Santa Monica, CA – On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Santa Monica Police officers detained a group of teenagers at the Santa Monica Pier following an incident at Playland Arcade. The teenagers had been asked to leave the arcade after allegedly displaying rowdy behavior.
According to witnesses, the situation escalated outside the arcade, where the teenagers engaged in a heated verbal confrontation with Playland Arcade employees, reportedly threatening them during the altercation.
Officers responded to the scene, investigated the situation, and ultimately released the teenagers without taking further action. No arrests were made.
Santa Monica, CA – On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, officers from the Santa Monica Police Department’s Crime Impact Team (CIT) arrested a man at Santa Monica Beach following a stop for a municipal code violation. The individual was initially approached for smoking in a prohibited area, but upon further investigation, officers discovered the man was in violation of his parole and subsequently took him into custody.
The arrest stemmed from a violation of Santa Monica’s Smoking Ordinance, Section 4.44.020(a) of the Municipal Code, which prohibits smoking in public parks and other designated areas. Violators face fines ranging from $100 to $500, depending on the severity and recurrence of the offense. The law also extends to vaping and marijuana use, with penalties increasing under specific conditions. Exceptions exist for designated smoking areas and some private residences.
The Crime Impact Team, a specialized unit of four officers and one sergeant, plays a proactive role in enhancing public safety in Santa Monica. Unlike routine patrol units, CIT members focus on targeted enforcement, surveillance, and community outreach. Their primary objective is to address crime hotspots across the city and implement strategies to reduce crime rates.
On the morning of Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Santa Monica Police officers from the Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) issued citations to two homeless individuals found camping in a tent at the Santa Monica Pier parking lot. The camping activity violated Santa Monica Municipal Code 4.08.095, which prohibits camping in public areas, including beaches, streets, parks, and government properties. The code strictly forbids such activities to maintain public safety and preserve these spaces for public use.
After receiving the citations, the campers asked if they could have some time to dismantle the tent and gather their belongings. The officers granted their request, allowing them additional time and indicating they would return in an hour to check on the situation.
This incident highlights the Santa Monica Police Department's ongoing efforts to address the complexities of homelessness in the city. The Homeless Liaison Program (HLP) plays a key role in supporting vulnerable individuals through outreach, relationship-building, and collaboration with various city and county agencies. HLP's focus is on prioritizing mental health services and offering alternatives to incarceration, ensuring that those in need receive appropriate care and resources.
The program works closely with the Santa Monica Fire Department, Human Services Division, and the City Attorney’s Office to provide a holistic approach to homelessness, aiming to improve community well-being while upholding city regulations designed to maintain public safety and shared spaces.
On the morning of Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Santa Monica Closeup's photojournalist Fabian Lewkowicz encountered Venice Beach local Chip Monk, a homeless resident known in the area. Monk, reflecting on his life and interactions with police, spoke candidly about his philosophy of "going with the flow." He explained how the police treat him amicably, respecting his non-confrontational approach.Monk elaborated on broader themes, including life’s authoritarian structures and the balance between good and bad, both in a spiritual and societal sense. He shared a deeply personal reflection, revealing that he has been clinically dead three times in the past seven years. According to Monk, these near-death experiences left him with the belief that in the end, “it’s just you and God," with each individual ultimately judging themselves.Chip also touched on topics ranging from his thoughts on societal expectations to homelessness and his struggles to maintain a positive mindset despite his circumstances. In a moment of humor and humility, he demonstrated his poor man’s didgeridoo, a vacuum hose, and mused about performing on the Venice Boardwalk.For Monk, life is about self-acceptance and understanding that everyone has their own journey. He emphasized the importance of creation, whether through art or personal growth, as a means of survival and fulfillment in a world that often feels overwhelming.
On the morning of October 5, 2024, Santa Monica police officers conducted a traffic stop for a moving violation. During the stop, the front passenger informed officers of a rifle inside the vehicle, leading to the immediate detention of all five occupants. A subsequent search of the car revealed not only the rifle but also a loaded handgun and open alcohol containers.
All five individuals were arrested on various charges, including carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm, and parole violation. The incident underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to maintain public safety.
On Wednesday, October 9, 2024, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers were at Venice Beach to enforce Los Angeles Municipal Code 63.44, which prohibits the erection of tents in city parks. Officers issued advisals to homeless individuals camping in tents along the beach, ensuring these public spaces remain safe and accessible to all visitors.
In addition to the advisals, LAPD officers facilitated support for the unhoused by contacting the CIRCLE (Crisis and Incident Response through Community-led Engagement) team. The team was expected to arrive within the hour to offer services and assistance to those camping at the beach.
CIRCLE is a 24/7 alternative response program designed to handle non-urgent 9-1-1 calls related to unhoused individuals. The program deploys trained crisis response teams, including licensed mental health clinicians and outreach workers with lived experience, to engage with individuals in need and provide access to essential services. The goal of CIRCLE is to improve interactions with unhoused Angelenos and allow LAPD to focus on traditional law enforcement efforts.
Since its pilot launch in January 2022, the CIRCLE program has expanded beyond Hollywood and Venice to other parts of Los Angeles, with teams conducting proactive outreach and responding to calls for assistance. Their work is supplemented by outreach teams operating in areas of high need, offering resources such as water, snacks, and Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses.
A homeless outreach team from The People Concern was spotted at Santa Monica Beach on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, engaging with individuals camping along the shoreline. The team, equipped with an all-terrain vehicle, approached the encampments offering services and assistance to those in need. The People's Concern, a trusted service provider in Los Angeles, has been working for over 60 years to provide comprehensive care to homeless individuals, offering solutions like interim housing, mental and medical health care, and substance abuse services. The team continues to support the homeless population with the goal of helping them rebuild their lives.
