Briefly In Public Safety

Vehicle search ends in arrest

A 36-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested at 8:45 p.m. April 29 after a citizen called and reported a suspicious man parked on EL Camino Del Mar possibly smoking drugs inside his vehicle, Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

The suspect, Jason Provence, was on probation for a previous possession of narcotics conviction, according to Kravetz. Officers searched his vehicle and allegedly found heroin, cocaine and prescription medications in addition to drug paraphernalia.

He was held at Orange County Jail without bail, according to jail records.

Multiple vehicles burglarized on street

Four vehicles and a Vespa scooter were reported burglarized on La Vista Drive the evening of April 29, Kravetz said. A resident reported April 30 that several parked vehicles, all of which were unlocked, had items stolen from them. The total loss of $1,659 consists of clothing, a briefcase, Dior sunglasses, five other pairs of sunglasses and a cell phone.

Police called in on students’ fighting

Laguna Beach police are investigating a fight between three boys on a school bus which reportedly led to further threats of violence against a Thurston Middle School student, Kravetz said. School officials requested assistance with the incident at 12:55 p.m. April 30, according to police reports.

“We took a report and will have the juvenile investigator follow up,” Kravetz said.

Man accused of breaking planter

A 27-year-old Irvine man was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism after an altercation with another man in the 600 block of South Coast Highway about midnight Saturday, Kravetz said.

During the altercation, Brandon Alan Hauck allegedly broke a $1,500 planter and threw part of it into the street. Citizens detained the suspect until officers arrived.

Alleged shoplifters released to parents

Two girls were caught allegedly shoplifting $20 worth of candy from a shop in the 200 block of Forest Avenue at 12:08 p.m. Sunday, Kravetz said.

The girls, a 15-year-old from Tustin and a 14-year-old from Riverside, were detained and brought to the station where they were released to their parents but not charged.

A juvenile investigator will follow up on the incident, Kravetz said.

Victim thanked for stolen fridge

A refrigerator was reported stolen from the 200 block of Wave Street at 9:29 a.m. Monday, Kravetz said. The person who took the refrigerator left a note thanking the victim for it.

The victim was given a refrigerator by his son and had put it behind his home, near the alley, in order to clean it out. A day later, he went to finish cleaning it only to find it gone, and a note left on top of his trash can, which read, “Thanks for the fridge! You are a lifesaver! God Bless.”

The note was signed, but the signature was unreadable, Kravetz said. The white Kenmore refrigerator was worth $700.

Man impaled while working on home

A workman was impaled by a piece of rebar after falling at a home in the 1000 block of Flamingo Road at 11:33 a.m. Monday, Kravetz said. He had been hired to varnish windows and was apparently standing on a ladder when he fell. He was treated by paramedics and transported to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo. The injuries are not believed to be life-threatening, Kravetz said.

Unresponsive pair accused of drug use

A Garden Grove man and Laguna Hills woman were arrested after police were called to two unconscious people in a parked car on Coast Highway at Ninth Avenue at 11:34 a.m. Tuesday, Kravetz said.

A contractor working on a home found the pair parked in front of his construction project. He tried to stir them, but neither one moved and they appeared to be in need of medical attention, Kravetz said. The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment and the man was eventually awakened and arrested after he was determined to be under the influence of drugs.

Jonathan David Wales, 25, who was in the driver’s seat, was arrested on suspicion of driving on a suspended license, being under the influence of drugs and driving while under the influence. Natascha Ramus, 27, the passenger, was released from the hospital and arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs, violation of probation and possession of a controlled substance (prescription pills). Both are suspected of being under the influence of heroin, Kravetz said.