Answered my own question. Keeled tree hopper? (Thank you google image search)

The picture shows the nymphs of this Keeled monster. To me, the adults look like a cross between a warthog, an ant-eater and a ladybug nymph. The Keeled nymphs could be mistaken for plant thorns, but if you look closer they look like green stars, closer... it seems like two leaves have made a rigid tent with a ridge on the top.

I thought other SoCal tomato growers may find this useful too:

Keeled Tree Hopper
by: Moni

"[They] like to live on and eat plants in the Solanaceae family...eggplant, tomato, potato.

"The nymphs or young of the Keeled tree hopper are spiny. This treehopper seems to be only in southern California and south of there. The nymphs and adults suck the juices out of tomato plants, so you need to control them to prevent damage or killing of your plants.
"Best control is insecticidal soap on the nymphs, but if you have adults you will need to spray with Neem. [If you pick them off, then drop them in soapy water, or they will return.]
"One other item commonly mentioned with this insect is that there are usually ants around them. The ants feed on the "honeydew" or liquid droppings of the treehopper. "