From Santa Monica Close Up:

"The Santa Monica Pier rang in Día de los Muertos on Friday, marking the first of two days dedicated to honoring the traditional Mexican holiday. The celebration, which runs through Saturday, offers a family-friendly experience with a series of vibrant activities held inside the iconic Merry Go-Round building."

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.

Search is continuing. Lots of issues with civilians driving and walking in the area. pic.twitter.com/JJAFCc981v

— Scanner Pacific (@ScannerPacific) November 3, 2024

Late Saturday afternoon in the Venice Canals, LAPD was on a manhunt for an armed suspect wanted for robbing several tourists on Friday. He had a handgun according to witnesses.

Suspect is a male, black light complexion, short, dreadlocked hairstyle with blonde tips, muscular build, 180 pounds, 6 foot, wearing black long-sleeved shirt with neon writing, camouflaged pants, dark green sandals. May be armed.

After several hours, the suspect was not found and the search was stopped. During the search, they found a backpack with a ski mask.

There’s still time to register for BBB’s Doggie Fall Fashion Show!

Saturday 11/9 at the grand opening of our new off-leash dog run and walk the doggie run(way) with your pup to win amazing prizes





To enter, Click Here

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

A great white shark breaches into the sky just a few hundred yards Sunset Point in Pacific Palisades. The guy in videos says it's Malibu, but we all know that is Sunset, miles away from Malibu.

Friday, November 1st | 5:00PM - 8:00PM
Saturday, November 2nd | 5:00PM - 10:00PM

Santa Monica Pier pays tribute to the cultural tradition of Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead– with a two-day public art installation taking place from November 1st through November 2nd, 2024. The fourth annual Santa Monica Pier’s Día de los Muertos Celebration honors people, places, and ideas that are important to Santa Monican’s through free, family-friendly programming!

This year, we will also be bringing back Letters of Life, an art installation where we ask members of the community to share their favorite Pier memories, photographs, and anecdotes of family and friends who have passed. These memories will decorate our space via our digital murals that surround the historic 100-year-old Carousel and will be displayed over the course of our celebration.

See you there 🎃👻

For more info, Click Here

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.

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:

October 30, 2024

BEACH AREA WARNINGS:

· Manhattan Beach Pier in Manhattan Beach.

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Hermosa Beach Pier in Hermosa Beach.

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Redondo Beach Pier in Redondo Beach.

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Redondo Beach at Sapphire St.

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Windward storm drain at Venice Beach.

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Imperial Highway storm drain at Dockweiler State Beach. Dockweiler Tower 56

100 yards up and down the coast from the storm drain.

· Big Rock Beach in Malibu.

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

· Malaga Cove in Palos Verdes Estates.

The entire swim area.

· Pena Creek at Las Tunas County Beach.

100 yards up and down the coast from the outfall.

· Mothers Beach in Marina Del Rey

The entire swim area.

· Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica

100 yards up and down the coast from the pier.

· Outer Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro:

100 yards from the lifeguard station.

· Inner Cabrillo Beach in San Pedro:

The entire swim area.

· Topsail Street extension in Venice:

100 yards up and down the coast from Topsail Street.

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.

On 10/16/24 at about 7pm, SMPD Officers responded to the 500 block of Broadway for a call of a bleeding man lying on the sidewalk. (Original Press Release)

Upon their arrival, officers discovered the victim of a stabbing. The homeless victim, who is a recent arrival to Santa Monica from Kentucky, was able to provide a general description of the suspect along with a possible first name. Through surveillance video and follow-up investigation, SMPD Detectives identified a suspect.

On 10/23/24, 23-year-old Damian Garcia was located and arrested for the assault. Garcia is also homeless and new to Santa Monica from Florida. At Garcia’s arraignment on October 25th, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed one felony count of 245(a)(1) PC (Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Great Bodily Injury). Garcia is additionally being held on a fugitive warrant from Florida and will face extradition. He remains in custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Garcia’s criminal history includes Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Burglary to an Inhabited Dwelling, Vehicle Theft, Armed Robbery, and Resisting Arrest with Violence.

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Det. Ben Jenkins at (310) 458-4884, Sgt. Chad Goodwin at (310) 458-8931, or the Watch Commander desk 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.

The Santa Monica Police Department continues its investigation into the tragic incident that occurred on Thursday, October 17th at approximately 11:00pm, where a driver was arrested for driving under the influence after fatally running over a victim on the sand near the 1400 block of the Beach.

We are specifically asking for help from anyone who assisted at the scene. We encourage these Good Samaritans to speak with department investigators, as they may have valuable information that could aid in determining the totality of circumstances that lead to this incident. Your information, no matter how minor it may seem, could be crucial to our efforts.

Anyone with at the scene or with information about this incident is asked to contact Investigator Evan Raleigh (evan.raleigh@santamonica.gov; 310-458-8954) or Sergeant Krueger (nick.krueger@santamonica.gov).

General Information:

Date of Incident: Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 11:30PM
Type of Incident: DUI, Vehicular Manslaughter
Location: 1400 Block of the Beach
Suspect: 21-year-old male, arrested at the scene – Yuyang Sun
Victim: Female

The suspect, identified as YuYang Sun of Arcadia, was taken into police custody. Sun was reportedly driving in circles at high speeds on the sand when he ran over the victim, SMPD officials said. He was arrested and charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving and gross vehicular manslaughter.

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks in conjunction with SkatePark Association International invite you to attend the 15th Anniversary of the Venice Beach Skatepark JAM on Saturday, October 26th, 10 a.m. -4:00 p.m.

Find out about more upcoming local events, Click Here for the Event Calendar.