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Santa Monica Police Department Releases Weekly Crime Recap: Key Arrests From September 14 – 20

SMPD Highlights Notable Incidents and Crime Statistics From Last Week

By Erika Akulfi

The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) released its weekly recap for the period of September 14-20, highlighting notable incidents, crime statistics, and community engagement.

National Forensics Science Week The SMPD recognized National Forensics Science Week by highlighting the Forensics Unit’s work on social media. The department praised the team for its role in solving crimes through detailed analysis, which contributes to community safety and the resolution of criminal cases.

Celebrating Women in Law Enforcement In honor of National Police Women’s Day, the SMPD paid tribute to the women serving in law enforcement, commending their courage, dedication, and contributions to public safety in Santa Monica. The department acknowledged their leadership and the inspiration they provide to future generations.

Department-Wide Statistics:

Total Calls for Service (CFS): 2,817. YTD (through 9/14): 92,789.

Source of calls:

Citizen Initiated: 1,801 calls for service. 56,051 YTD (60% of total CFS).
Officer Initiated: 1,016 calls for service. 36,738 YTD (40% of total CFS).
Disposition for CFS: Homeless related = 18% YTD.
Encampment Calls: 37. 1,159 YTD.
5150 Calls: 16. 475 YTD.
Arrests: 59 total arrests. 1,993 YTD.

Notable Incidents:

Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 2020 Wilshire Boulevard. The suspect approached the victim and attempted to steal his property. The suspect threw the victim into the street and began hitting him with a cane and an electrical cord. Officers arrived and arrested the suspect without incident.
Battery / Child Abuse – 700 Block Colorado Avenue. A 14-year-old student and his friend were walking westbound on Colorado toward the train station when one of them was punched in the face and shoulder by an adult male. The attack was unprovoked. The teen then called his mother who later notified the police department. The teen did not require medical attention but sustained a cut to his lower lip. The incident is under investigation by our Youth Services Division.
Warrant Arrest – 1400 Block 2nd Street. HLP Officers contacted a subject for violation of the doorway ordinance. The subject had a No Bail warrant for robbery out of Riverside. He was arrested without incident.
Hit & Run / City Property Involved – 20th Street and Washington Ave. Officers responded to a call of a traffic collision with injuries. Witnesses told the officers that the driver of the vehicle struck a BBB bus stop, fled on foot, and was being held down by bystanders nearby. The subject was detained by officers and positively identified as the driver of the hit and run vehicle. The subject displayed signs of intoxication and was arrested for DUI and Hit and Run.
Fire Department Request for PD – 300 Santa Monica Pier. Officers responded to a call from SMFD for assistance with a subject who was agitated and armed with a butter knife. The officers used de-escalation tactics to convince the subject to disarm. The subject was unable to be evaluated for 5150 and was ultimately transported by SMFD to a local hospital for a medical evaluation. A crime report was completed for brandishing.
Sexual Battery / Indecent Exposure – 1600 Block of the Beach. Officers responded to a call of a sexual battery on the beach and detained the nude male subject who was being held down by two other males. The subject was seen grabbing a victim’s buttocks then stripping naked and masturbating. The subject was arrested for battery and indecent exposure.
Arson – 1685 Main Street (City Hall). Officers responding to a radio call located a female subject setting fire to the bushes in front of City Hall. The subject, who was arrested for arson, told officers she set fire to the bushes to scare away rats.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 1400 Block Ocean Avenue. Officers responded to a call of a subject who struck a security guard in the face with a metal bollard. The victim sustained a laceration to his face. The subject was located by officers and arrested.
Sexual Assault – 4th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard (Bus Stop). The victim was sitting at the bus stop waiting for an Uber to pick her and her friends up to take them to the airport, when a homeless subject forced his hand down the front of her pants and under her underwear. The victim’s friends and bystanders intervened. Using witness descriptions, officers located the suspect nearby.
Attempted Burglary – 100 Block Palisades Beach Road. The victim contacted police when he saw on his Ring camera two males and two females attempting to kick in the front door of a home currently under construction. One of the female suspects, a juvenile, was located west of the location on the beach and positively identified using the surveillance video. She was issued a citation and released to a parent. The other three suspects are outstanding. No entry was made into the home.
Armed Robbery – 00 Block Bay Street. The victim was in the 00 Block of Bay when he was approached by several juveniles on e-bikes who demanded his property at knifepoint. The victim ran away, and the suspects fled. No arrests have been made.
Felony Battery – 1500 Block 2nd Street. The victim was in McDonalds when he observed the suspect attempt to steal something from another patron. The victim intervened and the suspect struck him once in the mouth causing injury. The suspect was located by officers at 4th and Pico and identified via surveillance photographs provided by the business.
Reckless Driving / Resisting Arrest – 300 Santa Monica Pier. DART Officers responded to a call of two reckless drivers on the Pier, one riding a dirt bike and the other riding a quad. The officers located the subjects riding at high speed up the Pier ramp. The suspect riding the quad was taken into custody at the top of the ramp. The second suspect was able to flee the officers by riding through the pedestrian walkway.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 500 Block Olympic Boulevard. Officers responded to a stabbing at The Peoples Concern and located a victim with a seven-inch laceration to the right side of his face. Officers located a blood trail from 7th Street and Olympic to 5th Street and Olympic. Surveillance video helped the officers identify a security guard at the location as the suspect. The victim was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon / Hit & Run – 2000 Block Montana Avenue. An officer located a vehicle speeding in the 2000 block Montana. The suspect noticed the officer behind her, made a U-turn, and sideswiped the officer’s vehicle as she drove past him. The suspect then drove into the 800 block of 16th Street where she attempted to collide into the driver side of Officer Sandoval’s vehicle, hitting a street tree. She fled on foot and was taken into custody within minutes by other responding officers. She was arrested for assault, DUI and Hit and Run.

Directed Action Response Team (DART) and Crime Impact Team (CIT)

Code Enforcement:

4 Citations
160 Contacts, including 86 verbal and 13 written warnings

DART:

4 Citations
21 Field Interviews
7 Arrests
14 Encampments Advised / Removed

Warrant Arrest – Downtown Santa Monica. DART Officers contacted a subject for crossing the street in business district not in crosswalk. After identifying the individual using a fingerprint reader, the officers learned the subject has a felony warrant out of Burbank PD for drug sales. The subject was also in possession of methamphetamine and a meth pipe.
Warrant Arrest – 1700 Block of the Beach. DART Officers conducted consensual encounter with a subject who had nine warrant totaling $231,0000 warrants, all for narcotics violations.
Warrant Arrest – 2900 Block of the Beach. DART officers contact a subject for a camping violation who refused to provide identification information. Officers used a fingerprint reader to identify the subject and learned he has a warrant from SMPD for resisting arrest and possession of drugs.
Sex Registrant Out of Compliance – 300 Block of the Pier. DART contacted a subject on the Pier who was in violation of 290 PC (failure to register). The subject was arrested.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 1900 Block of Lincoln Boulevard (Walgreens). DART officers assisted patrol by locating and detaining an ADW suspect. The suspect initially fled the officers and was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. The suspect was arrested for assaulting two customers in the Walgreens and running from officers.
Warrant Arrest – 2900 Block of the Beach. Officers contacted and arrested a subject who had a No Bail Warrant out of Kern County for Auto Theft.
Threats / Possession of Narcotics – 1600 Block of the Beach. Code Enforcement Officers were approached by an aggressive male while they spoke to an unpermitted vendor in the 1600 block of the bike path. The male appeared agitated and preparing to fight, holding a blade in between his fingers while his fists were clenched. Officers detained the male who admitted he was upset because he believed Code Enforcement was issuing a citation. The subject was arrested for Criminal Threats and possession of drugs.
Brandishing / 5150 Hold – 800 Block of the Beach. DART Officers responded to multiple calls of a male wearing a motorcycle helmet pointing a gun at passersby. Investigation revealed it was a blue and silver pepper spray gun. No victims were located. One of the officers recognized the subject from similar calls the day prior. He was evaluated by DART and officers determined he met criteria for a 5150 hold.
200 Santa Monica Pier – Two Pier Performers were involved in an altercation during the Performer Lottery. Neither party wished to press charges; however, both requested documentation for a civil restraining order. PD response and interviews were captured by Local Vlogger “Santa Monica Close Up”. https://youtu.be/tclDFCmiQoA?si=yP8Pwdsl6Xmzz0ec
Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 200 Santa Monica Pier (Gazebo). DART Officers were patrolling the Pier on the MUV when they were flagged down by West Coast Care (WCC) employees who reported that someone threw a rock at her while she was at the gazebo. WCC employees were in the process of providing resources to an unrelated individual when the assault occurred. The suspect was still at the scene and was detained. The suspect, who was wearing a GPS tracker, is currently on parole for ADW. Officers arrested the subject for ADW and a parole hold was issued. PD response and interviews were captured by Local Vlogger “Santa Monica Close Up”. https://youtu.be/KvOZAtjAWZw?si=bUsOgNLOHWO09WDC
Resisting Arrest / Felony Warrant – 1500 Block of the Beach. DART officers observed a subject camping under the Pier in violation of the Municipal Code. The subject initially gave a false name and could not be identified. Once identified by fingerprint reader, the officers found he had ADW and Criminal Threats warrants from Long Beach.

Crime Impact Team:

Weekly CIT Stats

24 Traffic Stops
17 Ped Stops
7 Bike Stops
3 Felony Arrests
4 Misdemeanor Arrests
2 Citations
21 Field Interviews
2 Assists

Crime Reduction Efforts/ Notable Incidents:

Warrant Arrest – Tongva Park. During a consensual encounter, officers performed a criminal history check of the individual and found he had a $60k Santa Monica warrant for resisting arrest.
Vandalism – Lot 4 South. Officers observe a subject spray painting a City-owned storage unit in Lot 4 south. The subject attempted to flee from the officers. He was ultimately arrested for vandalism and resisting arrest.
Warrant Arrest – 2900 Block of the Beach. Officers detain a subject for a municipal code violation. A criminal history check revealed the subject has a SMPD warrant for resisting arrest.
Warrant Arrest – City Hall. CIT officers monitored a call for service from the City Manager’s Office about a suspicious person in City Hall. The officers detained the suspect in Tongva Park and contacted the City Manager. The CM reported that the suspect took candy from a city employee’s desk but was not desirous of prosecution. A criminal history check of the subject showed two Pomona PD warrants for prowling incidents in that city. He was also in possession of narcotics.

Community Affairs and Neighborhood Relations SMPD’s Neighborhood Resource Officers (NROs) facilitated safety meetings with local businesses and community groups, addressing concerns ranging from trespassing to safety in public spaces. Officers provided de-escalation training to staff at local restaurants and collaborated with local organizations to address quality-of-life issues in residential areas.

Beat 1 – NRO’s Hollowell with CPC Lockwood

NRO Hollowell conducted a safety meeting with the management and supervisory team of Bubba Gump Restaurant on the Pier. The topics of discussion were creating a plan prior to an incident occurring, de-escalation, and realistic expectations regarding patron behavior. During this roundtable discussion, the staff was able to ask questions regarding incidents that occurred in the past and how they could be handled better. The overall goal during the meeting was employee and guest safety as opposed to attempting to detaining an unruly patron. The General Manager advised NRO Hollowell that the meeting appeared to be very helpful regarding next steps.
NRO Hollowell attended a Pedi-Cab meeting which included Mobility, Code Enforcement, and the City Attorney’s Office. The main topic of the meeting was failure to pay citations by Pedi-Cab operators. NRO Hollowell advised the attendees regarding the existing vehicle codes to ensure it is consistent with future Santa Monica Codes and Administrative regulations. The Pedi-Cab meetings will continue until the new codes and regulations are written and approved.

Beat 2 – NRO Navarro with CPC Barreto

NRO Navarro, Galvan, and CPC Barreto facilitated the Neighborhood Watch Meeting for the 2000 block of 4th Street. General safety information was shared, and questions were answered.
NRO Navarro, Galvan, Holloway, and CPC Barreto attended the Ocean Park Association Monthly meeting at the Ocean Park Library. Crime statistics and summary of most recent significant incidents were discussed. Questions were received and recommendations given to residents. Board members and residents were appreciative of the departmental efforts.
NROs Navarro and Galvan presented a Workplace Safety and Verbal De-Escalation training to Clare Matrix (1002 Pico Blvd) staff. The presentation lasted one hour, and the staff requested a follow up training with their counselors and social workers.
NROs Navarro, Wang, and Holloway conducted orientation for new officers during the Community Affairs portion of their orientation.
NRO Navarro and Traffic Services Officer Teposte attended the Pico Improvement Organization annual meeting at 304 Pico, gave a presentation, and provided crime statistics.
NRO Navarro received complaint regarding smoking in an apartment building. NRO Navarro spoke with the reporting party about contacting tenants and provided several recommendations including Code Enforcement and the City Attorney’s Office. She chose to contact the resources herself and did not want NROs to contact her neighbor at this time.

Beat 3 – NRO Galvan with CPC Barreto

NRO Galvan received information via email from a resident who was complaining about a neighbor smoking inside his unit in violation of the lease agreement. NRO Galvan contacted the property manager who subsequently spoke to the neighbor who is smoking in the unit. The smoking has since stopped after the interaction with the property management company.
NRO Galvan and the Community Affairs team have been addressing complaints from neighbors of the American Motel in the 1200 block of Lincoln Blvd. by advising residents regarding the new trespass letters, completing periodic checks, and organizing School Resource Officers patrol the area due to the proximity of a preschool. HLP officers have also addressed community livability issues brought on by some unhoused individuals in the area. These individuals have been contacted and provided with resources. Periodic checks will be ongoing by NROs, SROs and HLP officers.

Beat 4 – NRO Wang with CPC Lockwood

NRO Wang was contacted by a resident regarding an ongoing dispute over a recently constructed fence. NRO Wang reached out to the landlords of both properties to address the issue, successfully de-escalating the situation, and confirming there are no current violations. NRO Wang will notify Code Enforcement as a precaution.
NRO Wang was contacted by the area manager of Whole Foods about a battery incident that occurred. NRO Wang reviewed the facts and offered reasonable solutions. Other topics discussed were quality of life issues, the state of the city and the department’s Strategic Plan.
Citibank reported a chronic homeless subject harassing their location, patrons, and employees. NRO Wang identified the individual. Extra patrols have been initiated, and coordination with patrol units and the HLP team is underway to address and potentially redirect the individual to appropriate resources.