Job Uriah Taylor arrested and charged in connection to March 3 attacks
A homeless man has been charged with hate crimes for attacking multiple African-American victims with a metal pipe while yelling racial slurs in Santa Monica.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), the incident was reported on March 3 around 7:30 a.m., patrol officers responded to a call of an attempted assault on the 1100 block of the beach, around .5 miles north of the Santa Monica Pier.
“The suspect, later identified as Job Uriah Taylor, approached the African American victim who was walking his dog and threatened to attack him with a metal pipe. Taylor yelled several racial slurs at the victim,” the SMPD said in a press release.
Santa Monica Fire Department personnel working nearby intervened, fending off suspect Taylor who rode away on his bicycle in an unknown direction. The victim was not injured, and officers were initially unable to locate Taylor, police say.
Soon after, around 7:50 a.m., the SMPD responded to a call of an assault happening on the north side of the train platform at 4th Street and Colorado Ave. According to the SMPD, the same suspect was seen attacking a male and female, both African American, with the same pipe he was brandishing at the 1100 block of the beach.
“Taylor hit the victims multiple times in the head while yelling more racial slurs,” the SMPD said.
Taylor was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Santa Monica Jail for booking.
Taylor was charged with two counts of attempted murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury. In addition, hate crime allegations were added to the two counts of attempted murder and assault with force. Two victims were transported to the hospital; one was released the same day and the other still being treated for a head injury.
Santa Monica Police Department Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Detectives are seeking witnesses who may have been in the area at the time of the incidents. Anyone with any additional information pertaining to this incident or suspect is encouraged to contact SMPD Detective Jacob Holloway at (310) 458-8934, Jacob.holloway@santamonica.gov, or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8426.
