𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗦𝗬 𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗕𝗘𝗗: Venice Healer Says She Was Assaulted and Robbed on Metro Train

SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Saturday morning, May 16, 2026 — Daisy, known locally as the Venice Healer, said she was assaulted and robbed while riding the Metro train to Santa Monica after attempting to intervene in what she described as a coordinated effort by a group targeting a young man and his bicycle. Speaking at the Downtown Santa Monica Metro Station while accompanied by her dog Sarabi, Daisy said the incident happened nearly two weeks earlier while she was riding from the Palm Station. According to Daisy, she noticed a group of approximately eight to ten individuals, described as teenagers to young adults, move onto the train and begin focusing on a young male passenger with a bicycle. “They chose a young man, teenage boy, and I saw him put his legs over his bicycle,” Daisy said. “They were targeting his bike, and one of them started to pick a fight with him.” She said the atmosphere quickly became tense as passengers began moving away, and she decided to speak up rather than leave. “Something in me said, ‘This is a human being in distress,’” Daisy said. “I started to alert people on the train to intervene in the situation to bring awareness and de-escalation.” Daisy said she encouraged nearby passengers to help calm the situation, asking others to step in before anyone was hurt. Instead, she said the group redirected its attention toward her. “I hear, ‘Get her phone,’” Daisy said. “A female I didn’t know was with them attacked me and several others followed behind her.” She said she avoided being seriously injured by leaning back and blocking blows with her legs, but during the commotion, someone grabbed her iPhone 14. “They said, ‘I got the phone,’ and then someone else said, ‘Hold her back,’” she said. “It was very coordinated.” Daisy said Metro staff advised her that law enforcement was responding. Sheriff’s deputies later took the initial report, but because the incident occurred in Culver City jurisdiction, the case was transferred. She praised Los Angeles County deputies for their response but said she felt Culver City officers were less proactive. “LAPD was super diligent,” she said. “LA County was basically like, ‘Oh, we’re getting it done.’” She said she chose not to pursue charges, instead focusing her energy on her campaign for Santa Monica City Council, where she plans to advocate for what she describes as prevention-based public safety. “Safety cannot only come from reaction, enforcement, or fear,” Daisy said. “It has to come from prevention, belonging, and systems that actually meet needs.” Daisy said she does not view the attackers with anger, but rather as people acting from desperation. “I don’t harm. I dodge,” she said. “I love my attackers. I love everyone.” She added that the incident reinforced her belief that cities should shift “from control to care” and prioritize housing, mental health support, and community-based intervention before violence occurs. For Daisy, returning to the station was not about fear, but about continuing forward. “This is the city I am working toward,” she said, “a Santa Monica of gardens, belonging, clean water, and community care.” Santa Monica Closeup continues documenting public events and community voices across Santa Monica as they unfold. — ⚠️ 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗘 This video is protected by copyright and provided for personal viewing only. Any copying, downloading, re-uploading, reproduction, distribution, sampling, or other use, including commercial or editorial use, without prior written authorization from Santa Monica Closeup is strictly prohibited and may result in legal action. © 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗙𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗸𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗰𝘇 / 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱. — 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗢𝗥 Fabian Lewkowicz is an award-winning photojournalist based in Santa Monica and the creator of 𝗦𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗽. Known for his compelling imagery and neutral reporting, his work captures the pulse of the city—from civic affairs and emergency response to cultural moments and beach life. His photography has been showcased in galleries, museums, and public installations. — 𝗦𝗨𝗣𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗦𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗔 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗖𝗔 𝗖𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗘𝗨𝗣 PayPal/Venmo/Credit Card 👉 https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/M6... 𝗙𝗢𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗨𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗔𝗜𝗟𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘 Instagram 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Facebook 👉   / santamonicacloseup   Twitter 👉   / smcloseup   — 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘 𝗔 𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗟 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗞𝗦    / @santamonicacloseup   — 𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚 & 𝗠𝗘𝗗𝗜𝗔 𝗜𝗡𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗥𝗜𝗘𝗦 Email 👉 [email protected] — 𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗦: Photojournalism, Visual Journalism, Street Reporting, Documentary, Observational Photography, Press Photography, Independent Media, Southern California News, SMCU, SM©U