by Erika Aklufi

POLICE statistics for the week

Total Calls for Service (CFS): 2,686. 79,195 YTD (through 8/10).

Source of the calls:

Citizen-initiated: 1,594 calls for assistance. 45,893 YTD (60% of total CFS).

Called by officers: 1,092 calls for assistance. 31,708 YTD (40% of total CFS).

Disposition for CVS: Homelessness Related = 17% YTD.

Camp calls: 44,979 YTD.

5150 Calls: 10,409 YTD.

Arrests: 56 arrests total. 1,677 YTD.

Patrol Operations Department

Indecent Activity – 1700 block Ocean Ave. A YouTube group known for setting up and catching child molesters contacted the department and reported that they had arrested an individual for soliciting a 15-year-old girl (baiting). The individual was arrested.

No Bail Arrest – Main/Pico. A police officer arrested the suspect for a bicycle violation. A criminal history check revealed a No Bail warrant for malicious damage/vandalism from the LAPD. The suspect was transported to the LAPD Pacific Division.

Domestic Violence – 1900 Block of Ocean Way. The suspect and victim are in a relationship. A verbal altercation escalated to the suspect hitting and biting the victim. Responding officers arrested the suspect for domestic violence.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon/Knife – 400 block of Colorado Ave. Officers were flagged down by a witness near the intersection of 5th and Colorado regarding a subject brandishing a weapon. Officers attempted to detain the suspect, who fled the scene. The suspect was arrested after a brief foot chase. The suspect was arrested for brandishing a knife (found at the scene) and for making stabbing motions toward two other victims who were seen leaving the area.

Sexual Assault – 2nd Street/Broadway. Officers observe the suspect raising a fist and threatening an elderly couple standing nearby. Before officers could intervene, the suspect turned and struck a victim on the buttocks as she crossed the street. Officers arrested the suspect for sexual assault.

Burglary – 1400 Block Ocean Ave. The suspect entered the commercial building, grabbed a bottle of water from the kitchen and fled. Officers saw the suspect run from the building and arrested him without further incident.

Warrant – 500 Block of Olympic Blvd. An individual who was contacted by officers during the investigation of an assault with a deadly weapon was found to have a warrant out of San Diego County. The individual was taken into custody and will be transported to the San Diego Sheriff’s Department.

Waving/Knife – 200 Block Santa Monica Pier. The suspect was taken into custody without incident after brandishing a knife and threatening to kill the victim. Officers determined the same individual was responsible for two previous similar incidents in the beach/pier area.

Earthquake – Information received of a 5.3 earthquake in Bakersfield. Shaking was felt, but no damage or injuries were reported. The Public Safety Facility has verified that everything is OK and the city’s windshield inspection protocols have been followed.

Prohibited Weapon/Waving – 1300 Block 3rd Street Promenade. The suspect is seen waving a dagger at passersby while standing in the doorway of a restaurant. Officers contact the suspect and take him into custody for the prohibited weapon. An investigation into the suspect revealed that he was wanted for crimes in Texas.

No Bail Warrant – 1200 Block 7th Street. While working a community livability detail, an officer pulled over a bicyclist for a city code violation. The suspect initially lied about his personal information. Upon identification, officers learned he had a No Bail Warrant for assault.

Robbery – 800 Block Montana Ave. Suspect assaulted a business employee while attempting to steal alcohol. Suspect was located nearby and arrested for robbery (Estes).

Commercial Burglary – 2700 Block Ocean Park Blvd. Witnesses reported two individuals attempting to enter the building by removing the front door from the frame. The suspects were able to steal money from two cash registers and other property. The suspects fled in a waiting vehicle heading east on Ocean Park. The report has been turned over to detectives for further investigation.

Robbery – 2500 Block Santa Monica Blvd. The homeless suspect entered the location and stole several towels and shirts. When the employee approached, the suspect pulled out a pocketknife and threatened to stab the victim. The suspect left the area on a navy blue electric bicycle heading west on Santa Monica Boulevard. The incident is under investigation.

Commercial Burglaries (3 Locations) – 2500 & 2700 Blocks Main Street. Two suspects vandalize a lock box and gain entry by prying open a door. Lock boxes at two other locations were also vandalized and keys used to enter the businesses were missing. Losses included electronics and cash. All three incidents are believed to be related and are under investigation.

Assault Investigation – 1700 Block Montana Ave. Officers responded to a report of an assault involving an elderly male victim who suffered a head injury. The victim did not know how he was injured and ended up on the ground; there were no witnesses to the incident. The victim told officers he had been in a verbal altercation with a bicyclist one block south of where he was found, but did not know if that person had assaulted him. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The incident is being handled by detectives.

Waving / Criminal Threats – 1400 Block 2nd Street – Victim encounters suspect who, without provocation, displays a knife and threatens to kill victim. Suspect was located nearby and arrested.

Directed Action Response Team (DART)

Enforcement of the code: 4 citations; 84 advisories, including 17 oral warnings/15 written

SMPD: 5 quotes; 7 field interviews; 9 camps evacuated

Notable Incidents

Ohio State Fugitive (Sexual Assault) – 1600 Block of the Beach. DART officers contacted the suspects for a campout on the beach. Officers used a fingerprint reader to identify one of the suspects and got a hit late after the stop was completed. Officers learned the suspect was wanted for a rape that occurred in Ohio. Officers searched for the suspect and located him downtown. He will be extradited to Ohio. See related news article: https://www.richlandsource.com/2024/08/07/rape-aggravated-robbery-charges-among-fugitives-of-the-week-list/

No Bail Warrant – Santa Monica Pier. DART officers monitoring the pier’s artist lottery were flagged down on the pier by several tourists who were concerned about a suspicious male subject who had been following them for the past 20 minutes. The subject was contacted and detained. He was found to be a sex registrar with a No Bail Parole Warrant. The subject was arrested.

Temporary Housing Assistance. DART officers made contact this week with a known homeless person who had been living in the city for at least a year. The individual was reluctant to receive housing resources from the city. The officers worked diligently to build a relationship with the individual who eventually agreed to a temporary housing situation in Samoshel. Great work by all involved to get a vulnerable individual off the streets and into contact with meaningful services.

Social Affairs Unit (CAU)

Defeat 1

The Beat 1 Neighborhood Resource Officer (NRO) and our Public Services Officer (PSO) Supervisors worked with multiple city departments including Code Enforcement and the City Attorney’s Office to attempt to address an ongoing problem with a loud performer on Ocean Front Walk. The NRO encountered the offender on the Oceanfront Walk side of Shutters and issued the offender a ticket for the above violation. The offender complied with the ticket and packed up for the day.

NRO Hollowell, at the direction of Captain Flores, has called a Teams meeting on 8/20/2024 to address unauthorized amplified sound events. The invited individuals for the meeting are Community Affairs, DART, PSOs, CAO, and Code Enforcement

Defeat 2

CAU prepared for National Night Out on Monday. On Tuesday morning, NNO set-up began and clean-up was partially completed by 10:00 p.m. Final clean-up was completed on Wednesday and equipment was returned to the various city departments.

NRO Navarro and Galvan held a Neighborhood Watch Meeting for residents of 219 Bay Street. The biggest concern was the abandoned property at 234 Pico Blvd. NRO Navarro has been in contact with the property manager of the property and they will be adding maintenance services to repair holes in the fence. They will also be adding security personnel once demolition of the property begins. They have also had numerous complaints about Star Liquor and those will be shared with the owner, Ramon, and Code Enforcement.

Defeat 3

NRO Galvan and Navarro hosted a neighborhood watch meeting via Zoom about 219 Bay St. Residents are particularly concerned about 234 Pico, the former bowling alley that has been closed off and fenced off. Temporary residents have access to the parking lot and the building. Suggestions were made to call dispatch if trespassers are seen. NROs will be contacting the property owners to patch the holes in the fence and properly secure the property.

Defeat 4

NRO Wang participated in National Night Out on Tuesday, August 6. NRO Wang helped with the set-up and take-down of the event and with other logistics.

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