West LA Times

Santa Monica, CA – An incident involving the assault of a child in Santa Monica has prompted a swift and determined response from law enforcement. The incident occurred on Sunday, March 10th, at about 7 pm on Main Street and Marine Avenue.

Chief Rámon Batista expressed his concern, stating, "An incident like this one is an affront to public safety and will not be tolerated. Even more so that a child was involved. Any crime committed in Santa Monica is a crime too many; our department stands strong in the face of anyone who chooses to victimize those who are in this city."

Acknowledging the importance of community support, Chief Rámon Batista added, "We appreciate our partnership with our community, relying on our residents, business owners, and visitors to provide us with information about criminal behavior."

The police department is actively working to enhance safety measures in the area, with Chief Rámon Batista emphasizing, "Our goal is to be proactive and present, providing safety and security to our residents and visitors."

In response to the incident, the department is deploying additional resources, including the Homeless Liaison Program Team, to assist individuals experiencing homelessness. Chief Rámon Batista highlighted, "We are deploying our Homeless Liaison Program Team of police officers and a mental health clinician to provide much-needed resources to those experiencing homelessness."

Efforts are being made to connect individuals with necessary support services through collaboration with the Therapeutic Transport Team and the Salvation Army, as Chief Rámon Batista mentioned, "Our efforts, combined with the Therapeutic Transport Team and the Salvation Army, provide us a platform to redouble our efforts to connect individuals with treatment and shelter."

The suspect, described as a male, Black, approximately 6-01, 30-35 years old, wearing a black jacket and blue jeans, fled the scene and remains at large. The police are actively investigating the incident and seeking to identify and apprehend the suspect to ensure the safety of the community.