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# Police charge transient with attempted murder
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/police-charge-transient-with-attempted-murder/
- Published: 2002-05-29T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T00:18:24.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Crime, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Daily Press staff*

A 28-year-old man was charged with attempted murder after a late-night dispute between two transients turned ugly, police said.

Russell David Johnson was being held at the Santa Monica Jail with his bail set at $500,000.

Police were called to the 1200 block of Third Street at 12:16 a.m. on Tuesday, where the victim told them he had been involved in a fight with Johnson a little more than an hour before.

The victim said Johnson struck him in the face with his fist several times, then walked away, according to Lt. Frank Fabrega, Santa Monica Police Department spokesman.

While the victim was sleeping in his sleeping bag shortly after the fight, Johnson returned with a two-foot-long metal bar and began swinging it at him.

The victim was struck several times and sustained a large bruise to his knee and a small cut on his hand, police said.

Police found Johnson on the 200 block of Wilshire Boulevard. The victim and witnesses identified him as the attacker.

Johnson is scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

The victim was listed in good condition.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 29, 2002.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/052902.pdf?ref=smdp.com)