Santa Monica College Police extinguish a fire in Drescher Hall, and an investigation into the incident is currently underway.

Room 312, the Writing & Humanities Tutoring Center at Santa Monica College's Drescher Hall is currently closed for maintenance due to a fire that broke out inside on April 20, 2023. (Baleigh O’Brien| The Corsair)

A fire broke out on Thursday, April 20 at Drescher Hall on Main Campus and an investigation by the Santa Monica College Police Department (SMCPD) is currently underway for possible arson.

Officers arrived within minutes of the fire alarm being activated to evacuate the building and extinguished the fire using the building’s fire extinguishers. No injuries were reported on the scene. Rooms 312 and 313 in Drescher Hall are currently closed due to damage.

The Santa Monica Fire Department (SMFD) also responded to the incident and determined the fire to be a possible arson. SMFD arson investigators are leading an investigation into the fire with the assistance of SMCPD. Forensic evidence was collected and is awaiting lab testing.

SMCPD Chief Johnnie Adams is seeking the public’s help to identify a possible suspect through images captured on the campus security cameras. The suspect is presumed to be a male between 35 and 45 years old with a prominent goatee.

Security footage showed the suspect entering the Theater Arts building and making his way to a back hallway behind the stage at approximately 4:20 p.m. After failing to break into student lockers, the suspect then headed to Descher Hall where they went to rooms 312 and 313.

At around 5:16 p.m., they are seen using an “unknown pry tool” to break into the office. Campus police suspect they attempted to gain access to filing cabinets and computer equipment, and after unsuccessful attempts, started the fire in both locations. The only item stolen from the scene was an employee lanyard the suspect stole “in an attempt to disguise himself,” according to Adams.

“We want to get the public’s help as much as possible by getting this photo out there. We don’t think that he is a stranger to this area,” Adams said. “We think he frequents this area because when we did show the photo around to some of the businesses, one of the businesses said they recognized the individual as hanging out around here.”

The suspect was last seen in security footage exiting the campus around 6:11 p.m. at 17th Street and Pico Blvd.

“If they do see them, don’t approach them. The person could be dangerous. He started the fire, so we want the public to be safe,” Adams said.

Anyone who recognizes or believes they have seen the suspect is encouraged to call SMCPD at 310-434-4300 and ask for a supervisor. The case number 23-1002 can be used to reference the suspect and the police will look into the tip.

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