From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On Monday, September 9, 2024, Santa Monica Police Officers were flagged down by bystanders at the Santa Monica Pier following an unprovoked assault. Witnesses reported that a man, who appeared to be homeless, had thrown a rock at a group without any apparent cause, striking one individual in the face.

The suspect, who was found to be on probation, was detained by officers at the scene while an investigation was conducted. He was subsequently arrested on assault charges. The victim was not harmed. The rock, recovered by officers, will be used as evidence in the case."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Billed as North America's Largest Pet Festival, Day of the Dog took place on Saturday at the Main Street, Santa Monica Block Party. Among all the pet festivities, there were also two separate car clubs having shows and vendors from all over.

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Santa Monica police are called when a man with a knife and swords is seen at the beach in an area that is filled with families.

The man explains he was just practicing his martial arts and means no harm to anyone.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"On the morning of September 5, 2024, both Santa Monica and Los Angeles Police officers responded to a report of a man wielding a machete near the Venice-Santa Monica border along Ocean Front Walk.

The incident unfolded as a local man, who was biking in the area, noticed a stranger carrying a machete. "I look at him, and he’s looking at me. This guy thinks he’s Conan the Barbarian or something," the victim recounted. Feeling threatened, the victim continued to pedal away while attempting to call 911. At that point, another man on a skateboard intervened, yelling, “Don't be a snitch!” He then forcibly took the victim's phone. "I’m trying to get away from this guy with a machete, and this other guy is more concerned about me making a call," the victim added.

The victim described the suspect who took his phone as a homeless man with a "Y-shaped mark on his face," and expressed regret about letting the man walk away with his phone without escalating the situation further. "I feel like letting that guy take my phone is bad. As a man, I shouldn’t have let that happen, but I didn’t want things to get worse," he said.

Los Angeles Police officers arrived at the scene to speak with the victim about his stolen phone, while a Santa Monica Police officer continued searching for the suspects and speaking to witnesses on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. An LAPD officer noted, "We will take a courtesy report since it occurred on the border and will follow up with Santa Monica detectives."

Police are still searching for both suspects involved in the incident. The investigation is ongoing."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Santa Monica Police officers arrested two individuals at Santa Monica Beach on a busy Sunday, September 1, 2024, following an incident involving an open container of alcohol. The situation unfolded when officers noticed a man drinking from an open container, a violation under Santa Monica Municipal Code 4.08.200, which prohibits the possession and consumption of alcohol on public properties, including parks and beaches.

Upon approach, the man became uncooperative and aggressive, resisting the officers' attempts to detain him. During the altercation, the suspect allegedly assaulted one of the officers. He is expected to face multiple charges, including resisting arrest under California Penal Code (CPC) §148(a)(1) and public intoxication."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Venice Healer Daisy sings with the band on this Holiday Sunday.

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Taking a tour of the 2024 Venice Classic Car Show with Oscar from Hecho En Venice.

Graffiti writer Jes One USK STP UTI, revisiting some West Los graffiti history in Venice.

Every Friday night at the Ocean Park lot in Santa Monica.

From Brad Jacobson:

"Malibu is one of the most entertaining surf spots in the world. I headed to Malibu on Friday August 23rd to capture a fun south swell and realized it's similarities to a movie. Thanks for watching! I'm Brad Jacobson and these are my stories."

A behind-the-scenes look at the filming of the Paralympics Anderson Paak "Live Concert" at Venice Skatepark taking place on Tuesday, August 27. This is rumored to be a segment for the live broadcast on Wednesday.

The Olympics film crew brought in fake plants and added graphics to the skatepark and walled it off from the public. A paid group of background actors were also brought in to play the concert crowd. They also had local adaptive athletes and a couple of local skateboarders riding sections of the park for the concert footage.

Several scenes of things that go on in Santa Monica after the sun sets.

During the weekly Friday morning Venice Beach Homeless Encampment Clean Up, one person finds out all his important belongings were trashed by the clean up team. Then the clean up team encounters a person who was just assaulted and in need of urgent medical attention.

On Saturday, August 24th, 2024, the Great Western Steak & Hoagie Co. Celebrated 51 years in Venice Beach with a community event with lowriders, local vendors, and music.

On Wednesday morning, Pacific Coast Highway was closed between Heathercliff Road and Busch Drive while Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Enforcement Bureau personnel assised the Malibu/Lost Hill’s Station with a barricaded assault with a deadly weapon suspect in his vehicle.

The standoff began about 5 a.m., when deputies attempted to cite the suspect for a parking violation. Deputies checked the man's license plate information and discovered he had a no-bail felony warrant, sheriff's spokesperson Adam Zeko said.

He assaulted the deputies with a fire extinguisherwhen they approached his white van, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Zeko told the press.

Deputies called in other resources, including "our special weapons team, who are on the scene right now," he said. The man was taken into custody without incident around 8:30 a.m. and the road was reopened to traffic about an hour later.

Investigators are still poring over the scene in #Malibu where a man was barricaded in his camper van for a couple of hours. He was taken into custody by #LASD. This stretch of #PCH is still closed. @knxnews pic.twitter.com/lyZdb2HmKb

— Jon Baird (@KNXBaird) August 21, 2024

"On Monday, August 19, 2024, Venice Healer Daisy officially embraced a new chapter as she settled into her popup tent home on Venice Beach. After her recent stint in jail, Daisy chose to leave her apartment and live closer to nature, which she believes is essential for "global liberation."

Click Here for more Stories about Venice Healer Daisy

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"n Friday, August 16, 2024, Los Angeles Police Officers were stationed along the Venice Beach Boardwalk as part of a newly formed task force aimed at educating the public and enforcing the no biking rule on the boardwalk. The initiative comes in response to a recent severe electric bike accident that left a child unconscious after being struck by a youth rider.

Around a dozen LAPD officers, including two sergeants, were strategically positioned across the boardwalk to maximize visibility and ensure compliance. The task force's primary focus was on preventing accidents and promoting safety by redirecting cyclists and pedicab operators to the designated bike path."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

" On Thursday, August 8, 2024, Santa Monica Police officers issued a citation to street performer Lionel Jean-Baptiste, known on Instagram as @icecreamsongs1, for violating Santa Monica Municipal Ordinance (SMMO) 4.08.750, which prohibits solicitation in certain locations. The incident occurred at Ocean Front Walk, in front of Shutters on the Beach hotel, where Lionel has been performing regularly for over a year.

Lionel was asked to pack up his equipment and stop performing. He was cooperative and complied with the officers' requests, who stood by to ensure his compliance. During this time, a nearby resident expressed frustration with the police action, criticizing the allocation of resources to the incident when more pressing crimes were happening elsewhere. The resident spoke with Lionel, offering her support, and then confronted the officers, questioning their priorities.

Lionel, a former elementary school teacher with over a decade of experience in Los Angeles' inner-city schools, calmly acknowledged the citation. He explained that he would make adjustments to comply with the ordinance and mentioned plans to reach out to the Santa Monica Police Department’s lieutenant for further discussion and clarification. Despite this setback, Lionel intends to continue performing at the same location, adapting his approach to stay within the bounds of the law. "I was told if I continue to play today, there was a possibility I'd be arrested," Lionel said, emphasizing his decision to temporarily stop playing to avoid further conflict.

Before becoming a street performer, Lionel dedicated 10 years of his life to educating young children, creating educational music designed to engage and inspire students. His website, IceCreamSongs.com, features a collection of songs aimed at teaching children basic skills through music, including tracks like "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" and "Wheels on the Bus" for younger kids, as well as educational rap songs focused on subjects like multiplication for older students. This commitment to education and community service has won Lionel a dedicated following, both online and in the local community.

The incident on Ocean Front Walk has brought to light the ongoing tensions between street performers, local businesses, and law enforcement in Santa Monica. The resident’s vocal support for Lionel, coupled with his respectful response to the situation, underscores a broader concern about resource allocation and community priorities in the city. Lionel's background as an educator and his transition to street performance add a layer of complexity to this narrative, highlighting the challenges and resilience of those who seek to share their talents in public spaces."

Santa Monica Close Up is a photo blog by Santa Monica based Photojournalist/Press photographer Fabian Lewkowicz. Fabian is the former staff photographer for the Santa Monica Daily Observer Press, Santa Monica Mirror, Santa Monica and the Santa Monica Corsair.

Video portrait featuring Taro Watanabe.