The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap November 30 - December 6, 2024

December 9, 2024 2:14 PM
by Erika Aklufi

The Blue Notebook

November 30-December 6, 2024

 

PSF Holiday Tree Lighting: Leaders from the Santa Monica Community along with participants in the department’s Community Academy joined staff in celebrating the kickoff of the holiday season with the lighting of the PSF Holiday Tree.

Meals On Wheels: In furtherance of the Department’s commitment to working closely with our community partners, SMPD officers delivered meals to residents in need. For more than 50 years, Meals on Wheels has supported seniors through a network of local community-based programs. These providers serve as a lifeline to those struggling with food insecurity, nutrition challenges, mobility, loneliness and countless other difficulties of aging.

 

Department-wide Statistics

Total Calls for Service (CFS):  2,188.  YTD (through 11/30):  119,102

 Source of calls:

Patrol Operations Division

Notable Incidents:

Assault – 100 Block of Santa Monica Boulevard.  The homeless suspect got into a verbal dispute with the victim on the sidewalk in front of the victim’s workplace.  The argument escalated and the suspect threw multiple pieces of broken concrete at the victim.  There are no injuries.  The suspect was arrested.

 

Possession of Firearm – 100 Block of Olympic Boulevard.  Officers conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation.  During the contact the passenger was searched and found to be in possession of a loaded handgun in his waistband.  

 

Battery – 2900 Block of Wilshire Boulevard.  The victim was riding a scooter westbound on Wilshire Blvd, when the suspect, without provocation or warning, slapped the victim in the face. The assault caused the victim to fall off the scooter and drop their belongings. The victim ran to a nearby business for assistance.  Responding officers located and arrested the subject.  The victim suffered minor injuries.  

 

Public Death - 400 Block of Arizona Avenue.  Officers responded to a call of a person down at the bus stop at 4th and Arizona.  The reporting party, a BBB driver, observed the individual several times throughout the morning walking around near the bus stop and then later slumped over.  There were no signs of foul play.  The coroner responded. 

 

Overdose / Narcan use - 4th Street and Broadway.  A Public Service Officer (PSO) was flagged by passersby of a person down near the intersection.  The PSO and responding police officers found the individual unconscious, not breathing, and had no pulse.  One officer started chest compressions while the other administered multiple doses of Narcan.  The subject regained consciousness and was transported to the hospital by SMFD paramedics.

 

Traffic Stop / Weapons Violation – Main Street / Hollister Avenue.  Officers conducted a traffic stop for an equipment violation.  While contacting the driver, the officers observed a firearm the front passenger seat of the vehicle and discover it is loaded.  The driver was arrested.

 

Residential Burglary – 600 Block of 23rd Street.  Officers responded to a call of an audible burglary alarm and found a rear window smashed.  The homeowners, who were on vacation, were contacted and confirmed that property was stolen from an upstairs bedroom.

 

Threats / Brandishing (replica firearm) - 395 Santa Monica Place.  A Downtown Services Unit sergeant was flagged down by Nike Store employees who had just been threatened by several subjects, one of whom had a firearm.  Another officer located the suspects in the 1500 block of 4th Street and the replica firearm was found in a backpack.  One of the suspects arrests was on parole (hold granted).

 

Grand Theft - 395 Santa Monica Place.  Officers responding to a theft from Boss located in the mall located the suspects in the 500 block of Colorado Avenue.  The suspects were in possession of stolen property and found to be tourists from Latvia.


Warrant Arrest – 1500 Block of Palisades Park. Officers conducted a consensual encounter with a subject and found, through a records check, she had a $395K warrant for burglary out of LAPD Devonshire station. LAPD responded to the station for the suspect. 

 

Assault with a Deadly Weapon – 500 Block of Washington Avenue.  The suspect got into a physical altercation with his sister, striking her several time with a high-heeled shoe.  The victim sustained multiple lacerations and was transported to a hospital for treatment.

 

Parole Violation –700 Block of Olympic Boulevard.  Officers patrolling the area observed a subject they recognized from a stop earlier in the day.  The subject had provided a false name to officers; this was not discovered until much later.  Using the subject’s real name, officers learned the subject has a No Bail parole warrant and he was arrested.

 

Shots Fired – 1500 Block of 7th Street.  In the early morning hours, officers responded to a call of one shot being fired at the location.  Officers detained a subject who was standing next to a parked vehicle.   During their investigation, officers located a 9mm round on the sidewalk nearby. Area hospitals were contacted for any possible GSW victims.  None were located.  The subject was arrested for being under the influence of drugs and a firearm was located in the vehicle.

 

Sex Offender / Foot Pursuit - Ocean Avenue and Vicente Terrace.  An officer on patrol recognized a subject as being a sex offender out of compliance with his probation.  The officer was detaining the subject when the individual stood up and ran away.  After a short foot pursuit, the officer was able to stop the subject.  Additional responding officers assisted with handcuffing and transporting the subject to jail.

 

Strongarm Robbery – 1200 Block of Yale Street.  The victim arranged the sale of an Apple MacBook through Facebook Marketplace.  The victim met two suspects in a vehicle in a business parking lot.  One of the suspects exited the vehicle and grabbed the computer from the victim’s hands.  When the victim attempted to get the computer back, the suspect simulated a weapon and told the victim to back off.  The suspects flee northbound on Yale Street.

 

Hot Prowl- 1200 Block of Grant Street.  The suspect climbed over the victim’s wall and attempted to open a door. The victims were home and called police with a description of the subject.  Officers located the suspect nearby.

 

Residential burglary (package thefts) - 1000 Block of 12th Street.  A resident heard a suspect using a pry tool to force open the front door of their apartment complex.  They watched as a female fled the location carrying 5 to 6 packages to a waiting silver hatchback.   

 

Elder Abuse- 1547 2nd St (McDonalds) - Elder Abuse.  Two male and two female juveniles who reside at group homes in Los Angeles, were causing a disturbance at McDonalds. A security guard escorted them off the premises and the youth became combative, swinging at the guard.  An elderly victim attempted to intervene and was punched in the head, falling to the ground.  All the subjects were detained. Surveillance video corroborated the victim’s statement and the subject who punched him was arrested for elder abuse.  The other children were released back to their respective group homes.

 

Crime Impact Team (CIT)

WEEKLY STATS:

Special Deployments:

CIT conducted a livability operation in the 1700 to 2900 blocks of Ocean Front Walk (OFW) and 00 Blk of Bay Street with the following results:

Incidents of note:

Officers observed a known parolee drinking in public in the 2400 block of Ocean Front Walk. Witnesses in the area stated the subject was making sexual comments toward female passersby. Parole was contacted and a hold was granted. A stay away order was requested.

Officers contacted a subject in the 1600 block of Ocean Front Walk for a municipal code violation. The subject was a sex registrant in compliance.  A Field Interview was completed.

Officers stopped a pedestrian under the Pier in violation of the municipal code.  The subject was a parolee at large.

CIT conduced a crime suppression operation in the Wilshire Corridor that resulted in the following:

Incident of note:

Officers contacted a subject in the 1200 block of Lincoln Blvd for trespassing and found he had a stay away order from the area. During a search, officers recovered Methamphetamine, Fentanyl, and a meth pipe.

CIT conducted a crime suppression operation in the 400 to 1100 blocks of Pico Blvd. and the following was the results:

Incident of note:

Officers conducted a traffic stop at 4th Street and Pico Boulevard for an equipment violation. The vehicle was occupied by four subjects from Riverside. The driver was unlicensed. Consent search was conducted but no contraband located. The driver was cited for not having a license and the passengers were interviewed.

Directed Action Response Team (DART)

Black Friday: DART was assigned as monitors for two demonstrations, one on the 3rd Street Promenade and the other in Tongva Park.

WEEKLY STATS:

Police Department

Code Enforcement

 Notable Incidents:

DART Officers observed known subject with multiple SMPD warrants in the 1700 block of Ocean Avenue.

DART Officers contacted a subject in a consensual encounter. The subject was arrested for No Bail Warrant (full extradition) out of Missouri.

DART Officers contacted subject at Douglas Park and arrested him for outstanding SMPD warrants.

DART officers contacted a subject with an open container of alcohol and drug paraphernalia in plain sight in the 900 block of the beach. The subject was issued a citation for both violations.

Officers responded to a radio call of a subject masturbating in near Beach Restroom 24. The reporting party did not want prosecution.  A Field Interview was completed.

Officers contacted two individuals in encampments in the 2000 block of the Beach. The first subject had no warrants or wants, and a homeless services resource card was provided.  The second subject has been contacted multiple times in the past five months regarding camping violations and was arrested.  Drug paraphernalia and methamphetamine were located inside his tent.

Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) Team

HLP Team Stats

DMH/HLP Clinician Stats

Special Details

Members of the HLP Team and patrol officers conducted overtime operations in hotspots along Ocean Front Walk, 3rd St Promenade, the Beach, business corridors, and city parks.

 

The operations resulted in the following: periodic checks of 3rd St Promenade, Ocean Front Walk, all main parks city-wide and parking structures (1,2,4,5,6,7,8 and Ken Edwards Center), and 630 Wilshire Blvd; multiple written/verbal warnings (pedestrians blocking the roadway, public camping, smoking in a park, park closure hours); one field interview and six consensual encounters.


HLP Officers have been working with a homeless individual who has been in and out of the city for over 15 years. After getting to know him better, HLP officers felt he would be a good fit for SAMOSHEL placement. HLP conferred with its partners in the city’s Human Services Division (HSD) and SAMOSHEL and concluded he would be referred for placement in the shelter.

The 2000 Block of Broadway has become a consistent location for camping and 311 requests. Working in collaboration with Public Works’ Homeless Outreach Service Team (HOST), the area was cleared and cleaned. Response times by HOST are impressive and appreciated.

HLP Officers responded to Tongva Park regarding an encampment growing on the second level. The subjects were advised, and the area was cleared.

HLP officers, at the request of Saint Monica’s Church security staff, provided high visibility periodic checks during their annual homeless dinner. Well over 100 homeless individuals attended the event and were given Thanksgiving dinner by the church. Several city homeless service providers and outreach teams were also on hand to connect with the homeless.

Community Affairs Unit (CAU)

Community Academy week #8 – No Class (Thanksgiving holiday)

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

NROs Hollowell, Wang and CPC Barreto recently engaged with a kindergarten and first-grade class at the Sycamore School to share insights about the role of a police officer. NRO Hollowell read a children's book about the Police Department. The students expressed their appreciation by offering cookies, which created a heartwarming moment.  CPC Barreto shared the experience on Instagram and the post garnered over 12K views and 500 likes, highlighting the community's support for these outreach efforts. 

Beat 2 – NRO Navarro with CPC Barreto

NRO Navarro collaborated with SMC Building and Maintenance to install fencing at 19th Court and Pico Boulevard.  There were continuous complaints made by residents regarding encampments and subjects loitering for numerous years.   A Neighborhood Watch meeting was conducted and NRO Navarro notified the tenants that he would make the request for the fencing.  As of last week, the fencing was in place and there have been no additional complaints from Pico merchants or area residents.  

 

NRO Navarro spoke with a resident regarding recent events on 6th Street.   The resident requested a Neighborhood Watch Meeting in December to discuss recent events and address appropriate community reporting.   NRO Navarro and Officer Avila conducted day and evening checks of the area.  

 

NRO Navarro conducted periodic checks of the 200 block of Pico Boulevard during evening hours to address any homelessness issues in the demolition area.  Nobody was located and the perimeter fence was intact.   

 

NRO Navarro attended C-Watch roll call and shared information regarding NRO actions in the Beat 2 and Beat 3 areas.   He also answered officers’ questions about trespassing enforcement. 

 

Residents complained of homeless individuals sleeping in the parking lot of a business in the 2300 Block of Pico Boulevard.   NRO Navarro conducted an evening check, and no encampments, transients, or belongings were located.  

 

Upcoming Neighborhood Watch meeting in the 2200 block of 5th Street.   Day and evening checks conducted and no subjects living out of a vehicle located. 

 

Beat 3 – NRO Galvan with CPC Barreto

NRO Galvan attended the Virginia Avenue Park monthly meeting to provide statistics and answer questions.

 

NRO Galvan received several emails and phone calls regarding the property on 26th Street that is in very poor condition, with overgrown vegetation and food being stored outside causing a rodent infestation. Code Enforcement has a case already open on the property and there will be a meeting with police, fire, Code Enforcement, the Department of Mental Health, and Adult Protective Services to collectively address the issues.  Officer Tago has been assisting with overnight periodic checks.

 

NRO Galvan received a 311 request regarding a vacant property in the 1500 block of Lincoln Boulevard. Homeless individuals and bicycle parts were seen in the lot by a resident. The property has a Trespass Letter and NRO Galvan attempted to enter the property; however, the combination lock has been changed. NRO Galvan has contacted property management and is waiting for the new combination to access the property.  Officer Tago has been assisting with overnight periodic checks.

 

Beat 4 – NRO Wang with CPC Barreto

 

NRO Wang received a call from a resident about a chronic reckless driver in the Beat 2 area. The resident reported that the vehicle had been observed multiple times speeding, running stop signs, and nearly colliding with pedestrians and bicyclists. NRO Wang obtained the vehicle's license plate number, DMV information, and the registered owner's phone number. Attempts to contact the registered owner by phone were unsuccessful.  Additional attempts will be made.

 

The manager of a business on Montana Avenue contacted NRO Wang regarding a grand theft incident. NRO Wang coordinated with a patrol officer to investigate and file a crime report. Additionally, NRO Wang plans to conduct periodic checks of the business.

 

NRO Wang conducted foot patrols in the 700–900 blocks of Montana Avenue.

 

A resident reached out to the department about a person living in a vehicle parked in the 900 block of 23rd Street. NRO Wang followed up, confirming that the vehicle was registered to an address in the neighborhood, and no one was inside.

 

NRO Wang attended B-Watch roll call to discuss ongoing issues in Beat 4 and throughout the city.

Harbor Patrol Unit

 

Notable Incidents:

 

Check the Status/Fire Department Assist. Harbor Services Officers (HSOs) responded to 301 Santa Monica Pier (Bubba Gump's) with SMFD Engine 7 for a smoke alarm activation.  No fire or smoke were found at the location.  The alarm was tripped due to a water leaking into the smoke detector in the manager’s office.  SMFD E7 silenced the alarm and left a voice message with the responsible party on file. 

Possible Pier Jumper/Check the Status. HSOs received a phone call from LA County Lifeguards that a person was outside the railing on a lower fishing deck on the west end of the Santa Monica Pier.  When HSOs arrived on scene, they recognized the subject from prior contacts as a homeless individual with a history of pier jumping (a violation of the municipal code).  The subject complied with a request to leave the Pier.

Vehicle in Water – Marina del Rey.  HSOs monitored radio traffic of a reported vehicle in the water at G-Basin in Marina Del Rey and responded on Monica 1.  Del Rey Sheriff Deputies arrived on scene first and were able to confirm that there were two occupants in the vehicle and that both were able to safely self-extricate and were on land.  When HSOs arrived on scene, they checked in with the Incident Commander to see if their assistance was needed either with Monica 1 or with adding an additional diver.  The Incident Commander said they were going to form a plan to raise the car but that they thought they had enough divers to complete the task and HSOs could clear. 

Medical Aid. HSOs were on patrol when they observed and assisted LA County Lifeguards with a patient who stated he wanted to overdose on drugs and complained of abdominal pain.  HSOs assessed the patient and gathered patient info, while Lifeguards gathered vital signs.  SMFD Paramedics arrived and patient care was transferred.

Structure Fire.  HSOs responded to an officer request for additional units to assist with a fully engulfed apartment fire in the 1600 Block of Appian Way.  HSOs arrived shortly thereafter, prior to SMFD arrival.  Heavy fire was showing from two windows of the unit and threatening to spread to additional units.  HSOs used a fire extinguisher to try to prevent spread and assisted with attempting to notify adjacent units.  SMFD Engine 7 arrived shortly after, and HSOs advised that there weren’t reports of anyone trapped inside.  The structure may have been a vacant unit with unknown circumstances regarding the cause.

 

Encampments. HSOs were on patrol on the north side of the Pier and observed two tents near Tower 14.  HSOs made contact and advised the subjects about the municipal code violations.

 

Critical missing.  HSOs were dispatched to a Critical Missing juvenile with special needs who was last seen near the 100 block of Pico and near the beach.  HSOs checked the area and the beach for an extended period. The subject was located two hours later in Malibu by LA County Sheriff deputies.

Authored By

Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant

Categories

Safety