West LA Times

On April 8, 2024, at approximately 11:00 am, a concerning incident unfolded in Santa Monica when a lifeguard was threatened with a metallic rod, leading to a dramatic sequence of events. The suspect involved in the incident was identified as Michael Vincent Parrett, a 38-year-old homeless male.

According to reports, Parrett jumped from the roof of Lifeguard Tower 12 and aggressively approached the lifeguard with the rod, making threatening gestures. Fortunately, the lifeguard managed to evade the attacks and remained unharmed.

Following the initial confrontation, Santa Monica Police Officers located Parrett on Palisades Beach Road, where he resisted commands and fled towards bystanders while still holding the rod. The situation escalated as Parrett moved towards the bluffs overlooking Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), prompting the closure of traffic in both directions to prevent any potential harm.

During the subsequent standoff, Parrett's behavior became increasingly volatile, with authorities noting that he expressed a strong reluctance to surrender peacefully. The Crisis Negotiations Team was deployed to engage with Parrett, but his defiance persisted. At one point, he even made statements implying that force might be necessary for his apprehension.

Despite efforts to de-escalate the situation using non-lethal tactics, Parrett remained uncooperative, maintaining control of the weapon and refusing to comply with law enforcement's directives. Ultimately, after a prolonged stand-off, Parrett was subdued with the assistance of a department K9 unit and taken into custody.

Following the incident, Parrett was transported to a local hospital for evaluation before being booked at the Santa Monica Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to cause significant harm. The events that transpired on that day serve as a reminder of the challenges faced by law enforcement in managing volatile situations and ensuring public safety.