Police refer diaper-dumping case to D.A.

Laguna Beach police have submitted their case against a man suspected of dumping dirty adult diapers along Coast Highway in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach to the Orange County district attorney’s office.

“I’m hopeful a misdemeanor charge will be filed in a few days,” said Det. Sgt. Bob Rahaeuser.

He declined to name the suspect, adding that the D.A.’s office would provide a news release with more information after a charge was filed.

Previously police said the man was 67 years old and lived in Newport Coast.

Laguna Beach police broke the case last month when officers looking for the diaper dumper came upon a bag of dirty diapers that contained an envelope with an address.

They traced the address to an office building and then to a home in Newport Coast. They followed a man who left the home as he drove into Laguna Beach. After he made a U-turn, they stopped him in the Crystal Cove shopping center, where they discovered a bag with used adult diapers on the seat next to him.

The man is believed to be responsible for dozens of diaper dumping incidents in Newport Beach and Laguna Beach that date back to the summer of 2011.

Dumping diapers violates Health and Safety Code 117555, but the crime is a misdemeanor, which requires a witness, police have said, limiting how many charges they could seek.

amy@coronadelmartoday.com

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