Santa Monica police arrested a stalking suspect and seized a handgun, more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition and roughly 100 magazines during a search of his vehicle and residence, as part of a busy week in the city.
The Crime Impact Team and detectives served search warrants in connection with the case, recovering the weapon, ammunition, about 40 high-capacity magazines, narcotics and digital evidence, police said. The suspect was already prohibited from possessing firearms under a protective order at the time of his arrest, according to Councilwoman Lana Negrete.
The arrest was one of several notable cases detailed in the department's latest report, which also showed a citywide increase in proactive policing. Officer-initiated activity rose 25% over the previous week and accounted for 47% of all police work during the period, while calls for service from residents declined, according to the report.
Overall calls for service totaled 2,413 for the week, up from 2,316 the week before. Year to date, calls for service have climbed 7.7% compared with the same period in 2025, reaching 76,067 versus 70,630 a year earlier. Resident-initiated calls are down 5.2% year over year, while officer-initiated activity is up 26.7%. Total arrests for the year stand at 3,113, a 68.5% increase over the 1,847 recorded through the same period last year. Homeless-related dispositions this week totaled 532, though the year-to-date figure of 17,344 is down 6.1% from 2025.
In another case highlighted by Negrete, police arrested two suspects attempting to force open the door of a residence in the 1000 block of 4th Street after the homeowner's alarm and dog interrupted the break-in attempt. Officers located the pair several blocks away in possession of burglary tools and a switchblade. One of the suspects was on felony probation for burglary at the time, police said.
Police also arrested a suspect connected to the vandalism of approximately 298 city-owned water meters, with estimated repair costs exceeding $200,000.
On the Third Street Promenade, officers arrested a man reported to have inappropriately touched women in the area. Police said the suspect was violating sex-offender registration requirements, and city camera footage captured evidence of a sexual battery.
In Palisades Park, bicycle officers stopped a man for an open-container violation and discovered he was wanted in Georgia on felony charges. Georgia authorities have confirmed they will extradite him, police said.
Traffic enforcement remained focused on areas of resident concern, with motor officers conducting 232 stops and issuing 141 citations and 83 advisals during the week. Enforcement was concentrated near Colorado Avenue and Yale Street, along with pedestrian-safety operations on the Wilshire and Lincoln corridors. At Pico Boulevard and Euclid Street, a driver who struck a center median was arrested on suspicion of DUI.
The department's Homeless Liaison Program team logged 131 radio calls, 112 self-initiated contacts, 38 citations, 24 arrests and five SaMoBridge referrals during the week. Two individuals were assisted through the department's Project Homecoming effort — one was taken to SaMoBridge from the beach lots while arrangements were made to return home, and another was helped with transportation from Tongva Park back to family in Kansas. A separate multi-agency beach operation connected 20 people with resources, completed two mental health evaluations and removed 2,680 pounds of trash.
The Santa Monica Fire Department also assisted with regional wildfire preparedness, sending a Type 6 engine to join a Cal OES pre-positioned task force stationed in northeast Los Angeles from July 31 through Aug. 2 amid elevated brush fire risk. At home, SMFD completed 173 annual fire inspections, 28 alarm and sprinkler plan checks, 12 new construction plan reviews and 16 special event plan reviews during the week, while responding to 326 total calls, 73 of them homeless-related.