BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Canine allegedly sniffs out drugs

Two Santa Ana men were arrested after a canine search of their vehicle allegedly turned up multiple bags of illegal drugs after a traffic stop at 5:57 p.m. Nov. 13 in the 800 block of North Coast Highway, Laguna Beach Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

Officers called in a narcotics-sniffing dog from Irvine Police Department after a routine traffic stop turned into a narcotics investigation.

“While searching the car, the dog physically pulled out a bag of marijuana from underneath one of the seats in the car with its teeth,” Kravetz said.

The dog also ferreted out another bag of marijuana, and one bag each of methamphetamine and cocaine, he said.

The driver, Francisco Rafael Lopez-Orozco, 25, of Santa Ana, is accused of false impersonation after initially giving a phony name to police; transporting a controlled substance; possession for sales of narcotics; possession for sales of marijuana; transporting a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

He was also held as an illegal immigrant.

The passenger, Jose Luis Leon, 30, also of Santa Ana, is accused of transporting a narcotic for sale, possession of marijuana for sale, and transporting a controlled substance.

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Five accused of shellfish poaching

The state Fish and Game Department issued five citations for alleged lobster and scallop poaching in three separate incidents in Laguna Beach, Kravetz said.

Oscar Javier Pinon, 37, of Anaheim, and Anton Nicolae Vasilescu, 32, of Aliso Viejo, were charged with petty theft and violating a Fish and Game code after allegedly poaching lobsters in the 100 block of Ocean Way at 11:08 p.m. on Nov. 14, Kravetz said.

One person was cited for illegal scallop taking at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 15 in the 100 block of Ocean Way.

Another pair, Robert Henry Hartman, 31, of San Jacinto and Louie Maldonado, 48, of Apple Valley were also charged with lobster poaching after being detained at 3:03 a.m. Nov. 16 in the 1000 block of Ocean Way.

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Meth allegedly found in man’s van, shoe

Richard Evan Goodman, 56, of Laguna Beach, was arrested at 2:48 p.m. Nov. 16 after police allegedly found methamphetamine in his van, after he was pulled over on a traffic violation, Kravetz said.

During the booking process at the police department, another baggie of methamphetamine was found in the suspect’s shoe, police said.

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Man arrested in hotel property heist

Daniel Eric Welch, 42, of San Clemente was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and burglary after he was caught allegedly taking various items from a storage room at the Montage Resort & Spa at 9:11 p.m. Nov. 16, Kravetz said.

Welch allegedly stole $558 worth of miscellaneous items, including food and towels.

He was caught by security officers while allegedly putting the stolen items into the trunk of his car.