With helicopters overhead well into the evening, Feb. 28 saw Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) respond to a radio call for service at the 1600 block of Montana Avenue regarding “Suspicious Circumstances” at “Curated Los Angeles,” a jewelry store. Officers arrived and determined a male suspect entered the store holding a suspicious device. The suspect demanded merchandise from a store employee and was given merchandise.
The suspect began to argue with the employee and fled the store with the suspicious device. He entered a vehicle and fled north on 15th Street striking several parked cars along the way. The car came to rest after striking a parked car at the 300 block of 15th Street. The suspect exited the car and fled the area on foot north into the residential area.
As the first responding officer checked the vehicle, he noticed a suspicious device on the ground next to the driver’s side of the car. A perimeter was established around the immediate area. SMPD’s K9 and SWAT Teams were activated to search for the suspect. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad responded to the scene for the suspicious device. The device was detonated by the bomb squad and remains under investigation for its contents.
At time of print the suspect remains outstanding following an extensive search. The suspect is described as a Hispanic or Caucasian male, 30 years old, 5’9” tall, last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and dark colored shorts.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is encouraged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department at 310.458.8491.
Photo: SMPD
