How Does Santa Monica Police Chief Ramon Batista Handle an Unruly Homeless Man at Starbucks? Video!

Santa Monica, 9.11.24 – It's not at all unusual for Starbucks employees to have to deal with unruly homeless individuals entering the store, sometimes forcing staff to ask them to leave or even call the police. However, what made today's incident particularly unusual was who responded: none other than Santa Monica's Chief of Police, Ramon Batista.

The incident occurred around 1:00 pm at the Starbucks located directly across the street from Santa Monica City Hall. Witnesses say a homeless man entered the café, appearing disoriented and making patrons uncomfortable. The man reportedly refused to leave when asked by the staff, prompting concerns from both customers and employees.

What might have been a routine call for a police officer took an unexpected turn when Chief Batista, who happened to be in the vicinity, stepped in to personally address the situation. Chief Batista calmly approached the man, spoke with him, and de-escalated the situation without incident, eventually guiding him out of the store.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, "Chief Batista was nearby for a meeting and saw the situation unfolding. He acted quickly to ensure the safety of the patrons and resolve the matter peacefully."

Lieutenant Erika Aklufi, police spokeswoman and the officer photographed speaking to the unruly individual, added, "I thought we handled it pretty well!

The individual was already inside the store when we walked in. Our first responsibility was to make sure that the individual did not have further contact with the employees or customers. The Chief called for a patrol officer in case the individual became violent. In the meantime, the person was responding adequately to my requests that he leave Starbucks, so I stayed talking to him and moved him toward the exit. He left the location less than 30 seconds after your video ended and walked across the street to Tongva Park. Though the person was agitated no crime was committed in our presence. The patrol officer monitored the individual until he left the area."

David Ganezer

SMPD Chief Bautista and Lt. Erika Aklufi encounter a threatening homeless man at Starbucks.

While it's common for officers to respond to disturbances involving homeless individuals in Santa Monica's downtown area, the presence of the city's top law enforcement official handling the issue surprised many. One witness, who asked to remain anonymous, remarked, "It's rare to see someone in his position getting directly involved like that. It shows a lot about his character and commitment to the community."

Homelessness remains a visible and ongoing challenge in Santa Monica, with businesses like Starbucks often serving as focal points for those seeking shelter or comfort. Chief Bautista's involvement underscores the city's efforts to address these challenges with compassion while maintaining public safety.

Starbucks employees expressed relief that the situation was handled without incident, and patrons quickly resumed their morning routines after the brief disruption. The homeless man was not arrested and was directed to local resources for assistance.

SMPD Chief Bautista and Lt. Erika Aklufi encounter a threatening homeless man at Starbucks.

Chief Batista's actions serve as a reminder that leadership often involves stepping into difficult situations, even when it's not part of the day-to-day job description.