by Liz Mullen
MBPD finds swastikas in the park
The Manhattan Beach Police Department is investigating two incidents in which swastikas were spray painted in Sand Dune Park, a few weeks after a sign with racial slurs was left there.
MBPD was alerted to a swastika painted on a tree in the park between 30th Street and Third Street on May 10. The next day, a second swastika was spray painted on a walking path at the top of the park.
As previously reported, MBPD responded to a report on the social media site Nextdoor of a noose hanging from a tree and a sign with racial slurs in the park on April 25. Police found the racial slurs but did not find a noose or any rope when they arrived at the scene.
“I personally don’t think these are related,” MBPD Detective Joseph Udeoji said of the swastikas and noose. Although Udeoji added that he is not discounting the possibility the crimes could be connected.
“Right now, it is just vandalism, but it can be a hate crime if it is targeted towards someone,” Udeoji said.
Udeoji said he has seen five to ten cases of anti-semetic vandalism in the last six years.
There are no suspects and no video of the incidents. Anyone with information is asked to call the MBPD at (310) 545-4566.
On May 12, MBPD responded to a report of a stolen electric bicycle and found two suspects at Imperial Highway and Vista Del Mar. One of the suspects fled on an e-bike, but the second suspect complied with officers’ commands.
The second suspect was in possession of the victim’s stolen e-bike as well as fentanyl. This suspect swallowed an unknown quantity of fentanyl and officers called for an ambulance to take the suspect to the hospital.
The MBPD officers recovered the stolen e-bike from this suspect and returned it to the victim.
On May 13, a burglary occurred at the Goodwill on the 1100 block of Artesia Boulevard, where a window to the store was shattered. Surveillance video showed a suspect smashing the window after failing to pry the door open with a crowbar.
The suspect reached through the glass window and stole a bedspread as well as multiple bags of clothing before leaving the area.
On May 14 the Big Wok restaurant on the 900 block of Sepulveda Boulevard was burglarized. Officers arrived on the scene to find a north-facing window shattered, but the suspect had fled. An employee came to the restaurant and determined there was no loss of property from the break-in.
On May 15, a robbery occurred at the Target on the 1200 block of Sepulveda Boulevard. An employee was moving a PlayStation 5 from a locked case in the store when a suspect pushed the employee. The employee dropped the PlayStation and the suspect grabbed it
MBPD has video surveillance of the suspect, who is believed to be involved in other thefts in the South Bay. The employee did not require medical attention.
There were 41 police reports taken by the MBPD in the week of May 9 through May 15, including eight for theft. There were two reports of vandalism, one robbery, one vehicle burglary, three assaults, three auto thefts and two business burglaries. There were no residential burglaries for the week.
Hermosa Police arrest teen for assault
Hermosa Beach Police Department officers arrested a juvenile suspect who was part of a group of teenagers who attacked a middle school boy on Beach Drive in downtown Hermosa. A video of the attack was shared on social media.
“It was a horrible crime… captured on video. It documented a middle school boy who was being violently assaulted by a group of teenagers,” HBPD Chief Paul LeBaron told the city council on May 15.
The attack took place on April 28. The teenager, whom LeBaron described as the “main suspect,” was arrested on May 14. The teen was arrested at his school, which LeBaron said is not in Hermosa Beach, and taken to the Los Angeles County Juvenile Detention Facility.
“I want to highlight the fact that he was taken to a juvenile detention center because some of our community members ignorantly commented (on social media) that the police would not do anything because the suspect was a juvenile,” LeBaron told the council.
“We are aware there were numerous suspects involved in this crime and I want to assure you that our investigation is not over,” LeBaron said. “We intend to work on this case until all responsible parties have been held accountable for their actions.”
LeBaron told the council about another video showing an adult man arguing with HBPD officers who were impounding an electric motorcycle on a Saturday, May 11
HBPD officers responded to calls from residents about numerous juveniles on electric vehicles causing a disturbance. But when police arrived, the juveniles fled on the e-bikes. One bike was left behind and on further inspection, officers determined it was a motorcycle.
The owner of the motorcycle returned with his father. The father was the man depicted on the video arguing with HBPD officers. “The juvenile who had run from us — who was the owner of the bike — we determined to be unlicensed and he was issued a citation for riding a motorcycle without a license,” LeBaron said.
In an odd twist, officers learned that the owner of the bike that was actually a motorcycle had another contact with HBPD. “The juvenile that was cited Saturday night was the same juvenile that we took into custody yesterday for the assault of the young man,” LeBaron said.
Five unlocked cars on one block burglarized in Redondo
Five unlocked vehicles were broken into on the 1600 block of Aviation Boulevard a little after two in the morning on May 3. Keys to a Ford F-150 were stolen, but there were no other losses reported from the other four cars.
There were three residential burglaries in early May, including a residence on the 600 block of The Village in which a diamond ring and diamond earrings were stolen. The burglar entered that residence by smashing the kitchen window in that burglary on May 3.
On May 4, burglars broke into a trailer that was parked on the 800 block of Catalina Boulevard. Thieves stole a keyboard, electric drum, guitar and microphone, among other musical equipment.
On May 2, a freight container parked near the corner of Redondo Beach Ave. and Manhattan Beach Boulevard was broken into by thieves. They stole nine pairs of sunglasses before driving away in a new black Jeep.
A black Vespa GTS 250 moto scooter was stolen from the 2400 block of Marine Avenue on May 7. A 2020 black GMC pick up truck was stolen from the 2400 block of Curtis Avenue sometime between May 3 and May 5.
A business on the 1600 block of Kingsdale Avenue was robbed on May 4. The suspect entered the open store and asked an employee to open a locked cabinet. The suspect pushed the employee in the chest and verbally insulted him. The suspect took a camera and left the store without paying. ER
