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# Man arrested for armed robbery, attempted murder
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/man-arrested-for-armed-robbery-attempted-murder/
- Published: 2003-01-01T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T01:15:33.000Z
- Author: Carolyn Sackariason
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*Victim listed in critical condition with massive facial injuries*

Santa Monica Police wrapped up its year Tuesday by nabbing an alleged armed robber and attempted murderer who is accused of severely beating a man in his hotel room last week.

The victim, who is unidentified and listed in critical condition, was allegedly beaten by Jason Robert Manuel, 22, of Los Angeles at Loews Hotel last Thursday.

A guest of the hotel found the victim lying in a hallway outside of his room and called police. When officers arrived, they found the man, who was apparently staying at Loews, suffering from numerous massive facial injuries. The victim is a 56-year-old man from Texas. He was transported to a local hospital.

Police said Manuel met the victim at a casino in Inglewood. They returned to Santa Monica and went to the victim’s hotel room, where he was allegedly robbed and beaten by Manuel sometime between 2 a.m. and 5 a.m. It’s unknown why the two went to the hotel.

SMPD detectives were able to identify Manuel within 24 hours of the crime by using surveillance video tape from the Inglewood casino. A picture of Manuel was put on a hotel crime alert that was issued to nine large hotels in Santa Monica on the same day of the crime.

About 100 fliers were distributed to local law enforcement agencies and casinos in the South Bay that identified Manuel. An arrest warrant was obtained and entered into the statewide law enforcement computer.

“Our detectives worked some long hours on this case,” said SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega. “Once they identified the suspect in 24 hours, they worked every day for hours following up on addresses in Los Angeles.”

SMPD officers found Manuel at a casino in Compton at about 6 a.m. Tuesday after a security guard there recognized him from the photograph and called Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies, who arrested him.

“It was the alertness of the security officer at the casino that was able to recognize him,” Fabrega said. “He had the flier we sent out.”

SMPD officers went to the Compton Sheriff’s station and transported Manuel to Santa Monica Jail. He was charged with attempted murder and armed robbery. Manuel’s bail has been set at $1,000,000.

Anyone having information regarding this incident should contact the Robbery/ Homicide Unit of the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8451.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 1, 2003.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/010103.pdf?ref=smdp.com)