Dispute Escalates: Man Thrown from Moving Truck During Escape Attempt

An altercation occurred between two men, who appear to be homeless, on Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, California, on Tuesday, June 18, 2024. The conflict arose when one man accused the other of stealing his phone. In an attempt to escape, the alleged thief jumped into the back of a passing pickup truck, followed closely by the accuser.

The driver of the pickup truck, unaware of the situation, yelled at the men to get out. As he sped away, one of the men was thrown from the vehicle. Meanwhile, the man accused of theft remained in the truck and drove away with the other man's phone. Local authorities are investigating the incident.

Firefighters Rescue Two People Trapped in Venice Public Restroom Stall.

On Sunday, May 19, 2024, Los Angeles Firefighters and Los Angeles Police Officers were dispatched to a distressing scene where two individuals were trapped inside a public restroom stall due to a malfunctioning door lock. The incident, which unfolded in the heart of Venice Beach, drew a prompt response from emergency services after reports that the door would not unlock.

The two individuals, who appeared to be homeless, were confined in the stall for over two hours. In a concerted effort to rescue them, firefighters employed axes and hammers to break through the door, successfully liberating the trapped persons.

Explore the Santa Monica Closeup Legacy Archive (2005-2024)

Santa Monica Closeup, originally founded by  photojournalist Fabian Lewkowicz in 2005, has officially moved to a new platform as of Monday, August 12, 2024. The decision to relocate came after persistent glitches and a lack of support from the original blog platform. The legacy blog, which features thousands of posts from its nearly two-decade run, will remain accessible here: http://www.santamonicacloseup.net/. Moving forward, all new entries will be available on the updated platform at www.SantaMonicaCloseup.com.

Santa Monica Closeup: New Home, Same Legacy.