Help identifying this "beetle".

I live in Southern California and have been finding these bugs in and outside of my apartment with increasing frequency for the past several months. I don't recall seeing them in previous years. My first sighting was probably a year ago or so. Today, my girlfriend killed one that flew on to her, in our living room. There seemed to be some blood around the carcass, like when you squash a mosquito. Is it the color of the viscera or our blood? Not sure. I have not found any bites on my body.

I have found one inside my bed last week. And another one on my back the week before, while I was at work. They seem to be more common in the area, of late. It's a beetle about the size of a dime, or a nickel if you include the legs. It can fly, and I've seen them around the yard. It doesn't move fast.

I'm certain it's not a bed bug, but I have no idea what it is, or whether it does feed on blood. Can anyone help identify what this is, and say whether it's a potential hazard?

Thank you!

http://www.raphaelprotti.com/area52/mysteryBug_01.jpg
http://www.raphaelprotti.com/area52/mysteryBug_02.jpg
http://www.raphaelprotti.com/area52/mysteryBug_03.jpg