Arrest in Santa Monica Big Blue Bus Assault: Suspect Taken into Custody and Facing Felony Charges

SANTA MONICA, CA – A 34-year-old man, Erik Morgan, was arrested and taken into custody following an unprovoked assault on a Santa Monica Big Blue Bus on July 29, 2024. The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) responded to the incident, which occurred on the 3200 block of Santa Monica Boulevard. The victim, who was attacked from behind while seated on the bus, sustained significant injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

Incident Details and Suspect Identification

On the afternoon of July 29, 2024, SMPD officers responded to an assault on a Santa Monica Big Blue Bus near Centinela Avenue. The victim reported being attacked from behind by an unknown individual without provocation. The severity of the attack left the victim with significant injuries, requiring urgent medical treatment at a nearby hospital.

The suspect, Erik Morgan, fled the scene before officers arrived. Utilizing surveillance footage from the bus and surrounding neighborhood cameras, along with TAP card information, SMPD detectives identified Morgan as the assailant. Morgan, who was on probation at the time of the assault, was located and arrested on August 9, 2024.

Felony Charges and Arraignment in Santa Monica Bus Assault Case

Erik Morgan has been charged with multiple felonies following the unprovoked assault on a Santa Monica Big Blue Bus. Each charge reflects the specific actions he allegedly took during the incident:

• 203 PC (Mayhem): This charge is applied when someone unlawfully and maliciously disfigures or disables another person. In this case, Morgan is accused of inflicting significant and potentially permanent injuries on the victim during the assault, such as disfigurement or serious harm, which justifies the charge of mayhem. Under California law, this serious felony can result in a prison sentence of up to eight years.
• 245(a)(4) PC (Assault Likely to Cause Great Bodily Injury): This charge is used when an assault is likely to result in serious physical harm. Morgan allegedly attacked the victim from behind without warning, causing severe injuries that required hospitalization. The nature of the assault, which involved significant force, supports the charge of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, a felony that can lead to up to four years in prison.
• 243(d) PC (Aggravated Battery): Aggravated battery is charged when someone inflicts serious bodily injury on another person. The victim in this case sustained significant injuries as a result of Morgan’s attack. The extent of the harm caused during the assault meets the criteria for aggravated battery, another felony that could result in up to four years of incarceration.
• 3455(a) PC (Violation of Probation): At the time of the assault, Morgan was already on probation for a previous offense. Committing a new felony while on probation is a serious violation, which can lead to additional penalties, including reinstating the original sentence for the prior offense and further prison time.

Morgan was arraigned on these charges on August 13, 2024, and remains in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, facing significant legal consequences if convicted.

Ongoing Investigation and Public Involvement

The Santa Monica Police Department is actively continuing its investigation into the unprovoked assault on the Big Blue Bus. Authorities are urging anyone with additional information about the incident to come forward. The police have provided contact details for Detective Orta, Sgt. Chad Goodwin, and the Watch Commander desk, encouraging the public to assist in gathering further evidence or witness statements that could be crucial to the case.

As with any criminal case, it is important to remember that an indictment or arrest is merely an allegation of a crime. All defendants, including Erik Morgan, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.