UCPD searching for vandalism suspect

University police are looking for a man who reportedly vandalized a police car last week.

On Oct. 9, a man allegedly used a 50-inch metal pole to break the window of an unattended police car parked in Bruin Plaza, said Robert Chavez, a UCPD detective.

Security cameras captured two men walking eastbound down Bruin Walk at about 3:30 a.m. One of the men turned around and ran between Pauley Pavilion and the J.D. Morgan Center, returning to Bruin Walk while holding the pole, Chavez said.

The man then walked to the police car, parked in front of the John Wooden Center, where he appeared to look around to check if anyone was nearby, Chavez added.

The man hit the driver’s side door of the car twice with the pole, according to footage from a security camera. On-duty officers returned to the car several minutes later after patrolling the area on foot, and found the window shattered and the pole lying across the two front seats inside the car, Chavez said.

Police often park cars in public places to make potential criminals aware that police are near, Chavez said.

But vandalism of police property is relatively uncommon, said UCPD detective Andrew Ikeda.

“A similar accident happened several years ago after I broke up a party in Westwood,” Ikeda said. “But this incident was completely unprovoked.”

The police car is still in the process of being repaired but police said they believe damages will total more than $400. If caught, the man who vandalized the car could face imprisonment in a county jail for up to one year or a $10,000 fine.

The man is described as about 6 feet 2 inches to 6 feet 4 inches tall, 190 to 220 pounds, and in his 20s, according to a police report released last week. The man was wearing a dark colored T-shirt, black athletic shorts with black Converse shoes and black socks, the report stated.

The man seen walking down Bruin Walk with the person who vandalized the police car is described as 5 feet 6 inches to 5 feet 8 inches tall with a stocky build, according to the report. He was wearing a white T-shirt and dark-colored athletic shorts at the time of the incident.

Anyone with information about the vandalism can call UCPD at (310) 825-1491.

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