Latest News
Showing posts with label Santa Monica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Santa Monica. Show all posts


Mike, aka German in Venice, heads up to Dogtown to check out the Friday night car meet.



More Patagonia looters have been caught. First, one of surfboard looters got arrested, now the looters that stole the safe out of the store have been arrested.

According to the press release, on July 3rd, 2020 Santa Monica Police Department Detectives from the Special Investigations Unit and officers from the Crime Impact Team served multiple search and arrests warrants at different locations in Los Angeles County related to the damage and looting of Patagonia located at 1344 4th Street on May 31st. Several suspects were able to remove a safe from the business. Detectives identified six suspects involved in the looting and theft of the safe.

Four suspects were arrested and booked for burglary, conspiracy and looting during a riot:
Ulises Alcantara JUAREZ DOB: 07-23-94 Male, Hispanic
Alfredo Fernando BELLO DOB: 06-07-96 Male, Hispanic
Yesenia Enriquez TEJADA DOB: 02-04-95 Female, Hispanic
Debbie LUJAN DOB: 10-15-96 Female, Hispanic


Evidence related to the looting, including the safe, were recovered and booked into evidence.

These arrests still do not excuse the fact that the Santa Monica Police allowed this to happen in the first place, and the fact that the Santa Monica Police Chief and several city council members blatantly lied about what happened.

For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE



As we all know, the Santa Monica Police ignored all the warnings about the upcoming looting attack on the city, and their incompetence led to the looting of over 100 stores in the Downtown Santa Monica.

Now, two of the looters who hit REI and VANS have been arrested.

According to their press release, Detectives with the Santa Monica Police Department scoured hours of security video and social media posts. A suspect vehicle was identified by searching social media videos of the civil unrest. It showed a vehicle license plate with two suspects loading various items from REI. After reviewing REI security video, the two subjects were identified inside the store removing thousands of dollars of merchandise. During the investigation one of individuals was also identified as the suspect of an assault on a police officer.

The Manhattan Beach Police Department stopped the wanted vehicle and notified Santa Monica Police Department Detectives. The occupants of the vehicle were determined to be the two outstanding suspects and were subsequently arrested.

A search of the suspect vehicle pursuant to a search warrant led to the recovery of several stolen items from both the REI and the VANS store.

Suspect #1 is Sebastian Martinez (2/22/1996) of El Segundo, CA. Suspect #2 is Christopher Gutierrez (11/5/2000) of Los Angeles. Both now in SMPD custody.

These arrests still do not excuse the fact that the Santa Monica Police allowed this to happen in the first place, and the fact that the Santa Monica Police Chief and several city council members blatantly lied about what happened.

For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE



Santa Monica Police will look the other way when people steal from stores, but don't wear a face mask, get a ticket.

Interim City Manager and Director of Emergency Services Lane Dilg has issued a Twentieth Supplement to Santa Monica’s local emergency declaration strengthening and clarifying requirements for wearing face coverings and setting penalties for those who do not wear them when required.

Under the Twentieth Supplement, businesses can refuse service to any person who does not wear a face covering or fails to comply with social distancing. Businesses must also take all reasonable steps to ensure those in line or entering their business wear face coverings and comply with physical distancing requirements. The supplement authorizes administrative citations for failing to wear face coverings, for individuals, as $100 for a first violation, $250 for a second violation, and $500 for a third violation. For businesses, the administrative citations are $500 for a first violation, $750 for a second violation, and $1,000 for a third violation.

There is a long list of requirements and exemptions to this, if you are outside alone, with members of your household, or able to stay 6' away from others, you don't have to wear a face mask. And if you are surfing or swimming, you are not required to wear one. And of course, if you are eating. We copypastaed the requirements/exemptions from the city below:

The supplement clarifies that the face covering requirement applies:
- When individuals are or can be in contact with or walking near or past others who are non-household members in both public and private spaces, including, but not limited to, walking through common areas such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities, meaning that a face covering must be visible and ready to be immediately put on whenever a moving person approaches within 30 feet of a non-household member;
- When patronizing a business, including while standing in line to enter any business;
- When obtaining services from healthcare operations, unless otherwise directed by the healthcare provider;
- When obtaining services from and while inside or at any location or facility engaging in essential government functions;
- When waiting for or riding on public transportation or paratransit or while in a taxi, private car service, or ride-sharing vehicle;
- When driving or operating any public transportation or paratransit vehicle, taxi, or private car service or ride-sharing vehicle when passengers are present;
- When participating in an in-person protest; and
- When engaged in work, either at a business or off-site (other than at one’s own residence) and (i) interacting in-person with any member of the public; (ii) working in any space visited by members of the public, regardless of whether anyone from the public is present at the time; (iii) working in any space where food is prepared or packaged for sale or distribution to others; (iv) working in or walking through common areas, such as hallways, stairways, elevators, and parking facilities; or (v) in any room or enclosed area where people who are non-household members are present and unable to maintain a minimum six-foot separation from one another.

Exemptions from the face covering requirement apply to the following:
- Persons younger than two years old;
- Persons with a medical condition, mental health condition, or disability that prevents wearing a face covering;
- Persons who are hearing impaired, or communicating with a person who is hearing impaired, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication;
- Persons for whom wearing a face covering would create a risk to the person related to their work, as determined by local, state, or federal regulators or workplace safety guidelines;
- Persons who are obtaining a service involving the nose or face for which temporary removal of the face covering is necessary to perform the service;
- Persons who are (i) outdoors alone or with household members; (ii) stationary; and (iii) maintaining at least six feet between the edge of the area they are in and the edge of the next closest person’s area;
- Persons who are actively engaged in a water-based activity, including, but not limited to, swimming and surfing.
- Persons compliant with the County Department of Health’s Protocol for Restaurants Opening for On-Site Dining under which customers who are seated at a restaurant or other establishment that offers food or beverage service are not required to wear face coverings while they are eating or drinking;
- Persons wearing personal protective equipment (“PPE”), such as medical-grade N95 respirator or a similar mask that is more protective than a face covering;
- Persons compliant with any other reopening protocol issued by the County Department of Health authorizing persons to remove their face coverings.

Santa Monica’s order is in effect until July 31, 2020.



For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE





The two big 4th Of July events in Santa Monica have been cancelled.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and restrictions of large-scale, in-person events, the parade down Main St has been cancelled by the city, and Santa Monica College has cancelled their pre-holiday fireworks show.

"It is particularly disappointing that Celebrate America had to be canceled this year, at a time when we at Santa Monica College would love to gather with our community," Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, SMC Superintendent/President, said in a news release. "We look forward to future occasions, when we may celebrate with confidence, to host events safely. Please take care of yourself. Stay well. Stay strong! Stay connected."

“I can’t predict when events like Celebrate America will be allowed to resume, or when folks will begin to feel comfortable in crowds again,” said Linda Sullivan, SMC Event Producer and Associate Dean of Facilities Programming. “But when they do, they will be greeted with the greatest enthusiasm.”






For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE




The two looting pieces of garbage that set fire to the beloved Sake House in Downtown Santa Monica have been arrested.

On July 1st, 2020 the Santa Monica Police Department and Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) served search and arrest warrants in West Hills and Chatsworth, CA as follow up to the arson of the Sake House restaurant located at 401 Santa Monica Blvd, and the looting that occurred in Santa Monica on 5/31/2020.

Arrested by ATF for Arson was Micah Amadeus Tillmon (DOB 8/6/2001). they are charging Tillmon with one count of arson, a felony offense that carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison and a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years.

According to the affidavit in support of the criminal complaint, security video from the restaurant shows Tillmon removing “a red tube-shaped object from his jacket, which he placed behind the reception desk area of the restaurant before walking away. Within seconds of that action, smoke and fire appeared from the area….”

Investigators with the Santa Monica Fire Department determined that the fire was caused by red object that Tillmon allegedly placed in the restaurant, which is at the corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and 4th Street.

Tillmon was identified by detectives with the Santa Monica Police Department, who reviewed numerous security videos and social media posts. Tillmon was also linked to the fire when investigators uncovered a video showing his white Ford Explorer parking next to the Sake House four minutes before the fire started and then reversing across the street soon after the fire started, according to the affidavit. That same video allegedly shows the Explorer parking about 500 feet away from the Sake House, and Tillmon exiting the vehicle and looting a nearby business.

Also arrested by the Santa Monica Police Department for looting was that tacky puke pants wearing Gisselle Alexis Pinto (DOB 4/14/2001) and Mynor Pinto (DOB 4/26/2002).

These scumbuckets were seen setting fire to the Sake House and looting at REI, Brandy Melville, Vons, Magicopolis, Salon Viva, Wasteland and the Shoe Palace, all located in Santa Monica. During the events of that day these subjects looted clothing, computers, backpacks, a bicycle and grocery items.

Evidence related to the looting was recovered during the search warrants and booked into evidence.







For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE

S
Bay Street Boards is celebrating it's 6th year with a sale all weekend.
Bay Street Boards
🌴☀️Santa Monica ☀️🌴
Surf & Skate Shop
3216 Santa Monica Blvd
310.310.2485
Hours: 11a-4p


This photo from Santa Monica Closeup shows the new sand art someone drew on the north side of the Santa Monica Pier.


The Santa Monica Pier reopened this morning. It is open with limited hours and operations. Rides are still closed, but shops and restaurants are expected to open. The new hours are 10am to 8pm.Here's info on what the reopened pier is going to be like now:

Entrance/Exit:
The is only one entrance to get on the pier, and only one exit. The Pier entrance and exit ramps are on Ocean Front Walk (across from Big Deans) on beach level (1614 Ocean Front Walk). The Pier bridge at Ocean & Colorado and all beach stairs will be closed. Each person entering will be counted, and each person that exits will be counted. Once the Pier reaches its limited capacity, guests will be asked to queue up and will be allowed to enter as capacity allows on a first come, first served basis. Both the entrance and exit are handicap accessible.

Parking:
The Pier Parking Deck and 1550 Lot (Lot 1 North) are both closed to the public. There are other nearby lots available as well as parking in Downtown Santa Monica garages. Vehicles displaying handicap license plates and hang tags are permitted to park at Lot 1-S 1640 Appian Way.

Bicycles
Bikes are allowed on the Pier. You can not ride them on the pier, but you can bring them onto the pier with you, that way you don't have to worry about leaving your bike on the boardwalk with the meth zombies and thieves.

Pets:
Pets on a leash are allowed on the Pier.

Health & Safety:
Everyone in California is currently required to wear a face covering or mask when outdoors or inside a business and near other people, so masks are mandatory on the pier. Signs all over the pier tell guests to maintain a 6’ physical distance from others not in your household.

Pier Businesses:
Due to the limited operating hours and limited number of guests allowed on the Pier at any one time, some businesses may be operating shorter hours, have limited services available, or may be closed altogether. Guests expecting to visit a specific business during this limited phase are encouraged to contact that business directly to confirm their hours and offerings.


Rides:
All amusement park rides at Pacific Park, including the Ferris Wheel, remain closed until further notice. The Pier merry-go-round will also remain closed until further notice.

New Features:
Little artificial grass squares have been set up on the pier parking lot to serves as the all-new, physical distance-friendly space for relaxing and dining outdoors. Many of the restaurants have expanded their patios.


The entrance ramp..


Once the pier is filled to the limited capacity, you will have to wait in this queue.


Signs everywehere.


The new "Pier Deck".


Pier Deck picnic squares.


Social Distancing warnings placed everywhere..


Tourist shops reopen.


Pease Stay 6ft Apart.



For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE




It looks like one of the surfer looters from last month has been arrested. The mug shot the SMPD released appears to match that of the person who stole a surfboard and other stuff from Patagonia.



Amanda Toyono Van Duyse, 31, of Los Angeles was arrested earlier this month for burglary, grand theft and burglary during an emergency, said Lt. Joseph Cortez, the Santa Monica Police Department spokesman.

Van Duyse's arrest came after police served a search warrant in the City of Los Angeles and "located thousands of dollars’ worth of merchandise stolen from Santa Monica businesses," Cortez said.

Santa Monica Police Chief Cynthia Renaud, who by the way not only did a piss poor job of protecting the city, but also, along with her cronies, has been lying her ass off trying to hide the fact that she did such a bad job, well this poor excuse for a police chief chimed in with this statement: “We are dedicated to bringing those responsible for the crimes committed on May 31 to justice and are working in collaboration with our partner agencies, to locate, arrest and prosecute those who committed acts of violence and theft in our community."

Amanda is being held in jail with a $100,000 bail.

As for the rest of the looted surfboards from Patagonia, most have been returned to the store, according to various posts on Instagram. One of the looters was even called out and identified publicly within minutes of all the videos of him hit Instagram.

@salty_beards has pretty much been the main detective on the stolen surfboards and updating the status on them. Below are a couple of their posts on it:



There's even a video of one of the surfers returning a board back to the Patagonia store on the @salty_beards Instagram page.

For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE




The two big 4th Of July events in Santa Monica have been cancelled.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic and restrictions of large-scale, in-person events, the parade down Main St has been cancelled by the city, and Santa Monica College has cancelled their pre-holiday fireworks show.

"It is particularly disappointing that Celebrate America had to be canceled this year, at a time when we at Santa Monica College would love to gather with our community," Dr. Kathryn E. Jeffery, SMC Superintendent/President, said in a news release. "We look forward to future occasions, when we may celebrate with confidence, to host events safely. Please take care of yourself. Stay well. Stay strong! Stay connected."

“I can’t predict when events like Celebrate America will be allowed to resume, or when folks will begin to feel comfortable in crowds again,” said Linda Sullivan, SMC Event Producer and Associate Dean of Facilities Programming. “But when they do, they will be greeted with the greatest enthusiasm.”






For more of our coverage of the Coronavirus lockdown, closures, and how our local surf community and businesses are doing, CLICK HERE




Video and text by David Malana

In honor of George Floyd, we paddled out to pay respects in Santa Monica. One thing you notice more than anything is that the surfing community is predominantly white. A sport created by people of color (ancient Polynesians) banned by white colonizers who proclaimed it an act of evil, reintroduced to the world by a Hawaiian, and then taken over again by vast majority white people who now make billions off of a surf industry that uses people and places of color as decoration for events, videos, movies, and photos. It's a bit of an irony that as a Filipino man, I often feel out of place. My challenge to surfers is to practice the concept of equity in their surf lives by sharing our love for the ocean and its waves with people and communities that didn't inherit the wealth you did, didn't have learning to swim or going to the beach as a birthright, and who now are represented by a brave few that paddled out with us that day, as a small somber amidst a crowd of generally jovial surfers enjoying their unintentionally closed communities. If you would like to find a hopeful surfer of color who wants to experience what we so readily enjoy, please let me know and I can help. That is one way we can do our part moving forward. Take the feels you get from these things, and do more to get BIPOCs back in the water where they once so naturally belonged.



The ATF and the Santa Monica Police put up a reward of up to $5,000 for information related to the arrest of those responsible for the arson that occurred May 31 at the Sake House by Hikari, located at 401 Santa Monica Blvd.

Below is the press statement from the ATF:




Anyone with information was asked to call Detective D. Chabot at 310-458-2201 Ext. 6679, Sergeant C. Green at 310-458-8414 or the 24-hour watch commander at 310-458-8427. Don't know how competent these detectives are, hopefully they are not awful at their job as their beloved Chief Renuad is.



The peice of trash wearing the ugly MISBHV legging also looted the REI store as seen in the photo above.



For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE




The ATF is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of the looters who hit Big 5 in Santa Monica last Sunday. The looters stole 29 guns from the store.

Below is the press statement from the ATF:

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) announced a reward today of up to $10,000 for information related to the arrest of those responsible for the burglary of a federal firearms licensee in Santa Monica.

Around 8 p.m., May 31, a group of unidentified suspects burglarized the store Big 5 Sporting Goods, at 3121 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, California. The unidentified suspects used a crowbar and a sledgehammer to break the windows and utilized bolt cutters to cut the metal roll down gate. They opened the emergency exit door of the business to gain entry to the business. Once inside, the suspects stole 29 firearms from the business. The suspects who used the sledgehammer and bolt cutters were riding in a white BMW four-door sedan.

ATF Los Angeles is offering up to a $5,000 reward, along with up to a $5,000 reward from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the burglary of Big 5 Sporting Goods.

This total reward of $10,000 is part of a larger national cooperative initiative between the ATF and NSSF in which NSSF matches ATF’s reward in cases involving the theft of firearms from federally licensed firearms retailers. NSSF is the trade association for the firearms industry. ATF works closely with members of the firearms industry to curb the criminal acquisition and misuse of firearms.

Anyone with any information about this crime should contact ATF at 1-888-ATF-TIPS (888-283-8477), by visiting www.reportit.com or through the mobile “reportit” app, available both on Google Play and the Apple App Store. All calls will be kept confidential.

When reporting information, include as many details as possible, and contact information if seeking a reward. Information eligible for reward must lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the robbery.

This investigation is being conducted jointly by the ATF Los Angeles Field Division and Santa Monica Police Department





For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE



Ocean Park's beloved Tower 26 is being replaced today, after it set on fire around 11:00PM the night of the Santa Monica looting.

"The city is replacing it with tower 29 for now, probably swapping them once tower 26 is completing repaired," local surfer Sergio Lira said. "A Good Samaritan saved the tower before the fire engulfed the outside, just the inside was severely damaged."



No graffiti was sprayed on it, so whether or not this was related to the lootings is unclear, could have been triggered by a local meth zombie, but we saw no evidence of that was left at the tower.

For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE



The internet is going after another one, a reporter who faked a photo for her website of herself helping Santa Monica recover from the tragedy.

***UPDATED: The news organization has fired this SAMOHI alumni due to all the backlash received.


You most likely saw the video of a woman who stopped a worker from boarding up a store so she can borrow his power drill and fake like she is helping Santa Monica rebuild for a photo. Here's the original video, in case you missed it:



As seen in the video, she hands the drill back to the worker, thanked him, then laughs about and makes that smug comment, before she gets into a Mercedes SUV with her boyfriend. And the fact that she made sure to pick a Latino worker to pose with didn't go unnoticed.

This happened on Monday morning during the huge clean up effort, where 100's of volunteers came to help clean up and repair Santa Monica. The video went viral and angered everyone. The search to find out who she is took off.

As one post on social media stated: "The problem here is that she's 1) using this terrible situation to promote herself instead of the man who's actually helping and 2) completely insensitive to racial / class tensions."

And soon enough, the internet found her and blasted her info everywhere. She is Fiona Moriarty McLaughlin, a conservative journalist, who has a column called Facts With Fiona and work for some political news site called the Washington Examiner.



Yeah, she is "just chasing the facts". We see the type of facts this BS'ing Washington Examiner is chasing.


We even shared the video of her on our Instagram Story and we almost immediately received DM's from people telling us her name, where she went to school, etc...even from people that know her personally. Saying things like she is a self-centered privileged rich girl.

And that school this poser went to is Santa Monica High School.

Now it's not clear if Fiona the poser was doing this for the news site or for her own struggling "influencer" account. Either way, mocking it the way she did, and laughing about it, it sure pissed off a lot of people. The news organization's social media accounts with comments calling for her to be fired.

And reports are now circulating that the Washington Examiner did indeed cut ties with Fiona. New York Magazine reporter Yashar Ali reported she was fired. Her bio page is now removed as well.

So Fiona now has some free time to actually help those businesses for real.


For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE


Image via @santamonicaproblems


The internet is at work busting the garbage that came to loot Santa Monica businesses.

This idiot posted a video bragging about all the stuff he stole, it went viral, the internet tracked him down and posted all his info online.

And LAPD actually took note of it.

@santamonicaproblems was the first to share this scumbag's video:



The internet then went to work, and soon enough, all his info was posted:



@santamonicaproblems, along with a FOX 11 News reporter, of all people, then called out the Santa Monica Police to step up and do something about. Good to see not all big station news reporters are inconsideration clowns. Big bravo to you, Bill Melugin!

All his info was found, including his address. Even what part of his house all the merchandise he stole was in.

And since Bill Melugin has a blue check mark on twitter, it caught the attention of the LAPD:



And that forced SMPD to step up:



Unfortunately, SMPD doesn't know how to use twitter.



We will post an update if we hear of anything happens, probably will have to wait and see if SMPD figures out how to use their email account first.

For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE


Photos by Six12 Media

A paddle out in honor of George Floyd was held on Friday evening at the historic Inkwell Beach which is the Bay Street Surf Break in Santa Monica.

Hosted by California Mermaid Photography, she wanted "to let others know we care and want this violence to stop. The Ink Well is one of the first beaches in California to allow African Americans beach access."

"Thank you, Surf community. This is us coming together for justice. Over 100 of you paddled out to form this beautiful circle to honor George Floyd; he’d be proud."










You can find higher resolution versions of these and a few more in this photo gallery:

George Floyd Paddle Out Photo Gallery


For more of our coverage of the protests and looting in our beach communities, CLICK HERE