Briefly In Public Safety

Man sentenced in fraudulent credit card case

A man who was arrested last month for using fraudulent credit card information at local hotels recently pleaded guilty to 20 felony counts.

Harold Eric Larson, 36, of Orange was sentenced May 11 at the Harbor Justice Center to three years probation and 365 days in jail.

The charges included seven counts of second-degree burglary, seven counts of fraudulent use of an access card, and six counts of unauthorized use of personal identifying information.

Larson was arrested at a Costa Mesa hotel on April 12, where detectives seized documents, hotel booking information and $32,000 worth of cashier’s checks from 39 separate account numbers.

Police suspected Larson had used the fraudulent information between Feb. 15 and April 12 at four Laguna Beach hotels, six Costa Mesa hotels and a Dana Point hotel. Police were tipped off that Larson was committing fraud at a Laguna Beach resort on March 2.

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Police: Suspect runs after collision

A suspected drunk driver fled the scene after a three-vehicle collision at Aster Street and North Coast Highway on May 10, according to police.

Joseph David Miller, 47, of Rancho Mirage was arrested on suspicion of DUI and hit-and-run.

At about 6:30 p.m. a white van reportedly collided with a Mercedes-Benz and an Audi, according to the Laguna Beach police dispatch log. The driver reportedly left on foot.

Lt. Jason Kravetz said a preliminary investigation indicates that Miller ran through a red light on North Coast Highway, broadsiding the two cars traveling southbound. Miller is suspected of heading west on Cliff Drive, where he left his vehicle.

All three vehicles had moderate damages.

— Joanna Clay