SANTA MONICA—Santa Monica authorities are asking for the public’s help in locating a burglary suspect who stabbed one of his victims in the subterranean garage of an apartment complex on March 2.
According to a press release from the Santa Monica Police Department, “At approximately 8:35 a.m. the suspect was casing for unlocked vehicles in the subterranean garage at the 800 block of 4th Street.”
When a resident who was present in the garage noticed the suspect tampering with the parked vehicles, he attempted to restrain him while another witness called the police. According to the release, “an altercation ensued and the suspect stabbed one of the victims before fleeing the location.”
The suspect was last seen running westward across the 800 block of 4th Street.
Regarding the actions of the witness who tried to subdue the suspect, Sergeant Rudy Camarena of the Santa Monica Police Department told Canyon News, “What we like to suggest in these situations is for the victims to be good witnesses. In cases such as property crimes, when it’s not a matter of life and death, what we want is for the witnesses to record good information and promptly send it over to us.”
“Stay a good distance and try not to engage suspect in a confrontation about a property crime,” Sergeat Camarena advised.
The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic male, of medium build and between 5 foot 2 inches and 5 foot 3 inches. He has short blond/brown hair with possible reddish tint, and is clean-shaven. He was last seen wearing blue work pants, a black hooded sweatshirt with a white or yellow colored design, a white t-shirt and dark color shoes. He is also fluent in Spanish.
When caught, Sergeant Camarena mentioned, the suspect will be charged with aggravated assault and attempted theft from a vehicle. He added that based on the evidence available to the SMPD, the suspect will not be charged with the theft of the vehicle itself.
Sgt. Camarena also pointed out that “[The suspect] might be charged with burglary because I believe that when he was in the carport, he knocked a lock off one of the lockers.”
At this time the SMPD is not aware of the suspect’s connection to any other crimes.
The stabbing victim is reportedly in stable condition and recuperating.
