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.
TUESDAY, OCT. 23, AT 8:05 P.M. Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1900 block of 19th Street regarding a report of shots fired. When police arrived, they made contact with the victims, who said they were sitting in their parked car when another vehicle drove up alongside of them. Two occupants in the vehicle pointed a handgun at the parked car and fired several gunshots, before driving away southbound on 19th Street towards Pico Boulevard. None of the occupants in the parked car were injured. Several bullets struck the vehicle. It is unknown what type of handgun was used. The only description the police have is that the suspects were described as two white males. The suspects’ vehicle was described as a gold-colored four-door. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the SMPD at (310) 458-8427 or detectives at (310) 458-8451. Anyone wishing to make an anonymous tip can call (800) 78-CRIME.
SATURDAY, OCT. 20, AT 12:20 A.M. Officers responded to the 3100 block of Santa Monica Boulevard — Busby’s — regarding an assault with a deadly weapon. When officers arrived, they spoke with several witnesses who said that a man pulled out a knife and tried to stab someone near the bar after the two got into an argument. Officers said that the victim was placing an order at the bar when he was bumped repeatedly by the suspect. The two began to argue and the suspect pulled out a knife and lunged at the victim. The victim was able to grab the knife and, with the help of an employee at the bar, subdue the suspect. Officers took the suspect into custody for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Ted Aptor, 26, from Texas. His bail was set at $30,000.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17, AT 3:20 P.M. Officers responded to the 1200 block of 11th Street regarding a report of a man trying to break into apartments. When officers arrived, they detained a man matching the description of the suspect. Officers then talked with a resident at the apartment complex, who said that she saw the suspect walk past her window. She then heard the sounds of someone trying to remove a screen from one of her windows. She confronted the suspect, who said he was trying to hang an advertisement for a local business. The suspect then left, but returned a few minutes later, entering the complex from another direction. At this point, the resident called police. Officers searched the suspect’s backpack and discovered a walkie-talkie and some earrings. The suspect was arrested for attempted burglary. He was identified as Joel Vilar Cariaga, 28, of Los Angeles. No bail was set because Cariaga was on parole, police said.
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17, AT 8:55 P.M. Officers responded to the 1600 block of Cloverfield Boulevard — Ralph’s — regarding a report about a robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with employees who said the suspect entered the grocery store and walked to the liquor aisle and shoved bottles of booze into his pants. He then immediately left the store without paying for the items and was confronted outside by store security. A confrontation ensued, police said, and the suspect shoved security before running to his car and driving away. During a follow-up investigation, officers located the suspect at his home in the 2400 block of Hill Street and arrested him for strong arm robbery since he fought with store security. The stolen items were not recovered, police said. The suspect was identified as Zachary David Silvern, 18, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $50,000.
TUESDAY, OCT. 16, AT 12:50 P.M. Officers responded to the 900 block of Wilshire Boulevard regarding a theft that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with the victims, who said they were eating at a local restaurant when another customer told them that two men were rummaging through the victims’ car. The victims left a car door unlocked, police said. The suspects fled and were later apprehended. The suspects were charged with grand theft auto. They were identified as Ermilo Victoria, 34, of Venice, and Hans Hoerner, 35, from Santa Monica. Bail was set at $50,000.
MONDAY, OCT. 15, AT 4:15 A.M. Officers on routine patrol in the 1700 block of Ocean Front Walk saw a man whom they knew was on parole. Officers made contact with him and engaged in a conversation with the man. Officers asked to search his backpack, at which point they said they found a small amount of what they believed to be methamphetamine. Officers detained the suspect and searched his acquaintance, finding a 3-ounce can of pepper spray. He was detained for possession of a tear gas canister being more than 2.5 ounces. While at the jail, officers found a glass pipe on the suspect with the mace and booked him for possession of drug paraphernalia as well. The suspects were identified as Kevin Dean Peterson, 36, a transient, and Charles Hamilton Dungey, 40, also a transient. Since Peterson was on parole, no bail was set, police said. Bail for Dungey, who was arrested for the mace, was set at $45,750.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 26, 2007. Read the original PDF.