It Speaks Volumes
On Tuesday, August 1, at 9:17 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called out to the Main Library, located at 601 Santa Monica Blvd. in order to investigate an assault. When the officers arrived at the location they spoke with the victim who told them that he had been standing in an aisle at the library reading a book (as one does) when the suspect walked up to him and pushed him out of the way with considerable force. The victim was desirous of a prosecution so the officers went in search of the suspect and discovered that this homeless person was sitting on a bench outside the library (as they do). The officers arrested this 25-year-old woman and she was later booked for assault and battery. Bail was set at $20,000.
Lack Of Diplomacy?
On Thursday, August 3, at 10:58 a.m. an officer of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call requesting his assistance in a case of battery that occurred in the 1300 block of Palisades Park. The officer rushed to the location and determined that the victim was a Santa Monica Downtown Ambassador. The officer spoke with the victim and discovered that he had been walking southbound along the 1300 block of Palisades Park when he had spotted a man who was attempting to close the gate at the entrance to the Arizona Bridge. The Santa Monica Downtown Ambassador walked over to this man and offered assistance and in response the man began to yell obscenities at the Santa Monica Downtown Ambassador and then kicked the Ambassador striking him in the wrist. The officer located the suspect and after a brief struggle with the officer this 33-year-old homeless man was arrested and charged with battery and resisting an officer. Bail was set at $20,000.
Everywhere He Goes There He Is.
On Thursday, August 3, at 1:44 p.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call requesting their assistance in a disturbance that was taking place at Hot Dog On A Stick, located at 1633 Ocean Front Walk.
The officers went to the location and spoke with several witnesses who told them that the suspect had been standing outside the business and had been acting strangely while exposing himself, yelling at people and throwing traffic cones around. The officers spotted the suspect and immediately recognized this man as being someone with whom they had previous experiences with and also recalled that this man had been issued with a court order that prohibited him from being in that area. When the suspect noticed that the officers were looking at him he began to run away and the officers chased the man until they arrived at a bicycle rental store located at 1200 Pacific Coast Hwy. At that time the man attempted to steal a bicycle from the store and an employee apprehended the suspect until the police took control of him. This 47-year-old homeless man was arrested and later charged with theft, resisting an officer and a violation of a court order. Bail was set at $10,000.
Fenced Off.
On Friday, August 4, at 7:46 a.m. an officer of the Santa Monica Police Department was on an early morning patrol in the area of the 1800 block of Lincoln Court when he caught sight of a man attempting to force his way through the fence that was situated at the rear of a parking lot on the street. The officer apprehended this individual and asked him what he was up to. The man said that he was simply forcing his way through the fence in order to rummage through some trashcans that were at the location.
With the permission of the subject the officer conducted a search of the suspect’s person and discovered that he was in possession of a stolen credit card in addition to a receipt for a purchase that he had made using said stolen credit card. The subject was generally evasive and of a suspicious demeanor and after the officer had taken this 31-year-old homeless man to jail he was charged with misappropriation of lost property and identity theft. Bail was set at $5,000.
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
More than 50% of these events involve people with no “apparent residence”. Crime is a choice, you either follow the laws and abide by social norms, or face the consequences; a nice nights stay in the local jail so that they can plot on how they will violate the laws of Santa Monica City the following day. Does anyone else see the common thread of many of these APB’s? What can we do as concerned citizens?
We get it. Santa Monica HATES the “homeless” population. Where do you think people with mental illness go when the government cuts funding for their treatment and shuts down the facilities that house them? You don’t care what society does with them so long as they’re out of your wealthy community right? There they are, suffering day after day in broad daylight.
Feel better now, Mel? They are homeless, not “homeless”, that’s a fact, and these people in the story are criminals. Fact, right?
Where do these people with mental illness go when government cuts funding? Which government are
you talking about? Los Angeles just passed a measure for more taxes to aid the homeless. There are shelters and the hospitals treat these people on a daily basis, for which you and I pay for, right? C’mon here, lets get the facts straight.
What do all of these stories have in common? These are crimes, in my city where we walk and live. Have you been assaulted by a criminal before while walking with your spouse, or dog? It’s not fun, and yes I HATE that part of the city life that is Santa Monica. I could care less what happens to criminals; it’s the fault of society that the criminals commit crimes? What ass do you have your head stuck up in?
You, me, the city of Santa Monica, the world can choose what their actions are on a daily basis and not have to wait in government to provide. What would you do if you were suffering like the people in the stories, assault and batter the citizens? You really think that I should be sympathetic to criminals?
Do you take in these homeless for feeding and mental care? Sounds like you you need to get off your soap box and head back to starbucks.