By By Daily Press Staff
SATURDAY, FEB. 10, AT 1:20 A.M. Santa Monica police officers responded to the 1400 block of the Third Street Promenade — Gotham Hall — regarding an assault. When officers arrived, they contacted club security who said a bartender was stabbed in the hand by a woman carrying a switchblade. Officers spoke with the suspect, who said she pulled the switchblade out of her purse because she was afraid that she was going to be attacked by one of two men fighting in the club. When one of the men moved towards her in a threatening way, she said she made a stabbing motion with the knife and accidentally stabbed the bartender, who was trying to break up the fight. The woman was arrested and booked for possession of an illegal weapon and for assault with a deadly weapon. She was identified as Alexia Isis Fino, 29, from Miami Beach, Florida. Her bail was set at $30,000.
SATURDAY, FEB. 10, AT 5 P.M. Officers responded to the 1800 block of Main Street — the Civic Auditorium — regarding a theft in progress. When officers arrived, they spoke with organizers of a gem and jewelry show taking place at the auditorium. The organizers said a woman was looking at jewelry at one of the merchants’ booths and grabbed several necklaces and put them in her jacket pocket. She grabbed some other necklaces and paid for them, but left the area without paying for the others she stuffed in her jacket, organizers said. She was detained by private security until police arrived. Officers searched her jacket and found two necklaces worth $992. The woman was arrested and booked for grand theft. She was identified as Susan Hemmati-Farahani, 47, of Los Angeles. Her bail was set at $20,000.
FRIDAY, FEB. 9, AT 5:55 P.M. Officers responded to the 1600 block of Cloverfield Boulevard — Ralphs — regarding a shoplifting suspect who allegedly threatened to kill store employees. When officers arrived, they spoke with store security who said a man walked into the store, grabbed a cart and began filling it with items. He then left the store without paying for the items, store security said. When confronted by employees in the parking lot, the man allegedly threatened to kill the employees and placed his hand underneath the back of his shirt as if he had a gun strapped to his belt. Employees rushed back into the grocery store and called police. A short time later, police received a domestic disturbance call in the 1800 block of 19th Street. The suspect in that disturbance matched the description of the shoplifting suspect. When officers arrived, they took the suspect into custody, at which time he was positively identified by grocery store employees. He was transported to jail and booked for robbery. He was identified as Craig Wayne Jolivette, 47, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $10,000.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 7, AT 7:40 A.M. Police responded to the 1000 block of 19th Street regarding a report of lewd conduct and vagrancy. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman who said she was dressing in her apartment when she looked out the window and saw a construction worker watching her while he touched himself. She turned away and went into another room, where she saw the same man a few minutes later looking through her window again, she said. Police located the suspect and placed him under arrest for lewd conduct. He was identified as Juan Jose Mendoza, 25, from south El Monte. His bail was set at $10,000.
MONDAY, FEB. 5, AT 7:50 A.M. Officers on routine patrol in the area of Main Street and Pico Boulevard noticed a man walking with an open container of beer. Officers approached the suspect and conducted a search. Officers said they found a screwdriver, which the suspect said he used for protection, as well as a cell phone, a digital voice recorder and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. Further investigation revealed the cell phone had been reported stolen. The suspect was arrested for possession of stolen property. He was identified as Darrell Dominguez Lee, 46, a transient. He was placed on a parole hold and, therefore, no bail was issued.
MONDAY, FEB. 5, AT 8:35 A.M. Officers responded to the 2100 block of 22nd Street regarding an assault in progress. When officers arrived, they spoke with a man who said he was the victim of an attack. The man said he was involved in an argument with one of his tenants when a friend of the tenant pushed him to the ground and then hit him over the head with a flower pot. The attacker then fled on foot, the landlord said. Officers located the suspect in a nearby apartment building and he was placed under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon. He was identified as Peter Romeo Hellmann, 48, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $50,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 17, 2007. Read the original PDF.