Robberies, Attacks Mark Third Week of August

Compiled by Teresa Rochester

Two men were arrested and held on $5,000 bail each for allegedly robbing a man in a park on Monday, Aug. 20, at around 8:35 a.m., authorities said.

The 38-year-old victim was sitting in Crescent Bay Park on the 1900 block of 17th Street when he saw the suspect walking toward him. The man got up and started to walk away when one of the suspects yelled "hey come back here," before grabbing him and throwing him to the ground, police spokesman Lt. Frank Fabrega said.

The suspects demanded that the victim give them his money and searched the man's pockets, taking $3.00 in cash. The suspects then fled on foot, Fabrega said.

The victim called police. Officers later spotted two men fitting the suspects' description at around 10:25 a.m. in the area of 7th Street and Colorado Avenue. The victim identified the men. They were charged with robbery.

A fight between basketball players in a Santa Monica hotel lobby over money ended with one player suffering a quarter inch-cut on his nose and the suspect fleeing the scene, police said.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday, Aug. 18, at around 8:39 p.m.at the Four Points Sheraton (on the 500 block of Pico Boulevard) began when the 24-year-old suspect asked for the money he was promised for participating in a basketball tournament in Venice, Fabrega said.

The 36-year-old victim told the suspect that players on the losing team would be mailed a check. The suspect began yelling at the victim and pushed him. The victim pushed back and other players in the lobby pulled the two apart.

The victim told police that the suspect punched him in the nose while other players were holding him back. The victim refused medical treatment.

The suspect had already checked out of the hotel at the time of the incident, and no arrest has been made.

A Venice man assaulted a deaf woman in the parking lot of a strip mall on the corner of Pico and Lincoln boulevards on Saturday, Aug. 18, at around 9:40 p.m., authorities said.

The 42-year-old woman used notes to inform police that she was in the parking lot of Tommy's restaurant when the suspect walked up to her, punched her in the face and slapped her, Fabrega said. A security guard pepper sprayed the man who walked away and sat on a bus bench.

Police found the woman's alleged assailant, 38-year-old John J. Ricci still sitting on the bus bench and arrested him. Ricci was charged with assault and battery and public intoxication.

Two 16-year-old boys were arrested after they allegedly punched a man and stole his skateboard on the Santa Monica Pier Thursday, Aug. 16, at around 10:50 p.m., police said.

The two boys approached the 22-year-old victim and a friend and asked if they could see his skateboard, Fabrega said. The man showed them the board and one of the teens punched him in the face twice before the pair ran of with the skateboard.

The victim and his friend reported the incident to police at the pier substation. Officers responding to the call found the teenagers with the skateboard and the victim identified them.

The boys were arrested and later transported to Eastlake Juvenile Hall.

A pedestrian attacked a 28-year-old motorcyclist, who had stopped at the intersection of Ocean and Colorado avenues, with a stun gun on Friday, Aug. 17, at around 4:30 p.m., police said.

The suspect was crossing the intersection when he heard the victim, who was riding with his wife, rev the motorcycles engine, Fabrega said. The suspect, identified as Don Ray Sterling kept walking, then stopped, turned toward the victim, displayed a black stun gun and activated it, stunning the victim.

When the light turned green, the victim rode to the 1600 block of Ocean Avenue, where he flagged down a park ranger. Officers found Sterling on the Santa Monica Pier and arrested him. Police also recovered a black backpack that contained a stun gun that Sterling allegedly dropped from the pier.

Sterling was charged with assault with a stun gun and probation violation. He also had two traffic warrants. His bail was set at $5,517.

A 65-year-old transient was arrested and held on $5,000 bail after he allegedly punched a Santa Monica Place security guard on Thursday, Aug. 16, at around 5:55 p.m., police said.

Security guards at the mall asked Thomas Summers to leave after they found him allegedly intoxicated and yelling at customers in the food court, Fabrega said. Summers became combative and punched one of the two security guards in the chest before they were able to handcuff him and call police.

Summers was charged with assault and battery, public intoxications and probation violation.

There were 1,799 calls for service between Tuesday, Aug. 14, and Monday, Aug. 20. The following are some of the more significant calls, their nature, time and date.

Wednesday, Aug. 15

• 10:23 p.m.: Attempted carjacking, 2nd Street at Wilshire Boulevard. Report filed.

Thursday, Aug. 16

• 9:17 a.m.: Assault and battery, Dee's Restaurant on the 300 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Report filed.
• 6:28 p.m.: Assault and battery, 1700 block of 10th Street. Report filed.
• 9:23 p.m.: Assault and battery, 1300 block of 14th Street. Report filed.

Friday, Aug. 17

• 1:31 p.m.: Assault and battery, 1600 block of Ocean Avenue. Report filed.
• 2:43 p.m.: Assault and battery, Ocean Avenue at Broadway. Arrest made.

Saturday, Aug. 18

• 3:08 a.m.: Fight, Boathouse, 301 Santa Monica Pier. Arrest made.
• 1:51 p.m.: Felony hit and run, Ocean Avenue at Colorado Avenue. Report filed.
• 11:30 p.m.: Assault and battery, 200 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. Arrest made.

Sunday, Aug. 19

• 4:49 p.m.: Assault with a deadly weapon, 1900 block of 17th Street. Report filed.
• 7:01 p.m.: Strong arm robbery, Robinson's May at 103 Santa Monica Place. Arrest made.

Monday, Aug. 20

• 3:43 a.m.: Arson, Rite Aide at 1331 Wilshire Blvd. Arrest made.
• 8:40 a.m.: Strong arm robbery, Ocean Avenue at Bay Street. Arrest made.
• 1:42 p.m.: Assault with a deadly weapon, 1200 block of the beach. Arrest made.
• 5:03 p.m.: Assault and battery, 1300 block of Third Street Promenade. Arrest made.