18 Cars Vandalized at SMC

Bunker King, Cebelihle Hlatshwayo, Renée Bartlett-Webber, Sohrab Pourjavady

Shattered glass on the floor of the Level P3 of the underground parking of Santa Monica College (SMC) Student Services building, Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2024. According to Mr. Olivera Santos (Grounds services of SMC), between 20-25 cars were vandalized in various spots across all three levels of the parking structure and the suspect was apprehended by SMC Police Department. Photography by Alexey Nosov

Shattered glass on the floor of the Level P3 of the underground parking of Santa Monica College (SMC) Student Services building, Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2024. According to Mr. Olivera Santos (Grounds services of SMC), between 20-25 cars were vandalized in various spots across all three levels of the parking structure and the suspect was apprehended by SMC Police Departments. Photography by Alexey Nosov.

Shattered rear windshield of one of the cars that were vandalized on the Level P3 of the underground parking of Santa Monica College (SMC) Student Services building, Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2024. According to Mr. Olivera Santos (Grounds services of SMC), between 20-25 cars were vandalized in various spots across all three levels of the parking structure and the suspect was apprehended by SMC Police Departments. Photography by Alexey Nosov

Shattered rear windshield of one of the cars that were vandalized on the Level P3 of the underground parking of Santa Monica College (SMC) Student Services building, Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2024. According to Mr. Olivera Santos (Grounds services of SMC), between 20-25 cars were vandalized in various spots across all three levels of the parking structure and the suspect was apprehended by SMC Police Departments. Photography by Alexey Nosov

Shattered rear windshield of one of the cars that were vandalized on the Level P3 of the underground parking of Santa Monica College (SMC) Student Services building, Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2024. According to Mr. Olivera Santos (Grounds services of SMC), between 20-25 cars were vandalized in various spots across all three levels of the parking structure and the suspect was apprehended by SMC Police Departments. Photography by Alexey Nosov

Shattered glass on the floor of the Level P1 of the underground parking of Santa Monica College (SMC) Student Services building, Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2024. According to Mr. Olivera Santos (Grounds services of SMC), between 20-25 cars were vandalized in various spots across all three levels of the parking structure and the suspect was apprehended by SMC Police Departments. Photography by Alexey Nosov.

Armando Olivera Santos, team member of the Grounds services of Santa Monica College (SMC) clears up the broken glass on the Level P3 of the underground parking of SMC Student Services building, Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2024. According to Mr. Olivera Santos, between 20-25 cars were vandalized in various spots across all three levels of the parking structure and the suspect was apprehended by SMC Police Departments (to be confirmed). Photography by Alexey Nosov

Shattered windshield of one of the cars that were vandalized on the Level P3 of the underground parking of Santa Monica College (SMC) Student Services building, Santa Monica, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2024. According to Mr. Olivera Santos (Grounds services of SMC), between 20-25 cars were vandalized in various spots across all three levels of the parking structure and the suspect was apprehended by SMC Police Departments (to be confirmed). Photography by Alexey Nosov

This is a breaking story and will be updated with new information as we receive it.

Police have a suspect in custody who they believe smashed the windows of at least 18 cars with a skateboard.

Multiple cars' windows were smashed at Santa Monica College (SMC) on Wednesday morning in three levels of the parking garage under the Student Services Center (SSC). The SMC Police Department intercepted the suspect at 11:23 a.m., within minutes of arriving to the scene. The suspect is currently in custody. Vehicles of students and faculty alike were vandalized.

At 11:21 AM, campus police received a call about someone moving through parking lot 2, underneath the SSC, smashing car windows with a skateboard. Police Chief Johnnie Adams said, “The suspect was contacted on lot 1 on campus, and taken in for felony vandalism.” He stated that there have been 18 victims with an estimated $7,000 worth of damages. There have been no reports of theft and as of now, the motive is still unknown.

Adams said the suspect, 33-year-old SMC student Jimmie Vo Tejada, had previously been on probation for felony arson and has been denied bail for breaking that probation. Adams stated that because the suspect’s probation violation is from a crime committed in Los Angeles County, he has been transferred to the LA County Inmate Reception Center. He is currently awaiting arraignment on a charge of 594 (b) (1) of the California Penal Code, or felony vandalism.

The charge of felony vandalism carries a maximum sentence of 1 year and a maximum fine of $10,000. However, because the suspect allegedly violated the terms of his probation, he faces up to an additional year in prison.

Corsair staff photographer Libna Florencios, a witness at the scene, said the suspect “was crying and screaming at the same time.” Florencios notified campus police after witnessing the crime in progress at 11:20 a.m

The SMC police told victims to pursue any legal action directly through court and that insurance will cover repairs.

No victims have responded yet for comment.

The suspect is scheduled for an arraignment on April 11.

Stay tuned for further updates as this story continues to develop.