USPS suspected attacker identified, but California neighbors worry he’s not off streets for good: report

The person accused of a string of assaults and threats towards USPS mail carriers in Santa Monica, California, was just lately arrested on unrelated prices, in accordance with a report, however neighbors will not be satisfied the person who’s allegedly been menacing the neighborhood for months shall be saved behind bars. 

It’s additionally not clear whether or not the U.S. Postal Service will resume deliveries within the neighborhood.  

USPS despatched a discover to residents over the weekend asserting that service can be suspended to all addresses within the 1300 block of 14th Avenue as a result of “a number of carriers have been subjected to assaults and threats of assault from a person who has not been positioned or apprehended.”

USPS STOPS DELIVERIES TO CALIFORNIA NEIGHBORHOOD AFTER REPEATED ATTACKS ON MAIL CARRIERS 

CBS Information recognized the suspected attacker as 38-year-old Devon Morgan, reporting that he was arrested on an unrelated vandalism cost on Friday and has been booked into Los Angeles County Jail a number of instances. As of Tuesday morning, the net jail roster confirmed no present inmates by that title. 

“You hear the submit workplace as rain, sleet or snow,” resident Danielle Venturino informed CBS Information. “They’re purported to deliver you your mail it doesn’t matter what. For them to cease mail, it made me really feel actually unsafe.”

Fox Information Digital reached out to the Santa Monica Police Division, in addition to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the legislation enforcement arm for the USPS, for clarification early Tuesday. 

Residents expressed concern to CBS Information that somebody shall be significantly damage earlier than Morgan is saved behind bars for good. Neighbors stated Morgan is commonly incoherent and offended and has been identified to menace close by companies and stroll round threatening folks with a golf membership slung over his shoulder. 

“He walks round with a golf membership over his again,” resident Jim Value stated. “It is a wooden, and it is very threatening to folks.”

“He was ready by my automotive swinging a golf membership, and I used to be on my own,” Cori Newman, the supervisor on the close by Truxton’s restaurant, informed CBS of Morgan. “It was terrifying.”

“It’ll take somebody actually being bodily actually damage earlier than one thing occurs,” Newman added. 

On Monday, USPS spokeswoman Natashi Garvins informed Fox Information Digital there have been three incidents within the 1300 block of 14th road involving three separate letter carriers during the last a number of months, and, consequently, service has briefly been suspended.

“That is an uncommon, however crucial step to guard our staff,” she stated, declining to enter element concerning the particular incidents.

A spokeswoman for the Santa Monica Police Division informed Fox Information Digital on Monday that she was solely conscious of 1 documented assault with a lethal weapon on a USPS worker on that road on Jan. 19, 2022. In that incident, a mail service was struck with a broomstick, suffered a minor harm to an arm and didn’t require medical consideration, after which declined prosecution a month later, Santa Monica police Lt. Erika Aklifi stated. 

“If there have been different incidents of USPS mail carriers being attacked, we have been unable to find extra experiences,” Aklifi added. “With out talking to the postmaster, will probably be tough to know the extent of this situation. I’ve by no means heard of the Postal Service suspending service for all residents in a neighborhood, and may solely refer you to them for solutions about their plan of action.”