FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2012
Contact: Richard Lewis, Sergeant
Phone: 310.458.8462
e-mail: richard.lewis@smgov.net
On April 3, 2012, at approximately 7:19 p.m. the Santa Monica Police Department received a 911 call from a female who reported that the Santa Monica College Police had just pepper sprayed several individuals who were participating in a protest at a College Board meeting being held at the Santa Monica College main campus located at 1900 Pico Boulevard. In response to a request from the Santa Monica College Police for assistance, both Santa Monica Police and Fire personnel responded to the campus.
Santa Monica Police Department personnel, provided perimeter assistance for pedestrian and vehicle safety, as approximately 100 individuals who had gathered left the campus area.
Santa Monica Fire Department Personnel responded to the 1900 block of Pico Boulevard and provided emergency first aid and a decontamination area for those who were exposed to the effects of a chemical irritant determined to be pepper spray. According to Captain Judah Mitchell, PIO for the fire department, approximately 30 individuals sought decontamination from the effects of the pepper spray; with five individuals seeking further treatment by paramedics. Three of those individuals were later transported to a local hospital for further treatment.
For information regarding the incident on the Santa Monica Campus, please contact the Santa Monica College Public Information Officer Bruce Smith at (310) 434-4209. For any additional information regarding Santa Monica Police or Fire, please contact Sergeant Richard Lewis at (310) 458-8462.