July 2, 2025 Breaking News, Latest News, and Videos

Alert Police Blotter Bonus

By Tim Broughton

Speed Walking.

On Wednesday, January 10, at 2 a.m. officers of the Santa Monica Police Department received a radio call informing them that a suspicious person was trespassing at an apartment building located in the 600 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. The officers drove to the location and spoke with the reporting party who happened to be the security guard at the complex. The security guard told the officers that the suspect had been loitering inside the apartment building and that he didn’t have any business being at the complex. The security guard furnished the officers with a detailed description of the suspect and also told the officers the direction in which the man had headed. The officers went in search of the man and discovered him walking briskly in the area of Seventh Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. The security guard had informed the officers that as an ambassador for the apartment building he was desirous of a prosecution for trespass. The suspect was detained and searched and the officers discovered that this man was in possession of several “baggies” of methamphetamine, or “speed.” The officers arrested this 56-year-old resident of San Pedro and he was later charged with trespass without consent, prowling and possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell. Bail was set at $30,000,

Slender James.

On Thursday, January 11, at 8:29 p.m. a Community Service Officer (CSO) was on patrol in Parking Structure Number Four, located at 1321 Second St., when he spotted two suspicious looking characters hanging around in the structure. The CSO studied these two individuals and as he was doing so one of these men ran away while the other stayed inside the parking structure. The CSO used his radio to summon the assistance of Santa Monica Police Officers who, upon receiving the request hastened to the scene. The officers detained the suspicious man inside the parking structure. The officers asked this man for some identification and the man was unable to produce any form of identification so the officers searched the man and discovered that he was in possession of a flashlight, a “slim Jim” (A slim Jim, or more technically known as a lockout tool, is a thin strip of metal roughly 24 inches long and about 0.79–1.57 in wide. Slim Jims are used to unlock automobile doors without use of a key. It acts directly on the levers and interconnecting rods that operate the door, completely avoiding the complexity of dealing with the lock mechanism itself. The hooked end of the tool is slipped between a car’s window and the rubber seal, catching the rods that connect to the lock mechanism. With careful manipulation, the door can be opened) as well as a methamphetamine smoking pipe. This was all the evidence the officers needed to arrest this 53-year-old man from Rosemead and he was later charged with loitering in a City Parking Structure, possession of narcotics paraphernalia and possession of burglary tools. Bail was set at $500.

From One-Many.

On Friday, January 12, at 4:26 p.m. officers were on routine patrol in the area of the 1400 block of Fourth Street when they saw a man riding his bicycle on the sidewalk. This is a flagrant violation of a Santa Monica Municipal Code so the officers stopped the suspected criminal. The officers chatted with this man for a few minutes and during the chat the officers discovered that this man was on active probation with search conditions for grand theft. The officers thus performed a probation search and discovered a treasure trove of suspicious and potentially illegal items. These items consisted of two knives, including one switchblade knife, methamphetamine, a methamphetamine smoking pipe, a credit card and identification belonging to another person. The officers arrested this 37-year-old Santa Monica resident and he was later charged with possession of methamphetamine, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, possession of a switchblade knife, misappropriation of lost property, and last but not least, riding a bicycle on the sidewalk. Bail was set at $1,000.

Apb

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.

<>Related Posts

People are Using Palisades for “Disaster Tours.” Local Officials Are Trying to Stop Them

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

A new motion introduced to City Council requests a coordinated strategy from LADOT, the Los Angeles Police Department, and the...

Santa Monica Favorite Esters Rebrands as Esters Wine Shop & Oyster Bar

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

New Concept Launches With French-Spanish Flair and Free Bubbles Esters Wine Shop, the fave Parisian-style wine bar in downtown Santa...

Letter to the Editor: Santa Monica’s Great Park: It’s Time to Deliver on 100 Years of Promise

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Santa Monica stands at the edge of history. For nearly a century, residents have consistently supported turning the airport land...

Why Nordstrom Says It’s Closing Its Santa Monica Place Location

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

A Nordstrom spokesperson explained the closure as a strategic realignment Nordstrom confirmed its decision to close its Santa Monica store...

Three-Bed Palisades Highlands Townhouse Hits Market for $1.7M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The Mediterranean-style property, located at 1529 Michael Lane, is part of a 71-unit community A remodeled 1,919-square-foot townhouse in the...

Six-Bed Mar Vista Hilltop Home Under Construction Lists for $5.3M

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

The private backyard is complete with a pool, spa, fire pit, built-in BBQ, and areas for outdoor dining A stunning...

(Video) Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction of Palisades Wildfires

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

With the reopening also comes a new exhibit, “The Kingdom of Pylos” Getty Villa Reopens Six Months After Dodging Destruction...

Free Virtual Planetarium Shows Coming to SMC in July

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The virtual format is in place as construction of the new SMC Planetarium and Observatory nears completion The Santa Monica...

Santa Monica Adopts $793.3M Budget for FY25-27, Prioritizing Housing and Safety

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

The budget preserves core services and invests in major projects, including over $1 billion in hotel investments The Santa Monica...

Iranian Pastor in West L.A. Speaks as Church Rocked by Immigration Raids 

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Five Detained as Fear Spreads Through Persian Christian Faith Community  Fear has spread through a West Los Angeles congregation after...

California Doubles Down on Hollywood: $750M in Tax Credits Approved for Film and TV Industry

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

State Lawmakers Back Major Expansion of Production Incentives, Raising Job Projections Los Angeles’ film and television industry is poised to...

Park: “Our Water Infrastructure Must Be Emergency-Ready Every Day”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

Councilwoman expressed cautious relief at the news but emphasized the need for robust infrastructure The Los Angeles Department of Water...

Washington Square Pizza Opens to the Public

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

New York Style Pizza “By-The-Slice” Now at the Beach By Nick Antonicello  Washington Square Pizza formally opened its doors today...

California Allocates $5B for Road Repairs, Transit Expansion

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

The funding aims to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and promote cleaner transportation California is investing nearly $5 billion...

THIS SUNDAY: Palisades Symphony Presents “Best of Broadway”

June 28, 2025

June 28, 2025

The performance will feature a full orchestra playing iconic selections, from John Philip Sousa’s *El Capitan* and George Gershwin’s *The...