Two Santa Monica police officers who responded to a trespassing call on Thursday evening ended up in hospital with injuries after a foot chase with one of the suspect’s ended in a fight.
SMPD Sgt. Richard Lewis said officers responded to a call from the management company of an apartment complex at 20th and Colorado at about 5 p.m.
Lewis said the call concerned two suspects who had been evicted from the complex and had broken back into their former apartment to get their belongings.
The two officers were able to locate one of the suspects at a nearby Starbucks. When this suspect failed to comply with orders from the officers, the suspect fled and a foot chase began.
Officers were able to catch up with the suspect who put up a fight to resist arrest.
“One of the officers rolled his ankle severe enough that it broke,” Lewis said. “The other officer had some minor injuries and had to go to hospital.”
Despite the injuries to the officers, the suspect was taken into custody.
Lewis said the suspect was charged with trespassing, felony vandalism, and injuring a police officer. The second suspect was located near the scene by additional officers who responded and was taken into custody without incident. The second suspect was charged with trespassing and felony vandalism, Lewis said.
