Briefly In Public Safety

Computer returned to victim a week later

A Laguna Beach man got his Apple computer back March 31 after it had been allegedly stolen by a Huntington Beach man March 24, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Louise Callus said.

Thomas Wukawiz, 21, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft and receiving stolen property after Laguna Beach police detectives went to his home regarding the stolen computer.

Wukawiz allegedly took the computer from the victim’s home.

Alleged DUI driver held without bail

An Irvine man was arrested after a witness claimed he was driving erratically in Newport Beach, Callus said.

Laguna Beach police responded to the 1400 block of North Coast Highway at 4:23 p.m. March 31, where the suspect had exited his car, Callus said.

The witness alleged that the suspect, Steven Alan Holt, 43, had run a red light and nearly hit people with his vehicle. Holt was arrested on suspicion of DUI under a citizen’s arrest, because the officers did not see him driving the vehicle, Callus said.

A “no bail” hold was placed on the suspect by his probation officer because of two prior DUI arrests and because he was allegedly driving on a suspended license.

Woman sought in shoplifting

Laguna Beach police are seeking a woman suspected of shoplifting a $138 woman’s shirt from a shop in the 200 block of South Coast Highway at 5:05 p.m. April 1, Callus said.

The suspect, who left the area, was described as a heavyset white female in her 40s, with blond hair.

Trucker arrested after getting stuck

The driver of a semi-tractor trailer truck who got stuck on Upland Road was arrested after police stopped to help him at 3:58 p.m. April 2, Callus said.

It is a violation to drive trucks of a certain size up that street because it is so steep, she added.

Hector Rodriguez Pineda was arrested on warrants issued for suspicion of drug possession and public nudity after police responded when his truck blocked the middle of the road.

The warrants were discovered when police checked his license, Callus said.

Man accused of stealing donations

A Las Vegas man was arrested at 6:48 p.m. Saturday after allegedly stealing contributions while attending a fundraising barbecue on Main Beach, Callus said.

James Robert Wick, 38, allegedly took a jar containing $472 dollars donated to the Laguna Beach Sober Living Organization, and left the area.

He was found by police and arrested on suspicion of theft and an outstanding $25,000 warrant.

Woman accused of endangerment

A 45-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI and child endangerment at 10:18 p.m. Tuesday on Coast Highway near Blue Lagoon, Callus said.

Patience Danette Shuts was stopped by police on a vehicle code violation, and appeared to be intoxicated, Callus said.

Three children, two 11-year-olds and one 10-year-old, were in the vehicle. One was Shuts’ child.

After an investigation, Shuts was held on $100,000 bail on the child endangerment charge, and $2,500 in the DUI, according to police records.