By By Daily Press Staff
On Saturday, July 22 at 10:45 a.m., Santa Monica vice detectives investigating reports of prostitution at a local massage parlor conducted a sting operation at Ginja Massage, located in the 2500 block of Wilshire Boulevard. An undercover officer pretending to be a customer walked into the parlor, paid for a massage and waited in a back room for treatment. There, he engaged in a conversation with a masseuse who provided a rub down. When finished, she asked the officer if he wanted additional sexual service for additional money. She then exposed her genitals to the officer, at which time he gave a predetermined signal for back up, police said. Additional officers entered and placed the woman under arrest for prostitution. She was identified as Soo Kim, 47, of Los Angeles. Her bail was set at $2,000.
On July Tuesday, July 18 at 9:32 a.m., police responded to the 300 block of Broadway regarding a reported purse snatching. When officers arrived, they spoke with a woman who said she was walking with her purse under her arm when a man came up from behind her on a skateboard and grabbed it. He skated away, but was apprehended by police a short time later in the 1500 block of Second Street. He was identified by the victim and placed under arrest for grand theft. The purse contained, among other personal items, $45, which was recovered, police said. The suspect was identified as Daniel Lebert, 23, a transient. His bail was set at $37,000.
On Thursday, July 20 at 5:14 p.m., officers responded to the 1600 block of Seventh Street regarding a report of a fist fight in progress. When the officers arrived they saw two men who were visibly intoxicated arguing with one another. The officers pulled the men apart, at which time one of the men told police that during their argument the other man pulled out a small wooden bat and began to chase him. He was identified as William Laird, 45, a transient. Laird was arrested and charged with brandishing a weapon. His bail was set at $25,000.
On Thursday, July 20 at 7:40 a.m., police responded to the 1500 block of the beach regarding a report of assault and battery. When officers arrived they spoke to an alleged victim who said she got into a verbal argument with another woman, identified by police as Mirela Murga, 32, a transient. During the argument, Murga allegedly punched the woman several times. Murga was arrested and booked for assault and battery. Her bail was set at $20,000.
On Thursday, July 20 at 1:20 p.m., police responded to the 3000 block of Santa Monica Boulevard to assist a bounty hunter who had a suspect in custody who failed to show up for a recent court appearance. Once officers confirmed that the man did have a warrant out for his arrest, they detained him and transported him to jail where he was held without bail. He was identified as James Fellows, 29, of Brentwood. A second suspect, believed to be Fellows’ girlfriend, also was arrested at the scene for possession of methamphetamine. She was identified as Vanessa Radovic, 30. No further information was available on the incident.
On Saturday, July 22 at 5:25 p.m., police responded to the 1900 block of 20th Street regarding a report of domestic violence. When officers arrived, they contacted three subjects — two males and one female — to investigate. While searching the residence for additional suspects, police said they recovered methamphetamine inside the home. All three people were arrested for possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. They were identified as David Kobzi, 63, of Santa Monica; Dany Samuel Castro, 31, of Long Beach; and Rosa Hilda Lopez, 28, also of Long Beach. Bail for Kobzi and Castro was set at $30,000. Lopez was not granted bail due to a parole hold.
(This report was compiled by staff writer Kevin Herrera.)
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Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 28, 2006. Read the original PDF.