Multiple Aggravated Assault Charges Filed
September 5, 2024 12:10 PM
On August 28th, 2024, at about 11:45 PM, a good Samaritan riding southbound in the 2700 block of Barnard Way was flagged down by a distressed woman who needed help calling 911. The woman was bleeding from cuts to her face and head.
Officers were on scene within minutes. The woman reported that a male suspect in a distinctive orange shirt punched her several times in the head and face, hit her with a bottle, and tried to shove sand in her mouth. The suspect was last seen walking northbound. While officers flooded the area looking for the suspect, others arranged for medical transport and located the crime scene in the 2600 Block of Ocean Front Walk.
Officers located the suspect nearby. Mario Alejandri, a 31-year-old homeless individual, was positively identified and arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon. While conducting his investigation, the handling detective recognized the suspect as the perpetrator in a recent Assault with a Deadly Weapon that occurred the day prior at the Trader Joe’s on Broadway in Santa Monica.
At about 7:45 PM on August 27th, Alejandri entered the store and was immediately recognized by store staff from prior shoplifting incidents. When a store employee asked him to leave, Alejandri became irate and hit the victim in the face. He proceeded to throw two potted plants at the victim and then, on the way out, picked up a sign and was poised to throw it when the doors closed blocking him. Thankfully, the employee was not seriously hurt. The incident was captured on store surveillance video, allowing the beach assault detective to definitively connect Alejandri to both incidents.
Alejandri is on summary probation for Battery (242 PC). He also has prior arrests for Battery, Trespass to Injure Property (602(k)PC), Assault with a Deadly Weapon (245(a)(1) PC), Petty Theft (484 PC), Resisting Arrest (148 PC), Vandalism (594 PC), Brandishing (417 PC), Possession of Methamphetamine (11377 H&S), and Contempt of Court (166 PC).
On September 3, 2024, the LA County District Attorney’s Office filed three felony Assault with a Deadly Weapons charges, two counts for the incident on the beach and one for the attack at Trader Joe’s.
Anyone with information about this individual or incident is encouraged to contact Detective Jenkins at Benjamin. Jenkins@santamonica.gov or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at (310) 458-8427.
All media inquiries should be routed to Lieutenant Aklufi at Erika.Aklufi@santamonica.gov.
Media Contact
Erika Aklufi
Lieutenant
Erika.Aklufi@santamonica.gov
