22-year-old arrested in hate crime case A...

22-year-old arrested in hate crime case

A Huntington Beach man was arrested on Tuesday in connection with

a hate crime attack at a Laguna restaurant in February.

Christopher Garrett, 22, was arrested on suspicion of assault and

battery and civil rights violation at the Laguna police station at

7:20 p.m.

Garrett was identified by a victim in the assault after an

informant told police he was involved in the attack, police said.

Garrett denied any involvement in the crime when he was interviewed

by police before his arrest.

Police are still looking for other suspects who beat up Fares

Mohamed, 33, of Los Angeles at the Jack in the Box on South Coast

Highway on Feb. 15. Two men reportedly punched and kicked Mohamed

multiple times, and Mohamed suffered injuries to his head and face.

The attackers used antigay slurs during the assault, police said.

During the attack, another victim, Curtis Fox, 36, of Mission

Viejo, escaped and called police. Police did not disclose whether

Mohamed or Fox identified Garrett as one of the assailants.

Police believe two other men and a woman were involved in the

crime, and that the attackers left the restaurant in a silver SUV and

possibly a silver Honda Civic or Accord. Anyone with information on

the attack may call Det. Paul Litchenberg at (949) 497-0758.

Missing Playboy at center of investigation

Police are investigating the case of a missing Playboy magazine.

On Monday, Laguna police received information from the Etowah

County Sheriff’s Dept. in Alabama that a resident of Rainbow City,

Ala., had sold a mint-condition copy of Playboy’s first issue to a

Laguna Beach resident, but had not received payment.

The magazine, which features a pictorial of 1950s sex symbol Marilyn Monroe, was sold for $5,000, Sgt. Darin Lenyi said. Police

are investigating the case as a possible theft by fraud incident.

Man arrested on suspicion of threat

A transient arrested on suspicion of a misdemeanor faces felony

charges after threatening Laguna police.

At 9:44 p.m. Friday, police arrested David Salvatore Egelston, 47,

on suspicion of trespassing after he was placed under citizen’s

arrest by the store manager for reportedly refusing to leave Wild

Oats market on Broadway, police said.

“While in our custody, he threatened to shoot the arresting

officer and a sergeant,” Sgt. Darin Lenyi said.

Egelston also claimed to know where police officers park their

cars and when the department changes shifts, Lenyi added.

The trespassing charge, a misdemeanor, carries a $500 bail. After

reportedly making the threat, Egelston was charged with threatening

to kill a police officer, a felony carrying a $20,000 bail. According

to the Orange County Superior Court bail schedule, a charge with a

bail set at that amount could result in a maximum sentence of three

years behind bars.

Woman arrested after fight with man

A Laguna woman was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly

weapon after she broke a lamp on a man’s face during a fight.

Elizabeth Yuko Soard, 34, was arrested 12:37 a.m. Friday in the

2000 block of S. Coast Highway. Police did not disclose the name of

the man she reportedly attacked.

Soard had been drinking before an argument between her and the

victim erupted into a fight, police said. Police do not know why the

argument became violent.

“For an unknown reason she just started trying to kick him and hit

him,” Sgt. Darin Lenyi said.

Police did not have information available on whether the man was

treated for any injuries.

Police will buckle down on violators

Laguna police will participate in a statewide seat belt

enforcement program. Patrol officers will check to make sure drivers

and passengers are buckled up from Monday through June 6.

Traffic collision statistics cited in a release show 1,268 people

who did not wear seat belts died in crashes during 2002. Officials

estimate 571 of those people could have survived if they wore a seat

belt.

Penalties for not wearing a seat belt can range from $20 to $88 on

a first offense, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

Police plan D.U.I. checkpoint

Laguna police will work with Irvine police to set up a D.U.I.

checkpoint on June 5. Officers will work at an undisclosed location

in Laguna Beach.

At the checkpoint, vehicles will be asked to stop and drivers

under the influence of alcohol or drugs will be arrested. Police will

also check to see if motorists are carrying valid driver’s licenses.