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SeptemberMarch 26, 2025 October 2, 2026 2025 Volume Volume CXXIII CXXIII Issue 6 –- March 12, Issue 214 214
Bill Cosby's civil trial over 1972 sexual battery Thousands in Equipment Stolen From allegations advances in SantaHome Monica Filmmaker’s Santa Monica Womanfor alleges Known his work comedian drugged across cinematography, directing, editing, her after and inviting her Ruiz-Healy to a show. returned home to find his house Prospective jurors returned to a Santa Monica courtroom as attorneys occupied byTuesday squatters
continued selecting a panel for a civil trial accusing Bill Cosby drugging and Indie filmmaker and ofaward-winning sexually assaultingFidel a woman more than cinematographer Ruiz-Healy is five decades from ago, asa reported by Fox 11 recovering devastating home News. that left his Santa Monica residence robbery uninhabitable and was stripped of nearly all his The lawsuit filed by Donna Motsinger, equipment. who alleges the 88-yearprofessional oldRuiz-Healy, actor andknown comedian her for hisassaulted work across after inviting herdirecting, to attendand one editing, of his cinematography, performances early returned homein onthe Sept. 16 1970s. from a work trip to the complaint, Motsinger to According find his house ransacked and reportedly worked at the restaurant in Northern occupied by Trident squatters. According to a California, where Cosby was abyfrequent GoFundMe campaign launched friends customer during “every a period in crevice” 1972. The and collaborators, single of suit home stateshad thatbeen afterturned one encounter at the the over. Alongside restaurant, Cosby followed as trash and discarded weaponsMotsinger left behind, extensive damage was done to the plumbing, including cut wires, rendering the home unlivable. Most concerning for the filmmaker is the loss of virtually all of his camera equipment — the tools that form the backbone of his career and sole source of income. The theft included high-end gear such as a RED Dragon camera package, Leica R and Nikon AIS lenses, tripods, lighting meters, hard drives, and a MacBook Pro. Several
she drove toward her home in Mill Valley, pulled alongside her vehicle, and invited her to attend a show he was performing in San Carlos. Motsinger agreed to attend, and the lawsuit says Cosby later arranged for a limousine to take her to the theater. During the ride, Cosby allegedly offered her a glass of wine. The complaint states that Motsinger recalls flashes of light before losing consciousness. She later woke up at home wearing only her underwear, according to the lawsuit filed in September 2023. Cosby’s attorneys deny the allegations. They say he does not recall any sexual contact with Motsinger and contend that if any encounter occurred, it was consensual. His legal team also denies that Cosby gave the plaintiff drugs without her knowledge. Cosby was found liable in a separate civil case filed by Judy Huth in Santa Monica in 2022 involving similar allegations. Jury selection in the trial is expected to continue this week. items belonging to colleagues that RuizHealy was storing were also among the stolen equipment. Compounding the loss, insurance coverage on the equipment had lapsed just weeks earlier, on August 30. Ruiz-Healy, who has since found temporary housing, is still taking on film work, but friends say the loss of equipment presents a serious barrier to his livelihood. “Any filmmaker understands that your
equipment is everything. Therefore, this situation requires immediate attention,” organizers wrote on the fundraiser page. As of Friday, more than $20,000 has been raised through over 250 donations on GoFundMe, putting the campaign within reach of its $22,000 goal. Supporters have continued to share the fundraiser, highlighting Ruiz-Healy’s reputation as a generous collaborator and “an all-around great guy.”
Santa Monica police have assigned a detective to the case, and neighbors have been alerted to report any leads. Organizers shared photos of the aftermath to show the scale of the damage and say they are continuing to adjust the fundraising goal to account for the full cost of replacing equipment and essential items. Those wishing to contribute can visit the GoFundMe page titled “Help Indie Film Legend After Home Robbery.”
Santa Monica Police launch March crackdown on distracted driving
SMPD Arrest Man with Drugs, Loaded Gun After Traffic Stop Suspect Flees Briefly Before Police Recover Cocaine, Mushrooms, and Marijuana
Enforcement campaign will cite drivers violating California’s handsfree law.
A traffic stop in Santa Monica led to the arrest of a man found with a loaded handgun and a significant quantity of drugs, police said Thursday. Santa Monica Police Department officers, patrolling the 00 block of Bay Street around 9:40 p.m. Wednesday, observed a parked vehicle with the driver’s door open. The driver was seen handling suspected drug paraphernalia, according to a police statement.
When officers approached and attempted to detain the man, he became uncooperative and repeatedly reached toward the center console, police said. A brief struggle followed before the suspect fled on foot. Officers apprehended him a short distance away. A search of the vehicle revealed a Throughout March, Santa Monica police loaded handgun positioned between the will step up enforcement of California’s driver’s seatdriving and center the hands-free law, console, targetingwithin motorists suspect’s reach. Authorities also recovered suspected of using handheld cell phones abehind significant amount of cocaine, psilocybin the wheel. mushrooms, marijuana. The Santaand Monica Police Department The suspect, whose identity not announced that officers will was conduct released, remains in custody pending focused operations aimed at drivers who further investigation, policeon said. Noa violate the state’s prohibition holding additional details were immediately phone or other electronic communications available. device while operating a vehicle.
California law bars motorists from using a handheld phone for calls, texting, apps or other functions while driving. A violation carries a fine, and a second conviction within 36 months of a prior offense results in a point being added to the driver’s record. Police officials emphasized that drivers should keep their attention on the roadway and avoid distractions that can increase the risk of crashes. They urged motorists who
need to make a call or enter directions to pull over to a safe location before handling a device. Drivers are also encouraged to silence their phones or place them out of reach before starting a trip. The enforcement campaign is funded through a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.