Suspect Charged in Strong-Armed Robbery on Montana Avenue

By Lookout Staff

March 8, 2018 -- Santa Monica police filed charges Thursday morning against the suspect in the strong-armed robbery of a woman on Montana Avenue earlier this week.

The robbery charge was filed with the LA County District Attorney against Warlys Ernesto Jimenez, 19, in the incident that took place on the 1200 block of Montana Avenue Tuesday at around 9:30 a.m., police said.

The suspect approached the victim from behind as she was walking southbound on 12th Street at Alta Avenue, pulled her purse from her shoulder and ran, said Lt. Saul Rodriguez, the Police Department spokesman. A witness called police and "followed the suspect for a short distance providing updates to Public Safety Dispatch on the suspect’s movements," he said. Officers found the suspect in the 800 block of 7th Street and approached him, police said. Warlys Ernesto Jimenez (Courtesy SMPD)

"He fled and a brief foot pursuit ensued," Rodriguez said.

The suspect was arrested without incident in the 800 block of Alley 7, he said. The victim was not injured and her purse was located in the 700 block of 12th Street.

Jimenez remains in custody with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office on a bail of $50,000.00 pending future court proceedings.

Two jewelry stores on the 1600 block of the trendy and upscale Montana Avenue shopping strip have been robbed this year ("Suspect Charged in Santa Monica Jewelry Store Theft," February 8, 2018 and "Suspect Remains at Large after Robbing Montana Avenue Jewelry Store," March 1, 2018).

The most recent incident took place last week and led to a foot pursuit through the adjacent neighborhood, which was followed by alarmed neighbors on social media ("Neighbors Take to Online Sites as Manhunt for Suspect in Santa Monica Robbery Unfolds," March 2, 2018)

Police have identified the suspect, who remains at large ("Santa Monica Police Identify Suspect in Jewelry Store Robbery," May 2, 2018).

Anyone with information related to Tuesday's robbery should call Detective Goodwin at (310) 458-8942 or the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.