Street Beat – Laguna Beach Local News

Tuesday, Nov. 1

Grand theft. Coast Hwy. 2:42 p.m. $1,300 worth of tools vanished from a vehicle.

Stolen vehicle. 31100 block of Coast Hwy. 1:47 p.m. Police arrested Clavel Rosita Altamirano, 19, San Diego, for suspicion of auto theft.

Thursday, Nov. 3

Citizen. 1200 block of S. Coast Hwy. 4:54 a.m. Curtis Benjamin Lowe, 34, of San Diego, was arrested for suspicion of passing counterfeit currency, having allegedly made a fast-food purchase with a phony $10 bill. Police say Lowe was in possession of four other fake bills of small denominations. Bail was set at $20,000.

Assault. 30900 block of S. Coast Hwy. 3:45 p.m. Police arrested Brannon Morse Hazelrigg, 27, of Newport Coast, and Jose Victor Zuniga, 30, of Santa Ana, for suspicion of battery and narcotic sales. Zuniga apparently angered when a potential buyer decided against a purchase and slugged the customer, who fled. When questioned by police, the dissatisfied potential customer allegedly told police about meeting the pair in response to a Craigslist ad. Bail was set at $100,000.

B&P violation. Six merchants, including some galleries, were cited for providing alcohol without a license. Citations were issued in the 200 and 300 block of N. Coast Highway, the 1200, 1300 and 1500 block of S. Coast Highway, and 200 block of Forest Avenue.

Friday, Nov. 4

Traffic stop. Cleo St. 12:14 a.m. A 28-year-old Misson Viejo woman was cited for DUI.

Vandalism. N. La Senda. 2 a.m. Spray paint defaced three vehicles.

Medical aid. 700 block of Nyes Place. A construction worker suffered a leg injury in a fall and was transported for treatment.

Grand theft. 500 block of Cliff Dr. 4:39 p.m. A resident says $3,120 in medications delivered by UPS were stolen.

Hit and run. 200 block of Broadway St. 8:34 p.m. A vehicle believed to be involved in a hit and run collision was found abandoned in a downtown lot.

Saturday, Nov. 5

Petty theft. 600 block of Virginia Park Dr. 8:20 a.m. A purse was taken from unlocked vehicle.

Hit and run. Alexander Rd. 9:52 a.m. Two Newport Beach teens switched off behind the wheel of a Mercedes that collided with one occupied vehicle as well as several parked cars before fleeing northbound. Police caught up to the car at Coast Highway and Broadway and detained the boys and a 15-year-old female passenger from Irvine. The teens now confront multiple criminal charges, but were released to their parents.

Sunday, Nov. 6

Assault. 1100 block of S. Coast Hwy. 12:18 a.m. Richard Wallace Evan, 44, of San Juan Capistrano, was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence and resisting arrest after witnesses at a watering hole reported an assault of a woman.

Traffic collision. Coast Highway. 7:56 p.m. A 49-year-old Dana Point woman escaped injury after striking a parking car and a light pole, which was knocked to the ground. The cause of the collision is under investigation, but police say alcohol was not a factor.

The post Streetbeat appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Laguna Beach police say they arrested an Uber driver for suspicion of raping a customer he was driving home to Laguna Beach at 2:31 a.m. from Huntington Beach on Saturday, Nov. 5,

The driver fled the scene of the assault, which took place near the customer’s home, police Sgt. Tim Kleiser said in an announcement Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Uber’s incident team assisted police with information about the driver, Samer Mahran, 22, of Huntington Beach, who was arrested at his home within hours of the assault, Kleiser said.

Mahran started working for Uber in March and passed a criminal background check that showed no incidents, said Tracey Breeden, an Uber safety spokeswoman in Phoenix. Drivers who violate the company’s professionalism guidelines lose access to the Uber platform, but Breeden could not say how many drivers have been stripped of access. Mahran, though, has been permanently barred from the app, she said.

Criminal incidents are “rare compared to the millions of trips drivers make,” she said. “Any incident like this is horrible.”

Mahran was booked at the Orange County Jail and his bail was set at $100,000, Kleiser said.

The investigation is continuing to learn Mahran’s whereabouts after he left Laguna Beach, said Kleiser, who appealed to the public to come forward with information about this suspect or the case.

Kleiser can be reached at 949 464- 6671 or tkleiser@lagunabeachcity.net.

The post Driver Suspected in Sexual Assault appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Laguna Beach police say they arrested an Uber driver for suspicion of raping a customer he was driving home to Laguna Beach at 2:31 a.m. from Huntington Beach on Saturday, Nov. 5,

The driver fled the scene of the assault, which took place near the customer’s home, police Sgt. Tim Kleiser said in an announcement Tuesday, Nov. 9.

Uber’s incident team assisted police with information about the driver, Samer Mahran, 22, of Huntington Beach, who was arrested at his home within hours of the assault, Kleiser said.

Mahran started driving for Uber in March and passed a criminal background check that showed no incidents, said Tracey Breeden, an Uber safety spokeswoman in Phoenix. Drivers who violate the company’s professionalism guidelines lose access to the Uber platform, but Breeden could not say how many drivers have been stripped of access. Mahran, though, has been permanently barred from the app, she said.

Criminal incidents are “rare compared to the millions of trips drivers make,” she said. Uber drivers use their own cars to ferry passengers, who hail them and pay for the ride using a smart phone.

Mahran was booked at the Orange County Jail and his bail was set at $100,000, Kleiser said.

The investigation is continuing to learn Mahran’s whereabouts after he left Laguna Beach, said Kleiser, who appealed to the public to come forward with information about this suspect or the case.

Kleiser can be reached at 949 464- 6671 or tkleiser@lagunabeachcity.net.

Tuesday, Nov. 1

Grand theft. Coast Hwy. 2:42 p.m. $1,300 worth of tools vanished from a vehicle.

Stolen vehicle. 31100 block of Coast Hwy. 1:47 p.m. Police arrested Clavel Rosita Altamirano, 19, San Diego, for suspicion of auto theft.

Thursday, Nov. 3

Friday, Nov. 4

Traffic stop. Cleo St. 12:14 a.m. A 28-year-old Misson Viejo woman was cited for DUI.

Vandalism. N. La Senda. 2 a.m. Spray paint defaced three vehicles.

Medical aid. 700 block of Nyes Place. A construction worker suffered a leg injury in a fall and was transported for treatment.

Grand theft. 500 block of Cliff Dr. 4:39 p.m. A resident says $3,120 in medications delivered by UPS were stolen.

Hit and run. 200 block of Broadway St. 8:34 p.m. A vehicle believed to be involved in a hit and run collision was found abandoned in a downtown lot.

Saturday, Nov. 5

Petty theft. 600 block of Virginia Park Dr. 8:20 a.m. A purse was taken from unlocked vehicle.

Hit and run. Alexander Rd. 9:52 a.m. Two Newport Beach teens switched off behind the wheel of a Mercedes that collided with one occupied vehicle as well as several parked cars before fleeing northbound. Police caught up to the car at Coast Highway and Broadway and detained the boys and a 15-year-old female passenger from Irvine. The teens face multiple charges, and were released to their parents.

Sunday, Nov. 6

The post Driver Suspected in Sexual Assault appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

The “faceless bandit” as seen in the Torrance hold up. Photo courtesy of the FBI.

Two weeks after a masked gunman known as “the faceless bandit” held up banks in Laguna Beach and Seal Beach, a 36-year-old state prison parolee suspected in the heists was arrested by Ventura police, authorities said Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Kyle Jason Korte, 36, of Beverly Hills, was re-arrested on Thursday, Nov. 10, as a result of a traffic stop and made a U.S. District Court appearance in Orange County, where he was held without bail, says a statement by the FBI.

A complaint charges Korte with bank robbery and armed bank robbery in a four-heist spree that included stick-ups in Playa Vista and Torrance earlier last month, Deirdre L. Fike, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, announced.

Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies had arrested Korte in January 2014 for suspicion of a Rolling Hills Estates bank robbery.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Mike Moffitt, involved in Korte’s previous arrest, saw similarities in surveillance video from the recent stick-ups and contacted investigators, FBI Special Agent Christopher Gicking says in the sworn complaint filed the day before Korte’s arrest. Investigators learned Korte had been released from custody in August and was currently on parole, Gicking says in the complaint.

Laguna Beach aided the investigation by providing video from the city’s surveillance cameras of the suspect fleeing after the Oct. 27 robbery of the Union Bank branch at 229 Broadway Street, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said.

The video shows a person matching the robber’s description head for a parking lot and then a white Toyota Prius driving from the area at high speed, the criminal complaint says. Footage picked up a license plate registered to a Beverly Hills address, the complaint says.

The post FBI Arrests ‘Faceless’ Bank Robbery Suspect appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Seventeen firefighters extinguished a blaze that caused nearly $400,000 in damage to two homes on Wildwood Drive Saturday, Nov. 12.

While the blaze broke out three short blocks away from the city’s South Laguna fire station, that engine company had been dispatched to another call two minutes earlier, but was recalled and arrived at Wildwood within seven minutes of the first report, fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse said.

Eventually, four engines arrived and firefighters took just 15 minutes to douse the blaze that caused $300,000 in damage to the exterior of two homes and destroyed content valued at $50,000 at one of them, LaTendresse said.

The cause is under investigation, though it’s not considered suspicious, he said.

Heads Up

Laguna Beach police will be deploying this weekend to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.

Patrols will target areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions and/or arrests until 3 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 20, says a statement.

Streetbeat

Monday, Nov. 7

Vehicle burglary. 2700 block of S. Coast Hwy. 9:40 a.m. Thieves, who used a rock to shatter a window, made off with $200, credit cards, knives and paperwork.

Grand theft. 800 block of S. Coast Hwy. 11:34 p.m. Jewelry worth $5,500 was taken from a hotel room.

Vandalism. 300 block of Forest Ave. 2:21 p.m. The owner of a vacant business reported the theft of light fixtures, shelving and cabinets and damage to ceiling mural, a cumulative loss of $13,650.

Petty theft. 2200 block of Glenneyre St. 3:42 p.m. Mail was stolen.

Stolen vehicle. 500 block of Seaview St. 9:30 a.m. A 2016 Mercedes SUV was stolen overnight.

Tuesday, Nov. 8

Fraud. PD. 2:23 p.m. A resident reported finding a fraudulent check for $1,200 noted on her bank statement.

Occupied vehicle. 200 block of Ocean Ave. 9:55 p.m. A search of a vehicle for a parking violation turned up 10.07 grams of methamphetamine, 18 Xanax pills, and 6.85 grams of heroin. Wesley Allen Beebower, 22, of Mission Viejo, was arrested for suspicion of selling and possessing narcotics; and Sarah Bergstrom, 23, of Palm Springs, was arrested for suspicion of possession alone.

Wednesday, Nov. 9

Traffic stop. 100 block of N. coast Hwy. A 22-yearold Huntington Beach man was cited for DUI.

Rape. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 10:20 a.m. A patient in the hospital behavioral unit accused another patient of a sexual assault. Officers were unable to interview the victim due to an unrelated medical condition.

Fraud. 500 block of Forest Ave. 4:49 p.m. A resident received a bill from a cellular carrier for $1,600 on an unauthorized account.

Fraud. 500 block of Seaview St. 7:41 p.m. $550 was fraudulently withdrawn from a bank account.

Thursday, Nov. 10

Disturbance. 30800 block of Coast Hwy. 2:32 a.m. Mission Viejo residents Thomas Waldron, 38, and Christina Behney, 36, were arrested for violating a court order and an outstanding warrant, respectively, after they initially barred police from entering their room.

Property. 500 block of Forest Ave. 10:17 a.m. A wallet was found with 3.5 grams of meth inside.

Child abuse. 1000 block of Dyer Place. 11 a.m. An inquiry is underway and no details were released.

Suspicious. 200 block of San Tropez. 7:39 p.m. A resident received two calls in two days demanding $14,000 over smuggling a relative across the U.S.-Mexico border. Mexican authorities are investigating.

Fraud. 1000 block of Skyline Dr. 8 p.m. A resident discovered that fraudulent checks for $200,000 had been written on his account.

Friday, Nov. 11

Fraud. 30800 block of S. Coast Hwy. 10:26 a.m. Woman passed a $100 counterfeit bill.

Medical. 400 block of S. Coast Hwy. 6:19 p.m. A customer who had been imbibing fell through a street-level storefront window and suffered a head injury.

Warrant arrest. 100 block of N. Coast Hwy. 8 p.m. Michael Allen Garcia, 38, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for battery and trespassing warrants.

Saturday, Nov. 12

Traffic stop. 1700 block of S. Coast Hwy. 12:18 a.m. Garrett Thomas Basich, 27, of San Clemente, was cited for suspicion of possessing and transporting 1.89 grams of meth and 11.48 grams of heroin for sale. Bail was set at $25,000.

Sunday, Nov. 13

Traffic stop. 200 block of Mountain Rd. 1 a.m. A 31-year-old San Clemente woman was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. 100 block of S. Coast Hwy. 1:04 a.m. A 19-year-old Norwalk woman was cited for DUI.

Vehicle burglary. El Bosque. 10:35 a.m. A pair of shoes are missing from a car where a window was smashed.

Vehicle burglary. El Camino del Mar. 11:12 a.m. A window was smashed to gain entry.

Traffic collision. 20400 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 5 p.m. A motorcyclist, who witnesses say was riding in the center lane, sustained a fractured leg after colliding with two vehicles.

Drunk driving. 200 block of Broadway St. 9 p.m. A 54-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested for DUI and then transported to Mission Hospital for mental health treatment.

Traffic stop. 1300 block of S. Coast Hwy. 9 p.m. Muhammad Shayyan Samla, 20, of Irvine, was arrested for an outstanding warrant for speeding.

The post Fire Damages Two Homes appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Fire Department arson investigators are looking to determine the cause of a 6:15 p.m. fire that erupted near the Dog Park and led to the evacuation of the city’s 45-person overnight homeless shelter and the closure of Laguna Canyon Road for several hours Friday, Nov. 18, according to police.

The neighborhoods to the west and east bordering the hillside fire, on Raquel and Sun Valley Roads, respectively, were not evacuated, though a sleepover for children at Anneliese’s Willowbrook campus, less than a mile to the east, was broken up, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said. By 8 p.m., all 33 students had been retrieved by parents, who were allowed through the roadblock, the police log says. “Officers responded there to make sure everyone was okay,” Kleiser said.

Fifty-five people inside the shelter for dinner initially were evacuated to the parking lot entrance and then waited out the fire for two hours in the adjacent Dog Park, said Dawn Price, executive director of the Friendship Shelter, which runs the shelter.

Staff offsite arranged for two churches to provide temporary emergency shelter, but fortunately that proved unnecessary, Price said.

Volunteers serving dinner when the fire was spotted were able to depart in their own cars and staff permitted to retrieve blankets and food from the shelter building, she said. “I’m told one of the residents brought a guitar and the group was singing Christmas carols to pass the time and keep spirits up!” Price said.

After learning of the fire, staff at Anneliese school voluntarily initiated calls to parents, suggesting they pick up their children, said Erin Sparkuhl, the school’s human resources director.

Police later asked staff to clear the entire campus, which includes an aviary and other resident animals, Sparkuhl said. A team arrived within 30 minutes to get bird cages and a trailer ready, but that ultimately proved unnecessary, she said. Authorities informed them the fire was no longer a threat, she said. “We are so thankful that the fire was put out quickly, and that our campus and the rest of the canyon residents and businesses were safe!”

Police reopened outbound lanes by 10:45 p.m., the log says.

Car Thief Eludes Police

The driver of a stolen car, which was disabled by spike strips deployed by police near the Dog Park in Laguna Canyon, fled on foot into the Sun Valley neighborhood about 3:20 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, police said.

The suspect was not found after a two-hour search of the area, which included assistance from Irvine police and sheriff’s deputies, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said.

Residents in the area were called and urged to remain inside. Kleiser couldn’t say how many people received the warning.

Monday, Nov. 14

Theft. 200 block of Cozumel 12:50 p.m. A washer and dryer were taken from an unlocked storage unit.

Burglary. 21700 block of Ocean Vista Dr. 1 p.m. About 40 pieces of jewelry and two silver trays cumulatively valued at up to $25,000 were reported missing from a locked storage closet last opened in September.

Fraud. 600 block of N. Coast hwy. 2:50 p.m. Someone changed the address on a bank account without the owner’s permission.

Vandalism. 300 block of Glenneyre St. 4:17 p.m. A vehicle was intentionally scratched.

Occupied vehicle. 16-04620. Wesley Allen Beebower, 27, of Mission Viejo, was arrested for suspicion of selling and possessing a controlled substance. During a a search of the driver and car, an officer found 13.84 grams of heroin, 2.65 grams of methamphetamine and a digital scale. Bail was set at $30,000.

Tuesday, Nov. 15

Pedestrian stop. Beach St. 10:40 a.m. Devin Antonio Spagnola, 21, Celina, Tex., was arrested for suspicion of shoplifting after a shopkeeper spotted the theft on video and provided a description to police.

Warrant arrest. 500 block of Forest Ave. 3:31 p.m. Jeffrey Bruce Bradway, 51, of Los Angeles, turned himself in for three drunk in public warrant arrests.

Child abuse. Police are investigating assaults that initially appear to have taken place outside of town.

Wednesday, Nov. 16

Traffic stop. Laguna Canyon Rd. 7:17 a.m. A 25-year-old Aliso Viejo man was arrested for a warrant.

Grand theft. 900 block of S. Coast Hwy. 11:34 a.m. An Almerick surfboard valued at $1,100 was taken.

Fraud. PD. 11:51 p.m. A bank account was hacked and fraudulent checks written on the account.

Rape. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 3 p.m. A woman reported seeing a man she alleges sexually assaulted her two weeks ago, a crime she had not previously reported.

Thursday, Nov. 17

Battery. 31900 block of Coast Hwy. 7:46 a.m. Donna Jean Halstead, 46, of Huntington Beach, was arrested for suspicion of battery. Another woman claimed Halstead slapped her face and unsuccessfully tried to hit her with a water bottle.

Battery. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 9 a.m. Police are unable to locate a bicyclist, who a bus driver claimed had fled after a fight.

Suspicious circumstances. 1200 block of Anacapa Way. 11 a.m. A house cleaner discovered broken window.

Bar check. 300 Cliff Dr. 6:26 p.m. The foot patrol discovered contaminated bottles.

Friday, Nov. 18

Vehicle burglaries. 31800 block of Eighth Ave, 31900 Sunset Ave. 9 a.m. One vehicle was rummaged through, another’s soft top cut and the owner of a third reported $1,600 in losses.

Grand theft. 300 block of San Tropez Ct. 12:49 p.m. Contents valued at $1,000 was taken from a motorcycle after 3:45 a.m.

Saturday, Nov. 19

Disturbance. 100 block of N. Coast Hwy. 12:52 a.m. Chris James Ritch, 32, of Anaheim, was arrested for suspicion of robbery after he allegedly took a soda and a blanket and pushed a store clerk who tried to stop him.

Abandoned vehicle. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 5:58 a.m. Five hours after abandoning a black Jeep on the sand near the Sleepy Hollow beach access, the driver returned and told officers he took a wrong turn by following GPS directions. Police are unsure if alcohol was also a factor due to the delay in speaking with the driver.

Fraud. 100 block of McKnight Dr. 1:39 p.m. Owner of a debit card reports a $700 loss from a duplicate card.

Stolen vehicle. Ledroit St. 1:40 p.m. A ’99 Toyota stolen in Torrance was located unoccupied.

Traffic stop. Glenneyre St. 11 p.m. Four juveniles were detained.

Sunday, Nov. 20

Traffic stop. Sunset Terrace. 12:54 a.m. Evan Allen Yoder, 21, of San Clemente was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 due to a previous offense.

Traffic stop. Moss St. 2 a.m. A 24-year-old Laguna Niguel man was cited for DUI.

The post Suspicious Fire Leads to Temporary Canyon Closure appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Trees on the sidewalk bordering the Montage resort show signs of deep gouges.

Police are investigating who might be responsible for inflicting deep cuts in the base of six mature eucalyptus trees in the previous week.

Damage done to five trees on the Montage resort property was found early Monday, Nov. 21, and another discovered Saturday, Nov. 26, at the nearby shopping center, police said.

The two incidents may be related, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said. Four to six weeks will be needed to determine if the 40 to 45 year old trees will recover from the two-inch deep cuts that encircle the tree trunks, an arborist told police.

Monday, Nov. 21

Theft. 200 block of Cozumel. 4:34 p.m. A bike valued at $1,000 was stolen three days earlier.

Tuesday, Nov. 22

Stolen vehicle. PD. 1 p.m. A trailer worth $4,000 was stolen from 3100 block of Laguna Canyon Rd.

Robbery. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 6 p.m. Three south-county residents who beat up an acquaintance and stole his wallet were arrested for suspicion of robbery and conspiracy. The victim sustained minor injuries and was taken for treatment to the hospital, where the assault occurred. Those arrested were Derek Warren Schmalle, 21, and Timothy James Solomon, 28, both of San Clemente, and Shanoa Lee Mitchell, 27, of Capistrano Beach.

Battery. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 7 p.m. A detective will investigate the claim of an employee who alleged a co-worker attempted to choke her because she took a break.

Vandalism. PD. 8:56 a.m. A car owner suspects someone from the ASL damaged a vehicle the previous night.

Wednesday, Nov. 23

Grand theft. 400 block of S. Coast Hwy. 2 p.m. A store reports seven rings valued at $20,000 are missing.

Thursday, Nov. 24

Drunk driving. 30800 block of Coast Hwy. 2 p.m. Paul Hart Winston, 28, of San Clemente, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.

Traffic collision. Brooks Street. 5:12 p.m. A 45-year-old Laguna Beach man was taken to the hospital for treatment of a broken leg as a result of a crosswalk collision with a vehicle, which also struck and killed one of his two dogs. While the collision is under investigation, neither drugs nor alcohol are involved, police said.

Drunk driving. Cypress Dr. 8:42 p.m. A 21-year-old from San Juan Capistrano was arrested for DUI.

Friday, Nov. 25

Vehicle burglary. 3000 block of Zell Dr. 9:33 a.m. A phone and wallet with contents valued at $1,200 was taken from a truck.

Grand theft. 500 block of Cypress Dr. 10:25 p.m. Jewelry valued at $1,200 was stolen from a home in the last few days.

Traffic collision. N. Coast Hwy. 11 a.m. The cause of a head-on collision that sent two people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries is under investigation.

Saturday, Nov. 26

Theft. 200 block of Broadway St. 9:58 a.m. A bike owner who went into a store to buy lottery tickets returned to find his $50 bike gone.

Vehicle burglary. 700 block of Bolsana Dr. Thieves broke into two vehicles.

Grand theft. 20200 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 3:33 p.m. A hiker returned to a car to find missing a $5,700 watch left behind. The vehicle may have been left unlocked.

Disturbance. 31300 block of Monterey St. 7:17 p.m. Hugo Arturo Gonzalez, 24, of San Juan, Tex., was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence after he allegedly threw a punch at a friend and also pushed the friend’s girl friend.

DUI. 300 block of Broadway St. 9:10 p.m. Fernando Miguel Rivera, 23, of Los Angeles, was arrested for suspicion of felony DUI and held for $100,000 bail following a head-on collision where his passenger suffered a broken ankle. The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.

Sunday, Nov. 27

Grand theft. 3200 block of Alta Laguna Blvd. 7:54 a.m. Items valued at $2,235 were taken from the bed of a truck overnight.

Vehicle burglary. 1500 block of Tahiti. 5:13 p.m. A purse, wallet and credit cards were stolen from a car.

Foot patrol. 1:49 a.m. Police cited and then released four homeless people for illegal lodging, three on Forest Avenue and another on St. Ann’s Drive.

The post Vandals Damage Trees appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Monday, Nov. 28

Vandalism. 1300 block of Skyline Dr. 7:33 a.m. A neighbor is suspected in pruning five trees on a property and causing an estimated $20,000 in damage.

Tuesday, Nov. 29

Brandishing weapon. 3:53 p.m. Camel Point. Michael Cowan, 45, identified as a Laguna Beach transient, was arrested for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly used a knife to threaten a woman he didn’t know. She fled on foot. Bail was set at $25,000.

Vehicle burglary. 20200 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 4:21 p.m. A thief threw a rock through a car window to steal a cell phone and credit cards.

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Defrauding innkeeper. 200 block of N. Coast Hwy. 4:18 p.m. A guest with a $454 tab used a credit card that was declined and refused to pay the bill.

Lifeguard rescue. 100 block of Mountain Rd. 5:37 p.m. A 14-foot sailboat capsized in the surf at Agate Street and lifeguards helped extricate three people.

Thursday, Dec. 1

Pedestrian stop. 30800 block of Coast Hwy. 9:10 a.m. Police used a taser to subdue Toni Nelson, 54, of Arizona, who was arrested for suspicion of making felony criminal threats and burglary. Bail was set at $50,000 bail.

Stolen vehicle. 200 block of San Joaquin St. 9:20 a.m. The owner of a car stolen the night before received multiple calls about the unauthorized use of credit cards left in the car. The vehicle was recovered the next day on Panorama Drive.

Child abuse. 10:28 a.m. The case is under investigation by detectives and child protective services.

Fraud. 31900 block of Circle Dr. 10:40 a.m. Someone had opened an account in the victim’s name.

Grand theft. 900 block of Quivera St. 5 p.m. Detectives are investigating the theft of several purses and wallets valued at $48,500, which were taken from a home while the occupant was out of the country.

Fire. 200 block of Canyon Acres. 9 p.m. Built up material at the top of a chimney ignited, with flames visible outside the home, causing damage estimated at $3,000, fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse said.

Friday, Dec. 2

Traffic stop. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 12:04 a.m. A 57-year-old Gainsville, Fla., man was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. 200 block of La Brea St. 1:37 a.m. A 46-year-old Laguna Beach man was cited for DUI.

Burglary. 400 block of Panorama Dr. 4:56 a.m. Two men broke into a locked car and attempted entry into another.

Burglary. 900 block of Glenneyre St. 8:20 a.m. Thieves gained entry to an exterior closet door and made off with several pieces of tech equipment valued at $1,200.

Burglary. 31400 block of Monterey St. 12:16 p.m. An overnight break-in occurred; a relative is suspected.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Traffic stop. Beach St. 1:50 a.m. A 40-year-old Laguna Beach man was cited for DUI.

Vehicle roll over. S. Coast Hwy at Thalia St. 2:48 a.m. Cesar Diego Ceballos, 31, of Lake Forest, suffered moderate injuries and was arrested for suspicion of DUI after a car he was driving collided with a parked car and rolled over.

Drunk driving. 900 block of Balboa Ave. 3:47 a.m. Philip Edward Schneider, 30, of Dana Point, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense after a car he was driving collided with a tree.

Vandalism. 300 block of Forest Ave. 3:28 p.m. Two women attending a party at the salon the night before caused $1,000 worth of damage to inside business signs.

Drunk driving. 500 block of Glenneyre St. 4:18 p.m. Sarah Rebecca MacDonald, 28, of Laguna Niguel, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and possessing a controlled substance after her vehicle veered off the road and hit a pole.

Sunday, Dec. 4

Traffic stop. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 2:11 a.m. A 29-year-old Laguna Niguel woman was cited for DUI.

Suspicious person. Cypress Dr. 12:02 p.m. Officers who where called about a man peering into car windows arrested Thomas Peter Tolnay, 58, of Costa Mesa, who initially fled and hid. He was arrested for an outstanding warrant and new alleged drug charges.

Drunk driving. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 12:27 p.m. A 46-year-old Aliso Viejo woman was cited for DUI after she was observed swerving in traffic lanes.

Theft. 2100 blocko f Crestview Dr. 2:32 p.m. $400 in cash and credit cards taken from an unlocked car.

Traffic collision. 16-04860. S. Coast Hwy. 2:30 p.m. The driver of a car that hit five parked cars was taken to a hospital with complaints of pain. Police say neither drugs nor alcohol were involved.

Pursuit. Ledroit St. 8:20 p.m. Police began a pursuit of a stolen vehicle that entered the city at North Coast Highway. CHP took over the pursuit on state Route 73 and the motorist eventually yielded near the airport.

The post Streetbeat appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Monday, Nov. 28

Vandalism. 1300 block of Skyline Dr. 7:33 a.m. A neighbor is suspected in pruning five trees on a property and causing an estimated $20,000 in damage.

Tuesday, Nov. 29

Vehicle burglary. 20200 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 4:21 p.m. A thief threw a rock through a car window to steal a cell phone and credit cards.

Wednesday, Nov. 30

Defrauding innkeeper. 200 block of N. Coast Hwy. 4:18 p.m. A guest with a $454 tab used a credit card that was declined and refused to pay the bill.

Lifeguard rescue. 100 block of Mountain Rd. 5:37 p.m. A 14-foot sailboat capsized in the surf at Agate Street and lifeguards helped extricate three people.

Thursday, Dec. 1

Child abuse. 10:28 a.m. The case is under investigation by detectives and child protective services.

Fraud. 31900 block of Circle Dr. 10:40 a.m. Someone had opened an account in the victim’s name.

Fire. 200 block of Canyon Acres. 9 p.m. Built up material at the top of a chimney ignited, with flames visible outside the home, causing damage estimated at $3,000, fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse said.

Friday, Dec. 2

Traffic stop. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 12:04 a.m. A 57-year-old Gainsville, Fla., man was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. 200 block of La Brea St. 1:37 a.m. A 46-year-old Laguna Beach man was cited for DUI.

Burglary. 400 block of Panorama Dr. 4:56 a.m. Two men broke into a locked car and attempted entry into another.

Burglary. 900 block of Glenneyre St. 8:20 a.m. Thieves gained entry to an exterior closet door and made off with several pieces of tech equipment valued at $1,200.

Burglary. 31400 block of Monterey St. 12:16 p.m. An overnight break-in occurred; a relative is suspected.

Saturday, Dec. 3

Traffic stop. Beach St. 1:50 a.m. A 40-year-old Laguna Beach man was cited for DUI.

Vandalism. 300 block of Forest Ave. 3:28 p.m. Two women attending a party at the salon the night before caused $1,000 worth of damage to inside business signs.

Sunday, Dec. 4

Traffic stop. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 2:11 a.m. A 29-year-old Laguna Niguel woman was cited for DUI.

Drunk driving. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 12:27 p.m. A 46-year-old Aliso Viejo woman was cited for DUI after she was observed swerving in traffic lanes.

Theft. 2100 blocko f Crestview Dr. 2:32 p.m. $400 in cash and credit cards taken from an unlocked car.

Traffic collision. 16-04860. S. Coast Hwy. 2:30 p.m. The driver of a car that hit five parked cars was taken to a hospital with complaints of pain. Police say neither drugs nor alcohol were involved.

The post Streetbeat appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Monday, Dec. 6

Vandalism. 900 block of Quivera St. 9:42 a.m. A homeowner who had obtained estimates for demolition work returned after a week’s absence to find four exterior walls demolished even though she had yet to hire anyone.

Burglary. 1500 block of Skyline Dr. 11:34 a.m. Police suspect a doggy door as the point of entry by thieves who stole an estimated $10,000 worth of jewelry and ran up fraudulent credit transactions.

Fraud. PD. 2:19 p.m. Someone opened a credit line in the victim’s name and charged $9,000 fraudulently.

Petty theft. 21700 Wesley Dr. 6:39 p.m. A car owner suffered a $200 loss in a break-in that occurred the day before.

Tuesday, Dec. 6

Traffic stop. Cleo St. 12:28 a.m. A 49-year-old Ladera Ranch man was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. 300 block of Oak St. 8 a.m. A 48-year-old Laguna Beach man was cited for driving with a suspended license and disobeying a peace officer.

Property. 30800 block of Coast Hwy. 3:53 p.m. $2,600 in cash was found in a hotel room.

Indecent exposure. 300 block of Broadway St. 6:13 p.m. A 54-year-old homeless man was arrested for suspicion of meth possession and drunkenness after a bus driver called police about a person interfering with his departure.

Traffic stop. Cress St. 9:51 p.m. Bynay Blasberg, 33, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.

Wednesday, Dec. 7

Grand theft. 600 block of Park Ave. 8:13 a.m. Equipment of an undetermined value was taken from a storage shed at the baseball field.

DUI. Beach St. 10:50 p.m. Chelsea R. Moyado, 26, of Aliso Viejo, and Hailey Rae Falletta, also 26, of Laguna Niguel, were both arrested for suspicion of DUI after the driver plowed into a tree and her passenger tried to drive off while the investigation was underway.

Thursday, Dec. 8

Suspicious. 100 block of Coast Hwy. 5 a.m. A man who got into a limo while the driver stopped for coffee refused to exit when confronted. Eventually, the nonpaying passenger was detained for a mental health evaluation.

Petty theft. 400 block of Forest Ave. 12:19 p.m. Someone stole a purse and credit cards, which were used at Whole Foods, an estimated $300 loss.

Traffic stop. 1800 block of Coast Hwy. 4:44 p.m. A 45-year-old Gilbert, Ariz., visitor was arrested for DUI.

Grand theft. 200 block of Thalia St. 4:50 p.m. Two bikes locked outside and valued at $6,900 were stolen.

Traffic collision. S. Coast Hwy at Calliope. 6:30 p.m. The cause of a collision that sent a pedestrian to the hospital complaining of pain is under investigation. Pedestrians were walking from the ocean side towards the inland side when struck.

Friday, Dec. 9

Traffic stop. 200 block of Oak St. 1:40 a.m. A 49-year-old Laguna Niguel woman was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. Moss St. John Watson Seely Jr., 54, of Ladera Ranch, was cited for suspicion of DUI, a second offense within 10 years.

Domestic violence. 900 block of Bluebird Canyon Dr. 5:50 a.m. Neil Cracknell, 55, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of felony domestic violence. Following an argument, he allegedly hit a girlfriend several times. She suffered swelling to her face and a bloody nose, according to the police log. Bail was set at $50,000.

Vehicle burglary. 700 block of Barracuda Way. 7:50 a.m. A locked jeep parked outside was broken into.

Stolen vehicle. 500 block of Center St. 7:57 a.m. The owner of a 2007 Highlander, who kept a spare key inside, discovered the vehicle gone.

Assist fire. 20600 Laguna Canyon Rd. 8:48 a.m. Reports are incomplete about smoke coming from a possible illegal campfire near the storm drain.

Vehicle burglary. 300 block of Cliff Dr. 10:12 a.m. Personal paperwork was stolen in a car break-in in an underground parking garage.

Vehicle burglary. 2500 block of S. Coast Hwy. 10:35 a.m. A passenger window was damage by thieves, who also took a wallet.

Traffic collision. 2300 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 1:28 p.m. Investigators are trying to determine why a driver went into oncoming traffic and collided with another vehicle. One motorist went to the hospital as a precaution.

Fraud. 1000 block of Katella St. 12:50 p.m. A resident reported a second compromise of credit cards in the last few months, a $130 loss from multiple charges in Dana Point and San Clemente.

Petty theft. 300 block of Lookout Dr. 2:30 p.m. Lawn bowls and bag worth $500 were stolen from a carport.

Fraud. 200 block of Forest Ave. 3:18 p.m. Cornelius Holmes, 58, of Los Angeles, was arrested for suspicion of paraphernalia possession.

Warrant arrest. 100 block of S. Coast Hwy. 4 p.m. Brian Schaar, 31, of Santa Ana, was arrested for suspicion of a parole violation.

Suspicious circs. 200 block of Broadway. Curtis Grant Abbott, 52, a Laguna Beach transient, was arrested for suspicion of being drunk in public following a report about his sign, which mentions a gun, and his comment about assaulting a police officer.

Saturday, Dec. 10

Traffic stop. Diamond St. 12:57 a.m. A 40-year-old Orange woman was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. 100 block of S. Coast Hwy. 1:17 a.m. A 39-year-old Santa Ana man was cited for DUI.

Battery. Ocean Ave. 1:41 a.m. Daniel Mendoza Fernandez, 20, of Corona, was arrested for suspicion of felony battery and his companion charged with misdemeanor battery following an assault. The pair, who hit and kicked a man walking ahead of them on the street, fled the scene and were detained a few blocks away, at Third and Mermaid Streets. Bail was set at $25,000.

Rape. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 12:33 p.m. Detectives are investigating the claims of a 24-year-old woman, who told emergency room personnel she had been kidnapped a week ago by four males from Indiana.

The post Streetbeat appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

Battery. 600 Park Ave. 3:42 p.m. Ehadaie Babak, 37, of Laguna, was arrested for suspicion of battery for assaulting a female Uber driver after she asked him to exit the vehicle. The driver reported she was hit in the face and treated for a contusion over her right eye.

Burglary. 2600 block of Riviera Dr. in Irvine Cove. 7:50 p.m. A woman called 9-1-1 reporting that she was hiding with her child and a housekeeper in the kitchen behind a closed door after seeing an unknown male in her home. She thought he had come from the ocean side of her home because the front door was locked. Dispatcher reported that she thought the man was “zoned out and walking like he was not seeing anything,” according to the police log. Dispatch told the three victims to leave through the front door. Officers checked the residence to find no one inside. A helicopter was dispatched to search the large backyard. No suspect located. Surveillance video shows a man of about 5’10 leaving through the pool area. The victim believes the burglar had taken $1,300 in unspecified property from the residence. This is an ongoing investigation according to Police Sergeant Tim Kleiser.

Friday, Dec.16

Vandalism. 200 block of Arch street. 9:12 a.m. A car owner reported a rock was thrown through their car window causing $1,000 damage.

Traffic collision. Solana Way/S. Coast hwy. 5:35 p.m. Vehicle into a pedestrian. Pedestrian was transported by a friend with leg pain.

Traffic Collision. Coast Hwy/Point Place. 6:28 p.m. Ryan Christopher William, 41, of Mission Viejo was arrested for suspicion of DUI with one prior. $10,000 bail.

Drunk Driving. Diamond St. /S. Coast Hwy 8:43 p.m. Patricia Eileen Gould, 57, of Newport Beach, arrested for suspicion of DUI with one prior. Bail $10,000.

Saturday, Dec.17

Fraud. 1000 block of S. Coast hwy. Hand Plant Skate Shop. 12:57 p.m. A customer used a fake $100 bill. The victim says the same juvenile used a stolen credit card the previous week.

Drunk Driving. N. Coast Hwy and Broadway Pl. 3:19 p.m. Juli Hueni, 32, of San Clemente was arrested on suspicion of DUI with a third offense. Bail $15,000.

Sunday, Dec. 18

Disturbance 300 block S. Coast Hwy, Adonis Restaurant. 1:04 am. A menu statue was broken worth $800.

Property. 500 block of Forest. 7:45 a.m. A $1,200 hand generator was left at the Farmers Market the day before. A municipal employee found it and locked it in a storage room. The generator was returned to the owner.

Vehicle burglary. 2800 block of Zell Dr. 7:59 a.m. A Jeep Cherokee window was smashed, $500 in miscellaneous items taken.

Battery. Alta Laguna Blvd/Park Ave. 8:13 p.m. An Uber driver reported an attacked that happened the night before.

The post Streetbeat appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

The occupants of a three-level ocean-front complex relocated in the early hours of Christmas Eve to a hotel after a fire and water damage made their homes uninhabitable, fire officials said.

Four engines responded to the 1200 block of Ocean Front to a 12:52 a.m. blaze that was hidden from view, fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse said. Firefighters quickly extinguished what appears to be an accidental electrical blaze in a wall next to a kitchen in the top unit, but hit a water line in the process, he said. Water damaged the lower units and the property owner put his tenants up for the night in a hotel, said LaTendresse, who could not estimate the value of the damage.

Monday, Dec. 19

Burglary. 1600 block of Bluebird Canyon Dr. 8:37 a.m. A resident reported the theft of a $50 garage door opener.

Vandalism. 1800 block of S. Coast Hwy. 9:27 a.m. Someone scratched the surface of a storefront window.

Vehicle burglary. 2800 block of Ridge Dr. 9:42 a.m. Someone attempted to break into the driver’s side of a vehicle by punching the key entry.

Burglary. 1000 block of Miramar St. 2:54 p.m. A resident reported the loss of items worth $765 from a car that had been parked in a driveway overnight.

Vehicle burglary. 200 block of Grandview St. 3:36 p.m. A resident reported the forced entry into a vehicle.

Tuesday, Dec. 20

Welfare check. Lower Cliff Dr. 1 a.m. A 26-year-old Laguna Niguel man, slumped over the steering wheel of a car, was arrested for misdemeanor drug warrants and a new misdemeanor drug charge.

Traffic stop. Coast Hwy. 3:22 p.m. A 26-year-old Piedmont man was cited for a DUI warrant.

Wednesday, Dec. 21

Pursuit. Crown Valley Pkwy. 2:51 a.m. Sheriff’s deputies pursued a vehicle fleeing at 70 mph along Coast Highway whose driver had a BB gun. Spike stripes stopped the vehicle in the 1600 block and the driver was handcuffed. In the meantime, traffic was diverted around Pearl Street.

Petty theft. 500 block of Temple Hills Dr. 11:54 a.m. Thieves took a boxed oil pump left unattended for six hours on a porch.

Thursday, Dec. 22

DUI. 2200 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 2:21 a.m. A 19-year-old from Laguna Beach was arrested for DUI after he lost control of his vehicle when it began to slide and rolled over.

Petty theft. 1200 block of Coast Hwy. 9:54 a.m. Copper worth $700 was taken over the weekend.

Traffic collision. Cliff and Rosa Bonheur Drives. 7:37 p.m. Two locals crossing in a sidewalk were hit by a motorist from Coto de Caza, who was not intoxicated. One person was transported for minor injuries.

Indecent exposure. 200 block of Forest Ave. 9:34 p.m. Police issued a citation to an elderly woman in a wheelchair, who had urinated in public, not for the first time. Officers spoke to her son, who the call log shows arrived 45 minutes later. The incident does not meet the criminal elements for elder abuse, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said.

Friday, Dec. 23

Traffic stop. 200 block of Broadway St. 12:17 a.m. A 25-year-old Mission Viejo man was cited for DUI and a misdemeanor drug charge; a 24-year-old companion from Trabuco Canyon also was cited for a controlled substance.

Stolen vehicle. S. Coast Hwy. 7:57 a.m. A 17-year-old Huntington Beach girl took her mother’s car for a joy ride and was arrested. An 18-year-old companion, also from Huntington Beach, was cited for providing false ID.

Disorderly. 1400 block of S. Coast Hwy. 11:33 p.m. A 26-year-old Aliso Viejo man was arrested for being drunk in public and resisting arrest after he refused to leave when asked.

Saturday, Dec. 24

Public intoxication. 16-05119. Ocean Ave. 10:56 p.m. Taylor Sky Buonanotte, 24, of Huntington Beach, was arrested for felony resisting arrest and public intoxication after she allegedly kicked two officers, who were trying to detain her. Bail was set at $20,000.

Sunday, Dec. 25

Traffic stop. 30600 block of Coast Hwy. 1:52 a.m. Gabriel Juarez Eagle, 37, of Santa Ana, apparently toasting his Christmas Eve birthday, was arrested for suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $10,000 due to a prior offense.

Traffic stop. 100 block of N. Coast Hwy. 4:23 a.m. A 26-year-old from Buena Park was cited for DUI and driving with a suspended license.

Drunk driving. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 5:50 p.m. A 63-year-old Laguna Niguel man was cited for DUI and a drunk in public warrant following a rear-end collision. No one was injured.

The post Fire Forces Christmas Eve Evacuation appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Monday, Dec. 26

Vandalism. 29900 Balboa Ave. 10:47 a.m. Tire marks from a vehicle doing donuts in the soccer field.

Vehicle burglary. 19200 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 1:59 p.m. A window was smashed and a purse stolen.

Vandalism. 500 block of Windsor Place. 2:21 p.m. A Lexus was egged in four places.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Traffic stop. 600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 2:37 a.m. A 25-year-old Fullerton man was cited for DUI.

Vandalism. 3200 block of Alta Laguna Blvd. 9:55 a.m. A contractor outhouse was tipped over.

Petty theft. 1000 block of Miramar Dr. 1:57 p.m. A mother reported the discovery that her daughter never received a $500 gift card delivered to her home. It was used in full on Aug. 30.

Pedestrian stop. 300 block of Broadway. Michael Riley, 49, identified as a Laguna Beach transient, was arrested for an outstanding warrant.

Disturbance. 31400 block of Coast Hwy. 6:10 p.m. Brent Jeffrey Robertson, 53, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of felony domestic violence after he allegedly struck his wife in the arm several times causing a bruise. Bail was set at $50,000.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

Foot patrol. 100 block of S. Coast Hwy. 9:49 p.m. Rhonda Metoyer, 57, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for felony resisting a police officer after she allegedly kicked an officer who had cited her for violating a smoking ban on the beach. Bail was set at $20,000.

Fraud. 900 block of S. Coast Hwy. 10:12 a.m. Fraudulent checks were made under a business name and cashed at various banks.

Thursday, Dec. 29

Battery. 400 block of Seaview St. 7:08 a.m. Ashley Simonni, 25, of Long Beach, was arrested for suspicion of felony domestic violence after allegedly scratching and biting her partner. Bail was set at $50,000.

Vandalism. 1400 block of S. Coast Hwy. 8:12 a.m. No entry was made but a front door window was broken.

Vehicle burglary. Cliff Drive. 8:43 a.m. A loss of $150.

Petty theft. 600 block of Allview Terrace. 12 p.m. Mail was taken from an unlocked vehicle.

Traffic stop. 700 block of S. Coast Hwy. 9:07 p.m. Miguel Angelo Pacheco, 51, of Costa Mesa, who was stopped for expired registration, was arrested for suspicion of felony drug sales when a search of his vehicle turned up 201 pills of methylone, known as M1, as well as one each of Valium, Viagra and Alprazolam.

Friday, Dec. 30

Traffic stop. Moss St. 1:46 a.m. A 28-year-old Colorado Springs visitor was cited for DUI.

Suspicious. 31600 block of Wildwood Rd. 4:41 a.m. A report about someone inside a vehicle resulted in the arrest of a 45-year-old Laguna Beach man for being drunk in public.

Fraud. 31600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 10 a.m. A woman purchased $500 in pre-paid green dot Visa cards and provided the numbers to a caller impersonating a power company representative and demanding funds.

Petty theft. 500 block of Allview Terrace. 10 a.m. Two jackets were taken from an unlocked vehicle, the second of three property crimes on the block in a single week.

Fraud. 1600 block of Hillcrest Dr. 1:52 p.m. Fraudulent charges of $1,905 were made to a debit card.

Grand theft. 600 block of N. Coast Hwy. 5:21 p.m. A woman suspects her wallet and keys were stolen while she was in line at a store.

Battery. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 9:34 p.m. Police are unable to locate a suspect who reportedly stole property and injured a victim.

Bar check. 200 block of Ocean Ave. 10:18 p.m. A 20-year-old Rohnert Park man was cited for two misdemeanor drug charges.

Saturday, Dec. 31

Occupied vehicle. 2300 block of S. Coast Hwy. 3:20 a.m. Phillip Anthony Jackson, 28, of Long Beach, was arrested for suspicion of drug sales and possession after a search turned up Xanax, 36 grams of meth and 25 grams of marijuana. Police searched the car because the driver was asleep at the wheel and partly blocking Coast Highway. Bail was set at $25,000.

Vehicle burglary. 2700 block of Highland Way. 10:21 a.m. Thieves broke a rear hatch lock and window to remove a third row seat valued at $3,000.

Petty theft. 22600 block of Allview Terrace. 12:12 p.m. Marlin brand bike worth $550 was taken from a carport.

Traffic stop. West Street. A 57-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for DUI.

Sunday, Jan. 1

Traffic stop. 300 block of Thalia St. 2:37 a.m. A 54-year-old Aliso Viejo man was cited for DUI.

Monday, Jan. 2

Automated plate reader. N. Coast Hwy. Julian Hooser, 26, of Burbank, was arrested for suspicion of car theft, behind the wheel of a car stolen in Costa Mesa.

Drunk driving. Laguna Canyon Rd. 9:51 a.m. In the wake of reports about a swerving vehicle nearly hitting electrical poles, police arrested a 49-year-old Laguna Beach woman for DUI.

Stolen vehicle. 500 block of Glenneyre St. 8:36 p.m. Benjamin Schachtschneider, 33, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of auto theft.

Medical. 1200 block of S. Coast Hwy. 9:15 p.m. Child protective services took custody of a child taken to the hospital at the request of a 38-year-old woman, who was arrested for being under the influence.

Tuesday, Jan. 3

Traffic stop. 200 block of Broadway St. 4:29 a.m. A 20-year-old Aliso Viejo woman was cited for DUI.

The post Streetbeat appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Laguna Beach store hit by burglars over the weekend.

Thieves shattered the glass entry door to a sunglasses boutique in downtown Laguna Beach and made off with several pairs of sunglasses sometime before 6:39 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, police said.

The break-in occurred in the 200 block of Ocean Avenue. A tally of the losses was not yet available, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said Monday.

The post Thieves Target Sunglasses Store appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

the broken front door of the sunglasses store.

A downtown store hit by thieves over the weekend.

Thieves shattered the glass entry door to a sunglasses boutique in downtown Laguna Beach and made off some merchandise sometime before 6:39 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, police said.

The break-in occurred in the 200 block of Ocean Avenue. A tally of the losses was not yet available, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said Monday.

Cops Look for Impaired Drivers

Officers from the police department’s DUI enforcement team will be deploying this weekend to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers, police said.

Patrols will deploy on Saturday, Jan. 14, after 8 p.m. until 3 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, in areas with high frequencies of DUI collisions or arrests.

Streetbeat

Tuesday, Jan. 3

Detective activity. 500 block of Catalina St. 4:43 p.m. Investigators recovered a motorcycle that had been stolen in Laguna Niguel.

Burglary. 3100 block of Bonn Dr. 8:44 p.m. Detached garage was open and light on, while it is normally shut and dark. No loss so far.

Wednesday, Jan. 4

Disturbance. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 9:34 a.m. A man who made threats to harm employees and others was cited for misdemeanor assault and removed from the property.

Stolen vehicle. 200 block of San Joaquin St. 11:23 a.m. A car owner who parked a vehicle on New Year’s Eve cannot find it. Video shows the vehicle heading southbound on Coast Highway that day.

Warrant arrest. 500 block of Forest Ave. 11:58 a.m. Adam Singer Brown, 57, of Newport Beach, was arrested for multiple outstanding Harbor Court warrants.

Pedestrian stop. 300 block of Broadway St. 3:30 p.m. Karen Lynn Keseloff, 42, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for multiple Harbor Court warrants.

Trespassing. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 4:24 p.m. A man who jumped from a car was reported jumping a fence.

Fraud. 500 block of Allview Terrace. 7:14 p.m. A resident received a call from a bank about a person in Florida bank requesting a new credit card. No charges were made to the new card.

Search warrant. 17-000100. 21500 block of Treetop Lane. 11 p.m. Flash bangs and hilo being used. Interior lights on inside house. No change at the res. Units entering the house. Michael James Ross, 33, criminal threats. 422, 76a, Robert Mason Ross, 75, 29800a1, both $20,000 bail. Felon in possession of a firearm. What’s up with this?

Thursday, Jan. 5

Petty theft. 200 block of Forest Ave. 6 p.m. A store employee’s wallet, valued at $400, was stolen.

Pedestrian stop. 17-00114. Cleo St. 10:49 p.m. As a result of stopping a couple for jaywalking, police arrested Richard Wayne Owens, 41, San Clemente, for suspicion of carrying a concealed dagger as well as possession and sale of 33 grams of meth. His 45-year-old female companion from Laguna Beach was arrested for being drunk in public.

Friday, Jan. 6

Disturbance. 1300 block of Coast Hwy. 12:51 a.m. A 20-year-old Garden Grove man was cited for DUI and a teen companion from Westminster arrested for being drunk in public.

Drunk driving. Reef Point. 10 a.m. A 26-year-old Irvine man was cited for DUI after his erratic driving caught the attention of a off-duty deputy who followed him.

Citizen contact. Bolsana Drive. 3:24 p.m. A man who observed teens egging the neighborhood directed police to the home of a 16-year-old, who confessed.

Traffic collision. 17-00124. Park Avenue. 9:31 p.m. Motorcycle layed down on the sidewalk.

Traffic stop. Brooks St. 11:18 p.m. A 25-year-old woman was transported to the hospital and arrested for DUI.

Saturday, Jan. 7

Traffic stop. Bluebird Canyon Dr. 2:14 a.m. A 46-year-old Laguna Beach woman was cited for DUI.

Burglary. 31600 Virginia Way. 1:23 p.m. A resident reported losses of $250 in a home break-in.

Assist other department. 300 block of Broadway St. 4:49 p.m. Police arrested David Troy Buma, 53, of Laguna Beach, for a probation violation of disabling a GPS device at the request of the Department of Corrections.

Suspicious. 31700 block of Coast Hwy. 7:22 p.m. Police detained a man with a pistol in a shoulder holster, who turned out to hold a valid permit.

Sunday, Jan. 8

Traffic stop. Ruby Street. 2:44 a.m. Jacob Matthew Stewart, 25, Aliso Viejo, was cited for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.

The post Thieves Break Into Sunglasses Store appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Tuesday, Jan. 10

Grand theft. 200 block of Broadway St. 8:31 a.m. A thief with a taste for California vintners made off with nine bottles of Caymus, Justin and Duckhorn wines, cumulatively valued at $940.

Battery. 17-00160. 600 block of Park Ave. 1:57 p.m. A fracas between students that left one with lacerations on his face is under investigation by police.

Cut and rescue. Park Avenue. 4:14 p.m. A driver who was injured in a solo-collision was arrested for suspicion of felony drug charges after hospital staff found 3.86 grams of methamphetamine in plastic baggies in the patient’s bra. Dellia Ledwidge, 53, of San Clemente, whose car rolled over after striking a parked car, was arrested for alleged sales and possession charges.

Battery. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 6:38 p.m. A 52-year-old San Clemente man was arrested for being drunk in public following a report that he allegedly grabbed a volunteer at the homeless shelter by the throat.

Wednesday, Jan. 11

Theft. 400 block of El Camino Del Mar. 11:14 a.m. A hedge trimmer valued at $549 was taken from the back of an open truck last week.

Traffic collision. 2900 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 1:18 p.m. A driver and a passengers complained of pain following a two-car head-on collision that temporarily halted traffic.

Drunk driving. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 6:52 p.m. A 52-year-old Dana Point man was arrested for DUI.

Thursday, Jan. 12

Hit and run. 17-00185. Ocean Ave. 2 a.m. A driver involved in a collision fled on foot after informing the other driver he wanted to avoid an encounter with police because of his status on probation.

Burglary. 900 block of S. Coast Hwy. 3:36 a.m. Surfboards valued at $5,000 were taken. No further details were available.

Burglary. 500 block of Alta Vista. 9:54 a.m. A bike valued at $8,000 was taken from a garage that had been opened.

Theft. San Tropez Court. 4:22 p.m. A backpack with military gear valued at $1,000 was taken from a backyard.

Stolen vehicle. N. Coast Hwy. 8:58 p.m. Police arrested Tierra Cardenas Araceli, 25, of Santa Ana, for suspicion of auto theft. Police found him parked at a gas station with a car stolen earlier that day.

Annoying calls. 200 block of San Tropez Court. 9:59 p.m. A customer of a store reported receiving repeated calls that criticized her for writing a negative review at a store website.

Friday, Jan. 13

Pedestrian stop. Thalia St. Jerome Howard, 49, of Fullerton, was arrested for outstanding warrants.

Stolen vehicle. 900 block of Bluebird Canyon Dr. 9:24 a.m. A woman who parked a newly purchased 2017 Lexus in the driveway overnight found it gone the next morning.

Fraud. 31100 block of Monterey St. 9:40 a.m. A suspect used a resident’s social security number to obtain a credit card and make purchases of $9,900.

Theft. 31000 block of Aliso. 2:51 p.m. Mail theft was reported, including a loss of a personal check.

Public intoxication. 200 block of Broadway St. 5 p.m. Police arrested two men who were arguing, a 33-year-old Santa Ana man for being drunk in public and a companion of the same age from Riverside for multiple outstanding warrants.

Drunk driving. Thalia St. 9 p.m. Charlene Kim Swayne, 40, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.

Disturbance. Glenneyre St. 9:37 p.m. Rachel Studer Tarr, 28, of Ohio, was arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence after she allegedly grabbed her boyfriend around the neck.

Disturbance. 1100 block of Coast View Dr. 11:33 p.m. Charles Eli Colburn IV, 23, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor domestic violence after he allegedly hit a girlfriend with a phone and then attempted to prevent her from calling authorities.

Sunday, Jan. 15

Suspicious circs. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 1 p.m. Stephanie Nichole Mancuso, 25, of Ohio, was arrested for three misdemeanor charges in the wake of an argument.

Traffic stop. Park Ave. 3:12 p.m. Dane Taylor Gordon, 35, of Dana Point, was arrested for a no-bail Colorado warrant.

Traffic stop. Jasmine St. 11:48 p.m. A 47-year-old Los Angeles man was cited for DUI.

Monday, Jan. 16

Mail theft. Nyes Place. 9 p.m. Three packages were taken from a street mailbox.

The post Streetbeat appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Conor Scott Simpson, 21, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of felony DUI and held for $100,000 bail after a collision in the 600 block of Diamond Street in the early hours of Thursday, Jan. 19, police said.

Simpson’s vehicle hit a structure and a gas line about 1:13 a.m. and he left the disabled vehicle, but was found at his home a block away, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said. His passenger was taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, he said.

No homes were evacuated during the gas leak, which was repaired an hour later by utility workers, Kleiser said.

Police Suspect Greeter in Theft

Laguna Beach police arrested Michael Minutoli, 58, the town’s self-appointed greeter and the subject of a documentary film, for suspicion of possessing stolen property and misdemeanor theft and vandalism Wednesday, Jan. 18.

Minutoli, who is homeless, often wears distinctive jackets, hats and gloves as he welcomes passersby. He favors a spot the corner of Brooks and Coast Highway under a sculpture of another town greeter, Eiler Larsen, and initially took up Larsen’s task downtown in 2011.

Managers of a local hotel where Minutoli had stayed reported at 1:17 p.m. that their guest had taken a cable box. Police detained Minutoli at a nearby convenience store, where he allegedly tried to hide the missing electronics that police recovered, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said.

Streetbeat

Tuesday, Jan. 17

Stolen vehicle. 500 block of Forest Ave. 4:30 p.m. A privately owned former military truck was discovered missing from a Big Bear storage lot and found by sheriff’s deputies in San Bernardino.

Burglary. 31500 block of Table Rock Dr. 5:17 p.m. A burglary that occurred a day earlier involved the loss of purses valued at $15,000.

Wednesday, Jan. 18

Grand theft. 2200 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 9:48 a.m. Detectives are investigating the theft over the past five months of 16 computers valued at $35,000.

Fraud. 400 block of Hills Street. 11:29 a.m. An unauthorized $34 purchase was made on credit cards stolen in a car break-in overnight.

Burglary. Vista Del Sol. 1:47 p.m. A housekeeper reported a broken window and possible entry, but no losses in initial reports.

Thursday, Jan. 19

Sexual battery. 300 block of S. Coast Hwy. 8:41 a.m. A report about inappropriate physical contact that occurred Friday, Jan. 13, is under investigation.

Petty theft. 900 block of Glenneyre St. 12:39 p.m. Prescription sunglasses and a phone were taken from an unlocked vehicle.

Fraud. 2500 block of Temple Hills Dr. 2:20 p.m. Someone attempted to make $1,100 in purchases on unauthorized credit cards.

Brandish weapon. 200 block of Ocean Ave. 7:32 p.m. Joseph Craig Hogsten, 30, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of brandishing a weapon and making criminal threats and held for $50,000 bail. A bar bouncer told police he detained Hogsten, who allegedly had threatened him while holding a knife.

Friday, Jan. 20

Petty theft. 200 block of Ocean Ave. 12:54 a.m. A man reported the theft of his phone and wallet by two women pickpockets, one of whom bumped into the victim while the other took his valuables.

Traffic collision. Coast Hwy. 11:40 a.m. A malfunctioning traffic light may have played a role in a three-vehicle collision that resulted in injuries to one driver.

Traffic collision. PD. 6:43 p.m. A boulder fell on her parked vehicle in a city employee lot.

Traffic stop. 2500 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 11 p.m. Jordan Adam Obrien, 35, of Brea, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $15,000 bail due to a prior offense.

Medical. 1700 block of S. Coast Hwy. 11:28 p.m. No arrests were made in a fight involving three people, though the case is under investigation. One person was taken to the hospital.

Saturday, Jan. 21

Traffic stop. Forest Ave. 2:26 a.m. A 29-year-old from San Diego was arrested for DUI.

Lifeguard rescue. 31100 block of Coast Hwy. 2:28 p.m. A Harbor Patrol boat rescued a swimmer at 3:06 p.m. in dangerous surf.

Traffic collision. Temple Hills Dr. 9:47 p.m. Two Laguna Beach residents escaped injury when a vehicle rolled over.

Sunday, Jan. 22

Traffic stop. 300 block of Thalia St. 1:21 a.m. A 25-year-old Laguna Beach man was cited for DUI.

Traffic collision. Laguna Canyon Rd. 4:53 a.m. A 24-year-old Huntington Park man was cited for DUI and an LASO warrant.

The post Police Arrest Driver Who Flees Collision appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Alexander Steven Tracey, 24, of Laguna Niguel, who witnesses described as playing chicken with motorists as he walked in the middle of Park Avenue and yelled at passerby, was arrested by police for suspicion of public drunkenness about 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25. But as the night wore one, new charges were added.

When Tracey was arrested, police allege he was in possession of a Head tennis racket, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said. An hour after his arrest, a resident in the 900 block of Park Avenue arrived home to find a break-in where a Head racket and tequila bottle were taken. By 7:30 p.m. and a block away, another Park resident returned home to find his mail box damaged and shards from a tequila bottle on the driveway. Tracey was charged with burglary and vandalism as well, the log shows.

Monday, Jan. 23

Burglary. 1400 Coral Drive. 6 p.m. Police are investigating the theft of $15,000 in cash from the desk drawer of a home, which apparently was hit by burglars during business hours. The resident returned home to find a laundry door open.

Tuesday, Jan. 24

Fraud. 1700 block of Temple Hills Dr. 3 p.m. A resident reported that someone had written $2,800 in checks from a business, which had not issued the checks.

Child abuse. 1700 block of Coast Hwy. 3:47 p.m. Police declined to release any information other than that a case is under investigation.

Pedestrian stop. 300 block of Broadway St. 6 p.m. Brian Russell Hemenway, 41, of Orange, was arrested due to a parole violation, cited and released.

Wednesday, Jan. 25

Child abuse. 600 block of Park Ave. 10:46 a.m. Police declined to release any information other than that a case is under investigation.

Petty theft. 600 block of Loretta Dr. Several items were taken from an unlocked vehicle and someone attempted to cash a stolen check.

Thursday, Jan. 26

Fraud. 300 block of Fairview St. 12:27 p.m. A resident reported $650 in unauthorized credit card charges.

Domestic violence. High Dr. Robert Sheuerman, 48, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of felony domestic violence after his partner sustained facial injuries from being hit several times. The log says she attempted to ward off her attacker with flea spray.

Traffic collision. 31300 Coast Hwy. 11 p.m. A 21-year-old San Clemente man who hit a wall south of Camel Point was arrested for DUI.

Friday, Jan. 26

Traffic stop. Canyon Acres. 2 a.m. Abel David Butler, 26, of San Bernardino, was arrested for nine outstanding warrants from three counties.

Vandalism. 2800 block of Wards Terrace. 9:54 a.m. Gina Defranco, 21, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of felony vandalism after allegedly keying her roommate’s car following an argument.

Property. 500 block of Forest Ave. 10:24 a.m. A man in his 40s or 50s dropped an intact watermelon at the front door of the police department. Police suspect it’s related to a recent racial attack at the home of a local student.

Emergency. 400 block of Seaview St. 3:52 p.m. In response to an emergency call, police responded to a home and arrested Julian Giovanni Ferrazi, 26, of Mission Viejo, for three outstanding warrants.

Saturday, Jan. 28

Indecent exposure. 1200 block of Ocean Front. 10:19 a.m. Joel Cruz Herrera, 37, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of multiple charges when found on private property looking into a room occupied by two women.

Occupied vehicle. 1000 block of Bluebird Canyon Drive. A 46-year-old, Rancho Santa Margarita, DUI.

Suspicious. Cypress Dr. 10:46 p.m. A resident suspected someone of breaking into her home because a dresser had fallen over, though nothing was found missing.

The post Charges Escalate by the Hour appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

Monday, Jan. 30

Vehicle burglary. 700 block of Bayview Dr. 3:59 p.m. A garage door opener and other items were removed from an unlocked car between 1 p.m. and 6 a.m. the previous day.

Vandalism. 1200 block of Bluebird Canyon Dr. 4 p.m. Seven windows in the front of a home were broken out.

Drunk driving. 900 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 6:58 p.m. A 53-year-old Newport Beach woman, who was observed driving on the wrong side of road and at slow speeds, was arrested for DUI.

Tuesday, Jan. 31

Pedestrian stop. Forest Ave. 3:12 p.m. Shane Sutton, 38, a Laguna Beach transient, was arrested for three outstanding warrants.

Traffic stop. Forest Ave. 3:24 p.m. Michele Alvarez, 38, also a Laguna Beach transient, was arrested for three warrants, including burglary.

Disturbance. 31100 block of Coast Hwy. 7:48 p.m. A resident complained about sound meter readings that apparently exceeded legal thresholds; employees say sound is within permitted levels.

Wednesday, Feb. 1

Traffic stop. 200 block of Broadway. 2 a.m. A 23-year-old Mission Viejo woman was cited for DUI.

Burglary. 31600 block of Scenic Dr. 3:41 p.m. An $8,000 loss occurred in November but was only recently reported. No further details were available.

Citizen contact. PD. The captain of a boat being piloted off the coast near West Street Beach complained that someone in the area from a residence used a mirror in an attempt to distract him. The incident was forwarded to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Petty theft. 3100 block of Tyrol Dr. 5:41 p.m. A fairy door anchored in a tree in a front yard was stolen.

Brandishing weapon. 100 block of Wave St. 6:40 p.m. A 51-year-old man, who was walking naked in the yard, was arrested for being drunk in public, but not before a resident drew a registered Glock pistol on him while awaiting for police to arrive.

Fraud. 300 block of Myrtle St. 8:32 p.m. A resident reported a credit card loss of $629.

Thursday, Feb. 2

Traffic stop. Calliope St. 11 p.m. A 36-year-old Yorba Linda man was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. 200 block of Forest Ave. A 60-year-old Irvine man was cited for DUI after he was observed driving the wrong way on a street with a blown out right tire.

Stolen vehicle. 11:30 p.m. Santa Ana police recovered undamaged a 2010 BMW stolen in Laguna.

Friday, Feb. 3

Pedestrian stop. 17-00440. 200 block of Cress St. 2 a.m. Mason Decker Tackett, 21, San Juan Capistrano, arrested for suspicion of misdemeanor battery and resisting arrest after he allegedly bit a bar patron in a dispute that started over the apparent theft of a jacket.

Traffic stop. Legion St. 2:09 a.m. A 41-year-old Laguna Beach woman was cited for DUI.

Saturday, Feb. 4

Burglary. 1400 block of S. Coast Hwy. A resident reported the theft of a $3,300 computer.

Traffic collision. 2000 block of Temple Hills Dr. 9:30 p.m. Two juveniles from Trabuco Canyon escaped injury when their vehicle rolled over after a collision. Alcohol was not a factor.

Traffic stop. 17-00468. Anita St. 11:30 p.m. Arianna Rose Medicina, 23, of Oceanside, who was initially stopped for a traffic violation, was arrested for suspicion of three felony drug possession and sales charges. A search of her car turned up 13 pills of Alprazolam, a bottle of nitrous, and three pieces of LSD laced candy.

Sunday, Feb. 5

Public intoxication. 200 block of Ocean Ave. Nicole Diana Adams, 25, of Mission Viejo, initially arrested for public drunkenness, now faces other charges after spitting and kicking arresting officers. Bail was set at $20,000.

Drunk driving. North City Limits. 2:30 a.m. A 28-year-old Dana Point resident, seen crossing into lanes and nearly hitting a guard rail, was cited for DUI.

Suspicious vehicle. 200 block of High Drive. 7:29 a.m. Police arrested James Minahan Obrien, 51, of Irvine, for an outstanding warrant after a resident reported a car idling for 45 minutes.

Municipal code violation. 1000 block of Coast Hwy. 10:41 a.m. A complaint about gardeners using leaf blowers resulted in the arrest of one, a 29-year-old gardener, for an outstanding warrant.

Traffic collision. Anita St. A cyclist suffered moderate injuries in a collision with a vehicle, which occurred Jan. 31.

DUI. Forest Ave. 3:40 p.m. Bradley Kent Wilson, 54, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested for suspicion of DUI after the vehicle he drove was observed swerving. Bail was set at $50,000 due to four prior arrests.

Reckless driving. Canyon Acres. 11:42 p.m. A 23-year-old Huntington Beach man was cited for two registration violations.

Monday, Jan. 6

Traffic stop. Ninth Avenue. Michael Chesley Ballsmith, 54, of Dana Point, was cited for suspicion of DUI and held for $15,000 bail due to two prior offenses.

The post Streetbeat appeared first on Laguna Beach Local News.

A caravan of nearly 100 motorcyclists, including some exhibitionists pulling wheelies as they rode on Coast Highway, made an impression as they roared into town about noon this past Sunday, Feb. 12, police said.

The motorcycle pack, wearing insignias from several different clubs, ascended to Alta Laguna Park without serious incident, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said. One rider was cited for failing to stop for a sign, and another fled the area previously after a pursuit with Newport Beach police, he said.

Monday, Feb. 6

Vehicle burglary. Wesley Dr. 6:35 p.m. A thief who stole shoes from a person’s car fled the area and then abandoned the loot.

Robbery. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 7 p.m. A shopkeeper decided not to seek prosecution of a thief, who apologized after the merchant contacted him. The thief left behind identifying information, which the merchant used to contact him and send a message. The thief agreed to make restitution for a $650 bong he had stuffed under his shirt.

Tuesday, Feb. 7

Petty theft. 21600 block of Treetop Lane. 8 a.m. A jacket, sweater and other personal items valued at $500 were taken from an unlocked vehicle.

Stake out. 400 block of N. Coast Hwy. 9 a.m. Probationer Michael Treadway, 55, of Laguna Beach, who police wanted to question over a traffic collision the week before, was arrested for driving on a suspended license.

Threat. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 11 a.m. A resident received a text message stating that a “bomb blast will occur where you are today.” Detectives determined the message was from an internet provider outside the U.S.

Property. 1500 block of S. Coast Hwy. 2:48 p.m. A guest checked out but forgot a loaded Smith & Wesson revolver.

Rescue. Cliff rescue. 200 block of Crescent Bay Dr. 7 p.m. Firefighters assisted a person who was uninjured but stuck 30 feet down a cliff.

Wednesday, Feb. 8

Occupied vehicle. 600 block of N. Coast Hwy. Heather Tiffany Pflug, 41, of Laguna Hills, was arrested for suspicion of possessing 7.9 grams of meth. Bail was set at $25,000.

Thursday, Feb. 9

Traffic stop. Laguna Ave. 1:59 a.m. A 24-year-old Fountain Valley man was cited for DUI.

Vehicle burglary. 30800 block of Coast Hwy. 11:15 a.m. Someone who took a credit card used it at a restaurant.

Traffic stop. Canyon Acres. 6:25 p.m. Luis Alberto Mendoza, 28, of Pomona, was arrested for a Pomona warrant for a vehicle code violation.

Friday, Feb. 10

Traffic stop. 500 block of Forest Ave. 12:30 a.m. A 57-year-old woman was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. Cleo Street. 1:30 a.m. A 36-year-old Arizona woman was cited for DUI.

Fraud. PD. 7 a.m. A forged check of $472 was cashed.

Vehicle burglary. 31700 block of Coast Hwy. 2 p.m. Two days earlier, someone took items valued t $800 from a car that was possibly unlocked.

Traffic stop. Vista del Sol. 10:30 p.m. Kristin Casie Senura, 29, of Seattle, was cited for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.

Traffic stop. 30600 block of Coast Hwy. 10:37 p.m. A 73-year-old Van Nuys woman was cited for DUI.

Saturday, Feb. 11

Traffic stop. 2200 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 1:54 a.m. A 24-year-old Lake Forest man was cited for DUI.

Traffic stop. N. Coast Hwy. A 19-year-old Newport Beach woman was cited for DUI.

Sunday, Feb. 12

Traffic stop. Myrtle Street. 12:23 a.m. A 56-year-old Villa Park man was cited for DUI.

Occupied vehicle. 200 block of Wave St. 1:11 a.m. James Thacker, 53, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of drug and paraphernalia possession. Police allegedly seized 6 grams of meth, a meth pipe and syringes.

Grand theft. 1400 block of N. Coast Hwy. 3:35 p.m. A resident reported the theft of a $3,700 generator for drones.

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