The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap May 4 - May 10, 2025

May 20, 2025 3:17 PM
by Lewis Gilmour

DEPARTMENT-WIDE STATS:

TRAFFIC EDUCATION & ENFORCEMENT - MOTORS

Weekly Stats:

Patrol Traffic Enforcement:

On 5/4/2025, at approximately 10:49 pm, a vehicle turned in front of the path of an oncoming vehicle resulting in a traffic collision. The driver of the turning vehicle was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and arrested for DUI. There were 3 children all under the age of 5 in the vehicle. Two of the children suffered minor injuries that did not require hospital transport. During the investigation, officers noted the child safety seats were not appropriate for the children’s height and weight. Investigators presented case the to LACDA for review and consideration of potential charges

PATROL

1200 block of 16th St - Bike Stop / 69 PC SM Warrant Arrest: Officers conducted a bike stop on a suspect who had a $250,000 Santa Monica warrant for battery on a peace officer, drug paraphernalia, and methamphetamine. The suspect was arrested.​

1500 block of 4th Street - Domestic Violence: Police responded to a family disturbance. A female was found intoxicated in a vehicle with a cut nose. Her male partner reported she had struck him multiple times in the face and bit his finger while he was driving after they had been drinking. The female was arrested for domestic violence.​

500 block of Wilshire - Theft/ Shoplift: Officers responded to a theft at CVS. A suspect concealed merchandise in a TJ Maxx bag and fled. The suspect was later observed and detained, positively identified, and the stolen property was recovered. The suspect was taken into custody.​

​Ocean & Colorado Ave - Stabbing: Officers responded to a stabbing involving two males who are believed to be homeless. A verbal altercation led to one stabbing the other, who was uncooperative with officers. Video footage showed the two walking together before an argument, during which the suspect stabbed at the victim, who blocked the attack with his forearms. Officers identified and arrested the suspect nearby, who had a folding knife with possible blood on his person. The victim sustained non-life-threatening wounds. ​

1300 2nd St - Probation Violation: Officers stopped a vehicle for expired registration and discovered the driver had a no-bail warrant for a probation violation out of San Bernardino County. The driver was on probation for possessing a controlled substance while armed.

2100 block of Main St - Strong arm robbery: A known theft suspect was observed grabbing items in a store. When an employee tried to stop him from leaving, the suspect punched the employee multiple times in the face, causing him to fall. The suspect was located several hours later and arrested.​

​Lot 5 South - Vehicle Burglary Arrest: Officers responded to a vehicle burglary in progress. The reporting party provided a vehicle description and license plate. Although the suspects were initially gone, the vehicle was later located by the drone operator in Lot 5 South, where the occupants were observed burglarizing other vehicles. Officers apprehended and arrested both suspects, believed to be foreign nationals, for burglary, conspiracy, receiving stolen property, and possession of burglary tools.​

Criminal Threats/Domestic Violence: A woman came to the police station to surrender firearms due to concerns about her safety related to her husband's alcoholism. Further investigation revealed that her husband had threatened her with a firearm while she was in bed with their infant. Detectives and CIT officers safely apprehended the suspect during a traffic stop.​

​333 Olympic Dr. (PSF) - Narcotics Possession (PCP): A suspect approached officers in front of the Public Safety Facility, screaming for help and holding a vial of PCP. Officers found additional PCP in the suspect's possession. The suspect was taken into custody.​

3100 Block of 4th St. - Burglary (Residential) – Narcotics Possession: A suspect entered a property they had been to before. While being detained, items stolen from the residence were located, and the suspect was also found to be in possession of narcotics. The suspect was taken into custody.​

1801 Lincoln Blvd, World Gas Station - Commercial Burglary: An unknown number of suspects broke the front glass door of the store, entered, and stole approximately $10,000 in merchandise and cash.​

2425 16th St Soccer Field- Assault W/ A Deadly Weapon (Bodily Force): During a soccer game, two opposing players had a verbal altercation. The suspect punched the victim in the face, causing a laceration and loss of consciousness and memory. A witness reported the suspect then kicked the victim in the head with his cleat before fleeing in an SUV. The victim refused medical treatment.​

​700 block of Santa Monica Blvd - Traffic Stop / Firearm Arrest / Burglary Tools: Officers stopped a vehicle and found the driver was on parole for attempted murder. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded firearm, ski masks, and burglary tools. The suspects were possibly linked to multiple attempted burglaries at a Commercial Bank of California. Similar clothing worn during those incidents was found in the vehicle. Both suspects were arrested.​

Neilson Way & Ocean Park Blvd - Hit & Run Felony (Vehicle vs Ped): A vehicle traveling north on Neilson Way struck a pedestrian. The vehicle fled the scene. The pedestrian sustained a possible broken leg.​

1540 2nd St McDonalds - Pepper Spray Incident: Officers responded to a fight in progress at a McDonald's. A security guard had deployed a large canister of bear spray inside the restaurant. The spray was taken as evidence.​

PSF - No Bail Warrant / Structure Rescue: A subject at the Public Safety Facility called dispatch wanting to be placed on a 5150 hold. Officers found him scaling the outside of the stairwell. Due to his paranoia and drug impairment, SMFD was called to safely bring him down. The subject was arrested on an outstanding warrant.​

Lincoln Blvd. and Brooks Ave. - Firearm Possession (Felon): A vehicle was seen speeding and a traffic stop was initiated. The suspect did not yield for several blocks. Investigation revealed the suspect was a previously convicted felon, and a loaded firearm was found in the vehicle. The suspect was taken into custody.​

Officers conducted foot patrol on 3rd St., 2nd St., and Ocean Ave., along with periodic checks of structures 2, 4, 6, and 9. 

Downtown Special Services Unit (DSU) officers were deployed on bikes, conducting periodic checks focused on Quality of Life Operations in Tongva, Reed, and Palisades Parks. Additionally, numerous locations underwent periodic checks.

1500 Pal Park - Parole/ H&S violation: Officers observed a subject smoking in the park. Upon contact, the subject was identified as being on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. A search revealed narcotics and paraphernalia, and a parole violation was obtained.​

120 Colorado; Pierside Hotel - Felony vandalism: Officers responded to a disturbance at a hotel. The manager reported that a suspect had kicked a custom glass wall, causing approximately $5,000 in damages.​

DIRECTED ACTION RESPONSE TEAM (DART)

Weekly Stats: 

The Directed Area Response Team (DART) supported a Coffee with a Cop event at Virginia Park on Saturday and conducted periodic checks and community engagement at Shutter's Hotel & Casa Del Mar on Ocean Front Walk (OFW). Additionally, Officers assisted the Crime Impact Team (CIT) with Narcotics enforcement. DART members also participated in the bi-weekly Community Attorney Officer (CAO) meeting with Code Enforcement.​

1600 block of the beach - Domestic Violence In Progress: Officers witnessed a domestic violence incident between a male and a female. The female sustained a minor cut. DCFS was notified, and the victim was transported home. The male suspect was arrested for domestic violence.​

1500 block of Pal Park - SMMC- Smoking in a Park: A homeless individual was cited for smoking in the park after having been previously advised against it.

Narcotics Investigation: During a contact for a health and safety investigation, one individual was found to be in possession of a drug pipe and methamphetamine and was arrested for felony possession due to prior convictions. This individual was also on PRCS for assault. A second individual contacted was cited for smoking in the park and released.​

Muni Code Violation / No Bail Warrant Arrest: An individual was contacted for a municipal code violation and was found to have a no-bail warrant for false imprisonment out of San Diego County. The suspect was arrested and transported to the LA County IRC.​

CRIME IMPACT TEAM (CIT)

Weekly Stats:

The Crime Impact Team assisted the Criminal Investigations Divisions on multiple open cases.​

Domestic Violence / Possible Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrest: The Criminal Investigations Division contacted CIT regarding a suspect wanted for domestic violence and possibly assault with a handgun. CID personnel located the suspect's vehicle near the victim's residence. The suspect was seen entering the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident.​

North Hollywood - Warrant Arrest (Grand Theft): CIT officers assisted CID in executing an arrest warrant for a grand theft suspect. The suspect was observed leaving their residence and was detained. The suspect was in possession of some of the stolen property.​

Ocean and Santa Monica Blvd. / 1500 block of Pal Park - Felony Vandalism Arrest: Officers observed a vandalism in progress and detained a suspect nearby.  The damage was estimated to be over $2000.​

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM (CET)

Beat 1 (NRO Hollowell and CPC Barreto)

Beat 2 (NRO Avila and CPC Barreto)

Beat 3 (NRO Tago & CPC Aguilar)

Beat 4 (NRO Wang & CPC Aguilar)

HOMELESS LIAISON  PROGRAM (HLP)

Weekly Stats:

A subject contacted for public camping was found to have a full extradition warrant from Missouri for a sex registry violation.

A chronic subject violating public camping in the 1100 Block of Princeton Street, who had been repeatedly arrested and cited for the same offense and had previously left VA housing, was arrested again for public camping after refusing offered services.​

A chronic subject observed violating public camping at "Izzy's Deli" in the 1100 Block of 15th Street, who had been previously cited and advised, was arrested for public camping after refusing offered services.​

A subject contacted for camping at 11th and Colorado was arrested on nine outstanding warrants totaling $75,000 out of Santa Monica and transported to county jail.​

Although the SamoBridge program is not yet operational, HLP officers referred a chronic offender to Exodus, who accepted the individual into one of their programs.​

ANIMAL SERVICES

Weekly Stats: 68 Calls for Service

Animal Control did not receive any calls for service, regarding any sick or injured marine mammals on the beach affected by the algae bloom. ​

Coyote activity reported in the city:​

Deceased Animals Picked Up: ​

On 05/12/2025 a resident came to the Animal Shelter. The reporting party stated she was at the Salvation Army Thrift Shop when she encountered a man inside the store with three dogs, one pug and two chihuahua. The man was holding one of the chihuahua aggressively by its scruff. He told the reporting party that the dog was too much to handle and gave her the dog. The puppy was impounded by Animal Control personnel at the shelter. The puppy’s impound number is A067335, Chihuahua, Female, Tan, 2.5 months old. ​

Calls for Service: (5) Noise complaints handled.​

Enforcement: Warnings issued for Animals in Prohibited Areas

HARBOR CONTROL

Weekly Stats:

300 block of the pier - PD/Humane Assist: Harbor Services Officers (HSOs) responded to a report of an abandoned dog left by a homeless individual. The dog's owner returned and became agitated. Assisting units advised the owner to move on with the dog on a leash.​​

IFO Tower 16 - 314 (Indecent Exposure): HSOs observed a fully nude male adult lying on the beach near the waterline. They notified dispatch and assisted officers who gave the subject a warning.​

On the Pier - 314 (Indecent Exposure): HSOs responded to a report of a partially exposed female adult causing a disturbance. Upon police arrival, the subject became agitated and was taken into custody.​

Off of tower 14 - Rescue Assist: HSOs assisted LA County Lifeguards in the safe rescue of a long-distance swimmer who was far out towards the break wall.​

Near 200 Blk of the beach - Vessel in Distress: HSOs responded to a report of a vessel in distress but found no vessel in the area. LA County Lifeguards on the beach also had no sightings. HSOs were unable to locate the vessel.​

Bike path under the pier - 484 (Petty Theft Assist): HSOs assisted LA County Lifeguards and a victim whose backpack was taken by a homeless individual who refused to return it. The backpack was retrieved without incident, and the subject left the area. The victim did not desire prosecution.​

Additional Activities:​

Periodic checks and high visibility patrols nightly and daily on OFW to north and south city Limits ​

Authored By

Lewis Gilmour
Lieutenant

Categories

Safety