Santa Monica Police reported the passing of mounted patrol horse “Laredo,” who died Monday, November 2, 2025, following a seven-month battle with rotational laminitis in his left front hoof. He was 18.
Laredo, originally from Wyoming, joined the department’s Mounted Unit in 2017. He served as a steady partner to mounted officers during routine patrols, protests, and high-activity crowd environments. He was also a regular presence at school demonstrations and public-safety outreach events, where his calm demeanor often resonated with children and families.
In February 2019, Laredo drew wider attention during what officers later referred to as a “hoof pursuit,” when he assisted in tracking a stolen-vehicle suspect in Downtown Santa Monica — a short chase that was captured on Los Angeles television news.
Santa Monica Closeup extends condolences to the Santa Monica Police Mounted Unit. Laredo’s years of service in the downtown and beachside corridors left a visible imprint on the city’s public-safety landscape, and his presence was familiar to countless residents, visitors, and officers alike.
On Thursday, November 6, 2025, at around 5 p.m., approximately a dozen Santa Monica Police officers initiated a high-risk traffic stop on Marine Street near Neilsen Way after receiving an automated alert from the city’s camera network regarding a vehicle reportedly wanted for further investigation.
Officers conducted the stop with weapons drawn and ordered two occupants out of the vehicle. The individuals were then placed in handcuffs and temporarily detained while officers verified information connected to the alert.
According to officers at the scene, the vehicle matched a plate associated with a notice flag — however it was later confirmed to be a rental. After documentation checks and verification, the two individuals were released.
Police indicated they would contact the rental company for follow-up regarding the alert originating from the vehicle’s registration.
Santa Monica Closeup continues monitoring public safety activity across the Westside.
SANTA MONICA — The Santa Monica Police Department confirmed it has arrested a suspect in connection with the fatal hit-and-run collision that killed two pedestrians and critically injured two others on October 24, 2025, along the 1300 block of Wilshire Boulevard.
According to SMPD, the Major Accident Response Team led the initial investigation, with detectives from the Criminal Investigations Division later joining due to the severity of the case and the suspect’s alleged efforts to evade capture.
Investigators identified the alleged driver as 38-year-old Alex Kristopher Earl Kirksey. Prosecutors with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office have charged him with two counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of felony hit-and-run causing injury, and one count of reckless driving.
Detectives said the vehicle involved in the collision had been rented through an online platform, and that Kirksey traveled out of state in the days following the crash in an apparent attempt to avoid law enforcement. Investigators also determined that the individual who rented the vehicle allegedly arrived at the crash scene after the collision to ask questions about the incident, and later helped the suspect leave California. The extent of that person’s involvement remains under review by the District Attorney.
Search warrants executed during the investigation led detectives to additional electronic records and contact information, which helped determine Kirksey’s location outside the state.
Working with law enforcement partners in the Midwest, SMPD detectives tracked Kirksey to Chicago. With assistance from the Chicago Police Department, he was taken into custody at or near a transit center, where authorities say he appeared to be preparing to leave the area. He has since been extradited to Santa Monica and is now in SMPD custody.
Interim Police Chief Darrick Jacob said this development marks an important milestone in the case, noting that investigators “worked tirelessly to identify and locate those responsible for this senseless act.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman also issued a statement, saying his office remains committed to justice on behalf of the two victims killed — 61-year-old Maura Cohen and 61-year-old Brad Lipshy — as well as the two other victims who remain seriously injured.
Authorities are asking anyone with additional information about the collision to contact Traffic Investigator Lantz Lewis at (310) 458-2201 ext. 5311 or the SMPD Watch Commander’s Office at (310) 458-8427.
SANTA MONICA, CA — Saturday, November 1, 2025 — The Santa Monica Pier hosted a solemn and culturally significant moment on Saturday as members of the Indigenous community led a DΓa de los Muertos blessing and procession, marking the start of a two-day program honoring tradition, remembrance, and collective memory.
The procession began at the west end of the Pier, where Danza Azteca Kalpoli Atlachinoli dancers — dressed in traditional regalia — offered ceremonial movements before guiding participants toward the historic Merry Go-Round building. The dancers emphasized that this was not a performance, but a ceremony — a sacred act of honoring ancestors and memory — reaffirming the spiritual nature of their presence at the Pier.
Inside the Merry Go-Round, visitors moved through an immersive installation featuring marigolds, papel picado, and community-created ofrendas honoring loved ones. Local artistic contributions added personal narratives and reflections connected to Santa Monica’s cultural history.
The two-day DΓa de los Muertos activation at the Pier included free activities and opportunities for public participation, inviting families, residents, and visitors to engage with the holiday’s traditions while reflecting on the meaning of remembrance within the community.
Santa Monica Closeup continues documenting public events of cultural significance.
SANTA MONICA, CA — Saturday, November 1, 2025 — Several classic cars — including gleaming Chevy Impalas and vintage Ford models — rolled onto the Santa Monica Pier on Saturday afternoon as part of the 6th Annual DΓa de los Muertos celebration, turning the boardwalk into a temporary open-air exhibition of Southern California car-culture heritage.
Spectators paused along the Pier’s parking lot to photograph polished chrome, custom paint, and low-slung profiles that reflected the cultural traditions long intertwined with Chicano and Mexican-American communities. The classic lineup became one of the most visually striking elements of the two-day program.
The DΓa de los Muertos activation — held November 1 and November 2 — once again invited the public inside the historic Merry Go-Round to view and contribute to ofrendas honoring loved ones. The community-focused installation is supported, in part, by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors through the Department of Arts and Culture.
Saturday’s programming included a traditional Aztec blessing at the west end of the Pier, followed by a parade to the Merry Go-Round building, Ballet Folklorico performances, multiple live music sets, and family-friendly activities throughout the evening.
The classic cars remained on display as dancers, families, and visitors moved between performances, blending automotive pride into a cultural celebration rooted in memory, art, and tradition.
SANTA MONICA, CA — Friday, October 31, 2025 — Downtown Santa Monica hosted its first-ever Halloween Block Party on the 1300 block of Third Street Promenade on Friday afternoon, offering a family-friendly lineup of trick-or-treat activities, live performances, and costumed entertainment.
Many families arrived dressed in elaborate Halloween outfits — children, adults, and even dogs appeared in full costume — adding to the visual spectacle as attendees moved between participating storefronts between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., where local businesses handed out candy and small giveaways while supplies lasted.
Event organizers also offered a mini pumpkin patch where attendees could pick out free pumpkins on a first-come basis, along with pumpkin decorating stations, arts and crafts, face painting, games, photo opportunities, and other themed activity zones.
A cappella group The Scarolers — performing in Victorian zombie attire — delivered Halloween songs and parody “scarodies” of familiar tunes, drawing steady crowds throughout the afternoon and into early evening as the block party continued.
The gathering marked the first Halloween community block event of this scale to be staged along Third Street Promenade. Organizers described the block party as an all-ages celebration aimed at activating the downtown corridor and drawing families, residents, and tourists into the district for seasonal programming and safe trick-or-treating.
Santa Monica Closeup continues to document public happenings of local significance in the city’s public spaces.
VENICE, Calif. — Tuesday, October 28, 2025 — Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department detectives executed a search warrant Tuesday morning at a storefront along the Venice Beach Boardwalk as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
Deputies were seen searching through the business before circling the block to a nearby van, which was also included in the warrant. Investigators removed several items from the vehicle, including what appeared to be firearms, a scale, and suspected narcotics, carefully documenting and securing the evidence.
A white bag believed to contain narcotics was recovered and booked into evidence, according to authorities. The substances will undergo laboratory testing to confirm their nature.
Approximately a dozen deputies participated in the operation, which concluded with one individual taken into custody, according to authorities.
As the scene unfolded, several passersby could be heard asking, “Is that ICE?” — reflecting confusion among onlookers as heavily armed deputies in tactical gear conducted the search.
Some deputies’ faces have been blurred at their request for operational safety. Santa Monica Closeup maintains full editorial independence and documents all law enforcement activity as it occurs.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Skaters, boarders, and cyclists hit the pavement Sunday, October 26, 2025, for the 18th Annual Skate the Coast event, an 18-mile ride from the Santa Monica Pier to the Redondo Beach Pier in support of breast cancer awareness.
Dressed head to toe in shades of pink — from helmets and jerseys to boards wrapped in ribbons — participants filled the Santa Monica Bike Path with color and energy. Many adorned their gear with slogans of hope and support, transforming the coastal route into a rolling sea of solidarity.
The annual event, organized by Boarding for Breast Cancer (B4BC) — a nonprofit founded in 1996 — brings together participants of all ages to promote early detection and encourage an active, healthy lifestyle as a means of breast cancer prevention.
B4BC’s mission centers on empowering young people with education about early breast cancer detection while advocating for movement and wellness as key elements of prevention. Beyond awareness, the organization provides ongoing support for those affected by the disease, with programs focused on three pillars: Educational Outreach, Prevention and Awareness Events, and Survivorship Support.
Sunday’s event served as a vibrant display of community spirit and advocacy, blending athleticism and compassion to drive social impact. Riders coasted the scenic shoreline under clear skies — demonstrating how sport and solidarity can come together for a meaningful cause.
VENICE, CA — Saturday, October 25, 2025 — Councilwoman Traci Park joined residents, city staff, and families on Saturday morning for a ceremonial groundbreaking at Venice Beach, celebrating the start of construction on a new children’s playground near the Windward Avenue Police Substation.
The new play space replaces the former Windward Plaza Children’s Playground, which was removed by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks in late 2024 after officials cited structural deterioration. The demolition caught some residents by surprise, prompting concerns over safety communication and the loss of a popular family gathering spot.
Saturday’s groundbreaking marked the long-awaited beginning of its replacement — a Baywatch-themed playground designed in partnership with the Department of Recreation and Parks. Renderings displayed at the site show a bright, ocean-inspired design featuring a red lifeguard rescue boat, turquoise sailboat slide, surfboard climbing walls, and a pink octopus sculpture surrounded by blue wave-patterned play surfacing.
“My team and I have worked very, very hard with the community and Rec and Parks to put together a design,” Park said. “We expect to have this park finished by the spring.”
Families joined Park and her staff in shoveling the first mounds of sand, celebrating the project’s launch and the return of a long-missed playground to the heart of Venice Beach.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Thursday, October 23, 2025 — Downtown Santa Monica transformed into a sea of Dodger blue Thursday evening as hundreds of fans filled the 1300 block of the Third Street Promenade for the city’s first-ever “Catch the Blue Wave” Pep Rally — a high-spirited celebration cheering on the Los Angeles Dodgers as they head to the World Series.
The event, hosted by Downtown Santa Monica, Inc. and the City of Santa Monica, brought together community members, first responders, and baseball legends in a show of civic pride and hometown energy. Former Dodgers AdriΓ‘n GonzΓ‘lez, Eric Karros, and Steve Garvey signed autographs, posed for selfies, and chatted with fans young and old — each representing a different chapter in the Dodgers’ storied history.
Adding to the festive atmosphere, members of the Santa Monica Police Department and Santa Monica Fire Department joined in the celebration, proudly wearing blue Dodgers baseball caps. Officers and firefighters mingled with the crowd, taking photos with attendees and showing support for the team alongside the fans they serve.
The Dodgers Bobble mascot was also a crowd favorite — dancing, posing for photos, and bringing smiles to fans throughout the evening. Children eagerly lined up for pictures, while families waved Dodger towels and joined in chants that echoed across the Promenade.
At the heart of the rally stood an eight-foot-tall, 200-pound baseball, rolled into place earlier that day by Downtown Santa Monica crews. The massive baseball became a living monument to fan enthusiasm — covered in signatures, team slogans, and heartfelt messages wishing the Dodgers good luck in the World Series.
Mayor Lana Negrete opened the rally by welcoming fans and thanking the Dodgers organization for inspiring unity across Los Angeles County. The event also featured live music, giveaways, a 360° photo booth, and a beer garden activation by Quickserve Entertainment.
As twilight fell, the Santa Monica Pier illuminated in Dodger blue, symbolizing the city’s solidarity with the team’s championship run. The night ended with a final chorus of “Let’s Go Dodgers!” — a perfect close to an evening that blended nostalgia, community, and hope for another title in Los Angeles.
