The Santa Monica Police Department has arrested a man for stabbing a homeless person in Reed Park.
Officers were called to the park at about 8:50 a.m. Thursday morning by a Downtown Ambassador who reported the suspect was waving a knife while walking through the park.
When officers arrived, they saw the man walk towards the center of the park and stab the victim who was lying on the ground. The officers ran towards the suspect who fled along 7th Street. SMPD Lt. Joseph Cortez said officers surrounded the suspect on the 1000 block of 7th Street. The suspect refused several commands to drop the knife and officers used a taser to subdue him before making the arrest.
John James has been arrested for attempted murder. He was transported to a local hospital for evaluation following the use of the taser. The victim was also transported to a local hospital to undergo surgery. Cortez said he is expected to survive.
“Our officers showed incredible restraint,” he said of the arrest. “They used the least amount of force as possible trying to get this guy in custody.”
The incident follows a similar situation in Culver City on Monday that resulted in the suspect’s death and an injury to an officer.
In that case, a man with a knife was threatening maintenance workers in a parking garage. When confronted in a stairwell, that man charged at two Culver City police officers and was shot in the chest. One officer was also injured by friendly fire during the altercation.
editor@smdp.com
