BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Day labor protest yields arrest, minor traffic accidents

More than 20 anti-illegal immigration protesters were met by 20 counterprotestors in a stand-off Saturday at the Day Labor Center on Laguna Canyon Road.

One woman was arrested after throwing a drink at another woman, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

Eight Laguna Beach police officers and three beach patrol officers responded to the scene of a rally that took place from 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

One 29-year-old woman from San Pedro was arrested after she parked her car by the anti-illegal immigration group and then allegedly engaged in a yelling match, then threw her drink at the group, Kravetz said.

The rally caused a traffic jam as police placed cones in the center of the road to separate protesters and passing vehicles.

Two minor accidents resulted from the heavy traffic, Kravetz said.

In one incident, a minivan and bicyclist collided. The bicyclist, who sustained minor injuries, ran into the vehicle as the driver was turning.

In the second incident, a rear-end collision occurred after a driver said he was looking at protesters rather than the car in front of him, Kravetz said. There were no injuries reported.

Fraud alleged out of local dentist’s office

A local woman reported to police that she is the victim of fraud after being billed $1,800 to a credit card for services never received.

The victim said a credit card company called her about the charges from a dentist on the 31700 block of Coast Highway on July 13.

The victim said her name, address and social security number were fraudulently used after she gave that information to an employee of the dentist earlier in the year.

The woman also claims the employee no longer works for the dentist, and that the dentist would not discuss the matter with her, Det. Sgt. Darin Lenyi said. Police are investigating the incident.

City gives desert firestorm assistance

The city of Laguna Beach, at the request of the state, sent two engine companies to help fight the massive wildfire in the desert last week, Fire Chief Mike Macey said.

An off-road brush rig ? a four-wheel-drive vehicle ? was to play an instrumental role in fighting the fires. But weather conditions shifted, and the crew was sent home Sunday, Macey said.