On August 27 at approximately 9:48 p.m.
SMPD sworn police officers were informed by a Civilian Public Safety Officer of an injured person near the front of City Hall. The victim claimed to have been struck in the arm by a male transient with a metal pole. The suspect, Lavell Barker, was described and later located by officers in the nearby area. The victim stated the suspect approached him and his girlfriend at the corner of Main and Olympic while they awaited the traffic signal to change and for no apparent reason attacked him with a metal pole. Barker was charged with 245(a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Santa Monica Jail.