By Daily Press staff
PICO NEIGHBORHOOD — A portion of an east-side neighborhood was temporarily closed off and an elementary school locked down Thursday afternoon as police combed the area for an armed man wanted in connection with a reported burglary.
Santa Monica Police responded to a call at 12:36 p.m. from a woman who said a man armed with a handgun was in her home in the 1900 block of High Place, one block from Edison Elementary. The victim had fled her house, telling police the suspect was still inside.
The SMPD’s special entry team performed an extensive search of the home and neighborhood. Described as a Hispanic man, 25-to-35 years old with a heavy-set build and mustache, the suspect remained at large.
Police arrived at the scene in less than a minute after the initial call, then set up a perimeter and closed off Virginia Avenue between Cloverfield Boulevard and 27th Street. Edison officials were told to keep children inside the school while police searched the area. However, there was never any danger to the children, according to the police.
Investigators were still at the scene of the alleged burglary Thursday night gathering possible evidence.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 5, 2003. Read the original PDF.