By Daily Press staff
A man posing as a Santa Monica Police officer picked up a pair of area high school students Thursday morning, drove them to a residential neighborhood, and searched them “under their clothing” before releasing them, according to SMPD officials. The victims, whose names are being withheld, were not physically harmed during the incident.
Police are warning area residents to be on the lookout for the 30-to 40-year-old male purporting to be a local police officer, reminding Santa Monicans that SMPD patrol cars are white with a blue stripe. The suspect’s car was black and white with what appeared to be law enforcement markings and equipment. Police suspect an actual law enforcement vehicle may have been utilized in the kidnapping.
The investigation is ongoing. The pair of students, both 16, were accosted by the culprit while walking along the 2600 block of Lincoln Boulevard around 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. The man posing as a cop then ordered the two into his car before driving off to search them in a more secluded section of the city. He released them roughly 20 minutes later.
The suspect is described as a Hispanic male of medium build, with black hair, brown eyes and poor skin texture. Witnesses recall he was wearing a black “bomber”-style jacket, black pants and black boots.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to call the Santa Monica Police Department at 310-458-8491.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on November 1, 2003. Read the original PDF.