A section of the northbound lane of Ocean Avenue, opposite the Pier entrance, was shut down for approximately 45 minutes today as officers from the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) reacted swiftly to a homeless man acting in a severely irrational and threatening manner.
This particular intersection, at Ocean and Colorado Avenues, is arguably the busiest in the city as thousands of tourists make their way to and from the Pier and Pacific Park each and every day.
According to a witness, at about 11am, while on the monthly Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. (DTSM) safety walk, the team consisting of DTSM Operations personnel, Legion Security, DTSM Outreach and members of the SMPD encountered an individual exhibiting anti-social behavior.
According to the witness, "When the team engaged the individual, he became agitated and threatening. The individual picked up a knife and held it in an offensive manner saying he was willing and would kill them, asking for dares.
"Police with the team requested assistance as the individual became more agitated. The man threw a piece of metal at a young tourist. Several police units arrived, blocking off the area, ordering the individual to put down the weapon. After a standoff, police took the individual down and into custody," the witness told the Daily Press.
The subject was being charged under the California Penal Code 422 for threats against the security officer and outreach professional. The road was cleared quickly and the normal flow of busy traffic resumed.
+ + + UPDATE + + +
The Daily Press has received an official statement from the Santa Monica Police Department...
"A little before 11:00 this morning, our Downtown Services Unit lieutenant was doing his biweekly walk through of the area when he was flagged down at the intersection of Ocean and Colorado. A member of the Legion team and a social services worker approached a person experiencing homelessness in a wheelchair and surrounded by his belongings. When they approached the individual and offered him resources the man became irate, picked up a knife from his belongings, and said 'I'm going to kill you' numerous times to both the security guard and the outreach worker," the statement says.
"The lieutenant was able to call for additional officers who arrived and started to formulate a plan to keep the public safe and take the individual into custody. Crisis Negotiation Team officers attempted to establish rapport with the individual, but the subject continued to be agitated and would not relinquish or drop the knife, alternating between placing it inside his jacket or holding it in his hand.
"When the individual placed the knife back into his jacket, an arrest team approached from behind, gained control of the subject's arms and took him into custody. A minor use of force was required, but no one was injured during the arrest. The subject was transported to the Santa Monica Jail and will undergo a psychological assessment by our Department of Mental Health clinician. The charges are still pending, but criminal threats and possibly resisting or obstructing because the individual refused to identify himself," it says.
scott.snowden@smdp.com
