Briefly In Public Safety

Head-on collision injures two

Two people were seriously injured Nov. 12 in a head-on collision on North Coast Highway near Emerald Bay. Traffic was tied up through the evening rush hour due to the incident, which closed northbound highway lanes from about 4 to 7:30 p.m.

Newport Beach resident Mark Barker was driving southbound on North Coast Highway, and according to witnesses, hit a guard rail on the west shoulder before crossing over into oncoming northbound traffic, according to Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz.

Barker’s vehicle collided head-on with a vehicle driven by Sara Perez-Godina of Garden Grove. Witnesses at the scene alleged that Barker had been involved in another hit and run collision in Newport Beach prior to this incident.

Barker was transported to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo via ambulance and Perez-Godina was transported to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo via Mercy Air Ambulance. Both of their injuries were determined to be serious, but non-life threatening.

Both victims are fine, Kravetz said Wednesday.

The investigation is ongoing, but preliminarily, investigators believe Barker had been operating his vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, Kravetz said.

Once the investigation is completed, the case will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office for a possible criminal filing against Barker for felony driving under the influence.

Woman’s death leads to heroin-related arrest

A 21-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested Tuesday after police were called to the 2700 block of Laguna Canyon Road at 8:01 a.m. on a report of a possible death, Kravetz said.

A woman identified as Dawnielle Nichole Jahr, 22, of San Juan Capistrano, apparently died during the night.

Investigators suspect Jahr died from a drug overdose but this is not the official cause of death until toxicology tests are completed, Kravetz said.

An investigation into heroin use at the location led to the arrest of Kathleen Sabine on suspicion of heroin possession.

Sabine was arrested at her home in the 300 block of Cliff Drive.

Man accused of selling marijuana

A 40-year-old man was arrested for the second time Nov. 13 on suspicion of selling marijuana, after purchasing it at a marijuana dispensary, Kravetz said.

Leonard Leroy Van Wagenen, who was on probation for the earlier offense, was observed by officers allegedly selling marijuana in the 200 block of Cliff Drive, at 1:33 p.m. He was arrested on $20,000 bail.

“This is the same homeless man we arrested on Sept. 28 after he sold marijuana to an undercover officer,” Kravetz alleged.

Van Wagenen told officers he had taken the bus to Dana Point in order to purchase marijuana from a dispensary and then sold it to an undercover police officer. He pleaded guilty to that charge in October and received formal probation, Kravetz said.

“As with the previous case, he went to a dispensary, this time in Lake Forest, and purchased marijuana and sold it to a third party,” Kravetz said.

Two men arrested at bonfire on beach

A late-night bonfire on the beach led to the arrest of two Anaheim men on multiple warrants, Kravetz said.

Police were called to Pearl Street beach on the report of a bonfire at 2:31 a.m. Saturday.

Officers found three men and one woman at the location, and discovered that two of the men had warrants for their arrest.

Joey Angel Smith, 19, had a $7,500 warrant for resisting arrest and trespassing.

Daniel Evan Mills, 25, had a $15,000 warrant for DUI and driving on a suspended license.

Both were taken into custody and booked at the police station.

Nanny accused of check fraud

A Laguna Beach woman reported that her nanny had altered checks written to her and received about $7,000 from the fraudulent checks, Kravetz said.

The report was made at 3:07 p.m. Saturday.

Wedding party vehicles burglarized

Four vehicles were reported burglarized at a parking lot in the 700 block of Laguna Canyon Road at 10:22 p.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

The passenger windows on all the vehicles were smashed while the owners were at Tivoli Too for a wedding.

Stolen were four women’s purses valued at $250, $185, $30 and $465, and a Realtor lock-box key, valued at $500.

Laguna home damaged by fire Saturday

A cliffside home in the 31000 block of Coast Highway was severely damaged by fire Saturday evening, according to police records.

The blaze caused the rear deck of the structure to collapse. No injuries were reported. A Sigalert was in place from 11:19 p.m. to 2:20 a.m. while firefighters fought the blaze.