Police Briefs

Huntington Beach High School was evacuated for 30 minutes Monday after

a small fire in an industrial arts room erupted.

No one was hurt in the fire.

Huntington Beach Fire Department dispatched firefighters to the

school at 1905 Main St. just before 11 a.m. Monday to extinguish a blaze

that is believed to be caused by a group of students smoking, said the

director of communications for the city, Rich Barnard.

Firefighters continue to conduct their investigation.

Barnard estimated $25,000 to $30,000 in damages and said the fire

spread through a dust collection system used for wood shop.

“The fire started in the back of the room in a spray paint booth with

smoke and fire rising through the ducts, said fire inspector Brian

Springer.

About 2,200 students, teachers and staff had to be evacuated.

Jogger healing after struck by car

James Thomas Lepore, 38, of Huntington Beach is still in UCI Medical

center after being struck by a car while jogging last week.

Lepore suffered severe injuries to the head, leg, pelvis and ribs. He

was just moved out of the Intensive Care Unit Tuesday, exactly one week

after being hit by a truck while jogging along Beach Boulevard, just

north of Chapman Avenue. He was listed in fair condition Tuesday.

Lepore was struck by a red Chevrolet pickup truck that was traveling

northbound on Beach Boulevard.

He apparently darted into the street and didn’t see the truck, said

Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“There were no violations, no drinking, no speeding and the driver

didn’t run a red light,” Amormino said.

The driver was interviewed at the scene and released.

Bank robber still at large

The unidentified man who robbed a Bank of America Friday on Brookhurst

Street was still at large Tuesday.

At about 4 p.m. Friday a man wearing a dark brown wig, a fake nose and

mustache, allegedly walked up to an open teller window and handed a note

to the teller demanding she give him all the money she had.

Fearing for her life, the teller complied and gave the suspect an

unknown amount of money, which the suspect put in in his coat pocket.

He left the bank riding a mountain bike, and rode to a parked late

model white sport utility vehicle. He put the bike in the vehicle and and

drove southbound on Brookhurst, said Huntington Beach Police Lt. Ron

Burgess.

The suspect is described as a white male, in his 30s, 5-feet 10-inches

tall and weighing 155 pounds. He was wearing a dark blue oversized coat.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation also responded on scene and is

conducting its own investigation.

Petco robber makes off with $1,200

Huntington Beach Police continue to look for a man suspected of

robbery at a Petco pet supply store on Adams Avenue Monday just before 9

p.m.

The suspect allegedly showed a handgun to a cashier, demanding cash.

The employee put $1,200 in cash into a bag and gave it to the suspect,

said Huntington Beach Police Sgt. Mike Mello.

The man fled the store on foot. No vehicle was seen. He is described

as a male Hispanic in his 20s, wearing a dark blue long-sleeve shirt and

jeans.

The investigation is continuing.

Electrical problem blamed in residential fire

Fire fighters suspect it was an electrical problem that began a blaze

in a Nomad Circle townhome last week.

The Huntington Beach Fire Department responded to an attic fire at

8:19 p.m. on Nomad Circle. Residents called 911 when they noticed the

fire as they walked under the access doors in the hall.

Firefighters were able to contain and extinguish the fire in the

attic, and the townhouses on either side of the affected building

remained free of burn damage.

The fire was the apparent result of an electrical problem with a vent

fan in a bathroom, said spokesman for the Huntington Beach Fire

Department Bob Culhane.

The damage is estimated at $20,000. No was was harmed but, residents

moved out because of drywall, smoke and water damage.