The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap January 25-31, 2025

February 4, 2025 10:32 AM
by Erika Aklufi

January 25-January 31, 2025

Apple Building Operation: On Tuesday, an operation spearheaded by the HLP Team was conducted with the support of the Crime Impact Team, Community Engagement Team, Directed Action Response Team, the Motor Unit, and Jail staff.  The group cleared the large commercial building located at 1632 5th Street and arrested multiple trespassers.

City staff arrived on scene immediately after the search was completed and secured the building. Significant damage was found throughout, including broken doors, windows, holes in the drywall, and biological hazards.

In total, 12 individuals were arrested:

 Department-wide Statistics

Total Calls for Service (CFS) 01/19-01/25:  2,133.  2025 Total:  7,704

 Source of calls:

Patrol Operations Division

Notable Incidents:

Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 500 Block of Olympic Blvd. The suspect argued with a victim and threw a glass bottle at him as he walked away.  The suspect then turned on a second victim who was seated nearby and threw some of her belongings into a trash can.  When the second victim attempted to safeguard her remaining belongings, the suspect struck her several times with a metal pole.  Responding officers arrested the suspect.

 

Traffic Collision with Injuries - 1900 Block of 14th Street.  A 12-year-old pedestrian was crossing 14th Street when she was struck be a vehicle traveling northbound.  The youth sustained a head injury and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.  The driver remained on the scene for the investigation.  No impairment was involved. 

 

Vehicle Burglary – 2500 Block of La Mesa Drive.  The victim, a contractor working in the area, traveled to a from a bank in West Los Angeles.  The victim left cash in the center console of the vehicle.  A suspect was seen breaking the passenger window, stealing the money, and fleeing the area in a vehicle.  The incident is under investigation.

 

Domestic Violence – 1600 Block of Ocean Avenue.  The victim and suspect are in a dating relationship.  Following an argument, the victim tried to walk away.  The suspect grabbed the victim from behind and pulled him to the ground.  The victim sustained minor injuries.  A witness was able to positively identify the suspect and provide video of the incident.

 

Kidnapping – 200 Block of Broadway.  The reporting party, a city employee, was flagged down by an individual who appeared to be a minor who told the employee an adult was following her and was a pimp. While speaking with the employee, the suspect approached the victim and forcibly led her away.  Officers contacted the involved parties and determined the victim is an adult.  The victim told officers, the suspect repeatedly assaulted her and forced her to have sex for money on Figueroa Street in Los Angeles.  The suspect was arrested for kidnapping (for the Santa Monica incident) and LAPD was contacted about possible human trafficking. 

 

Pedestrian Stop – Appian Way and Arcadia Terrace.  Officers working Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team overtime contacted a pedestrian in possession of a shopping cart.  A want and warrant check determined the subject has a No Bail warrant for burglary out of Fresno County.  

 Crime Impact Team (CIT)

 

WEEKLY STATS:

CRIME REDUCTION EFFORTS / SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS:

CIT, DART and Special Policing Unit (SPU) officers conducted a livability operation in the area of Ocean Front Walk and the beach that resulted in the following:

Incidents of note:

Officers stopped an individual for smoking in the 2000 Block of the Beach who is known for thefts committed in and around the hotels on Ocean Front Walk. The individual was in violation of the terms of his parole and his parole agent issued a hold. 

CIT officers observed a subject at the corner of Main Street and Bay Street.  This individual is known to be on felony parole for narcotics. The subject was contacted and was found to have a $100K warrant for narcotics sales out of LAPD.

DART officers stopped a subject in the 1100 Block of the Beach for a municipal code violation. A want/warrant check revealed a $51K Santa Monica warrant for assault.

DART officers stopped a subject in the 1700 Block of the Beach for a municipal code violation. A want/warrant check revealed the subject had a $51K Santa Monica warrant.

CIT conducted a crime suppression operation focusing on Tongva Park, Reed Park, 7-11, and surrounding areas that resulted in the following:

Incidents of note:

Warrant arrest – The subject of a pedestrian stop was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and $153K of Santa Monica warrants for narcotics violations. 

Warrant arrest – The subject of a pedestrian stop was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and $75K of Santa Monica warrants for narcotics violations.

CIT conducted a crime suppression/intelligence gathering operation in the Pico Neighborhood that resulted in the following:

Incidents of note:

Criminal Threats / Gang Enhancement Case.  CIT officers located the juvenile suspect in a criminal threats case.  The juvenile was issued a citation and released to his guardian.  This is part of an ongoing investigation.

Follow-up: Shooting Investigation (1800 Block of Michigan Ave). CIT officers reviewed reports and surveillance video and identified a possible suspect vehicle.  The handling detective was notified, and it was discovered the vehicle was recently towed in Los Angeles. The investigation is ongoing.

Directed Action Response Team (DART)

WEEKLY STATS:

Police Department

Code Enforcement

Incidents of note: 

Warrant Arrest- 1600 Block of Ocean Front Walk.   Officers stopped a subject known to have three outstanding SMPD warrants for narcotics violations ($75K each).  He also had a $75K SMPD warrant for possession of stolen property, and a $60K warrant for possession of methamphetamine out of LAPD.

Sex Offender Registration Arrest – 1200 Block of 3rd Street. The subject is known to be a High-Risk Sex Offender and out of compliance. The subject, who has more than ten prior violations of his probation, was arrested.

Sex Offender Registration Arrest -1600 Block of Ocean Front Walk.  Officers contacted a subject for smoking near an open business.  Officers learned the subject is a sex registrant who is out of compliance.  The subject was arrested for failing to register.

Narcotics Arrest – 1500 Block of the Beach (Tower 1550).  Officers observed a subject acting erratically on the beach.  The subject is known to officers as a Riverside County probationer (felony assault).  The subject was in possession of a methamphetamine pipe. 

Parolee Arrest – 1400 Block of the Beach.  Officers contacted an individual in a tent on the beach.  The subject was a Parolee at Large.  He was arrested for a No Bail parole warrant, drug paraphernalia, and having a tent on the beach. 

Public Nudity – 1100 Block of the Beach.  A nude subject was showering at the public showers in the nude.  He was issued a citation and released.

Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team

HLP Team Stats

DMH/HLP Clinician Stats

 

Special Details

Weekend monthly HLP overtime detail operations addressed Ocean Front Walk, the beach, and downtown park. The operations resulted in dozens of periodic checks, 9 advisals, and a traffic stop.

Notable Incidents

HLP Team officers contacted a male subject in the 1800 block of alley 8 regarding an encampment. C.B. was new to the city of Santa Monica and informed the officers he struggled with substance abuse. HLP officers along with DMH connected them with a rehabilitation program in West Hollywood.

HLP Team officers contacted a male subject in the 1800 block of Colorado Ave (Expo line bike path) regarding an encampment. He is known to the HLP Team and has been contacted (advised and cited) on numerous occasions in violation of public camping. A records check revealed he had an outstanding SMPD warrant ($51,000) for public camping. He was in possession of a methamphetamine pipe. He was ultimately arrested and booked in violation of the outstanding warrant, public camping and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Community Engagement Team (CET)

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

This week, NRO Hollowell addressed a critical issue identified at the Broadway Target location, which has been experiencing an extremely high call volume. To tackle this, NRO Hollowell collaborated with Downtown Services Unit (DSU) supervision to develop a strategic approach aimed at reducing these calls. NRO Hollowell scheduled a meeting with Target representatives, the Community Engagement Team, DSU Supervision, and the City Attorney to discuss key topics, including store policies, prosecution strategies for repeat offenders, and how to effectively address the recurring issues. During the meeting, NRO Hollowell shared the Chief’s goals for crime reduction and explored how to partner together to implement a comprehensive plan of action.

Due to ongoing issues on Ocean Avenue, NRO Hollowell conducted focused foot patrols on Ocean Avenue and in Palisades Park to connect with local business managers and owners. These efforts aimed to strengthen relationships, gather community insights, and ensure a visible presence to enhance public safety and address concerns effectively.

Beat 2 – NRO Avila and CPC Barreto

NRO Avila was contacted by a resident regarding a disruptive individual who previously resided at the location. NRO Avila met with the resident and contacted the property manager due to the tenants’ complaints being ignored.

 

NRO Avila was contacted by a resident in Beat 2 requesting extra patrols due to her house being tented for fumigation. NRO Avila facilitated the periodic checks.

 

NRO Avila was contacted by a resident who was seeking advice regarding neighbors who were dumping trash in his rear yard. NRO Avila assisted the resident by providing him advice as well as information about utilizing the 311 system.

 

Beat 3 – NRO Tago with CPC Barreto

NRO Tago spoke with a resident who uploaded a video of an unknown adult and a juvenile manipulating what appeared to be a pellet gun in the alley to the rear of the property. The adult pointed the gun down the alley and showed the juvenile how to hold it. The subject then proceeded to urinate in the corner near the reporting party’s garage. The two left the area in a silver Jaguar (unknown plate) out of sight. NRO Tago spoke with the reporting party who stated he did not call 911 due to not believing it was an emergency. NRO Tago explained the process of calling 911 and provided resources regarding the non-emergency line. NRO Tago conducted a periodic check of the alley and surrounding area with red and blue lights activated. Officer Tago spoke with C-Watch personnel assigned to Beat 3 who conducted periodic checks during the night.

 

CPC Barreto, NRO Avila and NRO Tago assisted with a security assessment at Good Body Pilates (3229 Pico Boulevard).

 

The Community Engagement Team and Chief Batista met with the staff from Virginia Avenue Park (VAP). VAP staff provided the department with a thank you basket full of snacks and the VAP youth sent a video thanking the Officers their hard work during the recent fire emergency.

 

CPC Barreto and NRO Tago attended the Pico Neighborhood Association Zoom meeting. NRO Tago introduced himself to the group and discussed certain incidents that occurred in the area. A topic of discussion was homelessness and resources that are available. NRO Tago discussed with the group the difference between the nonemergent and emergency lines.

 

NRO Tago, NRO Avila, NRO Wang, and NRO Hollowell responded to the 1900 Block of 18th Street to assist Code Enforcement with illegal trash dumping. Surrounding apartment complexes have placed numerous complaints to Code enforcement on the mentioned property. The Community Engagement Team developed a plan with Code Enforcement and RRR (Resource Recovery & Recycling) to address the illegal dumping. It was discovered multiple complexes were placing their trash carts to the rear of the mentioned property. RRR is in the process of moving the carts back to their correct locations and Code Enforcement will be sending messages out to those complexes to leave the trash carts on their own property. NRO Tago met and exchanged information with the supervisor of RRR (Yvonne Yeung) and supervisor of Code Enforcement (Maurice Cochee).

 

Beat 4 – NRO Wang with CPC Barreto

 

NRO Wang was contacted by a resident regarding a suspicious vehicle that has been parked in front of her residence for several days. NRO Wang went to the area to check for the vehicle; however, it was not there. NRO Wang was able to obtain the license plate from the resident and conducted a check for wants and warrants. The vehicle did not have any wants or warrants, and the registration was current. NRO Wang reached out to Traffic Enforcement to seek clarity of parking enforcement. Currently, there is no parking enforcement due to the state emergency order. NRO Wang informed the resident of this.

 

NRO Wang and CPC Barreto went to a residence  for a security assessment. NRO Wang and the resident had previous conversations about crime, quality of life, and the overall state of the city. This security assessment was one of the suggestions made by NRO Wang.

 

NRO Wang spoke to HLP Team Sgt. Jaen regarding an ongoing issue at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. A female subject continues to sleep on their property and keeps returning.

 

CPC Barreto

CPC Barreto conducted a security assessment at Good Body Pilates with Officers Tago and Avila, the assessment is part of the Pico Grant Matching program.

 

CPC Barreto assisted new NROs Tago and Avila in understanding each community group and their meetings and helped them get familiarized with Zoom meetings.

 

CPC Barreto attended the monthly Mid-City meeting with Officers Tago and Avila, where several concerns regarding County policies post Palisades Fire were addressed. After the meeting they attended a neighborhood watch meeting with the block on 1300 Grant Street and Officer Navarro introduced Officer Avila as their new NRO.  CPC Barreto followed-up on Grant Street concerns and looped in Code Enforcement and SMFD Fire Prevention to help address their concerns.

 

CPC Barreto conducted a security assessment in Beat 4 with Officer Wang.

 

CPC Barreto later attended the Pico Neighborhood Association meeting with Officer Tago.

Harbor Patrol Unit

 

Weekly Statistics:

Notable Incidents:

 

Medical Aid - West End Restrooms.  HSOs responded to a call for assistance for a pregnant woman who was feeling weak and dizzy.  They assessed the patent and then transported her to the care of paramedics.

 

Disturbance/Trespassing - 301 Santa Monica Pier.  HSOs responded to Bubba Gump’s restaurant for a male who was disturbing patrons.  Responding police officers were able to escort the individual away from the location without incident.

 

Municipal Code/Performer - 300 Block of the Pier.  HSOs responded to a radio call for an unpermitted performer near Pier Burger. The reporting party, another performer, and the unpermitted performer were arguing; the HSO was able to successfully deescalate the conflict and advise the unpermitted performer about obtaining a permit.

 

Medical Aid/Sick Person - Ocean and Colorado.  HSOs were conducting Pier closures when a medical was broadcasted at the NE corner of Ocean and Colorado. HSOs contacted the patient, assessed, and transferred care to paramedics. 

 

 

 

 

Authored By

Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant

Categories

Programs, Safety