The Blue Notebook - A Weekly SMPD Recap November 9-November 15, 2024

November 19, 2024 9:05 AM
by Erika Aklufi

Records & Support Staff Appreciation Week: This week we’re celebrating our amazing Records Personnel, Administrative Professionals, and Support Staff. Behind the scenes, these pros keep the Department running smoothly, supporting our Command Staff, Patrol Officers and each other!
Pastor Mossett’s Pastoral Anniversary: Chief Batista was honored to attend the 6^th Pastoral Anniversary Brunch celebrating Pastor Lemuel Mossett at Calvary Baptist Church. Chief expressed gratitude for Calvary’s ongoing partnership with the department.
Swearing-In, Promotions & Award Ceremony: A day of celebration and recognition! On Wednesday, November 13^th we proudly welcomed two new officers, Deyanira Valenzuela and Darrell Mitchell to the team and celebrated a well-deserved promotion of Lead Harbor Officer Camp to Supervisor.
We also honored Officers Pike and Dilworth with the Medal of Merit for their exceptional work in locating and rescuing a three-year-old kidnap victim.

Department-wide Statistics

Total Calls for Service (CFS): 2,334. YTD (through 11/09): 112,521

Source of calls:

Citizen Initiated: 1,325 calls for service. 67,828 YTD (60% of total CFS).
Officer Initiated: 1,009 calls for service. 44,693 YTD (40% of total CFS).
Disposition for CFS: Homeless related = 18% YTD.
Encampment Calls: 28. 1,469 YTD.
5150 Calls: 16. 595 YTD.
Arrests: 41 total arrests. 2,414 YTD.

Patrol Operations Division

Notable Incidents:

Criminal Threats / Hate Crime (anti-Black) - 4th Street and Broadway. The victim was walking eastbound on Broadway when she was approached by the suspect who appeared intoxicated. When he was about three to five feet from the victim, the subject lifted a glass bottle in his hand and yelled racial epithets at the victim. Fearing for her safety, the victim used pepper spray on the suspect who fled the area northbound in the alley east of 4^th Street. The incident is under investigation.
Automobile v. Pedestrian Collision – 10^th Street and Wilshire Boulevard. The pedestrian was crossing Wilshire in a crosswalk when he was struck by a vehicle. The pedestrian sustained multiple injuries and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. The driver was not driving under the influence and cooperated with investigators.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon - 7^th Street and Taft Way. The victim was with a witness when the suspect approached on a bicycle. The suspect spoke to the victim and then sprayed him in the face with bear spray. Responding officers located the subject and discarded bear spray canister in a nearby business.
Fraud – 800 Block of Bay Street. The victim was contacted via a WhatsApp message in July 2024. The suspects identified themselves as financial analysts and finance professors, gaining the victim’s trust over time. The victim was instructed to send money from a wallet in Coinbase into another crypto currency app. The loss was substantial, and the investigation is ongoing.
Traffic Stop Arrest - 5th Street and Wilshire Boulevard. DSU officers conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle and found the driver to be on active probation for burglary. A search of the vehicle yielded drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, burglary tools and OC spray. After driver was arrested, it was discovered he was felon with prior convictions; he was charged with felon in possession of OC spray.
Traffic Stop / Warrant Arrest - Lincoln Boulevard and Pearl Street. Officers conducted an investigative traffic stop of a vehicle that matched the suspect vehicle from a crime bulletin. One of the passengers was arrested for a $500K burglary warrant out of San Diego County.
Domestic Violence – 1900 Block of Arizona Avenue. Officers responded to a radio call of a disturbance of the peace and located the suspect and victim who are dating. The suspect was seen strangling the victim and arrested. The suspect was also in possession of methamphetamine and a pipe.
Strong Arm Robbery – Main Street and Marine Street. The subject took several bags belonging to the victim and threw them in the street. When she attempted to retrieve them, the suspect pushed the victim in the chest and then started emptying the contents of her bags. Two bystanders intervened allowing the victim to get her property back.

Crime Impact Team (CIT)

WEEKLY STATS:

9 Traffic Stops
12 Ped Stops
8 Bike Stops
6 Felony Arrests
1 Misdemeanor Arrest
4 Field Interviews
9 Radio Calls

CIT assisted the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) with a search and arrest warrant outside Santa Monica.

Special Deployments:

CIT conducted a Crime Suppression operation Ocean Front Walk and completed the following activity:

Traffic Stops – 3
Pedestrian Stops – 5
Misdemeanor Arrests – 1
Field Interviews- 2

CIT conducted a sweep of the city for out of compliance sex offenders and completed the following activity:

Bike Stops – 3
Pedestrian Stops – 4
Felony Arrests – 1
Field Interviews- 3

Incident of note:

CIT Officers conducted a pedestrian stop on a subject who they recognized to have a stay away order. The order was confirmed, and the subject was arrested.
CIT Officers observed a subject who they recognized as a parolee in the 700 block of Wilshire. A criminal history check of the subject confirmed he is on parole for burglary. During a parole search of the subject, the officers located several grams of methamphetamine. A parole hold was issued.
CIT officers monitored the Flock Safety cameras (police resource) and were notified that a vehicle involved in a robbery in Los Angeles was driving near 26th Street and Washington Avenue. CIT officers canvassed the area and located the vehicle in the 2300 Block of Santa Monica Blvd. A felony traffic stop was initiated, and all four occupants were taken into custody. LAPD Organized Retail Theft Taskforce detectives responded and took over the investigation. The handling detective advised that on the night prior, the vehicle was in the Melrose shopping district and was involved in a robbery. Additionally, the same night, the vehicle went to Century City Mall and was involved in a second robbery. All suspects were booked for robbery by LAPD.

Directed Action Response Team (DART)

WEEKLY STATS:

Police Department:
3 Arrests
5 Field Interviews
2 5150 Holds

Code Enforcement:

93 contacts
59 Verbal Warnings
1 Written Warnings
2 Citations

Special Operation:

On 11/13/2024, Santa Monica police officers on the DART and CIT teams collaborated with the SMPD’s Special Policing Unit and Los Angeles County District Attorney Probation Department to address the following areas: Downtown Santa Monica, Tongva Park, Reed Park, Palisades Park, Santa Monica Beach, and Santa Monica Pier. The hours-long operation netted eight felony arrests (Concealed Dirk/Dagger, Felony Probation Violations, No Bail/Felony Warrants, Carrying Narcotics into a Jail), four misdemeanor arrests (Narcotics/Paraphernalia, Municipal Codes), eight misdemeanor citations, three infraction citations, and twelve field interviews.

Notable Incidents:

Municipal Code Violation - 2000 Block of the Beach. DART officers contacted a subject for a municipal code violation. The subject had a warrant for drug possession. During a search incident to arrest, officers located a large amount of methamphetamine and marijuana. The subject was charged with the warrant, municipal code violations, and possession of narcotics for sales.
Municipal Code Violation/Warrant Arrest - 1700 Block of the Beach. DART officers contacted a subject for a municipal code violation. A computerized criminal history check showed the subject had a No Bail warrant.
Municipal Code Violation – 200 Block of the Beach. DART Officers contacted subject for an encampment violation. The subject has previously been advised, cited, and arrested for the violation. Officers located drug paraphernalia during a search incident to arrest. The subject was on probation and his agent was notified.
Criminal Threats – 1600 Block of the Beach. DART Officers were flagged down by lifeguards at tower 16 regarding an individual who had threatened a lifeguard. They pointed to a subject who was walking in the sand with only underwear on. The subject was contacted, and officers determined he met the criteria for a mental health hold.

Community Affairs Unit (CAU)

Community Academy week #5 - Internal Affairs & Traffic Stops

Beat 1 – NRO Hollowell

NRO Hollowell was contacted by a Santa Monica resident who has been repeatedly disturbed by the placement of a Live View Camera Cart in the parking lot at the Target at 420 Broadway. The major complaint from the resident is the blue strobe light and the volume of the speaker when the equipment warns trespassers during the late-night hours. After multiple conversations and directing the resident to the proper persons at the Target store, the upper blue strobe lights have been shut off and now it is a single issue of the volume. NRO Hollowell hopes by assisting the resident that the volume issue will be solved by this week. NRO Hollowell has been working with both the Target and the resident for a resolution.
NRO Hollowell maintains a focus on the top of the Pier ramp where street performers are blocking the Fire Lane. It is a priority to maintain the Fire Lane for ingress and egress. New performers have pushed back on enforcement. NRO Hollowell continues to advise new street performers of “Time, Place, and Manner” for the purpose of public safety. He is providing them with information about locations where they can perform and continues to direct violators to the appropriate area rather than citing or effecting an arrest for the Fire Code.

Beat 2 – NRO Navarro with CPC Barreto

CPC Barreto conducted a security assessment for a residential apartment complex in the 2900 Block of 2^nd Street.
NRO Navarro attended a Community Workshop in the 1400 Block of 10^th Street (EAH housing complex).
NRO Navarro attended the Friends of Sunset Park Community Meeting. Crime statistics were shared and an announcement about future neighborhood watch meetings was given. The members expressed looking forward to having NRO Navarro and CPC Barreto back at the meeting.
Chief Batista and command staff received an email from members of the mosque on Ocean Park regarding concerns about the upcoming elections and how it would affect their location. Periodic checks were added, and members were contacted by NROs Navarro and Galvan. They were thrilled with departmental efforts and would reach out to NROs and dispatch for any concerns.
A community member contacted NRO Navarro regarding driver license questions after a recent Spanish-language DMV/SMPD presentation was conducted. Information was shared in aiding the community member to obtain a license.
Information received that a transient knocks over trash bins every Sunday night in the alley near 28^th Street. The information was shared with C-Watch and a periodic check was scheduled for that time interval.

Beat 3 – NRO Galvan with CPC Barreto

NRO Galvan continued enforcement in the 1900 block of alley 19 after numerous complaints from residents regarding transients setting up camps. Two homeless encampments with tarps tied to electrical poles were removed and the individuals were offered services.

Beat 4 – NRO Wang

NRO Wang responded to a theft report at LAYA, a clothing boutique on Montana Avenue. The manager reported that a female subject may have stolen items while in the changing room. After speaking with the manager, NRO Wang determined that there was inconclusive evidence to confirm the theft. As a result, no crime report was taken at this time; however, the officer will continue to work with the business in case additional incidents occur.
NRO Wang also investigated criminal threats left in a voicemail at the Office of the Chief of Police. The voicemail contained threatening statements directed at a police officer.
NRO Wang attended the NOMA community meeting, where crime statistics, trends, recent incidents, and public safety issues were discussed.
NRO Wang met with a community member and the Santa Monica Protective Association (SMPA). They discussed SMPD's strategic goals, recent changes in law, and general safety concerns.
NRO Wang participated in an interview with PositivelyFilipino.com magazine on the topic of AAPI anti-hate efforts. The discussion covered SMPD’s stance on AAPI hate crimes, relevant statistics, prevention measures, officer training, and the prosecution process. The article will be published next month.
NRO Wang conducted foot patrol in the 1100 block of Montana Avenue, engaging with local businesses and residents.

Authored By

Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant

Authored By

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