SANTA MONICA—Lt. Erika Aklufi indicated in an email to Canyon News that two suspects have been arrested for felony battery, elder abuse and a robbery that transpired on October 31. The SMPD reported at about 9:50 p.m., officers responded to a call of a battery that just occurred in the 1200 block of Lincoln Boulevard. Officers located the victim of the battery, a 79-year-old female resident of the city suffering from a blow to the head and other injuries.
The suspects, four males in a Kia sedan and armed with a handgun, robbed the woman of her purse. A witness provided a description of the vehicle and license plate to authorities. The Kia had been reported stolen out of Long Beach.
Additional responding officers located the suspect vehicle on the south side of the city driving recklessly and initiated a traffic stop. The vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit commenced, which later ended at 11th and Wilshire when the driver of the suspect vehicle lost control of the car and crashed into a pickup.
Two of the suspects were located immediately and taken into custody. The third suspect was discovered hiding in a carport off a nearby alley and taken into custody without incident. The fourth suspect pushed his way into an occupied apartment in the 1200 block of 11th Street.
Photo courtesy of Santa Monica Police Department.
The resident was able to force the suspect out of the apartment. This suspect was located hiding on the roof of the building by an assisting LAPD helicopter where he was taken into custody. A firearm was also located in the region.
The elderly victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of her injuries. The occupants of the other vehicle struck by the suspect vehicle were not seriously injured.
All four suspects were booked at Santa Monica County Jail on multiple felony charges. The suspects include:
Kejon Stevenson, 24, of Los Angeles; Jacob Pugh, 19, and two juvenile males, both 17 years old from Los Angeles.
Anyone with details about the incident is asked to contact Detective Tavera at Hector.Tavera@santamonica.gov, Detective Sergeant Gradle at Ryan.Gradle@santamonica.gov, or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427.
By Trevor