On the afternoon of July 29, 2024, officers from the Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) responded to an assault on a Santa Monica Big Blue Bus in the 3200 block of Santa Monica Boulevard.
According to SMPD, officers located the victim, who reported being attacked from behind while sitting on the bus. The attack was unprovoked; the victim did not know the suspect. The victim sustained significant injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
The suspect fled the scene before officers arrived. Using Big Blue Bus surveillance video, TAP card information, and additional video from neighborhood security cameras, SMPD investigators identified 34-year-old Erik Morgan of Los Angeles as the suspect. On August 9, Morgan was located and taken into custody.
Morgan, who is documented as homeless, was arraigned on August 13 and faces the following felony charges: 203 PC (assault), 245(a)(4) PC (assault with a high probability of causing bodily harm), 243(d) PC (aggravated assault) and 3455(a)pc (probation violation). He remains in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or suspect is asked to contact Detective
Orta at (310) 458-2293, Sgt. Chad Goodwin at (310) 458-8931 or the Watch
Commander Desk is available 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.
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