Crime Bulletins

The suspect is believed to be in the library on a frequent basis.

Anyone having information relating to the suspect is asked to contact SMPD or SMCPD (College Police) at the below listed numbers, reference case # 09-34494.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2008 - GRAND THEFT AUTO *Recovered* (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 9/12/2008 at approximately 10:30am, an SMC student parked and locked his white 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche in Santa Monica College Parking Structure-3 - Level 2, and left for class.

The student returned to the parking Structure at approximately 3:00pm and noticed his vehicle was missing. Officers from the Santa Monica College Police Department assisted the victim by taking a stolen vehicle report and entering the information into the Stolen Vehicle System Database.

On 9/13/2008, Officers from the Santa Monica Police Department located the stolen vehicle, which was left abandoned in a parking lot in the 1600 block of Lincoln Boulevard. The vehicle sustained some damage as a result of the theft, and was later returned to the owner at the scene.  

If you have additional information regarding this incident, please contact the Santa Monica College Police Department at: (310) 434-4300, reference case #: 08-490.

SEPTEMBER 4, 2008 - Robbery (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 9/03/2008 at approximately 9:40 pm, a female Santa Monica College Student was robbed in the 2200 block of 16th Street while walking home from class. The victim was approached by two subjects from behind, who forcibly took the victims purse.

Officers from the Santa Monica and Santa Monica College Police Departments conducted a search of the area, but the suspects are still outstanding. The victim sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Additional information regarding this incident is being withheld, due to the ongoing investigation. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Santa Monica Police Department, Robbery/Homicide Division at: (310) 458-8451 or the on-duty Watch Commander at: (310) 458-8426.

APRIL 30, 2008 - Suspect Arrested for Grand Theft Person (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

Suspect:       Rigoberto Ruiz, Male, Hispanic, 53 years old, 5’09”, 200 lbs, gray hair, brown eyes,wearing a dark shirt, tan shorts and tan shoes.

On 4/30/2008 at approximately 12:05 AM, Santa Monica College Police Officer Cesar Becerra saw a female Asian running in the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard and heard her yelling for help. Officer Becerra contacted the female, who reported a man just stole her purse from her shoulder.

The SMC female student victim was walking home alone when she was approached by a male suspect from behind. The victim felt someone “tug” on her purse. As the victim turned around, the suspect pulled the purse from her shoulder and ran away. She followed the suspect and lost sight of him in the Burger King parking lot, located at 20^th Street and Pico Boulevard.

Officer Becerra notified the Santa Monica Police Department of the incident and began checking the area for the suspect. Officer Becerra found the suspect hiding between two trash dumpsters and rifling through the victim’s purse in the northwest corner of the Burger King Lot, where he was detained. Santa Monica Police Officers arrived to assist, and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers recovered the victim’s purse and all the contents from the suspect, and the victim positively identified the suspect as the perpetrator. The suspect, who has an extensive criminal arrest record, was later booked at the Santa Monica Police Jail for Grand Theft Person, a Felony.

The Santa Monica College Police Department recognizes that crime occurs 24 hours a day on or near campus, and would like to commend Officer Becerra for his diligence and commitment to our Department mission, “Safety for the College Community.”

APRIL 23, 2008 - Grand Theft Person (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

Suspect #1:   Male, unknown race, 6’03”, 185 lbs, short blonde or red hair, metal stud earring at the top of left ear, red short sleeve shirt, red pants, unknown shoes, no further details.

On 4/21/2008 at approximately 1330 hours, a male Santa Monica College student was walking on the south sidewalk of Drescher Hall near the Coffee Spot when a male subject approached him from behind, took his money from his hand without force, and ran away.

The victim followed the suspect northbound through the Campus, then westbound on Pico Boulevard. The victim lost sight of the suspect near the intersection of 17^th and Pico Boulevard and reported the incident to the Police Department thirty minutes later.

Officers checked the area but were not able to locate the suspect. Officers reviewed surveillance footage and saw the suspect running from the scene as described by the victim.  

APRIL 16, 2008 - 9-1-1 Call of Armed Subjects a the Bundy Campus (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 4/14/2008 at approximately 1924 hours, the Santa Monica Police Department received a 9-1-1 call from a female subject who reported there were three suspicious male subjects entering the Santa Monica College Bundy Campus. The caller informed the dispatcher that two of the males were armed with a handgun and the other was armed with a knife. The caller disconnected, and no suspect descriptions were provided.

The Santa Monica Police Department initiated a response from the Santa Monica College and Los Angeles Police Departments. Officers arrived on scene minutes later and formed teams to conduct a building search.

A systematic search of the building was conducted by Officers from the Santa Monica College and Los Angeles Police Departments, and no suspicious subjects were located.  All instructors were contacted and confirmed there were no suspicious subjects or activities observed.

MARCH 25, 2008 - Student Arrested for Grand Theft Auto (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 3/24/2008 at approximately 1415 hours, Officers of the Santa Monica and Santa Monica College Police Department received a LoJack Stolen Vehicle Alert in the area of 17^th Street and Pico Boulevard.

Officers responded to the area and determined that the LoJack Signal was coming from a vehicle parked in Santa Monica College Parking Structure-C. Officers located the parked unoccupied vehicle on Level-3 and determined that it was taken from Orange County.

Investigative follow-up revealed that the driver of the vehicle was an SMC student, whose name is being withheld pending further investigation. Officers monitored the vehicle for approximately one hour, and the suspect was taken into custody without further incident. He was transported to the Santa Monica Jail and booked for Grand Theft Auto.  

FEBRUARY 21, 2008 - Attempted Robbery & Aggravated Assault (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 2/21/2008 at approximately 1:24 pm, a female Santa Monica College student was on the south side of the HSS South building when a male black approached her from behind and attempted to rob her.

The female student was texting on her cell phone when the suspect approached her from behind. The suspect grabbed the victim’s cell phone and tried to forcibly take it from her. The victim struggled with the suspect, was knocked to the ground and sustained minor injuries.

Two male Santa Monica College Students intervened and tried to stop the assault. The suspect fought with both male students, one of whom received minor injuries. The suspect fled on foot toward Structure-C without the phone.

The suspect was seen by Santa Monica College Police Parking Enforcement Officers running northbound across Pico Boulevard from the main campus. Officers from the Santa Monica College and Santa Monica Police Departments searched the Pico Neighborhood for the suspect, who is still outstanding.

DECEMBER 6, 2007 - Two Arrested for Investigation of Robbery (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On Thursday, December 6, 2007 at approximately 10:00 a.m., Santa Monica College Police Officers received a call of a man brandishing a gun in SMC Parking Structure-A.

Officers from the Santa Monica College and Santa Monica Police Departments secured the area, while SMC Officers Champagne and Becerra located and arrested two adult male suspects in their vehicle.

Two replica firearms were recovered from their vehicle. The suspects matched the description of the robbery suspects from the recent robberies in the L.A. Building and Structure-A.

Both suspects, who are Santa Monica College students, were booked at Santa Monica Police Department Jail for investigation of robbery.

DECEMBER 3, 2007 - Assault & Battery Arrest / Investigation (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 11/29/2007 at approximately 11:30 am, Officers received a call of a fight in progress near the Coffee Spot at the SMC Main Campus.

Officers arrived on scene and detained two male non-student adults attempting to flee from the Police. Officers obtained statements from nearby witnesses who stated the two subjects were attacking another male, who left prior to police arrival.

Officers arrested the two male non-student adults for fighting on campus. They were identified as:

Suspect #1 - Daryl Lee Merrill II – 20 yrs, Marina Del Rey, CA

Suspect #2 - Christopher Alexander Bragg – 20 yrs, Inglewood, CA

At this time, it is not known whether this incident was gang related. The third male subject involved was described as:

Male, Black, late 20’s, large athletic build, wearing a New York Yankees baseball cap and a long white T-Shirt.

NOVEMBER 29, 2007 - Weapons Violation Arrest (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 11/29/2007 at approximately 8:50 am, Officers received a call of a suspicious subject on campus.

Officers contacted the subject in front of the Library and verified he was a registered sex offender in possession of multiple weapons, including chains and knives.

The subject was arrested for felony possession of weapons on campus and for violation of criminal probation. The subject was transported and booked at County Jail, reference DR# 07-24905.

NOVEMBER 27, 2007 - Armed Robbery / Carjacking (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 11/27/2007 between the hours of 1-2 pm, a female Santa Monica College student was carjacked while sitting in her vehicle in the 1600 block of Delaware Avenue, just north of Santa Monica College.

The victim parked and sat in her vehicle with the engine running and the windows rolled down. The suspect approached the victim on foot and placed the barrel of an unknown type firearm against her neck. The suspect forcibly pulled the victim out of the vehicle by her hair and ordered her to walk away.

In fear for her life, the victim walked away toward the Santa Monica College Campus. The victim heard the suspect drive away in her vehicle northbound 17^th Street.

NOVEMBER 27, 2007 - Burglary from Motor Vehicle (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 11/27/2007 at approximately 1245 hours, a female Santa Monica College student parked and locked her vehicle in the 1600 block of Delaware Avenue, just north of Santa Monica College, and left for class.

The victim later returned to her vehicle and noticed that someone threw a piece of concrete through her rear window and stole her Ipod. There were no suspects seen or heard.

NOVEMBER 27, 2007 - Attempted Armed Robbery & Aggravated Assault (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 11/27/2007 at approximately 12:45 pm, a male white Santa Monica College student was walking by himself on the first floor of the Liberal Arts Building toward the Counseling Complex when a male black approached him from behind and attempted to rob him.

The suspect stepped in front of the victim to block his path. The suspect ordered the victim to give up his cell phone, but the victim refused. The suspect then lifted his sweatshirt and displayed a black automatic handgun that was concealed in his waistband. The suspect attempted to grab the cell phone from the victim's belt holster, but the victim resisted.

The suspect struck the victim twice in the face with his fists, and ran eastbound through the building and out of sight. The victim told a student worker in Counseling about the incident. The student worker notified a Counselor the following day, who then notified the Campus Police.

Officers located the victim on 11/28/2007 and verified the crime occurred.

NOVEMBER 06, 2007 - Armed Robbery (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 11/06/07 at approximately 1230 pm, a female Santa Monica College student was walking eastbound between Parking Structure “A” and Santa Monica Swim Center toward the Business Building when she was robbed.

The student first noticed the (3) three suspects crossing 16th Street from Foster’s Freeze restaurant when they began walking quickly towards her on 16th Street. The suspects followed her onto campus. When Suspect #1 caught up to her by the pool he stepped in front of her raising his sweater to display the black handle of an automatic handgun. Suspect #1 demanded her SideKick Cellular phone and nothing else. Suspects fled towards 16th Street out of the victims view. No vehicle seen or heard.

OCTOBER 02, 2007 - Grand Theft Auto *Recovered* (Click here for full Bulletin in .PDF)

On 10/02/2007 at approximately 1200 hours, the victim parked and locked his red 2005 Cadillac Escalade (similar to above pictured vehicle) on the roof level of Santa Monica College Parking Structure “C”, and left for class.

The victim returned to the parking structure at approximately 1643 hours, and discovered his vehicle was missing. There were no suspects seen or witnesses available. The vehicle is described as a red 2005 Cadillac Escalade with 27” custom chrome rims, California License plate # LUCFR6.