Police search for homeless woman who attacked dog in Venice, possibly in connection with child abuse in Santa Monica

Los Angeles police are searching for a homeless woman suspected of attacking a dog and two small children in separate incidents Thursday afternoon in Venice and Santa Monica.

Jerusha Fox, who was walking her dog Wonder in Venice around 3 p.m., reported that her pet was suddenly attacked by an unknown woman. “I'm usually very aware of my surroundings, but I didn't know what she was doing,” Fox said. “It happened so spontaneously.” Fox added that, fortunately, Wonder was not seriously injured.

Shortly after the incident, a woman walking near Fox told her that she had been on the Santa Monica Boardwalk with her two young children when they were attacked by the same woman. The mother said she filed a report with Santa Monica authorities.

The suspect was later seen entering a Gold's Gym in Venice, where she allegedly stole items and disappeared.

Fox expressed her understanding of the complex nature of homelessness, pointing to her brother who requires extensive care and noting that he too could be homeless without family support. Still, she said that despite significant financial efforts by the city and county to address the crisis, minimal results have been achieved. “If my brother didn't have our family, he very well could be there too,” Fox said. “We have invested so much money in this crisis, but the results are dishearteningly inadequate.”

The suspect is described as being around 30 or 40 years old with brown hair and was last seen wearing blue shorts and a black tank top.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Pacific Division station as the incidents continue to be investigated.

Related