Man Throws 4-Foot Pole Into Oncoming Traffic In Santa Monica: Police

SANTA MONICA, CA — A homeless man was arrested on suspicion of throwing a four-foot metal pole from a bridge onto vehicles below, Santa Monica police said.

According to the Santa Monica Police Department, witnesses saw 29-year-old Carlos Hernandez-Martinez throwing the pole from the pedestrian bridge that crosses over Pacific Coast Highway from Palisades Park on Nov. 10.

"As officers approached, he threw the pole over the side of the bridge directly onto vehicles traveling at approximately 45 miles per hour below," SMPD said in a statement.

Officers said Hernandez-Martinez initially complied with orders to climb off the top of the bridge, but then grabbed another stick and a frying pan from a pile of his belongings and ran away.

SMPD quickly subdued Hernandez-Martinez and placed him in handcuffs. Detectives presented the case to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and Hernandez-Martinez was charged with throwing an object at a car with intent to cause bodily injury, which is a felony. He was also charged with multiple counts of resisting arrest.

Anyone who may have additional information was urged to contact Detective James McCoy or Detective Sergeant Chad Goodwin.