Santa Monica Observer - Community, Diversity, Sustainability and other Overused Words

Police have arrested a suspect for the attemp[ted murder of a homeless man. A librarian found the victim Wednesday night outside the public library in Ocean Park, as he closed the library. That Andrew Carnegie library is over 100 years old, and features a children's reading room. Due to Prop 47 and other progressive ideas that promote drug addiction and homelessness, it seems incongruous to have a reading room or a library at all in Santa Monica. But anyway, here's the press release from the SMPD:

Santa Monica, CA – On August 9, 2023, at about 8:09 a.m., patrol officers responded to the Ocean Park Branch of the Santa Monica Public Library regarding a Check the Status call for service. A library employee tried to wake up a homeless male at the front doors and discovered he was badly injured.

The victim, a 41-year-old male, was found with blunt force trauma to his face and a swollen forehead. The unconscious victim was transported via ambulance to a local hospital. He is currently listed in critical condition and is expected to survive.

File photo

Ocean park branch of the public library in Santa Monica, where this incident occurred.

At approximately 12:35 p.m., detectives investigating the incident spotted a person of interest who was loitering in the front of the library. Upon contact with the suspect, he became uncooperative and threatening in his behavior. Additional responding officers deployed a taser after the subject attempted to assault uniformed officers.

The suspect, who is homeless, was booked for attempted murder, felony battery on a police officer, giving false name to a police officer, and resisting arrest.

In custody: Nathanael Roger Lavoie DOB: 04/15/83

Anyone with information related to this crime or suspect are encouraged to contact the SMPD Investigations Division during business hours at (310) 458-8451 or the Watch Commander 24-hours at (310) 458-8427.