Tim Broughton Mirror Contributor
A Dodgy Character
On Thursday, June 16, at 1:29 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to the Santa Monica Chrysler-Dodge Dealership, located at 3219 Santa Monica Blvd., in order to investigate a report of fraudulent activity. Upon arrival at the location the officers spoke with employees at the dealership and were told that the suspect had entered the premises and selected an automobile from the available options on offer that day. The employees said that the suspect had stated that he intended to finance the vehicle and was thus sent over to talk with the finance expert at the dealership. The finance expert of the dealership inputted this man’s details into his computer but discovered that the results suggested that the man who was attempting to purchase the vehicle was not who he claimed to be. This, thought the finance expert, was a case of attempted identity theft and it was at that moment that the police were summoned in order to investigate. The officers, after interviewing the employees, then spoke with the suspect and based upon statements made by the suspect and the employees arrested this 23-year-old Van Nuys resident and he was charged with identity theft and forgery of a public seal. Bail was set at $50,000.
Speed Balls
On Wednesday, June 16, at 4:45 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department hurried themselves to the Santa Monica Airport Park, located at 3201 Airport Ave. after they had received a report of a man who was “rolling around in the nude.” Upon arrival at the Airport Park the officers had no trouble in spotting the man as he was indeed walking around the park, and on occasion rolling around on the ground whilst being completely bereft of any items of clothing. The officers decided that this man was rather agitated and could well be under the influence of some kind of mind-altering substance. The officers arrested this man and after they had discovered his clothing and possessions on the ground in the park they searched the clothing and discovered what the officers believed to be the cause of the man’s strange behavior in the form of methamphetamine, or “speed” as it is sometimes referred to “on the streets.” The officers arrested this 39-year-old homeless man and he was charged with possession of methamphetamine and a violation of probation. Bail was set at $500.
A Recipe For Disaster
On Saturday, June 11, at 7:12 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a call informing them that a possible battery had occurred at Café Bellago, located at 1400 Third St. Promenade. The officers rushed to the location to investigate. Upon arrival the officers spoke with the victim, an employee at the café, and were told that the suspect had attempted to enter the kitchen area of the establishment. The victim said that he had told the suspect that he was not welcome in the kitchen area and at that point the suspect had punched the victim in the face with a closed fist. After striking the victim the suspect had run away from the location. About an hour later other officers (who had received a description of the suspect) spotted this assailant standing on the Santa Monica Pier Ramp. These officers approached the suspect but when the suspect spotted the officers he began to run away. The officers gave chase and apprehended this individual at the intersection of Appian Way and Pacific Terrace. This 21-year-old homeless man was arrested and charged with battery and resisting arrest. Bail was set at $20,000.
He left The Debating Society
On Sunday, June 12, at 7:12 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to investigate a report of a man punching a woman in the face in the area of Seventh Street and Wilshire Boulevard. Upon arrival at the location the officers spoke with the female victim who told them that she was having an argument with the suspect when the suspect suddenly became upset because he was losing the argument and as a result the suspect had attempted to win the argument by punching the woman in the face (as everyone knows it is impossible to win an argument in this manner). The suspect had apparently walked away from the woman after assaulting her so the officers went in search of this man and discovered him loitering aimlessly at the intersection of Sixth Street and Arizona Avenue. This man was then arrested and charged with battery causing serious injury in addition to an outstanding warrant. Bail was set at $100,000.
Editor’s Note: These reports are part of a regular police coverage series entitled “Alert Police Blotter” (APB), which injects some minor editorial into certain police activities in Santa Monica. Not all of The Mirror’s coverage of incidents involving police are portrayed in this manner. More serious crimes and police-related activities are regularly reported without editorial in the pages of the Santa Monica Mirror and its website, smmirror.com.
