Woman Stabbed Multiple Times During Home Invasion in Santa Monica

By Jorge Casuso

February 23, 2018 -- Santa Monica police are looking for a suspect who stabbed a woman multiple times during a violent home invasion robbery near Downtown early Friday morning.

The incident took place at approximately 3:30 a.m. in an apartment complex in the 1700 block of 5th Street just north of the 10 Freeway, police said.

A preliminary investigation found that the suspect -- described as a black male, 25 to 30 years old -- forced his way into the victim’s apartment while she was asleep.

"The suspect grabbed a knife from the kitchen and demanded money and property," said Lt. Saul Rodriguez, the Police Department spokesman.

"The suspect stabbed the victim in the arm and jumped on top of her. A struggle ensued and the victim was able to fight off the suspect."

The victim "suffered multiple stab wounds and lacerations caused by the attack," Rodriguez said

She was transported to a local hospital where she is undergoing surgery and remains in stable condition, he said.

The suspect -- who was wearing a red beanie and dark colored camouflaged sweat pants -- fled the apartment through the front door. He is believed to have suffered "a significant cut to his hand," Rodriguez said. During a search of the area, police recovered evidence in the 1500 block of 12th Street which led to an extensive perimeter search by SMPD’s SWAT and K9 Teams, police said. Police Friday released a video capture of the suspect, who remains at large. Courtesy Santa Monica Police Department

Friday's home invasion comes nearly nine months after two violent home invasions just 11 days apart rocked the upscale North Of Montana neighborhood near the northern end of town.

The incidents were particularly brutal, with the occupants of both homes hospitalized.

The same two suspects were arrested and charged in both home invasions, which led to calls for heightened policing in the city's wealthiest precinct ("Suspects Charged in Two Brutal Home Invasion Robberies in Santa Monica," May 31, 2017).

Anyone with information on Friday's incident should call the Santa Monica Police Department at (310) 458-8491.