the suspect, officers located her a few blocks away and placed her under arrest for assault and battery. The suspect was identified as Pauline Lapierre, 56, of North Hollywood. Her bail was set at $20,000.
SATURDAY, FEB. 24 AT 8:40 P.M. Police responded to the 1500 block of Euclid Street — Gordon’s Plumbing and Supply — after receiving a report about a silent burglar alarm being tripped. When officers arrived at the location, they found a man in the business’ parking lot loading a heavy duty cable, police said. Further investigation revealed the suspect also had a new Sawzall and some carpenter’s snap cutters used to cut large iron sewer pipes, police said. The suspect was arrested for grand theft because the items in his possession totaled over $400. The suspect as identified as Manuel Fernandez Hernandez, 53, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
TUESDAY, FEB. 20 AT 2:55 A.M. Officers on routine patrol in the 2300 block of Ocean Park Boulevard noticed at least two men huddled together in an alley near the Pavilions Motel, a known hangout for drug abusers, police said. When officers tried to make contact with the men, they fled on foot, with one hiding behind some cars parked near the motel, police said. Officers searched the suspect and found 15, $100 bills in his possession as well as several cell phones and keys to a car parked nearby. Further investigation revealed the suspect had in his possession several checks belonging to two different businesses, another person’s drivers license and bank cards, police said. Officers also found a large piece of copper mesh commonly used to smoke rock cocaine, police said. Based on the evidence, officers arrested the suspect for possession of drug paraphernalia. As far as the other objects, including the bank cards, police are still investigating. The suspect was identified as Young Ahe Kim, 32 of Rancho Palos Verdes. No bail was set because of a parole hold, police said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 2, 2007. Read the original PDF.