FRAUD, from page 1 Jackson held in local jail
By Daily Press staff
POLICE HDQTRS. — Local police have arrested a Beverly Hills man who allegedly went on a spending spree across the country, racking up more than $170,000 in credit card charges by apparently trying to capitalize on the fortune of having the same name as a famous actor.
Samuel Jackson, 23, was caught on Friday after Santa Monica Police detectives chased him on foot a couple of blocks from Loews Hotel on Ocean Avenue. Local authorities were waiting for Jackson before he allegedly tried to check in with a fraudulent credit card.
Jackson was allegedly traveling nationwide using a fraudulent credit card to pay for his hotel rooms, car rentals and other expenses. Police said Jackson called Loews Hotel and made a room reservation using the fraudulent card. At about 11 a.m., Jackson arrived at the hotel and for unknown reasons ran out of the building, police said.
Santa Monica detectives, who arrived at the hotel at about 10:30 a.m. after being tipped off by hotel employees, saw Jackson running and gave chase. He was arrested shortly after.
Jackson was booked for attempted grand theft, burglary, probation violations and several outstanding warrants. He has no bail.
Loews employees had been altered of Jackson through an association of hotels across the country and were waiting for him to arrive.
“And he couldn’t get away from our detectives,” said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega Anyone with any information regarding the incident is encouraged to call the SMPD at (310) 458-8491.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 9, 2004. Read the original PDF.