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From Santa Monica Close Up:

"A man parks an electric bike share in the middle of Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica on Thursday, September 22, 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.

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On September 8th, while patrolling the City of Malibu, Lost Hills Sheriff deputies noticed an open, empty six pack of beer next to a parked vehicle. The vehicle had 1 occupant, in the driver’s seat.

Deputies pulled up to speak with the driver. While speaking to the driver, deputies noticed signs of intoxication. Deputies detained the driver pending a public intoxication investigation.

During the investigation, deputies saw in plain view, pepper spray and learned that the suspect is a convicted felon. Also found in the vehicle was brass knuckles, a loaded shotgun with the serial number scratched off, and a box of ammunition. The suspect was #arrested for multiple weapons charges including Possession of a Firearm, Possession of Ammunition, and Obliterate ID Markings on a Firearm.


Wednesday morning a wrecked car was discovered abandoned on the trail on Palisades Park overlooking the beach in Santa Monica. The car hopped the curb into the park at Ocean and Wilshire, it hit a tree and continued north on the park's trail till it's damaged front end stopped it near the restrooms by the California Incline.



Facing Monsters, which chronicles the crazy slab exploits and family life of Kerby Brown in Western Australia, may be the best movie about a surfer, ever (according to their press). There will a screening of this film with a Q&A session, in Los Angeles on October 4th at Brain Dead Studios on Fairfax.


Facing Monsters digs deep into the psyche of West Australian surfer Kerby Brown, a man whose connection with the ocean runs as deep as his love for his family. Far more than just a surfing story, it’s an unapologetic musing into the essence of Kerby and his family as we join them on his quest to ride a ferocious slab wave in the deep Southern Ocean that no one on the planet has surfed before.



Brain Dead Studios
611 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

To buy tickets, Click Here


Snapping a Guy Okazaki Surfboard while shooting the Venice Beach Pier.





Hurricane Kay delivered on her promise of epic swell to First Point, Malibu on Saturday, September 10. Setting the stage for a memorable day of super long, head-high waves for the eight highly charged teams who battled in the 10th annual SurfAid Cup Malibu.

In partnership with the Malibu Surfing Association (MSA), the SurfAid Cup turned one day of surfing into a lifetime of opportunity for SurfAid partner communities, while clocking some of the best surfing conditions possible at the famed Malibu point break. The eight participating teams, along with a Firewire-donated Velvet Hour longboard broke the $50,000 fundraising mark in support of SurfAid’s Mother and Child Health programs.



Person crawling underneath someone’s house near Windward Circle.


Surf Video from Topanga, edited together from our Tuesday, September 20th Instagram Stories.





A large police and fire presence was visible on Ocean & Colorado infornt of the entrance to the Santa Monica Pier Tuesday morning.

A witness said "Somebody climbed over the rail of the overpass to the pier and was hanging there."





Thanks to the joint efforts of SMPD, LA County Fire & Santa Monica Fire, the individual in crisis has been transported to a local hospital.

If you or someone you know is thinking about harming themselves call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK or text 988.