Lavonte Anthony Montgomery (left) and Roderick Germell Thompson (right). Photo: SMPD

On May 30, 2022, at about 2:30 PM, Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) Officers responded to a radio call of a robbery in the area of 3rd & Strand Street. The caller reported a male subject took the victims purse by force, then entered a nearby Ford Explorer and fled the scene. The caller gave Dispatch the suspect vehicle’s last known direction of travel.

While responding to the call, SMPD Officers located the suspect vehicle, occupied by two subjects. The suspect vehicle failed to yield, and a short pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle collided into an unoccupied parked car in the 2300 block of 14th Street. The driver, later identified as Roderick Thompson, exited the vehicle and was immediately taken into custody. The passenger, later identified as Lavonte Montgomery, ran from the vehicle, and entered the backyard of a residence in the 1300 block of Pine Street. A perimeter was established, and Thompson was taken into custody without incident.

SMPD Officers located the victim’s belongings inside the suspect vehicle. Officers also learned from the victim that during the commission of the crime, Montgomery pushed the victim’s baby stroller with her 4-month-old inside it. The infant was not hurt.

The suspects were transported to the SMPD Jail and booked for the following:

• Suspect 1: Lavonte Anthony Montgomery a 32-year-old male of Los Angeles was booked for Robbery, Delaying Arrest, Reckless Driving / Evading, Child Cruelty and Parole Violation

• Suspect 2: Roderick Germell Thompson a 35-year-old male of Los Angeles was booked for Robbery, Delaying Arrest, and Reckless Driving / Evading.

From Santa Monica Close Up:

" Los Angeles County Firefighters retrieve a Public Works bulldozer that was stuck in the Santa Monica Beach shoreline on Saturday, June 4, 2022.

According to Los Angeles County Public Works Spokesman Kerjon Lee, Los Angeles County Public Works was performing seasonal maintenance at the outlet of Pico drain on Santa Monica Beach on June 3, when a small dozer became stuck at the shoreline. A second, larger dozer was brought in to assist and, while the initial piece of equipment was freed, the second dozer was caught in the rising tide and remained in the shoreline overnight.

Early this morning, LA County crews returned during low tide with an excavator to clear sand in front of the dozer. Two additional dozers and winches were brought in and the dozer was dislodged and safely removed by 9 AM."

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.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

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From Santa Monica Close Up:

"Santa Monica Police Officers and Code Enforcement Officers from the Safety Task Force clean-up a homeless encampment at Santa Monica Beach on Friday, June 3, 2022."

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.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

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From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A Los Angeles County Public Works bulldozer got stuck in the Santa Monica Beach shoreline on Friday, June 3, 2022. The bulldozer got stuck while working on the annual Pico storm drain project."

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.

Support Santa Monica Closeup/Fabian Lewkowicz with Venmo or PayPal to help earn money to make these videos:

https://venmo.com/u/santamonicacloseup

https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/fabianlewkowicz

Remember that hit-&-run that involved a baby?

Ten months ago, a lady and her baby were run over on Speedway in Venice. It happened the morning of Aug. 6 at Speedway and Galleon streets. The car was driven by a drunk/drugged up 16 year old who did not have a license. He tried to drive off after hitting the lady and her 8-month-old son , but was stopped by a guy in a pickup truck.



Multiple videos show the car veering directly at the mother and child while speeding the wrong way down a narrow backstreet with no sidewalks.

Investigators say the 16-year-old driver was under the influence of drugs and was driving a rental car. It's unknown how he got possession of the rental car.

The teen was finally sentenced, and all he recieved was 5 month in "juvenile probation camp," an alternative sentence less severe than juvenile detention.

The baby was uninjured, and the mother received a laceration to her elbow. In her statement, repeatedly called the attack an attempted murder and lambasted LA District Attorney George Gascon for what she called a policy of seeking juvenile justice with "the lightest touch possible".

Gascon’s office called the final sentence of five to seven months in youth camp "an appropriate resolution."

The victimn said she lived in fear for seven months before the driver was taken into custody on a bench warrant after skipping court and added she will continue to live in fear after his short sentence is complete.

"I was also told that his record would be wiped clean when he turns 18," she continued. "How on earth can that be? He tried to murder two innocent pedestrians. Murder. And we have video evidence. My child would be dead if I hadn’t been there to protect him."

The DUI driver with no license who ran this mom and baby in a stroller over, ran from the scene and was only stopped by a hero in a pickup truck only received 5 months in a juvi camp per Gascon’s DA office. @DAGasconRecall pic.twitter.com/N4sq9YWB0m

— STREET PEOPLE OF LOS ANGELES (@streetpeopleLA) June 3, 2022

"I was also told that his record would be wiped clean when he turns 18," she continued. "How on earth can that be? He tried to murder two innocent pedestrians. Murder. And we have video evidence. My child would be dead if I hadn’t been there to protect him."

Major Feature Film is looking for Union Males or Females Between the ages of 18-27 to play SKATEBOARDERS working 6/7 with a Covid test 24-48 hours before working on set. All on location in the Los Angeles Area.

RATES
Union: $182 for 8 hours with time and a half after 8
Covid Test: Union $100 (any off set test)
THIS SHOW DOES REQUIRE EVERYONE TO BE FULLY VACCINATED (INCLUDING THE BOOSTER IF NEEDED)!

If this is you or someone you know, please email
- LEGAL NAME (Stage name in Parentheses)
- CURRENT PHOTOS (Chest up & head to toe)
- PHONE NUMBER
- FULL SIZES (INCLUDING HEIGHT & WEIGHT)
- UNION STATUS (INCLUDE UNION # IF SAG)
- LOCATION (City you live)
- VACCINATION STATUS
To AMERICANSOCIETYBG@GMAIL.COM with “SKATEBOARDERS“ in the subject line.
PLEASE INCLUDE ALL REQUESTED INFO!!

Nick Gabaldón Day will take place on Saturday, June 18, 2022 from 9AM – 4:30PM.

Nick Gabaldón (1927-1951) was a pioneering surfer of African American and Mexican American descent. He was the first documented surfer of color in the Santa Monica Bay. Gabaldón’s passion, athleticism, discipline, love, and respect for the ocean live on as the quintessential qualities of the California surfer.

In 2013, with the help of African American historian Alison Rose Jefferson, Heal the Bay joined forces with the Black Surfers Collective to amplify and expand their prior Nick Gabaldón efforts. Nick Gabaldón Day, in its current form, is now in its 10th year and will be held on June 18, 2022. This innovative celebration provides an amazing opportunity for broadening outreach, action, and education to connect Angelenos with their cultural, historical, and natural heritage.

RSVP to the events by signing up at Nick Gabaldon Day Registration.

The Black Surfers Collective, Heal the Bay, Surf Bus Foundation, Color the Water and the Santa Monica Conservancy, partner on the Nick Gabaldón Day programming to reach out to families in resourced challenged communities to inspire, engage and empower them through meaningful educational programming. We are helping build personal experiences with cultural, historical and nature heritage and civic engagement that are the foundation of stewardship, and the development of the next generation of civic, and heritage conservation and environmental leaders.

Heal the Bay Aquarium under the Santa Monica Pier will be free for all visitors in honor of Nick on Saturday, June 18 thanks to a grant from Northrop Grumman. A celebrity guest reader will pop in for story time and special art activities will be offered, as well as screenings of documentaries exploring issues of race, coastal access, and following your passion against all odds.

For more info and the schedule of events, visit Nick Gabaldon Day 2022.

Kick off the summer with the Annenberg Community Beach House. Be a part of the 10th Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta!

On Saturday, June 18, from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., two-person teams of all ages will test their ingenuity in racing homemade yachts made of corrugated cardboard and duct tape across the Annenberg Community Beach House pool. Have you ever dreamed of setting sail across the waters in your very own yacht? Now you can build your own cardboard yacht and test its seaworthiness in a race across the Beach House Pool. Build a yacht using just corrugated cardboard and duct tape, decorate it, cross your fingers and hope you can make it to the other side.

Two people must be in the yacht during the race. All boats must be human-powered (no motors).People's Choice Awards will be given in a variety of categories, including "Most Likely to Sink", "Best Use of Theme", and "Most Spirited". The Beach House Courtyard will open for yachts to be on display beginning at 11am. Races will launch beginning at 1pm. Please read attached information sheet for more details on the Cardboard Yacht Regatta, including appropriate yacht building materials, regatta rules and an event timeline.



The Cardboard Yacht Regatta Day pre-registration fee is $20 and early registration is encouraged. For questions or more information, visit the Annenberg Community Beach House website, or call the Beach House at 310-458-4904.

Preregistration required to race your yacht. Register early and enjoy building your boat with friends and family! $20 entry fee per yacht. Payment is NOT required for each sailor who will be in the yacht.This is a team registration. Please register once per yacht that will be entered in the event. .