The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap September 7-13, 2024

September 16, 2024 11:34 AM
by Erika Aklufi

09/07/2024-09/13/2024

9/11 Memorial Service: In recognition of those who perished on that tragic day and the countless others who have died from cancer related to 9/11, the Police Department was honored to participate in the annual remembrance ceremony hosted by SMFD at Fire Station 1.

POLICE DEPARTMENT statistics for the week.

Total Calls for Service (CFS): 2,723. YTD (through 9/7): 89,972.
Source of calls:
- Citizen Initiated: 1,771 calls for service. 54,250 YTD (60% of total CFS).
- Officer Initiated: 952 calls for service. 35,722 YTD (40% of total CFS).
- Disposition for CFS: Homeless related = 17% YTD.
- Encampment Calls: 35. 1,122 YTD.
- 5150 Calls: 6. 459 YTD.
- Arrests: 46 total arrests. 1,927 YTD.

Patrol Operations Division - Notable Incidents

  Sexual Assault – 600 Block of Broadway. The victim and friends met a male friend for drinks. The male followed victim into restroom and sexually assaulted her.
·         Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 1500 Block of 4^th Street. A BBB bus driver recognized the suspect as problematic passenger. When the driver told the suspect to exit the bus, the suspect became agitated and swung his skateboard, missing the driver and shattering the bus door. Officers located the suspect and placed him under arrest.
·         Burglary / Indecent Exposure - 900 Block of 7^th Street. The victim was asleep in her second-floor apartment when she woke up to an intruder. The suspect exposed himself to the victim and was touching her leg. The suspect fled the location and was detained nearby. The suspect was arrested for burglary and felony indecent exposure.
·         Tongva Park - Parolee Arrest. While conducting a periodic check of Tongva Park, officers observed a subject in the children’s play area with narcotics paraphernalia in plain sight. Unable to identify the suspect based on the information he was providing, the officer arrested the suspect and ultimately learned he was on Post Release Community Supervision for robbery.
·         Assault with a Deadly Weapon - 1900 Block of the Beach. The SMPD received a 911 call of an assault with a firearm that just occurred. The reporting party told dispatchers his friend had been shot and the suspect was last seen running east. Officers located the victim and provided first aid until the Fire Department was on scene. Other officers detained several individuals fleeing the area, including the shooter. The suspect was still in possession of the firearm. He was arrested and booked for attempted murder. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
·         Trespassing / Resisting Arrest - 2400 Block of 16^th Street. A subject refused to leave private property when asked by staff. The subject again refused to leave when ordered by responding officers and was taken into custody for trespassing and resisting arrest.
·         Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrest - 000 Block of Bay Street. A suspect confronts the victim and insists that he leave the area. The victim ignores the suspect and a fight ensues. The suspect uses a small folding knife to stab the victim several times in the arm and leg. The victim transports himself to a local hospital for treatment of minor wounds. The suspect and weapon are later located by officers later and the suspect was arrested.
·         Municipal Code Violation / Resisting Arrest – 4^th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard. The suspect flees from officers on foot after they attempt to stop him for a municipal code violation. The suspect surrenders after a short foot pursuit and is taken into custody. He admitted to officers that he is wanted for a probation violation. He was also in possession of narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia.
·         Robbery - 1500 Block of the Beach. The suspect approached the victim, who is a vendor, and took several drinks from her cart, including a can of Coke. The victim struggled with the suspect over the drinks and the suspect pushed the victim, breaking the handle of her cart. The suspect flees with the can of Coke. Officers located the suspect and take him into custody.

·         Hit and Run - 1234 4^th Street (Structure #1). Officers responded to radio call of a Traffic Collision involving city property at Structure #1. The vehicle struck the exit pay machine and collided with the elevator. The driver of the vehicle fled the location prior to officers arriving on scene. Officers obtained a description of the driver, and she was located a block away from the accident. The subject was arrested for Driving Under the Influence.

Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team

HLP Team Stats

Homeless Calls for Service Count: 602 incidents.

104 - calls for service
30 - 311 requests handled
79 - Self-initiated activity

2 - Felony arrest
2 - Misdemeanor arrests
57 - Field interviews/advisals
9 - Citations
95 - Referrals to services
3 - 5150 holds completed
8 - Encampments addressed

Department of Mental Health (DMH)/HLP Clinician Stats

4 - Referrals to services through DMH
3 - 5150 evaluation s (3 holds)

Notable Incidents:

· In collaboration with The Salvation Army/Clare Matrix, SMPD HLP team conducted a successful outreach operation in Reed Park, Douglas Park, and on the 3^rd St Promenade. Several individuals were contacted and linked to service providers for housing, substance abuse treatment, and family reunification resources. One specific individual accepted transportation to Oklahoma through Project Homecoming. Another individual was admitted to Clare Matrix for substance abuse treatment.

· Throughout the week the “Sunrise” overtime detail was conducted along Ocean Front Walk by various sworn and professional staff. The focus of the detail is high-visibility and enforcement of encampment violations and addressing other quality of life issues. The weekly stats for the details are:

7 Warnings (4 consensual encounters, 3 municipal code violations)
1 Pedestrian Stop / Arrest
Multiple Period Checks on Ocean Front Walk
1 Periodic Check of Tongva Park
1 Radio Call (assist)

· HLP Team Officers along with their affiliated DMH clinician, connected long time resident of Step Up on Second who was recently displaced and back on the street. After a long conversation it was discovered that he was an Army Veteran. VMET was contacted on scene and his VA resources were confirmed. The individual was transported by the HLP team to the VA and he was given access to showers, new clothes, a legal team to help clear his warrants, and housing in their tiny homes.

· HLP Team Officers and DMH contacted a disabled subject in Douglas Park who has been a subject of several trespassing and loitering radio calls. Based on his inability to take care of his personal needs, fixation on residents/businesses, paranoia, and lack of insight/purpose, he was placed on a 5150 hold for Danger to Self/Others and transported to a hospital for further evaluation.

· HLP Team Officers were conducting periodic checks in DTSM, when they observed two individuals and a dog obstructing the sidewalk in the 300 block of Broadway in violation of the municipal code. Both subjects were detained, and a record check revealed one of the subjects to have a Full-Extradition Warrant for her arrest (Felony Identity Theft). She was transported to LA County Jail to await pickup from the agency that issued the warrant.

· HLP Team Officers responded to an Assault with a Deadly Weapon radio call at Samoshel. The comments of the call indicated two residents were in an active fight and one resident (who was the aggressor) armed herself with a flat head screwdriver, attempting to stab the other party involved. HLP Officers detained the female subject, and an arrest was made for 245PC. The female arrestee was booked and processed at SMPD Jail and later transported to LA County Jail.

· HLP Team Officers were patrolling in the 400 Block of Colorado Avenue when they observed a subject in violation of a Health and Safety Code near the Metro train platform. The subject was detained without incident and searched. The subject was ultimately arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

· HLP officers were the first units to respond to a check the status call of a subject who was down in the 1100 block of alley 6. The HLP officers determined the subject was deceased and the apparent victim of a homicide. The HLP officers were also instrumental in later identifying the victim and assisting in the follow up investigation.

DART- Directed Action Response Team

Code Enforcement:

· 190 Warnings (including 79 written)

SMPD:

· 3 Citations

· 22 Field Interviews

· 5 Arrests

· 8 Encampments Advised / Removed

Notable Incidents:

· Drunk in Public / Resisting Arrest - 1600 Blk of the Bike Path - DART Officers contacted two subjects for a municipal code violation and being drunk in public. During the contact, one of the suspects attempted to walk away. When the officers detained him, the suspect spit in the face of an officer. Both suspects were arrested and transported to jail.

· Disturbing the Peace – 1500 Block of the Beach. DART officers responded to a verbal dispute over vending locations. Upon concluding the investigation no crime was established and a Field Interview completed.

· Bike Stop / Warrant Arrest – Ocean Ave and Olympic Drive. DART conducted a bike stop of a subject on probation and in possession of narcotics. The suspect also had an LAPD warrant for Narcotic sales. The suspect, who was formerly unhoused in Santa Monica, was arrested and picked up by LAPD.

· Encampment / Warrant Arrest – 1500 Block of the Beach. Officers contacted the subject for an encampment. The subject would not identify himself. Using a fingerprint reader, officers found he had a No Bail parole warrant.

· Drug Possession / Warrant Arrest – 7^th Street and Colorado Ave. DART Officers contacted a subject who was in possession of a shopping cart. A criminal history check showed the subject had a SMPD warrant for possession of dangerous drugs. During a search of the subject, officers located methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

· Warrant Arrest – 1600 Block Ocean Front Walk. DART Officers assisted the Crime Impact Team with locating out of compliance sex registrants. During the operation, DART officers contacted 19 subjects in Tongva Park, on the beach, and Ocean Front Walk. One of the subjects who was in the 1600 block of Ocean Front Walk had a SMPD warrant for 647(A)PC - Lewd Conduct.

Crime Impact Team (CIT)

Weekly Stats:

· 10 -Traffic Stops

· 19 - Pedestrian Stops

· 12 - Bike Stops

· 5 - Felony Arrests

· 2 - Misdemeanor Arrests

· 2 - Citations

· 8 - Field Interviews

· 3 - Assists

Incidents of Note / Crime Reduction Efforts

· After receiving information of livability issues in and around Reed Park, CIT Officers patrolled Reed Park and the 1100-1300 blocks of Wilshire Blvd. The officers contacted several subjects, two on Parole and one a sex registrant. All three subjects were in compliance with their parole and registration requirements. They were interviewed and advise of minor violations.

· CIT officers, in collaboration with DART, conducted an operation looking for sex registrants currently out of compliance. CIT officers contacted a known sex registrant in near Main Street and Bay Street. The subject was in compliance with his registration requirements; however, he had a SMPD warrant for Assault and Battery. The subject was arrested for the warrant.

· During the same operation, CIT Officers contact a subject in the 1400 Block of Palisades Park for a municipal code violation. The subject was searched and found to be in possession of methamphetamine and a pipe. The subject was also on felony probation and a probation hold was granted.

· CIT officers conducted a consensual encounter of an individual and performed a criminal history check. The subject had an Assault with a Deadly Weapon warrant out of LAPD. He was taken into custody for the warrant and turned over to LAPD.

Community Affairs Unit (CAU)

Beat 1 – NRO Hollowell with CPC Lockwood

· NRO Hollowell met with Metro Transit Authority Personnel on the Platform at 4^th and Colorado. NRO Hollowell observed the "TAP to Exit" pilot program. Over the course of several visits throughout the week, NRO Hollowell engaged with Metro customers, Transit Service Officers, and Metro Fare Ambassadors to further the partnership with SMPD and the MTA. NRO Hollowell will continue this work for the coming months.

· NRO Hollowell completed and passed the Class B DMV testing for the class "B" driving permit. NRO Hollowell will be attending the Big Blue Bus driver’s training to obtain his class "B" Driver License soon. The purpose of this training will provide the needed instruction to operate the Department’s Command Post vehicle.

Beat 2 – NRO Navarro with CPC Barreto

· NRO Navarro attended the block party for the 2200 block of 26^th Street. Approximately 80 people attended the block party and patrol assisted with two patrol cars. NRO Navarro assisted as honorary judge of a baking contest. Announcement made to residents and pictures taken for social media.

· NRO Navarro conducted community safety presentation at Independent Living facility located on 10^th Street. Approximately twelve people attended the one-hour hour presentation. Numerous questions were answered, and several attendees expressed interested in joining an upcoming Community Academy.

· NRO Navarro and Galvan received request from Chief Batista to address large group at Virginia Park that is loud and stays after park closure. The group was located and appeared cooperative. They agreed to set up their picnic at an alternate location to it was not disruptive to local neighbors. NRO Navarro and Galvan returned to park to find the group had remained after park closure. They were cooperative and left the park without incident.

· NRO Navarro received information from a parent regarding potential narcotics sales at Santa Monica High School. The reporting party insisted on being anonymous and only reported information due to her trust of Officer Navarro who she has met at numerous Virginia Park presentations. The information was shared with School Resource Officer Angel who is familiar with subjects involved and is following up with the school.

· NRO Navarro received information regarding conflicts with freeway signage and street markings in the 1800 block of Cloverfield leading to I-10 freeway. NRO Navarro contacted the police liaison at Caltrans and was able to enter a work request for the resident. Follow up information to be provided to board members for the MidCity Community Group.

Beat 3 – NRO Galvan with CPC Barreto

· NRO Galvan, Navarro and CPC Barreto attended a community safety meeting on 10^th Street. General safety concerns were addressed, suggestions were given, and several questions were answered. The group was pleased with the presentation and would like presentations every 6 months.

· NRO Galvan received information from a resident regarding a neighbor who smokes in their apartment and on the balcony. The resident has been unsuccessful in contacting the management of the building. NRO Galvan connected with the management company who verified through the lease that the tenant cannot smoke in their apartment. A letter has been sent to the tenant and NRO Galvan will be following up with management and the tenant this week.

Beat 4 – NRO Wang with CPC Lockwood

· NRO Wang was contacted by a resident regarding a neighbor with overgrown hedges. The resident needed requested NRO Wang's assistance. NRO Wang contacted Code Enforcement and the problem has been resolved.

Authored By

Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant