The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap April 6 - April 12, 2025

April 23, 2025 10:43 AM
by Lewis Gilmour

DEPARTMENT-WIDE STATS:

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT & EDUCATION (MOTORS)

Weekly Stats:

Office of Traffic Safety Grant Operations

The Traffic Enforcement Unit conducted periodic checks of locations where traffic complaints had been reported including San Vicente, SAMO High and Lincoln Blvd. A speed trailer has been deployed on Barnard Way to determine the validity of recent speeding complaints. 

PATROL

Stolen Vehicle/TC/Loaded Handgun - 4th and Pico Blvd  On April 10th, around 1045am SKY1 located a stolen vehicle at the gas station of 4th/Pico.  Officers attempted to contact the driver at which time the vehicle fled at high rate of speed (80MPH) south on 4th St. Officers did NOT pursue the vehicle. SKY1 continued to monitor and report the vehicle direction. The vehicle made a turn and ended up driving south on 3rd street and attempted to continue south into the intersection of Ocean Park when it struck a center median causing it to become airborne. The suspect struck another vehicle in the intersection at which point it came to rest against a cement pillar (private property) on the southwest corner of 3rd and OP. The driver fled the vehicle as SKY1 maintained observations. The suspect was taken into custody as highlighted in the NRO (Community Engagement Teat) recap. An article search recovered a loaded firearm hidden in a trashcan. Further investigation due to a spent shell casing located along the path he fled a follow-up investigation is being conducted. Detectives were later advised the vehicle was taken during an armed carjacking.

Residential Burglary Arrest 100 block of Frasier Ave Victims were home when they discovered they were just burglarized. Victim advised that a backpack, laptop, purse and other items were taken from residence. The victim tracked the property using an air-tag and notified PD. Officers located the suspect with stolen property at Centinela and Olympic Blvd in West Los Angeles. Surveillance footage confirmed the burglary. The suspect has prior arrests for burglary.   

ARSON (1747 Lincoln - Alley behind UHAUL) The suspect lit an item on fire and threw it into a dumpster. Officers arrived and contacted individual who admitted to the arson.

Officers conducted high-visibility patrol and community engagement at Reed Park to address drug use, municipal code violation and discourteous behavior. 

Firearm  Arrest– Lincoln / 10 Fwy Officers stopped an occupied vehicle for vehicle code violations. The driver was in possession of a loaded Glock 9mm with a 31-round magazine.  The driver was arrested for unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of a concealed firearm, and possession of a high-capacity magazine. 

Assault W Deadly Weapon / DV– 1900  block of Euclid  A radio call is received of unknown trouble. Dispatch report an open 911-line with a female screaming in the background. Officers arrive and locate the female victim inside her neighbor’s apartment bleeding from her head. The victim stated her husband struck her in the head with a crucifix and was still inside their unit. Announcements were made and the suspect exited and was taken into custody.

STRUCTURE FIRE – 1900 Block of Cloverfield Blvd SMPD responded to assist SMFD with a structure fire. Dispatch advised that a first-floor apartment unit was fully involved, and the resident was believed to be trapped inside. SMPD was first to arrive and unable to gain access to the involved unit due to the intensity of the flames.  Officers immediately began evacuating surrounding units.  SMFD arrived shortly after and was able to force entry and put out the fire.  SMFD was able to confirm that the unit was unoccupied, with the exception of several cats that died as a result of the fire.  The resident was located on-scene and advised that he had not been home at the time the fire started. It is unknown how the fire started.

Estes Robbery/H&S Violation – 1251 4th St. (TJ Maxx) Officers respond to a radio call of a robbery.  A crime broadcast was transmitted, and Officers located  a possible suspect at 2nd and Broadway. A field show up was conducted and suspect was positively identified. After a search of his person, fentanyl was located in his pocket. 

Parole violation/Muni code violation –600 Wilshire Blvd Officers observed a camping violation. Upon contact found the suspect was found to be in violation of his parole.

H&S Violation/Resisting arrest – 1600 4th St Officers were flagged down by a Metro employee regarding two subjects who were spitting at passersby. They contacted the subjects and one attempted to walk away. He was detained and once handcuffed he attempted to bite at the officer. Narcotics paraphernalia was located on his person incident to arrest. The second suspect was also detained and found to have an outstanding warrant with full extradition out of Pennsylvania. Both were arrested and transported to the jail.

SMPD Vandalism Warrant – 630 Wilshire Officers conducted a periodic check of 7-11, when they conducted a consensual encounter with the suspect who responding officers were familiar with. A records check was conducted and the suspect was found to have an outstanding SMPD warrant. 

$51k Warrant for Sex offense- 1500 alley 4 Officers contacted a subject in the 1500 block of alley 4. During the encounter, the suspect provided his identifying information. He had a warrant for his arrest for a sex crime violation and drug paraphernalia. He was booked and held in custody. 

Public Nudity/148PC - 1555 2nd St (McDonalds)  Multiple radio calls  were received of a nude subject in front of McDonalds. Officers located the  subject who was nude from the waist down. The suspect was arrested and a stay away order was requested.

Parole Violation/Narcotics sales – 120 Broadway  Officers respond to a radio call of a suicidal subject. Upon contact, the subject informed officers he was on parole. Officers conduct a search of the subject who was in possession of 17 baggies of methamphetamine. He was also in possession of another bag of narcotics for a total of 9.5 ounces. He was arrested and transported to the hospital.

DIRECTED ACTION RESPONSE (DART)

Weekly Stats:

NARCOTICS AND WARRANT ARRESTS

1200 block the beach Parole Violation / Narco ARREST Officers recognized the subject as a parolee from a prior arrest. Upon their approach, officers believe the parolee  hid narcotics in the sand. A records check revealed the subject was cited days prior by SMPD Officers under a false name did not reveal he was on parole. CDCR was contacted and a parole hold issued. 

2000 block the beach Narco / SMPD Warrant ARREST and Cite The subjects were contacted for public camping. One was in possession of crystal meth and meth pipe. The second had a $30,000 SMPD warrant for vandalism. One subject was arrested for a narcotics violations and another was cited in the field for the warrant. 

Main/Marine No Bail ADW Warrant ARREST Officers discovered the suspect had a NO BAIL San Bernardino warrant for Assault w/ Deadly Weapon. He also had warrants for Arson and Theft at $75,000 each. The suspect was booked on all three warrants. 

420 Broadway Parole Violation / Narco ARREST The suspect is on parole for robbery. He was in possession of 3.30 grams of meth. A parole hold was obtained. 

1700 block the beach ARREST The suspect was recognized from prior arrest. They were found to have a NO BAIL warrant and a PRCS Hold. The suspect was taken into custody.

1600 the beach Warrant ARREST The suspect was found to have a LAPD warrant for Assault w/ Deadly Weapon. He was arrested and transported to SMPD Jail. 

1500 block of the beach Parolee At Large Officers contacted the suspect for a muni code violation. The suspect was found to be on parole for arson. During a compliance check, the suspect became uncooperative and resisted officers but was ultimately arrested for resisting, public camping and the parole violation.

1500 block Pal Park SMPD Warrant ARREST The suspect had a $100,000 SMPD warrant for Grand Theft.

380 SM Pier No Bail Parole Violation ARREST The suspect was the subject of two radio calls, disturbing pier goers and possibly in possession of a knife. The suspect initially refused to stop for officers.  He had an outstanding NO BAIL PRCS warrant and was arrested for possession of meth, warrant, and resisting/delaying arrests. 

1900 block the beach SMPD Warrant ARREST The suspect was detained for tent on beach and found to have a $30,000 warrant for a public order crime and was in possession of crystal meth.

DART increased patrols in the area of Ocean Front Walk including north beach residential areas and south beach residential/business hotel corridors. 

CRIME IMPACT TEAM (CIT)

Weekly Stats:

CIT conducted a high visibility / crime suppression operations in the Pico Neighborhood, Wilshire Corridor (west end of city) and DTSM. Several park goers at Virginia Park contacted CIT officers on foot and stated they have noticed a decrease in criminal activity due to increase in police presence. The following was the activity:

Officers conducted a pedestrian stop in the 1400 block of Palisades Park for a municipal code violation. A want/ warrant check on the suspect  revealed an outstanding warrant for 594 and narcotic possession. Upon search, officers discovered the suspect to be in possession of meth.

Officers conducted a pedestrian stop on a known parolee in the 000 block of Bay. The suspect was cited for a drinking violation.

CIT has received information of narcotic activity occurring near the 1900 block of Pico Blvd. They observed two subjects in the alley using narcotics. Both subjects were detained. Suspect 1 was in possession of meth and marijuana for sale and Suspect 2 was in possession of meth. Suspect 2 was on probation and had a superseding prior which elevated the possession to a felony.

Officers conducted a pedestrian stop for a municipal code violation on 2nd St. and Wilshire. A want/ warrant check of the suspect revealed him to have a “no bail” felony warrant for a parole violation for assault and burglary. He was listed as armed and dangerous with violent tendencies. The suspect was taken into custody without incident. 

DART officers conducted a traffic stop in the 1500 block of 7th St., which resulted in a narcotic sales arrest and firearms arrests. 

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TEAM (CET)

NRO Tago and NRO Avila monitored a radio broadcast from UAS Drone Operator Officer Lashley who had observations of a stolen vehicle at the gas station at 4th Street and Pico Boulevard. Responding Officers attempted to stop the vehicle at the gas station, but the driver fled at a high rate of speed southbound on 4th Street. Due to the subject’s erratic driving, he was involved in a traffic collision at 3rd Street and Ocean Park Boulevard. The subject fled from the traffic collision on foot and was last seen running southbound on 2nd Street from Beach Street. NRO Tago and NRO Avila were first on scene where the subject was last seen. NRO Tago and NRO Avila observed the subject running in the rear of an apartment building and began to chase after him. Once in the rear of the apartment building, NRO Tago observed the subject throwing an unknown item into a trashcan. NRO Tago and NRO Avila ultimately took the subject into custody. NRO Tago discovered the item thrown in the trashcan was a semiautomatic handgun. It was discovered the stolen vehicle was taken in an armed carjacking in Carson. The subject pointed the firearm at the vehicle owner and took the vehicle.

NRO’s Tago, Avila and CPC Barreto and Aguilar met with the Honda Manager located on Santa Monica Blvd. The manager was advised of the catalytic converter etching program that SMPD provides to the residents. The manager was eager to assist the Community Engagement Team.

CPC Barreto facilitated the Community Academy which consisted of presentations from the Forensic lab and a presented on Gangs and Narcotics.

Beat 1 

NRO Hollowell placed increased focus on activity in Palisades Park, particularly near the top of the Pier ramp. A noticeable rise in street performers has led to repeated violations of the fire code, specifically regarding the obstruction of designated fire lanes. In response, NRO Hollowell has been conducting advisements to educate performers about the safety requirements and the importance of keeping fire lanes clear. Moving forward, periodic checks are planned to help reduce this behavior and ensure continued compliance with safety regulations. These efforts are part of a broader initiative to maintain a safe and accessible environment for all visitors and emergency responders in the area.

NRO Hollowell assisted patrol with multiple calls for service throughout the week. This included responding to several officer’s Code-3 requests and playing an active role in taking suspects into custody. These actions reflect a continued commitment to supporting patrol operations and ensuring the safety of the community and fellow officers are at the forefront.

CPC Barreto worked with City partners to ensure that Bay Cities was recognized for their 100th anniversary and coordinated with Captain Heric to put the owners in touch with the appropriate city staff.

CPC Barreto confirmed a new Pop-Up at the Main Street Farmer’s Market in June and also confirmed K9 Jack’s appearance for two upcoming events in April.

Beat 2

NRO’s Tago and Avila conducted follow up at Yale and Santa Monica Blvd regarding a transient public camping on the sidewalk. NRO’s Tago and Avila located the subject in question and provided him with resources for shelter and aid. The subject appreciated the NRO’s help.

NRO Avila and Tago responded to 11th Street and Cedar regarding a male subject public camping on the sidewalk. NRO Avila and Tago contacted the subject in question and provided him homeless resources to obtain shelter and aid. The subject appreciated the NRO’s assistance. Upon completion of the contact, a resident approached NRO’s Avila and Tago and claimed they were harassing the homeless subject. NRO Avila took the time to educate the resident and inform him that they were providing the subject resources for shelter. The resident understood the contact and walked away.

NRO’s Tago, Avila and CPC’s Aguilar and Barreto conducted a security assessment in the 1400 block of Franklin Street and a security assessment in the 1600 block of 9th Street.

Beat 3

NRO Tago and NRO Avila contacted a subject in violation of SMMC 4.08.095(a) - Public Camping in the 1300 block of Princeton Street. NRO Tago was notified by Day Watch patrol that the subject has been in the area for several months. NRO Tago contacted the subject and advised him that he was in violation of the Santa Monica Municipal Code. NRO identified the individual, provided him with resources and had him clean the encampment. NRO Tago will be collaborating with the HLP Team in addressing the situation if it continues.

NRO Tago and NRO Hollowell observed a large encampment near the train platform at 5th Street and Colorado Avenue. NRO Tago and NRO Hollowell contacted the individuals regarding SMMC violation for Public Camping. Each individual was advised of the SMMC violation, offered resources and gathered their personal property and left the area. Downtown Ambassadors were requested and arrived on scene to assist with trash and baskets left behind by the individuals.

NRO Tago and NRO Avila observed a subject in the 1600 block of Olympic Boulevard with a large tent. This was a violation of SMMC 4.08.095(a) - Public camping. NRO Tago attempted to engage the subject in conversation regarding the violation, but the subject was extremely upset and began yelling at the CET. NRO Tago was able to build slight rapport with the individual, ultimately resulting in him taking down his encampment and leaving the area.

NRO Tago and NRO Avila attended the Pico Neighborhood Association meeting. NRO Tago provided the group with crime stats from the month prior, and stressed the importance of contacting the Police Department when they observe a crime occur. NRO Tago and the Association will be planning an event at Virginia Park in the near future.

NRO Tago and NRO Avila assisted the Police Activities League with a tour with Crossroads 1st grade class. The Community Engagement Team provided the students with coloring books, stickers and crayons. NRO Tago joined in the fun and participated in a foot race with the students.

Beat 4

NRO Wang contacted the manager of of a retail establishment about trespassers on the roof. The manager told NRO Wang that juveniles tend to play on her roof and peak through the skyboxes while they work with clients. Officers detained the individuals and instructed them to leave. NRO Wang will be assessing the roof to find ways to secure it.

NRO Wang attended the Montana Merchants Association meeting on April 9th. He relayed crime stats and trends, and planning for the next community event.

NRO Wang attended the Northeast Neighbors meeting.

NRO Wang and CPC Aguilar contacted Kinecta Credit Union to drop off elderly scam prevention pamphlets.

CPC Aguilar and NRO Wang conducted outreach to several businesses along Wilshire Boulevard, sharing updated contact information and discussing current safety concerns and trends. Business owners appreciated the proactive engagement and were encouraged to reach out with any issues.

HOMELESS LIAISON TEAM (HLP)

Weekly Stats:

The HLP Team, in collaboration with the HOST Team, identified and removed the following abandoned encampments/property located near 2200 Michigan, 2600 Virginia and 2200 Delaware. 

On Tuesday, 4/8/25, HLP Team Officers in collaboration with the Salvation Army, placed an individual into shelter at Samoshel. With the help of the Salvation Army this individual recently gained employment at Barney’s in the city. His long-term plan is to get off the street, receive employment and eventually get his own apartment. 

On 04/11/25, HLP Team Officers contacted several subjects outside of Salvation Army, who were in violation of the posted doorway ordinance. A records check revealed one of the subjects had an outstanding SMPD warrant ($55K) for 417PC. He was subsequently arrested and booked in the jail. 

ANIMAL SERVICES

Weekly Stats: 79 Calls for Service

Notable adoption -  Dog #A054493.  A 13 years old, german shepherd, named “Sammy” who has been at the shelter since January 16, 2025, was happily adopted into a new lovable home this week.

Animal control continues to receive an influx of calls on the beach due to the toxic algal bloom and dogs on the beach.

HARBOR CONTROL

Weekly Stats:

Humane - 1500blk of the Beach HSOs responded for a sick adult sea lion. On scene HSOs called Marine Mammal Rescue.

Found Child – West End of Pier HSOs were flagged for a found 4 year old. HSOs walked child down pier and reunited with father 

Pier Jumper/Public Death HSOs were dispatched to a pier jumper. Sky1 (UAS, Drone) confirmed there was a person face down off the south side of the pier. HSOs paddled out on a rescue board to retrieve the individual. SMFD began CPR and ALS interventions on the beach. The patient was transported to SMUCLA where he was pronounced deceased.

5150/Arrest – 400 Blk of Santa Monica Pier HSOs responded to assist with possible injuries of a subject being held by pier patrons after brandishing a weapon. Officers arrived and took custody of subject who was taken to Exodus.

Additional Activities:

Periodic checks and high visibility patrols nightly on Ocean Front Walk to north and south city limits 

Assist with numerous sick sea lions, dolphins and birds that have been stranded due to illness. 

Pier Closure hours: HSOs continue to sweep and close the Pier down nightly. 

Continue to monitor vessels around pier and beach to comply with no boating areas.


Authored By

Lewis Gilmour
Lieutenant

Categories

Safety, Transparency