Santa Monica police arrested a 20-year-old Los Angeles man on Thursday, Sept. 26 who led them on an almost hour-long chase across the City, including the 10 Freeway, after making threats near Santa Monica High School.
Officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to investigate the report of threats being made in the 700 block of Michigan Avenue at 4:23 pm.
When the officers arrived they began their investigation, but the suspect suddenly began to run away from the officers.
This suspect then climbed a six-foot chain link fence that separated the I-10 Freeway from the surrounding area.
The suspect then proceeded to run into the eastbound lanes of the freeway causing vehicles to slam on their brakes and screech to a halt.
This man then ran across the rest of the freeway to the other side. In regard to the threats report, the reporting party declined to prosecute.
The officers declined to chase this man in the interests of public safety, however a Santa Monica City Animal Control Officer broadcast over the radio that there was a person creating a disturbance near the animal shelter located at 1640 Ninth Street and that this person matched the description of the possible freeway felon.
The location was also very near to the location that the suspect had fled towards after crossing the freeway and officers responded, but were not able to locate the person as he had run off.
Later, at 5:04 pm other officers were sent to the Vons market at 710 Broadway after receiving a report of an intoxicated person running around in the street.
Officers went to that location as well but were still not able to locate this elusive suspect as he had run off.
Not too much longer after at 5:19 pm, a Santa Monica Police Department Park Ranger who was accompanied by a Downtown Services Officer spotted this by now well-known wanted man standing at a bus stop in the 1500 block of Fourth Street.
The original officer raced to this location determined to arrest the suspect.
This time officers were successful and this LA resident was arrested and charged with public intoxication and obstructing a police officer.
Bail was set at $10,000.
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.
