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.
Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 6:50 p.m.
Santa Monica Police officers searching www.craigslist.org spotted an advertisement for sexual services in Santa Monica. Officers responded to the ad and arranged to meet two women at the Travelodge located in the 3100 block of Pico Boulevard. When officers arrived, they made contact with the women, who allegedly offered to perform sexual services in exchange for money. The officers, who were working undercover, called for backup and arrested the two women for prostitution. They were identified as Natasha Nicole Kemplin, 20, and Susana Romero Sturt, 20. Both were from Portland, Oregon. Bail was set at $2,000 for each suspect.
Friday, Aug. 31,, at 3:25 p.m.
Officers responded to the 800 block of Wilshire Boulevard — Dagwoods Pizza — regarding a burglary that had occurred during the early morning hours. When officers arrived, they spoke with employees at the restaurant who said they had video footage of a man breaking into the business and prying open the cash register to grab $150. Using the video and fingerprints found at the scene, police were able to identify the suspect and he was arrested on Wednesday Sept. 12. He was identified as Marlon Leon Tett, 52, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Sunday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m.
Officers responded to the 1100 block of Sixth Street regarding a burglary that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they made contact with a woman who said her car was burglarized while parked in her apartment’s underground garage. The woman told police that she was checking out the damage to her car when a neighbor came down stairs and told her that he had seen a man trying to break into his car just moments earlier and that he believed the suspect was still hiding in the garage. The two began searching for the suspect, at which time the alleged burglar jumped up from between two cars with a black object in his hand. The suspect threatened the two residents before running away from the scene. Armed with a description of the suspect, officers were able to locate him two days later and placed him under arrest. Officers said the suspect stole $990 worth of items, which included a camera case, lenses and a digital camera. The suspect was identified as Jason Michael Shore, 31, of Santa Monica. His bail was set at $50,000.
Wednesday, Sept. 12, at 12:40 a.m.
Officers on routine patrol in the 1100 block of 15th Street observed a vehicle moving slowly through the neighborhood. The driver allegedly failed to stop at several stop signs. Officers decided to conduct a traffic stop and found the driver to be operating the vehicle without a license. An occupant of the vehicle said the car was his and that he let his friend drive because he was tired, police said. Officers searched the suspects and found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine. Officers also found a center punch that is often used to break into cars. They also found a wire stripper and wire cutter. Based on that, the officers arrested the suspects for possession of burglary tools. The first suspect was identified as Daniel Alexander Montoya, 23, of Los Angeles. His bail was set at $25,366 and he was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia as well as the burglary tools. The second suspect was identified as Victor Daniel, 23, from Los Angeles. His bail was set at $20,000. The third suspect was identified as Evan Manuel Rivas, 25, from Los Angeles. His bail was also set at $20,000. He was arrested for driving without a license in addition to possession of burglary tools.
Thursday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m.
Officers responded to the 1400 block of Third Street — Broadway Deli — regarding a suspect who refused to pay for a meal he ate. When officers arrived, they spoke with an employee at the restaurant who said the suspect walked into the restaurant and ordered $23.95 worth of breakfast. He sat and ate the meal and then told a waiter that he was not going to pay and that the waiter should call the police, police said. The waiter did and the suspect was arrested and charged with burglary because he walked into the restaurant without any intent to pay for his food, police said. He was identified as Stephen Ruiz, 47, a transient. His bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, Sept. 15, at 8:25 a.m.
Officers responded to the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade — McDonald’s — regarding a robbery that had just occurred. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman who said she was walking down the promenade when a man approached her and began to aggressively ask for money. When the woman refused, the man became more aggressive, police said. He followed the woman as she waited in line at McDonald’s. Once the woman received her breakfast sandwiches, police said the suspect grabbed her food and ran. Officers located the suspect less than a block away and arrested him for robbery. He was identified as Louis Bruce Gardner, 44, a transient. His bail was set at $55,000.
Saturday, Sept. 15, at 11:50 p.m.
Undercover officers working in the area of Fourth Street and San Vicente Boulevard observed a suspect dressed head-to-toe in dark clothing walking through carports in an adjacent alley. Officers were in the area after receiving calls about car burglaries in the area. When officers tried to approach the suspect, he ran. He was eventually detained by an officer in a marked police car and searched. Officers said they found a glass pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine. The suspect also had a small flashlight, some miscellaneous car keys and a spark plug with an electrical wire attached. Officers said spark plugs are commonly used to break a car window without making much noise. The suspect was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and for possession of burglary tools. He was identified as Javier Innocente Chacon, 29, of Culver City. No bail was set because the suspect was on parole, police said.
Staff Writer Kevin Herrera compiled these reports.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 21, 2007. Read the original PDF.