Barna Allen Cranford arrested in connection to March 15 stabbing
By Sam Catanzaro
Santa Monica police have identified and arrested a suspect involved in a felony assault that occurred yesterday morning in Palisades Park in which a City employee was stabbed in the chest while attempting to rouse a person sleeping in the park.
According to the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD), on March 15 around 8:15 AM, patrol officers responded to a 911 call from a Downtown Ambassador who reported a subject down in Palisades Park near the Camera Obscura.
“Arriving officers located a City of Santa Monica employee who had been stabbed in the upper torso when he attempted to rouse an individual sleeping in the area,” the SMPD said.
The suspect fled the area before officers’ arrival, police say.
The victim was transported by the Santa Monica Fire Department to a local hospital for treatment of a non-life-threatening injury.
According to the SMPD, Thursday morning detectives were able to identify a possible suspect, and at around 11 a.m. officers located and arrested him.
The suspect, 39-year-old Barna Allen Cranford, remains in police custody for aggravated assault on a $30,000 bail. He is expected to appear in court on March 20.