By Kevin Herrera
Daily Press Staff Writer

PICO NEIGHBORHOOD — An undercover police officer was shot in the wrist early Thursday morning when an assailant opened fire on his unmarked vehicle. A reputed gang member was later taken into custody, along with a suspected accomplice, after the two took refuge in a nearby apartment building, authorities said.

Michael Espindola, 20, a resident of Santa Monica and suspected gang member, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder of a police officer, which could carry an enhanced penalty if Espindola, a prior offender, is found to have had possession of a firearm, authorities said.

The shooting occurred about 5 a.m. near the corner of 20th Street and Pico Boulevard. Officers immediately sealed off the area and conducted a search, locating the two suspects in an apartment building in the 1900 block of 17th Street near Santa Monica College. The department’s SWAT team was deployed and negotiated their surrender at approximately 6:15 a.m., according to Santa Monica Police Chief James Butts Jr.

As of 10 a.m., the area was still sealed off as officers searched for the weapon used in the shooting.

“Whether you are a police officer or not, it is unlawful and barbaric to lay in wait and open fire on (one) that has done nothing to you,” Butts said.

Officer Walter Ramirez, a 4-year veteran of the department, suffered a “through and through” wound to his right wrist, and was transported to UCLA Medical Center, where we was treated and released.

Shortly before the shooting, the suspects were observed acting suspiciously in the parking lot of the Ralph’s grocery store at 1600 Cloverfield Boulevard.

Officers in a marked patrol car notified Ramirez and his partner, who were in an undercover unit assigned to burglary suppression. They observed the suspects drive off in a blue van and proceeded to follow them at a distance of roughly two blocks, Butts said.

The officers lost sight of the suspects’ van around 18th Street and Pico Boulevard. As the officers drove south on 17th Street, they spotted the van parked in a driveway. As Ramirez drove closer, a suspect, believed to be Espindola, jumped from the passenger side of the van, raised a weapon and fired three rounds, one striking Ramirez in the right wrist as he tried to drive away from the scene.

His partner “saw the suspect raise his arm holding a firearm,” Butts said. “He yelled ‘gun, gun.’”

The suspect’s second shot went through the passenger side window and struck Ramirez. A third shot shattered the right rear window.

The officers did not return fire, Butts said.

This isn’t the first time an officer has been targeted in this area. Butts said an officer was shot at while patrolling 19th Street and Michigan Avenue roughly 18 months ago. The officer was not injured and the suspects were taken into custody shortly after the shooting.

The police department has served several search warrants in the area in recent years, arresting a handful of residents for possession of narcotics and loaded firearms, as well as attempted murder related to a drive-by shooting.

Concerned community members have warned the City Council about a relatively high crime rate and gang violence in the area adjacent to SMC.

“We’ve had two (officer-targeted) incidents in 18 months, so I don’t know if I can call it a trend,” Butts said. “There is no higher crime rate in this area than any other area. Higher crime rates tend to be in the downtown area. There are probably more incidents involving firearms per capita in this area than any other locale in Santa Monica, but in total numbers, the worst year in Santa Monica doesn’t equal the lightest weekend in South Central Los Angeles.”