By By Daily Press Staff
Crime Watch is a weekly series culled from reports provided by the Santa Monica Police Department. These are arrests only. All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Monday, April 9, at 4:42 a.m.
Santa Monica police officers on routine patrol near the corner of Ocean Park Boulevard and Ocean Avenue observed a woman driving on the wrong side of the street in excess of 60 mph. Officers conducted a traffic stop in the 1700 block of Ocean Avenue and noticed the driver was exhibiting symptoms of being under the influence of alcohol or narcotics. The driver failed a field sobriety test and was arrested for DUI, police said. During a search, they discovered a clear plastic baggy with white powder inside that later tested positive for cocaine, police said. There was also a clear plastic straw that had blood on one end. In addition to DUI, the suspect was charged with possession of a controlled substance. The suspect was identified as Karen Marie Mitchell, 41, of Santa Monica. Her bail was set at $25,000.
Sunday, April 8, at 3 a.m.
Officers responded to the 800 block of Ashland Avenue regarding an assault. When officers arrived, they spoke with the alleged victim who said he was knocking on the door of a friend’s house when the suspect approached him from behind and they began to exchange words. Apparently, the two know each other and have been involved in altercations before, police said. During the fight, the victim said the suspect pulled out a knife and threatened to stab him. The suspect then punched the victim in the face several times and tried to stab him. The friend whose house it was heard the commotion and opened his front door. He was able to separate the two men and called police. The suspect fled, but was later arrested at his residence. Jorge Luis Castillo, 27, of Santa Monica was charged with attempted murder. His bail was set at $500,000.
Tuesday, April 10, at 11:15 a.m.,
Officers on routine patrol in the 800 block of Grant Street observed a vehicle with no license plate. Aware of narcotics activity in the area, officers followed the vehicle. As the driver turned onto Lincoln Boulevard, officers conducted a traffic stop. On the floorboard of the car was a crack pipe, police said. The passenger, who was on parole for narcotics-related offenses, was also in possession of wire mesh, which is often used with a glass pipe to smoke rock cocaine. The passenger was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and the driver was cited for driving without a license plate. The passenger was identified as Lisa Renee Legans, 45, from Venice. No bail was set because she was on parole, police said.
Tuesday, April 10, at 12:10 p.m.,
Officers on routine patrol in the 1600 block of Seventh Street saw a person who had a shopping cart filled with possessions. Since it is illegal to posses the shopping cart, officers approached the suspect and discovered that he was on parole. They conducted a search and found a credit card that belonged to someone other than the suspect. A check of the credit card revealed that it had been reported stolen. The suspect was arrested for illegal possession of a shopping cart, as well as possession of a stolen credit card. He also had a warrant for his arrest, police said. The suspect was identified as Tyrone Crawford, 50, a transient. No bail was issued because he was on parole.
Wednesday, April 11, at 4:35 a.m.
Officers responded to the 2000 block of Fifth Street regarding a call of a suspicious person walking down the street trying to open car doors. Officers conducted a check on foot and found someone hiding inside a portable toilet used by a construction crew at Fifth and Pacific streets. Inside the port-o-potty, officers found numerous magazines on the floor that belonged to residents along Fifth Street. There was also a jacket recovered that contained a digital voice recorder and the face to an XM satellite radio. The suspect gave several explanations for why he had the jacket, saying he found it and that a friend let him borrow it, police said. Officers asked the suspect what his favorite radio stations were and the suspect could not name one. He was arrested and charged with possession of lost or stolen property. He was identified as Walter Spurlin, 48, a transient. No bail was set because of a parole hold.
Friday, April 13, at 10:30 p.m.
Officers responded to the Santa Monica Pier regarding a report of vandalism. When officers arrived, they spoke with pier security who said a man had walked into the men’s restroom and saw another man writing graffiti on the walls with a marker. The man notified security, who tailed the suspect until officers arrived. The suspect was identified by the witness and arrested for vandalism. In his possession, police said they found two markers commonly used by vandals. The suspect was identified as Michael Laushaul, 18, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $500.
Wednesday, April 11, at 7 p.m.
Officers responded to the 1100 block of Pico Boulevard — Holiday Hotel — regarding a report of an assault. When officers arrived, they spoke with the alleged victim who said she had met up with a man at a hotel where the two had some drinks. The two began arguing and as she tried to leave, the man grabbed her and threw her around the room, punching her in the face several times, police said. She was able to escape and flagged down Los Angeles police officers driving near the intersection of Rose Avenue and Lincoln Boulevard. Officers escorted her back to the hotel, where the suspect was still staying. He was arrested by Santa Monica officers for assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury — his fists. He was identified as Anthony Herold Hodgin, 40, a transient. His bail was set at $30,000.
Staff Writer Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 20, 2007. Read the original PDF.