Reports of Armed Suspect in the Bluffs Closes PCH in Santa Monica for Two Hours

April 8, 2024 - The Pacific Coast Highway was closed for nearly two hours today around noon as police negotiated with an armed suspect.

At 12:07, the Santa Monica Police Department sent out an alert that they were closing the Pacific Coast Highway from Entrada south to the I-10 Freeway 4th Street exit. As is typical, the alert gave no details about the "Police activity" that was taking place, but social media posts reported that a suspect may have assaulted individuals on the beach and then fled into the bluffs. An unspecified weapon was involved. Responding to the incident were SMPD, a SWAT and K9 team and LAPD.

Most homeless individuals are armed with some type of weapon, from makeshift shivs to guns, but it is not known if the suspect was experiencing homelessness. Homeless encampments on the bluffs can be seen from the beach and fires have been started in the bluffs by the homeless, as well.

The all-clear was given at 1:48 pm with the police department inviting the public to "resume normal activity" and re-opening the highway.

April 9, 2024 update: Santa Monica Police released the following information, from Lt. Myesha Morrison:

On April 8, 2024, at approximately 11:00am, Santa Monica Police Officers responded to the 1200 block of the Beach for an individual threatening a lifeguard with a metallic rod. The suspect, later identified as Michael Vincent Parrett, a 38-year-old homeless male, jumped from the roof of Lifeguard Tower 12 and approached the victim with the rod, thrusting it towards him several times. The victim was able to dodge out of the way and was not injured.

Parrett was located by officers in the 400 block of Palisades Beach Road. He ignored the officers' commands and began running on the sidewalk, approaching multiple bystanders, while still holding the rod. When the officers intervened, the subject ran into the bluffs overlooking PCH. Due to the risk of the suspect falling onto PCH and into traffic, CHP assisted in closing northbound and southbound traffic.

The suspect made multiple statements threating that he would not give up without a fight resulting in the Crisis Negotiations Team responding to the location. Dialogue with Parrett continued for over an hour and half with no impact. Parrett made statements indicating that officers would need to shoot him before he would give up. Officers attempted to use less than lethal means to have the suspect drop the rod and surrender. He continued to maintain control of the weapon, refusing to drop it. Ultimately, Parrett was taken into custody with the assistance of a department K9.

Parrett was taken to a local area hospital for evaluation before being transported to the Santa Monica Jail. He was booked for 245 (a) 1 PC – Assault with a deadly weapon with the intent to inflict great bodily injury.