Outspoken Anti-Crime Advocate John Alle Beaten, Seriously Injured in Palisades Park

John Alle is the man who put up the now famous sign saying "Santa Monica is Not Safe" on Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade. Tuesday at 3 pm he was beaten in Palisades Park. The assailant broke Alle's jaw in two places, gave him a concussion and broke two of his teeth. Authorities transported Alle to the emergency at Ronald Reagan/UCLA Medical Center.

Alle says that he was walking North within Palisades Park, North of the Camera Obscura. He came across two men. Alle is not sure whether the assailants were armed.

SMPD did not arrest the second man because Alle could not say for sure that he participated in the assault as well. Alle was unconscious for 20 minutes and regained consciousness in an ambulance.

The suspect later told police that Alle had been taking pictures of him, which Alle says is incorrect. The suspect asked police if he could go through Alle's phone and delete the pictures.

The suspect has been charged with aggravated assault and robbery. In addition to being beaten, Alle was robbed of his wallet.

Host of the Santa Monica is Not Safe Sign, Alle has been an advocate for public safety in a town inundated by homeless people. It is unknown at this time whether Alle was targeted due to his advocacy, or for some other reason, or whether the attack was simply a robbery. But Alle says he didn't know the suspect prior to the assault. "He seemed to be on meth to me," Alle said.