From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Just after sunset on Sunday night, August 4, 2024, Santa Monica Police Officers, Santa Monica Firefighters, Los Angeles County Lifeguards, and Santa Monica Harbor Patrol Officers responded to a report of a potential drowning at Santa Monica Beach. Following an extensive search, authorities concluded that the witness had mistaken a buoy for a person in distress. The lifeguard on duty reassured the witness that reporting the sighting was the correct action. Buoys, which are floating objects anchored at specific locations, serve to guide or warn mariners, mark the positions of submerged objects, or moor vessels. "

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 try to get this person to clean up the mess he made, and he gets made at people watching the ordeal, and moons them.

The Festival of the Chariots, also known as Ratha-yatra, or “cart-festival”, originates from an ancient tradition in India. It commemorates a joyous celebration of life and glorification of God. The ancient annual Ratha-yatra parade in Jagannatha Puri, India, attracts one million people every year.

The tradition was brought to the West in 1967 by His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. Today it is celebrated in most major cities of the world, including London, Moscow, Toronto, Johannesburg, Delhi and New York.

The local Los Angeles version attracts approximately 40,000 parade and festival participants. Every year on the first Sunday morning of August onlookers are surprised by the procession of three glittering red, blue and gold, ancient style, east-Indian chariots traveling slowly through Santa Monica and Venice. The chariots do not move by motor. They are hand pulled by the spectators.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:

August 05, 2024

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

· Las Flores Creek at Las Flores State Beach

The entire swim area.

· Walnut Creek at Paradise Cove

The entire swim area.

· Solstice Creek at Dan Blocker County Beach

The entire swim area.

· Marie Canyon Storm Drain at Puerco Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the public access steps.

· Castlerock Storm Drain at Topanga County Beach

The entire swim area.

· Ramirez Creek at Paradise Cove

100 yards up and down the coast from the Paradise Cove Pier.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro

The entire swim area.

· Escondido Creek at Escondido State Beach

The entire swim area.

· Topanga Canyon Beach in Malibu

100 yards up and down the coast from the lagoon.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Ballona Creek at Dockweiler State Beach. Near Dockweiler Tower 40

100 yards up and down the coast from the creek.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Malibu Lagoon at Surfrider Beach

100 yards up and down the coast from the public restrooms.

These warnings have been issued due to bacterial levels exceeding health standards when last tested.

Use the map below to obtain the current water quality status of your favorite beach location. Use your mouse wheel to zoom into a particular location. Click on the marker to identify the sampling location. This map is updated as conditions change.

Expect one lane to be blocked on northbound or southbound Pacific Coast Highway by a moving closure between Sunset Blvd & Topanga Cyn Blvd from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. & between Puerco Canyon Rd & Corral Canyon Rd 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Mon 8/5 - Fri 8/9.

For more news, updates and traffic conditions on PCH and other local beachside roads, Click Here.

A tractor drags a capsized boat out of the loading ramp and into the parking lot in Marina Del Rey.

A Weekly SMPD Recap by Erika Aklufi
PATROL OPERATIONS DIVISION

For the week of July 7th to July 13th there were 52 arrests. Of these arrests, 20 were felonies and 32 were misdemeanors.

Notable Events

· 1900 Block Lincoln Blvd - Officers received a call of a kidnapping from the grandmother of a 3.5-year-old child who had been kidnapped from a restaurant near Lincoln and Pico. The child was last seen leaving with a female suspect. A crime broadcast was sent out and a large contingent of department personnel initiated an exhaustive search. At about 12:40PM, within 30 minutes of the 911 call, the child was located inside a room at a local motel. The suspect was arrested for kidnapping.

· 900 Blk Palisades Park - Officers responded to a radio call of an Assault with a Deadly Weapon (ADW) involving a suspect armed with a 2-foot-long metal bar. The suspect, who was on a bike, intentionally got close to the victim and swung the bar with the intent of hitting him. The homeless suspect was located with the metal bar in the 1200 block of Palisades Park. He was arrested for ADW.

· 1500 Block 2nd Street - Officers responded to a radio call from a security guard at McDonalds indicating a suspect had slashed at him with a box cutter when he tried to get the suspect to move away from the business. The security guard was unharmed. The suspect was detained with the box cutter and taken into custody for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

· 800 Block Wilshire Blvd - On July 15th, at approximately 7:47 PM, officers observed a subject lighting a palm frond on fire in the 800 block of Wilshire Blvd. Officers contacted the subject and determined he had a No Bail warrant. The subject was taken into custody and during a search incident to arrest officers discovered 12.8 pounds of Psilocybin, 44 grams of Methamphetamine, three 9mm rounds of ammunition, narcotics paraphernalia, a key fob to a Toyota, a check book not belonging to him, and various cards and papers. The subject was later determined to have a history of narcotic sales and other crimes. The subject was arrested for various narcotics-related offenses, theft, felon in possession of ammunition, and the No Bail warrant.

· Santa Monica Pier - On July 15th, at 10:07 PM, officers responded to a call regarding someone who had jumped off the pier. Harbor guards were the first to arrive on scene and saw the individual in the water holding onto a pylon. One of the harbor guards entered the water and successfully rescued the individual. The Fire Department treated and released the person on scene. Ultimately, the pier jumper was arrested for the municipal code violation.

DART- Directed Action Response Team

Notable Events

· DART contacted two subjects for trespassing under the SM Pier. S1 was on probation for 459 PC and consented to search yielding over 13 grams of meth. Additionally, S1 had a $60k warrant for 10851 (A) VC and 466 PC from Manhattan Beach PD. S1 arrested and MBPD picked up S1 from SM jail for warrant. Field interview completed for S2.

· DART contacted a subject who was in front of a residence on the 900 blk of PCH. S1 in possession of lost/stolen property. Wants/Warrant checked revealed S1 was absconding Parolee. S1 arrested and transported to IRC.

· DART assisted Code Enforcement with vendor cart inspections for the annual permit renewal period.

· DART conducted ped stop in the 1500 block of 4th Street. Record check revealed No Bail warrant for 211PC. Arrested.

· DART conducted ped stop in the 1400 block of Lincoln Blvd. Found to be in possession of heroin and fentanyl. Probation violation granted. On probation for 245PC. Transported to SMPD jail.

· Ped stop in the 1500 block of Palisades Park for open container. Investigation determined subject was 647F. Transported to SMPD Jail.

· Contacted a subject for being underneath the pier (SMMC Violation). Consent search revealed drug possession and paraphernalia. SMPD 30k warrant for dangerous drugs. Arrested.

· CEO advised DART of a 415 between Pier Performers. Investigation revealed two Pier Performers engaged in a verbal altercation which led to S1 forcibly push V1, remove V1's art tool from his shirt pocket, and throw it into the ocean. S1 was arrested for 211PC.

· DART responded to Code 3 back request from TSO in Lot 4 South. TSO was hit by S1 while attempting to confiscate a lost/stolen handicap placard. DART handled incident. Subject was cited and released due to having her handicapped mother and 5-year-old child with her.

There was a small brush fire on Encinal Cyn south of Mulholland Highway on Friday.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

"n Friday, August 2, 2024, a pedestrian's complaint about a man wielding a pickaxe at Santa Monica Beach prompted a swift response from Los Angeles Park Rangers. The incident involved a detailed exchange between the rangers and the homeless man, who was seen swinging the pickaxe and causing alarm among beachgoers.

The park rangers approached the man, inquiring about the pickaxe and explaining the potential danger it posed. The man insisted it was a tool and that he had the right to possess it, saying, "I was testing my strength, making sure I was going to make my shot." The rangers clarified that while tools are permitted for business use, a pickaxe in a public space is considered a deadly weapon. They stated, "You can't do that on the beach. You could do that in a private area, in your home or a backyard."

The man argued that there was no public place where he could use the pickaxe without being disturbed, accusing the rangers of wanting to take it from him. Despite his protests and claims of training for future use, the rangers maintained their stance, emphasizing public safety concerns.

Upon the arrival of Santa Monica Police Officers, the situation was confirmed. The officers reiterated that the man could not have the pickaxe at the beach and the pickaxe was confiscated. The man continued to express his frustration, but no citations were issued during the incident. The pickaxe was placed into the park rangers' vehicle for disposal, ensuring the safety of the beachgoers."

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.