Student Arrested in SMC Sexual Assault Case
A student accused of sexually assaulting female students at Santa Monica College was arrested Monday morning.
Seating area used by SMC students south of the Drescher Hall. Santa Monica College main campus located in 1900 Pico Blvd. Santa Monica, Calif. Friday 23, 2022. (Jorge Devotto | The Corsair)
According to a statement released Monday morning by Santa Monica College (SMC) Chief of Police Johnnie Adams, a suspect has been arrested in connection to reports made last Thursday of sexual assault against multiple female students.
“Today at approximately 8:20 a.m., Christopher Noah Griddine II, age 27, was taken into custody on a probable cause arrest warrant for felony sexual assault,” read a statement by Adams. “The arrest was made on the SMC Campus by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) with the assistance of the Santa Monica College Police (SMCPD).”
Griddine, who is a student at SMC, was transported to South Los Angeles Sheriff's Station with a bail of $1,000,000.
“This is an active investigation being conducted by the Sheriff's department, questions about the case should be directed to them," the statement continued. "Should you have any information that would assist with this investigation, you are encouraged to call Sergeant Belen Lemus of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Special Victims Bureau at (562) 946-7012.”
The arrest comes after a crime alert on Thursday evening was sent out to students via phone call, email and text by SMCPD reporting that a man had been befriending female SMC students near the Drescher Hall and luring them off campus before sexually assaulting them.
According to Adams, the assaults occurred in late September, with SMCPD being notified last Thursday, the same day the alert went out. In addition, there have been at least two victims, but SMCPD cannot provide further information as the investigation is under the jurisdiction of LASD.
Around 1:32 p.m., a text alert was sent out to SMC students regarding the development, and the mood from several female students has been one of relief.
“It's good that he's not here anymore,” business major Hannah Bryne said. Bryne, 25, and her friend Lovisa Lillemets, 21, both said they felt safer on campus now that the suspect is in police custody.
Film major Maya Malouf, 20, believed that the period of time between the crime alert and the suspect’s arrest was too long.
“I feel like he should have been apprehended faster. It was quite a while, while he was lurking,” she said.
“It was terrifying, honestly,” communications major Jessica Perrine said. “As a woman trying to make friends, I was like ‘I shouldn't even try anymore.’”
In past weeks, Perrine, 22, had been leaving her taser and pepper spray at home because up until recently, she had been feeling safe on campus.
“But today specifically, I made sure to bring it,” she said. The announcement of the suspect’s arrest made her feel safer.
The investigation is currently ongoing, and any questions or additional information should be referred to LASD. Students are encouraged to report any suspicious activity to the police and download the LiveSafe safety app.
