Sheriff’s Department, CHP update Malibu council on crime, traffic, and public safety

By Hayley Mattson · Thu Aug 27 2026

LASD Sgt. Chris Soderlund highlights arrests, expanded drone use and license plate reader success; CHP Sgt. Jim Ryland reports hundreds of citations and continued enforcement on PCH and canyon roads

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Chris Soderlund and California Highway Patrol Sgt. Jim Ryland provided separate public safety updates to the Malibu City Council on Monday night, detailing recent criminal investigations, expanded law enforcement technology and continued traffic enforcement along Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu’s canyon roads.

With summer nearing its end, both agencies reported continued heavy activity in Malibu as large crowds, warm weather and ocean swells bring more visitors and traffic into the city.

Soderlund reports busy end to summer

Soderlund opened the public safety report, telling the council that recent extreme heat and large swells have contributed to particularly busy conditions throughout Malibu.

“It’s been extremely busy down here,” Soderlund said, noting the amount of traffic and visitors in the city.

Despite the increased activity, Soderlund said there had not been any major traffic collisions during the period covered by his report and expressed hope that trend would continue through the remaining weeks of summer.

Among the recent incidents highlighted by Soderlund was an assault with a deadly weapon involving two unhoused individuals near the Malibu Library.

According to Soderlund, the two individuals were on Malibu Road for a weekly grocery giveaway when they became involved in a verbal argument. One allegedly armed himself with an approximately 5-foot piece of metal rebar and swung it at the other person.

The individual missed, and responding deputies located and arrested the suspect on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

Deputies also discovered six dogs inside the suspect’s van, including a dog that had given birth approximately a week earlier. Soderlund said the vehicle contained feces and urine. Animal control responded, and the dogs and puppies were removed from the vehicle.

Drone leads deputies to Legacy Park encampment

Soderlund also reported that the Sheriff’s Department has significantly expanded its use of drones, giving deputies another tool to identify activity that may be difficult to see during routine patrols.

Last week, deputies flew a drone over Legacy Park and discovered an encampment inside the park.

After identifying the location from the air, the department’s homeless outreach deputies responded and removed the encampment.

“It’s kind of a game changer for us with these drones,” Soderlund told the council.

The discovery comes as Malibu continues to address concerns surrounding encampments, particularly given the heightened wildfire risk in the community.

License plate readers help solve five Malibu vehicle burglaries

Soderlund also highlighted what he described as a significant success involving license plate reader technology and a series of vehicle burglaries.

The investigation began July 5 after a vehicle was burglarized near Surfrider Beach and the victim’s credit cards were later used at Westfield Topanga.

A deputy conducting follow-up obtained transaction information and security footage from Nordstrom and the Apple Store at the mall. Working with store security, investigators identified a black Chevrolet Suburban and gray Nissan Kicks as vehicles suspected of being connected to the crime.

On July 15, the deputy investigated another burglary with nearly identical circumstances and determined the same vehicles were involved.

Using the department’s license plate reader system, the deputy reviewed the vehicles’ movements and found they frequently traveled into Malibu, including on days when multiple vehicle burglaries were reported.

The information became particularly important on July 28 when another vehicle burglary was reported near Paradise Cove.

The deputy determined through the license plate reader system that the Suburban and Nissan were again in the area. The vehicles were followed to Beverly Hills, where the deputy coordinated with the Beverly Hills Police Department.

Three suspects were apprehended.

Soderlund said numerous stolen items and several cellphones were recovered from the vehicles. One of the suspects had also allegedly just used another victim’s credit card to make fraudulent purchases in Beverly Hills and had the merchandise when arrested.

The investigation ultimately connected the suspects to five vehicle burglaries in Malibu involving approximately $50,000 in losses.

“It was great investigative work, and it just shows the great value the license plate reader camera systems have,” Soderlund said.

Surfrider homelessness remains ‘constant battle’

Councilmembers also questioned Soderlund about continuing concerns involving unhoused individuals near Surfrider Beach, including reports of people sleeping on sidewalks.

“It’s a constant battle,” Soderlund said, adding that deputies continue to respond to the area regularly.

He said deputies had been there earlier that day and arrested an individual with outstanding warrants.

“We’re keeping the pressure on them,” Soderlund said.

Councilmembers also asked whether the Sheriff’s Department could provide information documenting criminal activity at and around the Malibu Library. Soderlund said he would work with the city to provide the information.

The Sheriff’s Department’s seasonal beach patrol will continue through Labor Day, after which Soderlund said he would provide the council with a summary of the summer program.

Before concluding, Soderlund thanked the city for its support of the Sheriff’s Department volunteer program, describing the trained volunteers as a “force multiplier” for deputies.

CHP reports 334 citations in July

Following Soderlund’s report, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Jim Ryland updated the council on CHP’s traffic enforcement efforts in Malibu.

Ryland said CHP continues to dedicate three officers full-time to patrolling the PCH corridor within Malibu — two patrol car officers and one motorcycle officer — seven days a week during daytime and early evening hours.

During July, the officers issued a total of 334 citations within Malibu.

Of those, 230 were speeding citations for speeds below 100 mph. Ryland said there were no citations issued for speeds exceeding 100 mph during July.

CHP also issued 11 citations for unsafe turning movements or lane changes, 36 for distracted driving — typically involving cellphone use — 12 for seat belt violations and 45 for various vehicle equipment violations.

Ryland said CHP has averaged approximately 357 citations per month in Malibu so far this year. August enforcement was also tracking at a similar pace, with officers averaging approximately 89 to 90 citations per week at the time of the council meeting.

Ryland emphasized that CHP’s visible presence along PCH is intended to serve as a deterrent beyond the motorists who are actually stopped.

Heavy trucks draw enforcement attention

Ryland also addressed concerns about commercial trucks using Malibu’s canyon roads, describing recent enforcement involving trucks transporting large loads of boulders to Westward Beach.

Ryland said he encountered trucks traveling over Kanan Dume Road despite posted weight and trailer restrictions. He stopped one truck carrying approximately 21 tons and another weighing approximately 55,000 pounds and cited both.

“It doesn’t get much more unsafe than that,” Ryland said of bringing such heavy loads down the canyon grade.

Councilmembers also questioned Ryland about tractor-trailers traveling along PCH.

Ryland explained that commercial trucks are permitted to travel on PCH, while restrictions apply to certain canyon roads.Officers still need a legal reason to stop a truck, but when a vehicle has traveled past posted restriction signs, officers can investigate its origin and destination to determine whether it is in violation.

Council raises concerns over canyon racing

Several councilmembers asked CHP to increase its attention on speeding, street racing, and excessive vehicle noise along Malibu’s canyon roads.

One councilmember described seeing repeated groups of high-performance vehicles traveling up Latigo Canyon on a recent Sunday, with groups ranging from approximately five to 25 cars.

Concerns were also raised about speeding during Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights when canyon roads may be less congested.

Ryland said CHP is aware of the problem and regularly directs enforcement resources toward canyon roads, particularly on weekends when groups of sports cars and motorcycles frequently gather.

He also confirmed that excessive vehicle exhaust and muffler noise can be enforced under state law and said officers regularly address those violations.

CHP working with Pepperdine on traffic education

With Pepperdine University beginning its academic year, Ryland said CHP is working with university officials to educate students about traffic safety and expectations while driving in Malibu.

The effort is particularly important for students who are new to the area or California and may be unfamiliar with PCH and local canyon roads.

Councilmembers also raised concerns about students standing along PCH while waiting for rideshare vehicles and asked whether CHP could provide additional education to fraternities, sororities and the broader student population.

Ryland said CHP has contacts at Pepperdine and is working with the university on outreach.

The council also asked that similar traffic safety education be provided at Malibu High School, particularly for students who are new drivers. Ryland said he would coordinate with CHP’s public information officer to determine what outreach is already underway and what additional programs could be offered.

E-bikes were another topic raised during the discussion, with councilmembers expressing concern about young riders who may treat the increasingly powerful bikes as recreational devices rather than vehicles subject to traffic laws and safety considerations.

Ryland acknowledged that e-bikes are becoming increasingly prevalent and said CHP would continue monitoring the issue.

As Malibu approaches Labor Day and the unofficial end of summer, both Soderlund and Ryland said their agencies will continue coordinating their efforts, with the Sheriff’s Department focusing on crime and community safety and CHP maintaining its traffic enforcement presence along PCH and Malibu’s canyon corridors.