This case began on Saturday, Aug. 27, at 9:10 p.m., when officers of the Santa Monica Police Department were called to the front lobby of the police headquarters in order to investigate a person who had reported the very serious offense of assault by a spouse.
When the officers arrived at the front lobby of the police headquarters they spoke with the victim who told them that she had been in a dating relationship with her “boyfriend” for several years, and added that they were both homeless.
She elaborated by stating that they had been drinking (alcohol) in the 500 block of Olympic Boulevard when her boyfriend became agitated because he had suddenly become convinced that she was going to leave him.
At that point the victim attempted to walk away, and the suspect responded to this departure by slapping her twice in the face (there were no conspicuous injuries to the victim).
The boyfriend then walked away from the location.
The suspect could not be found at the time of the incident.
However, the police were on the case, and on Thursday, Sept. 1, at 1 p.m. investigators discovered the suspect in the 1500 block of Palisades Park and arrested him.
This 54-year-old homeless man was charged with spousal battery, and also violation of a domestic violence restraining order.
His bail was set at $20,000.
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
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