By BY DAILY PRESS STAFF Staff Writer KEVIN HERRERA compiled these reports.
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.
TUESDAY, NOV. 13, AT 8 P.M. Santa Monica police officers responded to the 2300 block of Main Street — The Urth Caffe — regarding a report of an assault and battery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with several witnesses who said that they were dining in the patio area when they were struck with paintballs fired from a moving car. One witness said they were shot in the cheek, just below the eye. Witnesses gave police a description of the vehicle used in the attack and the license plate number. Using that information, officers were able to track down one suspect. He was placed under arrest for assault with a deadly weapon for his role in the drive-by shooting. The suspect was identified as Amir Azad, 21, from Los Angeles. His bail was set at $30,000.
FRIDAY, NOV. 9, AT 9:45 A.M. Officers responded to the 1700 block of Main Street — Santa Monica Municipal Courthouse — after receiving a report of a man in custody for possession of a controlled substance. When officers arrived, they spoke with deputies with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department who are in charge of security at the courthouse. The deputies said that a man walking into the courthouse to see his probation officer was detained during the screening process leading into the courthouse. He was searched and deputies discovered a glass pipe and a small amount of marijuana inside a pack of cigarettes. The man was arrested for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia as well as violating the terms of his probation. The suspect was identified as Joshua Theodore Reiss, 26, from Hot Springs, Ark. No bail was set because he was on probation.
TUESDAY, NOV. 20, AT 12:50 A.M. Officers on routine patrol in the 1500 block of Pacific Coast Highway saw two suspects spray-painting a wall in the McClure Tunnel. When officers tried to apprehend the suspects, they ran and hid. They were eventually detained by officers. Inside a black bag owned by one of the suspects, officers said they found cans of spray-paint. Officers also said the suspects had fresh paint on their hands. Officers searched the suspects’ vehicle and found more cans of paint, markers and an X-acto Knife, which is commonly used by taggers for glass etching. Both suspects were arrested for felony vandalism. One suspect was a 17-year-old juvenile from Los Angeles. The other suspect was identified as Hanz Dalken, 18, also of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 21, AT 10:25 P.M. Officers responded to the corner of 20th Street and Pico Boulevard — the 76 gas station — regarding a report of a man trying to pay for gas with a fake $100 bill. When officers arrived, they spoke with an employee at the gas station who said the suspect wanted to use a fake $100 bill to pay for $60 worth of gas. An argument ensued when the employee refused to accept the money. Officers said the suspect told them that he got the bill from a friend and he didn’t know it was fake. The suspect was arrested for fraud. He was identified as Reggie Lee Reed, 18, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000.
FRIDAY, NOV. 23, AT 11:45 A.M. Officers on routine patrol near the corner of Berkeley Street and Broadway noticed a man writing something on the back of a stop sign. When officers attempted to speak with the man, he dropped what looked like a marker and ran off. Officers eventually caught up with the suspect, who tried to hide in the stairwell of an apartment building. The suspect was arrested for vandalism and for resisting arrest. He was identified as Robert Arnold Lukvec, 18 of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $10,000.
FRIDAY, NOV. 23, AT 9:05 P.M. Officers on routine patrol in the area of Fourth Street and California Avenue saw two men running northbound on Fourth Street in the 1100 block. When the men saw the police, one continued to run while the other stopped and waited for the officers. Police set up a perimeter and began searching for the other man. At that time, a resident approached the officers and told them that he had just been robbed by the two suspects. He said the suspects used a screwdriver and demanded money. The victim said he gave them $100 and they fled. Officers eventually apprehended the second suspect, who fled. Both were charged with armed robbery. One suspect was identified as Gilberto Buenrostro, 20, from South Gate. No bail was set because he was on parole. The second suspect was identified as Martin Michael Dominguez, 19, from Los Angeles. His bail was set at $50,000.
SATURDAY, NOV. 24, AT 6:30 P.M. Officers responded to the 7/11 on Wilshire Boulevard after receiving a report about a strong-arm robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived at the location, they made contact with store employees who said the suspect walked in and began yelling, causing quite a scene. The suspect then grabbed a can of beer and some pens and then walked out without paying for the items. Armed with a description of the suspect, officers were able to locate him a short distance away. He was arrested for the robbery. The suspect was identified as Mark Anthony Shakar, 31, a transient. His bail was set at $50,000. The loss was estimated at $5.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 30, 2007. Read the original PDF.