The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap July 21-28, 2024

August 9, 2024 3:45 PM
by Erika Aklufi

07/21/2024-07/28/2024

As an organization we are always looking for ways to improve and provide the best service possible. This week we launched a new online reporting system. You can find the updated page here.

This past week the Department welcomed two new police officers: Paulina Cuenca and Ivan Lozano. They are both straight from the police academy and have started their Field Training Officer (FTO) Program. Cuenca is a former soccer player who played for the Republic of the Philippines. Lozano, a Southern California local, is a proud UCLA graduate. We also honored several members of the Department for their distinguished service. It was a beautiful ceremony held in the atrium of the Public Safety Facility. It was attended by friends, family, and many members of the community.

POLICE DEPARTMENT statistics for the week

2,683 Total Calls for Service (CFS) / YTD is 73,784 CFS

This week the Jail processed 69 subjects: 29 felony arrests and 40 misdemeanor arrests

Patrol Operations Division

Felony Assault/Foot Pursuit – 1300 block of Wilshire. Store manager confronts a suspect who is stealing items. The suspect punches the victim several times in the face and causes the victim to lose consciousness. Officers arrived on scene and attempted to detain the suspect. The suspect was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit. While conducting a search of the suspect, officers located multiple bindles of methamphetamine.
Attempt Grand Theft/Narcotics – 1600 block of the Beach. Officers were flagged down regarding a theft in progress. The suspect was actively cutting the bike locks that were securing several bikes. Officers contacted the suspect and determined he was attempting to steal the bikes. During a custodial search of the suspect the officers found a baggie with methamphetamine.
Handgun Possession/Vehicle Code Violation – 1800 block of Lincoln Blvd. Officers conducted a stop on a vehicle for vehicle code violations. During the stop, officers discovered the occupants of the vehicle were in possession of a loaded handgun and narcotics paraphernalia.
Assault and Battery – 3200 block of Santa Monica Blvd. The victim was a passenger inside a Big Blue Bus, when without provocation, the suspect began to punch the victim in the face and head. The suspect sustained bruising and lacerations to his head and face and was take to the hospital. The suspect fled prior to police arrival. A report was taken and forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division for follow up.
Wanted Suspects/Home Invasion Robbery (Beverly Hills occurrence) – 3000 block of Main St. Officers were alerted to a stolen vehicle by the ALPR (Automatic License Plate Reader) system in the south city limits. The vehicle was taken during the commission of a home invasion robbery in the City of Beverly Hills. The officers located the vehicle and conducted felony traffic stop. Two suspects were taken into custody without incident. Beverly Hills Police responded and took custody of the suspects.
Unprovoked Assault – 1300 block of Ocean Ave. The victim was walking down the street when they were suddenly struck by an unopened can of food. The suspect was identified and officers responded and took him into custody. The suspect is homeless.
Vandalism/Hate Crime – Ocean Ave and Arizona. The suspect broke several windows of the victim’s van. While the suspect was vandalizing the van, he was making comments regarding the victim’s race. Officers arrived on scene and took the suspect into custody. The suspect is homeless.
Sexual Assault – 300 block of Palisades Park. The victim was walking in the park when the suspect approached her and groped her breast. Officers responded, located the suspect nearby, and took him into custody. The suspect is homeless.
Criminal Threats – Santa Monica Pier. The victim (tourist) was walking on the pier when he was approached by the suspect. The suspect was holding a sharp object in his hand and told the victim he wanted to kill him. The victim fled from the area and called the police. Officers arrived, located the suspect and took him into custody. The suspect is homeless.
Robbery – 500 block of Wilshire. Suspect attempted to steal items from a store. When the victim (store employee) confronted the suspect, the suspect struck him in the face and then attempted to stab him with a knife. Officers responded and were able to take the suspect into custody as he attempted to leave the store. The suspect is homeless.
Assault with Deadly Weapon – Tongva Park. The victim was sleeping in the park when he woke up to pain in his leg. The victim inspected his leg and discovered a wound consistent with being stabbed with a knife. Officers responded and took a report to be forwarded to the Criminal Investigations Division for follow up.
All patrol watches continued to deploy a community engagement vehicle in and around Reed Park, Pavilion and American Motels, Palisades Park, Tongva Park, and the Lincoln corridor. The officers assigned to this detail walk the neighborhoods and streets and engage the community in dialogue. This is just one of many efforts made to improve public safety and being more connected to our community.

Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team

Department-wide Homeless Statistics

542 Homeless related CFS (19% of total) / YTD is 10,099 Homeless related CFS (16% of total)
25 Total Encampment CFS (691 YTD) -this does not include 311 calls regarding encampments.

HLP Team Statistics

80 - calls for service
26 - 311 requests handled
City Staff Generated 311
66 - Self-initiated activity
1 - Felony arrest
6 - Field interviews/advisal’s
10 - Citation
66 - Referrals to services
4 - Encampments addressed

Notable Events

On July 25^th, the HLP Team collaborated with the Salvation Army and Clare Matrix outreach teams. Several individuals engaged with the outreach teams and one individual followed up with the Salvation Army on 07/29/2024 and was provided transportation to a local shelter.

On 07/24/24, It was brought to the HLP Team’s attention that there was graffiti in Ishihara Park (2909 Exposition Blvd). A citizen noted that the graffiti had been seen around the park for several months. An unknown male subject had been seen hiding in the park foliage, however it was unknown if he was responsible for the crime. That afternoon, HLP officers conducted a walkthrough of the park and located a male subject in the foliage on the east end. The subject was ultimately issued a citation for placing objects in the park and provided officers with false identification. There have been no prior contacts with this individual.
On 07/25/24, HLP officers (along with Salvation Army and Claire Matrix) conducted another walk through of Ishihara Park. No individuals were contacted in the park at this time. Additional graffiti was located on the pillars in the middle of the park. This was documented in a police report and Graffiti Removal was advised. The HLP Team will continue to monitor the area.
On 07/25/24, HLP officers responded to an encampment call (1600 block Moomat Ahiko Way). Several subjects were contacted in a fenced area under the pier ramp. One of the subjects is a pregnant female in her 20s who frequents Tongva Park with her wife. Subject is working with Salvation Army and St. Joseph’s Center on housing placement and has a bed pending through the Harvest Home program. HLP Team will continue to work with her.

On 07/23/24, HLP team officers observed a male subject lying in a posted doorway in the 1500 block of 2^nd St. There were no previous contacts with this subject. Subject was advised of municipal code violations in the city. A check of the subject revealed he had a Los Angeles County warrant. Subject was arrested and later transported to County jail.

Direct Action Response Team (DART)

· Arrest of Child Annoying Suspect: Saturday at 2:11 pm DART Officers were patrolling the beach on MUV when they were flagged by a mother in the 1600 block of the beach regarding a male taking photographs of her 16-year-old daughter in her bathing suit. The suspect is an active sex registrant. He was in possession of multiple photographs of multiple underage females in their bathing suits. The suspect was arrested for Felony 647.6(c)(1) PC-Child annoyance under the age of 18 with prior conviction. He has a prior conviction for 288(a)1 PC -lewd and lascivious acts with a child.

· DART cleared 6 encampments on the beach.

· DART contacted a pedicab that was riding bike wrong way on the street with multiple passengers. The driver was cited for multiple vehicle code violations.

· DART conducted a consensual encounter with an individual at 1615 OFW. The subject had a warrant and was in possession of an identification card that was not his own. The subject was arrested for the warrant and misappropriation of lost property.

· DART was flagged down in 1600 block of the bike path regarding a theft in progress of two electric bikes. The subject was detained and arrested for attempted grand theft, possession of burglary tools, and possession of narcotics.

· DART located the suspect from a reported vandalism of the Pier Substation. The suspect was booked for felony vandalism.

· DART contacted a subject in 1500 blk Pal Park drinking in public. Subject arrested for No Bail parole warrant.

· DART responded to a call of a homeless subject brandishing a knife in the 2400 block of Ocean Front Walk. The victim, also homeless, reported to officers that he was walking in the area when the suspect brandished a large kitchen knife and swung it towards the victim. Officers arrested the suspect for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Community Affairs Unit (CAU)

Beat 1

Community Affairs Unit (CAU) staff received a complaint an on-going dispute between a business in the Downtown area and a local resident who lives nearby. The resident is requesting assistance in mediating issues related to loud music in the early morning hours. CAU members are working with both parties to ameliorate the issue.

Beat 2

The Beat 2 Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO) and Crime Prevention Coordinator (CPC) conducted a Neighborhood Watch Meeting for a multi-unit residential building on 20^th Street. Numerous complaints have been made about a subject setting up an encampment in a dirt area alongside Sinclair Gas Station in the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard. The Officer is working with city officials to determine ownership of the property and arrange for a long-term solution such as fencing or landscaping to keep others from camping in the same spot.

NROs, in conjunction with the HLP Team, conducted multiple foot checks of Ishihara Park to try and identify the source of antisemitic graffiti. No violations nor suspicious activity seen at location and numerous residents appreciated the presence. HLP team also working the encampment issue in the early morning hours.

NROs and CPCs attended a Neighborhood Watch Meeting at a multiunit residential building in the 1600 block of Lincoln Boulevard. One chronic complaint regarding a subject trespassing expressed by numerous tenants. Numerous options and resources provided to address subject and his actions.

Beat 3

Several residents of Beat 3 have voiced their concerns about the old Valentino’s restaurant at 3115 Pico Blvd. The location has been a source of chronic trespassers/squatters inside the building. The beat NRO spoke with the owner of the property who properly secured the building and filed a trespass letter.

The beat NRO continued periodic checks at 1200 block of Lincoln Blvd. regarding a medical building which is under construction. A trespass letter is on file and since the building has been fenced off due to construction, the homeless encampments have stopped.

NROs received a complaint of a vehicle parked in front of 1500 block of 16^th Street for several days without being moved. Traffic Services was notified, and the vehicle was subsequently cited and moved.

Beat 4

The Beat 4 NRO and CPC participated in a meeting with the Chief of Police, Command Staff, and the Santa Monica Protective Association. Topics included updates on SMPD operations, homelessness concerns, license plate readers, crime trends, and the status of the data portal. Discussions also touched on plans for the SMART Center.

CAU staff engaged with community members at the "Cops and Cones" event hosted at After's Ice Cream on Ocean Ave. and Colorado Ave. Discussions encompassed various topics, including the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan.

NRO Wang received notification from Lt. Aklufi regarding an individual residing in a vehicle on Ocean Avenue. The NRO visited the location, contacted the individual, and advised about parking violations.

Authored By

Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant