By Lookout Staff

July 12, 2024 -- A homeless man on probation was charged this week with assault with a deadly weapon after holding a knife to 16-year-old boy's throat in front of his mother Sunday at the Pier.

The incident took place at around 2:35 p.m. when Francisco Daniel Espindola Martin, 33, approached the victim, who was fishing with his mother near the west end of the Santa Monica Pier, according to police.

Espindola "grabbed the victim’s fishing knife from a nearby bench" and, standing about a foot away, "lifted the knife," said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

He "touched the sharpened side to the youth’s neck, and said in Spanish, 'Be careful. I can kill you,'” Aklufi said.

"The victim immediately lifted his hands" as his mother "moved toward the suspect and laughed, trying to play down" and deescalate the situation.

"Espindola kept the knife raised for 5 to 10 seconds before setting the knife back down and retreating to a nearby bench where he stayed staring at mother and son for another minute or so," Aklufi said.

He then "retreated further westbound on the Pier and out of sight."

The victim’s mother flagged down an SMPD Harbor Guard who radioed for backup and broadcast a description of the suspect, according to Aklufi.

The officers quickly located the suspect and took him into custody, she said. Neither victim nor mother were injured in the incident.

"During his interview with detectives (Espindola) appeared extremely altered," Aklufi wrote in an email accompanying information about the incident.

"To think that the victim’s mother was able to keep herself together and deescalate the situation right there in the moment is super impressive," she said. "All respect to her."

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney charged Espindola -- who is currently on probation for robbery -- with one count of assault with a deadly weapon.

As a preliminary hearing approaches, SMPD's Youth and Family Services detective, who was assigned because the victim is under 18, "will do everything possible to make sure Espindola is held to answer," Aklufi said.