Planning Inspector Arrested for Taking Bribes

By Lookout Staff

March 4 -- Santa Monica police have arrested a Planning Department contractor for soliciting cash payments in exchange for not taking action on possible building code violations, police said Tuesday.

Police declined to reveal the identity of the contractor, who is an employee of a privately owned temporary employment agency contracted by the City to enforce building regulations.

The building sites assigned to the inspector -- who has performed code compliance inspections since December -- are being re-inspected by Santa Monica building officials.