Briefly In Public Safety

Crosswalk detail results in 35 citations

Laguna Beach Police Department traffic officers, working with a decoy in a bright orange vest, issued 35 citations recently to drivers for failing to stop at the crosswalk on South Coast Highway and on Glenneyre Street, according to City Manager Ken Frank, in his July 31 Update to staff.

Youth returned to family in New York

A New York State teenager who had allegedly run away from home was reunited with his family after an encounter with police at 10:30 a.m. July 29 at Main Beach, Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

An officer had stopped three boys who were allegedly smoking cigarettes on the beach, which is illegal. Two had identification which showed they were older than 18. One was 17 years old and police determined he was an unreported runaway.

“We brought him to the station and sorted out the mess with his family and the New York authorities,” Kravetz said. The minor was not cited for smoking.

Forgotten sunglasses grabbed by another

A woman who left her sunglasses on the counter at a restaurant in the 1100 block of South Coast Highway returned to get them at 3:36 p.m. July 29, but it was too late. A woman grabbed the $200 Juicy Couture sunglasses and fled, the victim reported to police.

Beach items reported stolen at Aliso Beach

A woman who tried to “reserve” a fire ring spot at Aliso Beach reported that two beach chairs and a canopy had been stolen by the time she returned to the spot at noon, Kravetz said.

She had placed the items at a fire ring at 6:45 a.m., but when she returned not only was her property, worth $190, gone, another family was sitting around the fire ring, Kravetz said. The items could have been removed by the parks department or stolen, he added.

Two vehicles burgled in service lot

Two vehicles were reported burglarized at an auto repair shop in the 1200 block of North Coast Highway at 7:36 a.m. July 31, Kravetz said.

Over the previous night, suspects smashed a window on a 2001 Honda Odyssey parked in the lot awaiting servicing, stealing a GPS device.

A 2001 Nissan Pathfinder also had its window smashed, but the loss was undetermined.

Temple is target of theft

Someone entered a Hindu Temple in the 20000 block of Sun Valley Drive, which is also a residence, and stole offering boxes containing about $1,700, Kravetz said. The burglary was reported at 9:22 a.m. July 31. The suspect apparently entered through an unlocked door during the night while the residents were asleep.

Seat belt stop ends in drug arrest

A 26-year-old Westminster man was arrested after police allegedly found an array of drugs and paraphernalia in his vehicle after he was pulled over for allegedly not wearing a seat belt at 8:12 a.m. Saturday in the 300 block of Forest Avenue, Kravetz said.

The suspect, Michael David Hartley White, also had a warrant for his arrest from Arkansas, Kravetz said. Police allegedly found prescription bottles with marijuana on the passenger seat of the car, and a bottle filled with hashish. Other items allegedly found by officers in the trunk included a bong, two pipes and more hashish, and an explosive device.

White was arrested on suspicion of possession of concentrated cannabis, possession of an altered firework, and possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.

Heroin overdose leads to man’s arrest

A 27-year-old Redlands man was arrested on suspicion of heroin possession after paramedics were called to treat his girlfriend, who had passed out in a restroom at a downtown Laguna Beach restaurant at 12:43 a.m. Sunday, Kravetz said.

After responding to the woman, officers learned she had overdosed on heroin. Officers then searched her boyfriend and allegedly found syringes in his possession, and determined he was also under the influence of heroin.

James Alan Blackburn was held on $20,000 bail. The girlfriend was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Better class of homeless

Laguna Beach police cited a man for sleeping on private property in the 900 block of Glenneyre Street at 10:13 a.m. Sunday, Kravetz said.

The man, who appeared to be homeless and had a shopping cart, gave police a Beverly Hills address.