By Jorge Casuso

May 29, 2025 -- Santa Monica police this month cracked down on fare evaders at the 4th Street Expo light rail station Downtown resulting in four arrests, police officials said.

The "crime suppression operation" was conducted on the station's platform to ensure train riders were paying their fare," according to SMPD's weekly blog for May 11 to May 17.

The latest City Council update reported that officers made 30 pedestrian stops, issued 23 advisals and conducted five field interviews, according to The Blue Notebook.

The 23 advisals were "mostly subjects who attempted to evade their fare but, when contacted, paid at the kiosk."

Officers made three felony arrests and one misdemeanor arrest during the operation. One of those arrested pushed an officer in the chest "who attempted to stop the subject for fare evasion," according to the blog.

The subject walked past the officers but was subsequently arrested for battery on a peace officer and fare evasion.

Another felony arrest was made after officers stopped a subject for fare evasion and a check "revealed outstanding warrants totaling $175,000 for battery on a peace officer and larceny."

The subject was arrested for fare evasion and outstanding warrants, according to the blog.

In the third felony arrest, "officers contacted a subject attempting to enter a train platform via an emergency gate," police said.

"The subject refused to comply with commands and attempted to walk away but was taken into custody. A search revealed a concealed, fixed-blade knife, and it was discovered the subject was on parole for burglary."

The subject was arrested for violating parole and possessing a weapon.

The crackdown comes as the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LA Metro) approved a plan in February to upgrade ten gated stations with taller gates and install gates at 11 stations.

The stations chosen have seen "significant fare evasion," according to Metro officials. None of Santa Monica's three Expo Metro rail stations were chosen.

The $15.3 million project funded by Proposition C -- a half-cent sales tax approved in 1990 by County voters to fund public transit -- is the latest effort to thwart fare evaders on the system.