Briefly In Public Safety

Man seeking work robbed at knifepoint

A man was robbed at knifepoint on South Coast Highway about midnight Jan. 14, Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

The victim stopped an officer in the 700 block of the highway at 12:50 a.m. and told him he had been robbed at knifepoint an hour earlier. He said he had parked his bicycle near the Sandpiper Bar and went to look for work.

When he went back to his bicycle, a man approached him and allegedly put a knife to his throat, demanding the victim’s wallet and bicycle. The victim relinquished both, and the suspect rode off on the Giant Men’s Bicycle.

The suspect is described as a male wearing blue jeans and a black sweatshirt. The victim did not suffer any injuries.

Man held on drug sale allegation

A Santa Ana man was arrested after police interrupted an alleged marijuana transaction in the 1300 block of South Coast Highway at 7:57 p.m. Jan. 14, Kravetz said.

John Noah Ornguze of Santa Ana was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sales and selling marijuana. Both are felonies.

Officers saw Ornguze and watched him from afar because they knew he was on probation for sales of marijuana, then moved in when the suspect apparently started to conduct a transaction with another male, Kravetz said. The other man was released at the scene with no charges.

Hotel guest accused of sex crime

A Colorado man was arrested on suspicion of felony battery and forced oral copulation of his girlfriend after police were called to a possible rape in progress in a hotel room in the 1500 block of South Coast Highway at 9:09 p.m. Jan. 14, according to police records and Kravetz.

Jose Mario Hernandez-Quezada, 44, was held on $150,000 bail, according to police records.

Alleged shoplifter didn’t get far, caught at stop

A San Clemente woman was arrested on a shoplifting charge after police caught her waiting at a bus stop in the 31000 block of Coast Highway at 7:26 p.m. Jan. 15, Kravez said.

A clerk at a nearby convenience store called police to report that a female shoplifter had just left the store after stealing a bottle of beer, Kravetz said. Officers located the suspect, Jeannette Oftedahl, 34, at a nearby bus stop, allegedly with the empty bottle of beer, valued at $3.49.

Oftedahl had gone into the store and used the bathroom. On her way out, she grabbed the beer and kept on going without paying, Kravetz said.

Beach party ends in alcohol citations

Six young people, including four juveniles, were issued citations for drinking or possessing alcohol at Pearl Street Beach at 10:44 p.m. Jan. 15, Kravetz said.

Police were called on a noise complaint about the group, which allegedly was partying with beer and Malibu rum.

Police cited two 18 year-old-males for being minors in possession of alcohol; and four juveniles were brought to the station, cited for the same thing, and released to their parents.

The group included two 15-year-old girls, one 16-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. They were from La Puente, Rowland Heights and West Covina.

Diamond earrings swiped from shop

A pair of $9,500 egg-shaped diamond earrings were reported stolen at 4:52 p.m. Saturday from a shop in the 400 block of North Coast Highway, Kravetz said.

The earrings were on display and were apparently grabbed by an unseen suspect. The earrings are described as dark gray, flat, and with multiple diamonds throughout.

Punches land man in police custody

A La Jolla man was arrested after allegedly punching a man and knocking him unconscious while dancing at a local nightclub at 1:11 a.m. Sunday, Kravetz said.

Justin Michael Tomerlin, 27, was arrested on suspicion of felony battery after assaulting the victim, who he apparently thought was dancing too close to him, Kravetz said. The two punches caused severe facial injuries to the other man, who was taken to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo for treatment. Tomerlin was held on $25,000 bail, according to police records.