A woman motorist who police suspect of identity fraud escaped after she abandoned her vehicle near the Laguna Beach library Saturday, Aug. 13, in the wake of nearly a dozen minor collisions with other vehicles in downtown, police said.
Two passengers in one of the 10 collisions that involved moving vehicles complained of pain, while remaining passengers in the other side-swipe collisions escaped injury, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said. “The traffic was probably bumper to bumper; I’m assuming that’s why there weren’t more injuries,” he said.
The carnage began about 11 a.m. when at least five occupants of a hotel room in the 400 block of North Coast Highway jumped off a second-level balcony when police attempted to investigate a report about use of a stolen credit card, Kleiser said.
Police detained two room occupants and arrested Lauren Rivero, 20, of Anaheim for an outstanding theft warrant, Kleiser said. When hotel staff pointed out the woman who had rented the room behind the wheel of a Cadillac Escalade, police attempted to speak to her, but she drove around them and fled, Kleiser said.
An hour later, officers spotted the Escalade heading south on Coast Highway near Aster Street, which set off the series of collisions with cars in oncoming traffic as the motorist maneuvered to evade capture. The chase ended with the Escalade plowing into a pillar in the library parking lot and the driver fleeing on foot, Kleiser said.
Two other passengers in the car were detained but released, he said. Investigators have yet to determine the relationship between the five people involved, he said.
Monday, Aug 8
DUI. 500 block of Glenneyre St. 8:55 p.m. A 23-year-old Huntington Beach man was cited for DUI.
DUI. Laguna Canyon Road. 9:55 p.m. A 38-year-old Laguna Beach woman, whose vehicle was observed swerving into the bike lane, was arrested for DUI.
Tuesday, Aug. 9
Assault. 1200 block S. Coast Hwy. 1 a.m. Detectives will attempt to locate video to determine if physical contact was made between two people in the drive thru line.
Fraud. Lagunita Drive. 8:53 a.m. A resident reports learning that someone used his information to file a tax return and seek credit cards.
Burglary. Aliso Circle. 11:33 a.m. Thieves, who apparently made entry through the front door, made off with personal collectibles and furniture valued at an estimated $100,000.
Disorderly person. 1300 block of N. Coast Hwy. 2:51 p.m. A customer made a threat against a store employee, who had refused to sell alcohol to a patron with fake identification. Police could not locate the suspect.
Wednesday, Aug. 10
Pedestrian stop. 300 block of Broadway St. 2:57 a.m. Naomi Kanin, 33, of Irvine, was arrested for an outstanding misdemeanor drug warrant.
Thursday, Aug. 11
Burglary. 20600 Laguna Canyon Road. 9:56 a.m. Someone removed spotlights and sensors at the marine mammal center.
Grand theft. 300 block of Cozumel Dr. 3:15 p.m. A resident reported the theft of 40 Oxycontin pills worth $1,700.
Friday, Aug. 12
Traffic stop. Canyon Acres Dr. 12:13 a.m. Juan Mendez Hernanez, 37, of Anaheim, was arrested for an outstanding warrant.
Fight. 1100 block of Coast Hwy. Five men. A five-man bar fight resulted in a facial injury to one person, who was later arrested for suspicion of DUI.
Traffic stop. Agate St. 1:41 a.m. A 58-year-old Huntington Beach man was cited for DUI.
Saturday, Aug. 13
Disorderly person. 100 block of Coast Hwy. 11:25 a.m. A 43-year-old female transient was cited for theft and child annoyance after cursing at small fry and tourists. Police later subdued her with a taser after a fight took place between two women in a jail cell.
Traffic collision. Aster Street. 12:59 p.m. A pedestrian suffered a knee injury when struck by a backing vehicle driven by someone he knew.
Sunday, Aug. 14
Pedestrian stop. 500 block of Coast Hwy. 2:20 a.m. Eduardo Junior Hernandez, 28, of Iowa, was arrested for suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon.
Paramedic. Cliff and Myrtle Drive. 6:21 a.m. A 78-year-old Laguna Beach man was discovered deceased on a sidewalk from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Paramedic response. Park Avenue. 6 p.m. A man who stumbled and hit his head was transported for treatment.
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