Drone, K-9 Unit Finds Burglary Suspect On Roof, Police Say

SANTA MONICA, CA — A 27-year-old transient man suspected of burglary was found by a drone and K-9 unit hiding inside a storage room last week, according to the Santa Monica Police Department.

A business employee reported a burglary happening about 3:25 a.m. Thursday in the 1600 block of 19th Street, near Colorado Avenue, police said.

The employee told police he could hear someone on the roof and mentioned that the business was burglarized the night before, police said. Officers arrived and saw a man on the roof carrying a stolen item.

The suspect then ran away and police asked him to come down. Officers set up a perimeter and searched for the suspect using a drone and K-9 unit.

Christopher Reid Murphy, a 27-year-old transient man, was arrested on suspicion of burglary, resisting, delaying and obstructing arrest, police said. Murphy is also on probation for burglary. No bail was set. His next court date is Tuesday at LAX Superior Court.

Anyone with additional information is urged to contact the Santa Monica Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 310-458-8451 or Santa Monica Police Department Watch Commander at 310-458-8427.

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