Los Angeles police are searching for a homeless woman suspected of assaulting a dog and two young children in separate incidents on Thursday afternoon in Venice and Santa Monica.
Jerusha Fox, who was walking her dog Wonder in Venice around 3pm, reported that an unidentified woman suddenly attacked her pet. “I’m usually very aware of my surroundings, but I couldn’t get a read on her,” Fox said. “It happened so spontaneously.” Fox added that, fortunately, Wonder was not seriously injured.
Shortly after the incident, a woman walking near Fox informed her that she had just been on the Santa Monica Boardwalk with her two young children when they were attacked by the same woman. The mother said she filed a police report with Santa Monica authorities.
The suspect was later seen entering a Gold’s Gym in Venice where she allegedly stole items and took off.
Fox expressed her understanding of the complex nature of homelessness, referencing her brother who requires extensive care and noting that he might also be homeless without family support. Still, she said that despite significant financial efforts by the city and county to address the crisis, results have been minimal. “If my brother didn’t have our family, he could very well be out there too,” Fox said. “We’ve invested so much money in this crisis, yet the results are dishearteningly insufficient.”
The suspect is described as being in her 30s or 40s with brown hair and was last seen wearing blue shorts and a black tank top.
Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Los Angeles Police Department Pacific Division station, or the Santa Monica Police Department or the Watch Commander (24 hours) at 310-458-8427 as they continue to investigate the incidents.
Published in partnership with the Westside Current.
