Statement on USPS Letter to Suspend Service
April 11, 2022 3:30 PM
Statement Updated: 4/12/22
A letter suspending mail service on a block in Santa Monica was brought to our attention late Saturday when it was posted on Twitter. Our Department has identified a subject as the perpetrator of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon (a broomstick) incident on a USPS mail carrier in the 1300 block of 14th Street that occurred on January 19, 2022. The victim sustained a minor injury to his arm and did not require medical attention. The officers who took the report contacted the United States Postal Inspection Service on the day of the incident to provide information for the incident should they wish to follow up.
The case was assigned to our detectives who reached out to the victim several times during the investigation. Approximately one month later, the mail carrier declined prosecution for the incident. Besides this particular incident, no additional crime reports involving the US Post Office have been made to SMPD.
Yesterday, representatives of the SMPD spoke with the postmaster who wrote the suspension letter; we were referred to an Inspector in the US Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) for additional information about other attacks on mail carriers in that area and possibly by the same subject. The Postal Inspector did not believe any reports were made to the USPIS by mail carriers and are working now to locate any other postal workers who may have been victims and obtaining information for an investigation.
As for information regarding the suspect, his most recent arrest was on April 6, 2022, for misdemeanor vandalism and possession of drug paraphernalia. Current Los Angeles County Emergency Bail Orders state certain misdemeanors are not subject to pre-trial detention, but instead the offender is provided a citation and released. While the suspect was arrested over the weekend, he was released from police custody with a citation to return to court in May. He is also currently under investigation for two incidents that occurred in March, a battery and criminal threats. Once completed, those cases will be presented to either the City Attorney (misdemeanor) or District Attorney (felony) for filing consideration.
SMPD continues to work diligently with investigators in our department and the USPIS to make sure mail can be delivered safely to all our residents.
Should you have any additional questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact SMPD's Community Affairs Team at 310-458-8474 to speak with your Neighborhood Resource Officer or Crime Prevention Coordinator. For immediate assistance related in an in progress emergency, please call 9-1-1.
Media Contact
Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant
Erika.Aklufi@santamonica.gov