Briefly In Public Safety

Plastic wrap used to vandalize vehicle

Laguna Beach police are investigating an accusation that two boys vandalized a vehicle by wrapping it in plastic wrap during a graduation party, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

The vehicle owner, an 18-year-old, was attending the party at a friend’s home on Coast View Drive, when her friend told her about the prank. The next day, the victim noticed large dents on the left side of the hood and driver’s side area of the car, a 2002 Volvo S80. She reported the incident to police at 11:37 a.m. June 18. The damage is more than $400.

Locals accused in senior center robbery

Two Laguna Beach residents, one a minor, are suspects in a June 17 armed robbery of two elderly people at the Laguna Beach Community and Senior Center.

The robbery took place at 4:40 p.m. in the underground parking lot at the center, 380 Third St. The two Laguna Beach residents, ages 62 and 73, were allegedly robbed at gunpoint by two males, one of whom held a handgun and demanded money while the other acted as a lookout, according to police. The victims, who were not hurt, handed over all their cash, less than $100 total.

The suspects fled on foot, and an extensive search failed to locate them.

The next day, detectives received information from an informant regarding the possible identities of the two suspects. The suspects were located June 18 at two homes in Laguna Beach and taken into custody, Police Chief Paul Workman said.

Bill Wills, 20, a Laguna Beach resident, was arrested at his home in the 28800 block of Top of the World Drive. He was booked on suspicion of robbery, conspiracy, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor and is being held at Orange County Jail, according to jail records.

The second suspect, a 16-year-old male, also of Laguna Beach, was arrested at a friend’s home in the 1500 block of Caribbean Way and booked on suspicion of robbery and conspiracy. He was released to his parents. His name is being withheld by police because he is a minor.

Neither the gun used in the robbery nor the money stolen from the victims has been recovered. Investigators are following up on the possibility that the weapon was either a pellet gun or an Airsoft gun.

Beach trip for boy detours to hospital

An 8-year-old boy was injured when a vehicle in which he was sitting rolled into the street and hit a parked car after another boy allegedly disengaged the parking break at 2:17 p.m. Sunday in the 1700 block of Cortez Road, Kravetz said.

The injured boy jumped out of the back seat of the vehicle after it began rolling. The two boys were left in the vehicle, a Volvo station wagon, while the driver went to get jumper cables to jump the battery. The trio were headed to the beach.

The other boy, 9, who was in the front seat, was not injured. The injured boy suffered cuts and bruises and was transported to Mission Hospital.

Carpet cleaners accused in drug case

Two carpet cleaners were arrested on suspicion of having prescription narcotics without a prescription after a Laguna Beach man called police to report a theft, Kravetz said.

The resident, who told police he had gotten back the allegedly stolen items, did not wish to prosecute the suspects. But police officers searched the pair’s work van and allegedly found prescription medications for which neither man had a prescription.

George Humberto Caballero Jr., 30, of Murrieta, and Todd Allen Brown, 35, of Temecula, were arrested on suspicion of drug possession.