Canyon Collision Claims Two Lives
Two people died and a third suffered minor injuries in a head-on collision that resulted in the closure of Laguna Canyon Road throughout the morning of Tuesday, April 2, police said.
The coroner’s office identified the victims as Alberto Casique-Salinas, 47, of Anaheim, who was driving the vehicle and his passenger, Armando Garcia-Gonzales, 38, of Santa Ana.
The preliminary investigation indicated that the solo driver of a Tesla driving outbound veered for an unknown reason into oncoming traffic, police Sgt. Louise Callus said.
The victims were occupants of a Honda Accord, which was severely damaged and scattered debris across lanes, police said. The driver of the Tesla was transported for treatment to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo.
Details about the cause of the 6:43 a.m. collision, which occurred between El Toro Road and state Highway 73, are still under investigation, said Callus.
Imposter Scams Utility Customers
Owners of Coast Highway Laundromat and Legion Laundromat were both victims of a telephone scam by a caller demanding payment for past due bills and threatening to disconnect electric service, police said.
The caller claims to represent Southern California Edison and demands payment through a prepaid cash card, says a police department bulletin.
The Coast Highway Laundromat owner turned over $898 on Tuesday, March 26, according to the police log. “We have since learned that Legion Laundromat was also a victim of this scam,” Sgt. Louise Callus said.
If a caller refuses to provide their name, department and business number, terminate the call, advised Henry Martinez, SCE’s vice president of safety and security, adding that SCE employees will never ask for money in person.
SCE’s customer line: 800 655-4555.
Catching Distracted Drivers Off Guard
As part of April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month, the Laguna Beach Police Department intends to actively ticket drivers who are found texting or operating hand-held cell phones through Tuesday, April 16.
The current minimum ticket cost is $159, with subsequent tickets costing at least $279.
Monday, March 25
Vandalism. 300 block of San Tropez Court. 8:19 a.m. Keymarks were discovered along both sides of a vehicle.
Sea lion. Woods Cove. 12:34 p.m. Not a juvenile.
Fraud. 1100 block Baja St. 2:53 p.m. A woman attempting to file her 2012 tax return online learned that her social security number had already been used on another return. The case was referred to the IRS for investigation.
Sexual battery. 400 block of S. Coast Hwy. 9:42 p.m. A maintenance worker allegedly fondled a 16-year-old co-worker, who notified her supervisor.
Tuesday, March 26
Vandalism and burglary. 29900 block of Balboa Ave. 6 a.m. Spray painted graffiti of white-supremacist slogans was discovered in a dozen places around Moulton Meadows Park as well as a break-in at the AYSO shed in the park. Clean-up costs were estimated at $400.
Pedestrian stop. 100 block of N. Coast Hwy. 7:41 a.m. Don Sidig, 43, of Fremont, was arrested and held without bail due to his parole status.
Traffic collision. Coast Highway. 11 a.m. As a result of a collision, a 68-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested for DUI.
Fraud. 1300 block of N. Coast Hwy. 11:26 a.m. A gas station owner received a fake $20 bill.
Wednesday, March 27
Traffic stop. 13-00973. Bryon Craig Allan, 36, of Costa Mesa, was arrested for an outstanding warrant and a new charge of driving on a suspended license.
Detective activity. Thalia St. 5 p.m. Heidi Baummurphy, 51, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of fraudulently obtaining a controlled substance and burglary when attempting to fill an allegedly phony prescription. Bail was set at $20,000.
DUI. S. Coast Hwy. 7 p.m. Micah Hagemeister, 43, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 due to a prior offense.
Thursday, March 28
Battery. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 7:30 a.m. A contractor at a job reported that an unknown male had twice punched him in the face.
Detective activity. 2100 block of McFadden Ave. Ismael Aguilar Martinez, 52, of Santa Ana, was arrested for suspicion of possessing a narcotic for sale. Police seized three ounces of cocaine. Bail was set at $30,000.
Public intox. 1100 block of S. Coast Hwy. 6:56 p.m. Leslie Louise McNash, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of possessing stolen property after police found in her office a $100 bottle of lotion, taken from a tanning salon where she had been ejected. Bail was set at $20,000.
Assault. 1100 block of S.Coast Hwy. 10 p.m. A 51-year-old Long Beach man was arrested for two vehicle-code warrants.
Traffic stop. Montage Resort. 11:36 p.m. Andre Ramon Parker, 21, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of DUI, his second offense. Bail was set at $10,000.
Friday, March 29.
Petty theft. 200 block of Broadway St. 2 p.m. Dhalia Ismail, 35, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of burglary after taking $238 in assorted groceries. Bail was set at $20,000.
Traffic stop. 300 block of Cliff Dr. 10:11 p.m. Richard L. Thompson, 46, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of driving drunk. Bail was set at $10,000 due to a prior offense.
Saturday, March 30
Traffic stop. West St. 2 a.m. Robert James Phipps Jr., 28, of Aurora, Ill., was arrested for allegedly driving while intoxicated and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.
Traffic stop. El Paseo. 2:47 a.m. A 23-year-old Arizona visitor was arrested for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Trespassing. 600 block of Coast Hwy. 2:57 a.m. A homeless man, 41, who jumped into a hotel pool, was cited for trespassing.
Suspicious circs. 2100 block of Catalina St. 11:19 a.m. Parole Daniel Segich, 26, of San Clemente was arrested and held without bail.
Traffic collision. 1200 block of Temple Hills Ds. 11:29 a.m. A cyclist refused medical treatment after a collision with a vehicle that had pulled into a driveway.
Traffic collision. 31100 block of Coast Hwy. 8:28 p.m. An 81-year-old Laguna Niguel man was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail following a collision.
Sunday, March 31
Traffic stop. Canyon Acres. 1:10 a.m. A 43-year-old Ladera Ranch woman was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Traffic stop. Vista del Sol 1:32 a.m. A 42-year-old Oceanside woman was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Burglary. 2200 block of Hillview Dr. 7 p.m. Jewelry valued at $50,000 was stolen sometime after 10:30 a.m. Further details were unavailable.