By By Daily Press Staff
Crime Watch is a weekly series culled from police reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
SUNDAY, APRIL 13, AT 8 P.M. Officers on routine patrol in the 1800 block of 16th Street noticed a man in a parked vehicle slumped in the driver’s seat who looked suspicious. When the man noticed officers were watching him, he allegedly tried to sink down lower in his seat as if to hide from the officers. Officers made contact with the man and smelled the strong odor of burnt marijuana. Officers searched the vehicle and discovered several grams of marijuana in various plastic bags. The suspect was arrested for possession of a narcotic and for being under the influence of marijuana while driving. The suspect was identified as Rolando Sanchez, 29, from Santa Monica. His bail was set at $20,000.
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, AT 3:40 P.M., Officers responded to the 1400 block of the Third Street Promenade — Sephora — regarding a report of a commercial burglary that just occurred. When officers arrived they spoke with store employees who said a man and a woman walked into the store and placed several cosmetic products into bags they brought with them. When they tried to walk out of the store without paying for the items, they employees detained them and called police. The suspects told the officers that they were stealing the cosmetics, valued at over $600, to help pay for medical bills, police said. The suspects were arrested for commercial burglary. They were identified as Cayetano Lopez Zanudo, 43, of Los Angeles, and Eva Andres Lopez, 50, also of Los Angeles. No bail was set for Zanudo. Bail for Lopez was set at $20,000.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, AT 7:20 P.M., Officers responded to the 2600 block of Pico Boulevard — Mandarin Chinese and Japanese Restaurant — regarding a customer who allegedly did not pay for her meal. When officers arrived, they spoke with employees at the restaurant who said the customer ordered $23.70 worth of food, ate and then said her husband was coming to pick her up and pay for the check. After a few minutes, the suspect walked out of the restaurant failing to pay for her food, police said. Officers located the suspect a short distance from the restaurant and placed her under arrest for defrauding an inn keeper. The suspect was identified as Meryl Ivy Morris, 51, a transient. Her bail was set at $998. The suspect had an outstanding warrant, police said.
THURSDAY, APRIL 10, AT 9:50 P.M., Officers on routine patrol in the 100 block of Broadway were flagged down by an employee at The Spot who was trying to apprehend a shoplifter. Officers placed the suspect in custody and spoke with the employee, who said the suspect took a cigar and walked out of the store without paying for it. Officers placed the suspect under arrest for burglary because he had no money on him to pay for the cigar, showing he had no intent to pay. The suspect was identified as Robert Kuan Cooks, 34, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, AT 3:20 A.M., Officers on routine patrol in the 800 block of Broadway were flagged down by a witness who was watching a man being beaten by two suspects. Officers saw a man lying on the ground with blood coming from wounds on his face. Officers detained the suspects, who were identified by the witness, and placed them under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon. Police said the suspects were kicking the victim while he was on the ground. The fight apparently started after an argument broke out between the victim and the two suspects, police said. The suspects were identified as Gregory John Luallen, 27, of Los Angeles, and Ralph Daniel Moody, 25, also of Los Angeles. Bail was set at $30,000 for Luallen, and $75,000 for Moody, who had outstanding warrants.
FRIDAY, APRIL 11, AT 3:45 P.M., Undercover officers on routine patrol near the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Maple Street noticed a woman walking up and down the street making eye contact with drivers, getting them to pull over, at which time she would engage in conversations with them. Officers believed the woman was a prostitute and chose to investigate. Officers made contact with the woman, at which time she allegedly offered to perform sex acts in exchange for money. The officers placed the woman under arrest for prostitution. She was identified as Asia Corey Reneau, 23, from Hollywood. Her bail was set at $10,000.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 18, 2008. Read the original PDF.