Suspected serial burglar arrested
By DAILY PRESS STAFF
PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY Police officers are asking residents who have recently been burglarized to identify property recovered earlier this month when detectives arrested a suspected serial burglar.
Joaquin Palmer was arrested on April 2 at 2:30 p.m. after officers responded to the 1300 block of Franklin Avenue to investigate a burglary in progress, said SMPD Lt. Alex Padilla.
When officers arrived, the suspect was gone. Palmer was stopped a short distance away from the location. Witnesses identified Palmer as the suspect and he was arrested for attempted burglary, Padilla said.
In the month of March there were a number of similar burglaries committed in Santa Monica. Detectives believed Palmer was connected to those crimes Alexis Hawkins PRIDE AND JOY: A family exits Franklin Elementary School, which has been recognized as a Distinguished School in California. The school is one of 343 public elementary schools honored. and obtained a search warrant to check Palmer’s home and cars. During the search detectives recovered numerous items linking Palmer to eight other burglaries.
Detectives also recovered other property that has yet to be linked to a victim of a crime. Detectives are also researching pawn receipts found for property connected to recent cases.
The District Attorneys’ Office has filed nine felony counts of residential burglary against Palmer with a special allegation of a third strike. More charges may be filed if additional victims are identified.
Palmer has numerous prior arrests and convictions for burglary, robbery and rape, Padilla said.
The police are seeking assistance in identifying the property still in their custody. Those who believe they were the victim of a recent burglary can view the property at www.santamonicapd.org/Bulletins/ PublicBulletin-08-002.ht.
Property recovered includes multiple cell phones, gold watches, earrings, a PlayStation 3 and a Donny Hathaway CD.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 17, 2008. Read the original PDF.