On June 5 at approximately 11:50 p.m., Santa Monica police officers were dispatched to Locanda del Lago restaurant in the 200 block of ArizonaAvenueregarding a subject who left without paying.
The subject, described as a tall, slender male wearing a grey hoodie, was being followed down the street by employees of the restaurant when officers approached. When officers made contact with the subject, later identified as Benjamin Bayer, 35, of Santa Monica, they noticed that he was swaying, could not keep his balance and spoke slowly. At this point, Bayer was placed under arrest for public intoxication.
When the two witnesses that had followed Bayer were interviewed, they told officers that Bayer did not pay for his dinner bill and became confrontational when they approached him as he walked out of the establishment.
As the investigation continued, it was discovered that Bayer was accompanied by a female and they both had been sitting together eating and drinking on the patio, when she stated that they could not pay the bill and they both walked out of the restaurant.
Bayer was booked and served with a $500 citation.