The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap February 1-7 2024

February 11, 2025 9:35 AM
by Lewis Gilmour

 

Upcoming Event: Boba with Badges

We are excited to announce an upcoming event in partnership with Mr. T House! On February 19th, we invite the residents of Santa Monica to join us at Mr. T House to meet the officers who patrol their neighborhood. This is a wonderful opportunity to engage with the community, share valuable insights, and strengthen relationships.

The event will be held at 1709 Pico Blvd. from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. We encourage everyone to stop by, ask questions, and connect with the officers.

 

Department-wide Statistics

Total Calls for Service (CFS) 01/26-02/1:  2,151.  2025 Total:  9,855

 Source of calls:

Patrol Operations Division

Notable Incidents:

Grand Theft Auto - 33rd Street and Pico Boulevard. Officers located a stolen vehicle eastbound I-10 Fwy.  A high-risk vehicle stop was conducted at 33rd and Pico.  The driver, who was the sole occupant, was taken into custody without incident. The registered owner of the vehicle responded.  The homeless suspect is on parole for criminal threats and has numerous prior arrests. 

 

Vehicle Burglary / Parole Violation - 2500 block of  Santa Monica Boulevard.  The suspect was observed smashing the window of a parked car and stealing a wallet.  Witnesses followed the suspect until officers arrived and detained the individual.  The homeless suspect was taken into custody without incident.   

 

Sexual Battery - Clover Park.  The victim was in Clover Park when the suspect approached her and put his hand on her shoulder.  When the victim pulled away, the suspect grabbed the victim’s hand and forced her to touch his erect penis.  The victim was able to break the suspect’s grasp, and he left the area. A few days later, the victim saw the suspect again and was able to photograph his license plate.  The incident is under investigation. 

 

Traffic Stop / Warrant Arrest – Appian Way / Seaside Terrace.  Officers conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation. The driver was arrested for an outstanding $110K warrant for carjacking from Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. 

 

Assault / Elder Abuse – 1311 Wilshire Boulevard (Vons). The suspect and victim are strangers to one another.  The victim mistakenly reached into the suspect’s shopping cart for an item he thought was his and the suspect punched the victim in the face.  The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.  The suspect was taken into custody without incident.

 

Narcotics/Probation Violation/Warrant – 1400 Block of Palisades Park.  Officers conducting a periodic check contacted a subject sitting on a bench who admitted to having narcotics paraphernalia on his person. A methamphetamine pipe was located, and the subject was arrested.  At the station, the suspect was identified and found to have an outstanding warrant for Assault with a Deadly Weapon from LAPD.  The subject was also on probation and a hold was obtained.

 

Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 100 Block of Broadway.  Officers responded to a radio call of a subject who stated he was cut with a knife by another subject. Upon arrival, officers were told that the suspect ran into a subterranean garage in the 1500 Block of 2nd Street and locked himself inside a storage room. The suspect called dispatch who convinced him to come out. Officers detained the suspect and located the knife in his jacket pocket. A witness provided video of the incident that showed the victim and suspect in a verbal argument over the price of ranch dressing.  When the victim asked the suspect to leave, the suspect slashed the victim’s arm causing a small laceration.  The victim declined medics. 

 

Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 2400 Block of Ocean Park Boulevard (Alley).  The victim observed the suspect rummaging through trash cans and tossing trash on the ground in the alley behind the victim’s residence.  When the victim confronted the suspect, the suspect threw a glass wine bottle at the victim.  The victim retreats, grabs a bat from his home, and returns to the alley.  The suspect armed himself with a hammer and assaults the victim.  The victim strikes the suspect with the bat and the suspect retreated.  Officers located the suspect nearby and placed him under arrest.

Crime Impact Team (CIT)

WEEKLY STATS:

 

CRIME REDUCTION EFFORTS / SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS:

CIT conducted a livability operation which targeted Tongva Park, Reed Park and Palisades Park. The following was the activity:

Notable Incidents:

CIT officers contacted a subject in the 1200 Block of Palisades Park.  A want and warrant check listed him as a sex registrant out of compliance and on parole for assault w/ intent to commit rape. 

CIT officers observed a subject smoking crack cocaine in the 1500 Block of Palisades Park. The subject was subsequently arrested for felony possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Several area residents contacted CIT officers during a foot check of Reed Park and thanked the officers for patrolling the area.

CIT conducted a crime suppression/ intel operation in the Pico Neighborhood that resulted in the following activity:

CIT officers conducted foot patrols of Virginia Park during the evening hours.

CIT conducted a crime suppression operation in DTSM footprint that resulted in the following:

Incidents of note:

CIT officers conducted a pedestrian stop on in the 500 Block of Olympic Boulevard for a municipal code violation. A probation search was conducted. The subject was in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. A probation hold was granted. Additionally, due to the subject’s criminal history, the possession of controlled substance charge was booked as a felony.

CIT officers conducted a pedestrian stop in the 1200 Block of Palisades Park for a municipal code violation. The subject was found to have a No Bail warrant for his arrest

CIT assisted the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) with a search warrant of a subject who was possibly in possession of firearms and a potential threat to his workplace. CIT and plain clothes detectives conducted the detention of the subject while Robbery Homicide detectives served the warrant. On going investigation.

Directed Action Response Team (DART)

WEEKLY STATS:

Police Department

Code Enforcement

INCIDENTS OF NOTE:

 No Bail Warrant - 1500 Block of Palisades Park. Contacted S1 for smoking in park. S1 on PRCS for ADW. S1 had No Bail PRCS warrant. S1 arrested and transported to IRC.

Warrant Arrest - 1500 Block of Alley 4.  DART officers contacted a subject known to have an outstanding $51K SMPD warrant for narcotics.  The subject was arrested.

LAPD Felony Warrant - Appian Way and Arcadia Terrace.  DART officers contacted a subject who was parked illegally and had no license plates on her vehicle.  A records check came back with a $100,000 LAPD warrant for larceny and $20,000 LASO-Palmdale warrant for reckless driving. The subject was arrested and transported to LAPD-Pacific Division for booking.

Narcotics Arrest – 1700 Block of Ocean Front Walk.  DART officers contacted a subject known to them from multiple prior arrests. A want/warrant check of the subject revealed two SMPD warrants for narcotics and municipal code violations. During a search incident to arrest, officers located methamphetamine and a meth pipe in his possession. Because of multiple prior narcotics convictions, the subject was booked for felony possession of narcotics and paraphernalia.

Sex Registrant out of Compliance - 1500 Block of 5th Street. DART officers observed the subject fixing a bike next to a vehicle with expired registration. A records check of the vehicle showed it was associated with a subject that had been cited by SMPD officers previously for expired registration and for being an unlicensed driver. DART officers learned the suspect was a sex offender not in compliance.  The subject was arrested for the registration violation.

Possession of Methamphetamine - 1200 Block of Palisades Park.  DART officers observed a subject drinking alcohol in the park. A want/warrants check of the subject revealed a $51K SMPD warrant for trespassing. During a search incident to arrest, officers located crystal methamphetamine in his pocket.  The subject was arrested for the warrant and narcotics.

No Bail warrant / Drug Possession – 1500 Block of Alley 4.  DART officers conducted a consensual encounter with a subject who was on probation for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.  The subject was arrested for a No Bail probation warrant and for possession of a meth pipe. 

SMPD Narcotics Warrant - 1600 Block of Ocean Front Walk.  DART officers conduct a consensual encounter with a subject who had an outstanding $51K warrant for a narcotics violation.

Community Engagement Team (CET)

Beat 1 – Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO) Hollowell and Crime Prevention Coordinator (CPC) Barreto

This week, NRO Hollowell and members of the Downtown Services Unit (DSU) met with Target store representatives to discuss a strategic approach to reducing shrinkage and improving security measures, potentially reducing calls for service. During the meeting, it was determined that tracking and reporting efforts will need to be coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and DSU to ensure an effective response.

NRO Hollowell met with the Economic Development for a site visit regarding ongoing security concerns at the Apple building on Fifth Street, which is owned by the city. The location has experienced recurring issues with trespassers, prompting discussions on improving preventative measures to ensure continued safe operations.

Beat 2 – NRO Avila and CPC Barreto

NRO Avila and CPC Barreto met with members from the Ocean Park Association and the City Attorney’s Office via zoom, regarding the new “Santa Monica Bridge” rehabilitation program. The program will start in April 2025.

 

NRO Avila contacted a resident who had his vehicle burglarized.  NRO Avila provided the resident with current crime stats in the Beat 2 area. 

 

NROs Avila and Tago and CPC Barreto conducted a security assessment in the 3000 block of Pico Blvd.

 

NRO Avila was contacted by a resident regarding an ongoing disturbance involving a former tenant. NRO Avila has previously spoken to this resident and the property manager, regarding similar issues involving the former tenant returning to the property and causing disturbances. The resident advised NRO Avila that the property manager recently had the security locks changed, and new keys distributed to the current tenants. 

 

Beat 3 – NRO Tago with CPC Barreto

 

NRO Tago, NRO Hollowell, NRO Avila, NRO Wang and CPC Barreto attended Saint Anne Catholic School to take part in career day. The Community Engagement Team met and interacted with kindergarteners, 1st graders, and 2nd grade students. The team brought their plate carriers and helmets and allowed the children to try them on. Additionally, coloring books, canine trading cards and pens were given out to the children. The children were very excited and were very engaged with the team. NRO Tago met and introduced himself to the Saint Anne School staff.

 

NRO Tago, NRO Avila and CPC Barretto conducted a security assessment at a business in the 3100 block of Pico Boulevard. The business is a music studio that is dedicated to developing student music, performance, and creativity skills. The business owner was very excited for the assessment and happy to be introduced to NRO Tago. 

 

NRO Tago and NRO Avila responded to 1300 block of 12th Street to meet with a property owner who wanted to discuss an ongoing issue with one of her tenants who constantly sends her emails regarding issues at the property. 

 

Beat 4 – NRO Wang with CPC Barreto

 

NRO Wang attended the Montana Avenue Merchants Meeting where current crime trends and public safety were discussed. Also discussed were future event collaborations between the Police Department, Montana merchants, and the community.

 

NRO Wang visited St. Paul's Lutheran Church to address a recurring trespassing issue. The church agreed to remove the bench where the trespasser has been sitting. NRO Wang will continue to perform periodic checks in the early mornings. This has seemed to help alleviate the problem thus far.

 

A resident contacted NRO Wang about Waymo vehicles regularly parking in front of his home, expressing concern about the onboard cameras facing his windows. NRO Wang will contact Waymo.

 

NRO Wang responded to a report in the 1000 Block of Montana Avenue regarding an individual causing repeated disturbances in a courtyard area. Although the subject has not yet been identified or committed any crimes, NRO Wang will continue to monitor the situation at the request of the MAMA Board.

 

NRO Wang reached out to Traffic Engineering to understand plans for pedestrian traffic on Wilshire Boulevard, a concern raised by residents during the Northeast Neighbors community meeting

Harbor Patrol Unit


Weekly Statistics:

 

Notable Incidents:

 

Medical Aid – 1600 Block of Ocean Front Walk.  Harbor Services Officers (HSO) responded to a call of a male with a head injury.  Lifeguards were already on scene and transported the patient to their HQ to wait for paramedics.  

 

Medical Aid/Intoxicated Subject – Pacific Park- HSOs responded to the Pier restrooms for a female who was conscious but intoxicated and vomiting.  The HSOs monitored her until the Fire Department could assess her for transport.


Medical/Loss of Consciousness – Pier Substation.  HSOs responded to a request for medics from the Pier Detail for a victim of a battery who flagged the officers while at the Pier Substation.  The victim claimed he was punched several times approximately an hour prior and lost consciousness. He walked to the PSS to get help.  The individual did not wish to make a police report.  He was transported by the Fire Department to a local hospital for treatment.

 

Weather Event/Lightning - Santa Monica Pier.  HSOs observed lighting and thunder off the Pier.  The National Weather Service & USCG advised of isolated thunderstorms in the area.  The Watch Commander and dispatch were notified.  HSOs performed a patrol making announcements to visitors on the Pier.  The thunderstorm passed without incident.

 

Authored By

Lewis Gilmour
Lieutenant

Categories

Programs, Safety