Briefly In Public Safety

Stolen green Corvette left at body shop

A stolen vehicle left at a body shop in the 2000 block of Laguna Canyon Road was turned over to police at 2:37 a.m. Monday, Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

The 1969 green Corvette was reported stolen in San Clemente on July 25.

It apparently turned up in the parking lot of the auto body shop sometime during the overnight hours. The license plates on the car had been removed.

“It appears that the auto theft suspect just parked it in the lot and walked off,” Kravetz said.

Officer sees pair engaged in public sex

A 36-year-old homeless woman and a 33-year-old Santa Ana man were arrested at 8:18 p.m. Monday in the 200 block of Broadway Place after an off-duty police officer observed them allegedly in a sex act in the alleyway, Kravetz said.

The woman, identified as Jennifer Cassandra McKenzie, was allegedly performing fellatio on Francisco Javier Hernandez.

Officers stopped her nearby and also detained Hernandez, but he allegedly gave the officers a false name, Kravetz said.

When the suspect’s true name was discovered, it was determined he was in violation of a restraining order. Hernandez was subsequently arrested on suspicion of lewd conduct, false impersonation and the restraining order violation. McKenzie was accused of lewd conduct, and released on her own recognizance. Hernandez was taken to Orange County Jail.

The same night, at 11:28 p.m., police were called to remove McKenzie from the ACT V Alternative Sleeping Location due to alleged intoxication, according to police records.

Woman jailed on suspicion of possession

A 50-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested on suspicion of drug possession after officers were called to the 200 block of Cliff Drive at 7:27 a.m. Nov. 24 on a report of a theft and trespassing, Kravetz said.

One of the residents in the building called to report that another resident had stolen his potted plants from the front door area. The suspect was allegedly seen planting the stolen potted plants in the front garden.

Afterward, she allegedly entered a vacant apartment that was not her own, and police were summoned.

When police questioned the woman, officers determined that she was under the influence of drugs. When police asked her if she had any drugs in her apartment, she retrieved a bag of methamphetamine and marijuana, Kravetz said.

Laurel Ann Mayer was arrested on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and marijuana. She was held in Orange County Jail and released Sunday, according to jail records.

Seizure leads to man’s drug arrest

A Laguna Beach man was arrested at 5:47 a.m. Nov. 25 after police were called to a woman having seizures in the 600 block of South Coast Highway, Kravetz said.

Nicholas T. Sasano, 36, was arrested on suspicion of methamphetamine possession after he let the officers in and showed them where the stricken woman was. The victim had taken illegal drugs during the previous evening, Kravetz said.

Sasano allegedly provided the officers some of the drugs, which tested positive for methamphetamine. He was taken into custody and the woman was taken to the hospital, where she was admitted in stable condition.

Collision results in multiple charges

A 53-year-old Laguna Beach mother was arrested on suspicion of DUI, child endangerment and other charges after her vehicle hit a wall head-on in the 1000 block of Summit Drive at 9:26 p.m. Saturday, Kravetz said. She was held on $100,000 bail.

When police arrived at the traffic collision, witnesses said the female driver and a male juvenile passenger had fled.

Officers found a 12-year-old boy walking in the area and determined he was the passenger, Kravetz said. He spoke with the officers and they began to search for the boy’s mother, Ginger Leigh Delong, the driver of the car. After 30 to 45 minutes, she could not be found and they began to tow the vehicle from the scene. As they were doing this, an acquaintance of the mother drove by and police learned she was possibly at her home, Kravetz said.

Officers went to the home and allegedly found Delong hiding behind a pile of clothing in the closet. Police removed her and took her into custody for child endangerment, DUI, resisting arrest and hit-and-run. The child was released to a relative. The child did not suffer any injuries. The mother did not request medical treatment.

Valuable fish stolen from dealer

Four Koi fish valued at $2,500 each were reported stolen from a Koi fish dealer while the business was closed, Kravetz said.

The business is in the 20000 block of Laguna Canyon Road. The theft, totaling $10,000, was reported at 10:15 a.m. Sunday.