On Sunday, January 31 at 4:16 p.m.
Downtown Services Unit Officers were dispatched to a Shoplifting call that had just occurred at the Lids store. The reporting party had flagged down a Public Services Officer and they were following the suspect. The suspect was located at the train station platform on 4th Street/Colorado, where a search of his person found a hat with the security sensor belonging to the Lids store. A further search found two pairs of sunglasses that had been taken from the Oakley store.
Tajon Wright Freeman was arrested for a 459.5 PC-Shoplifting. A records check later found that he was registered as a transient sex offender in Lancaster and had failed to re-register within the 30 day period, therefore being charged with a 209.018(g)PC. A stay away order from the Santa Monica business district and Third Street Promenade were further requested.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on February 10, 2021. Read the original PDF.