Another Pedestrian Hit on Coast Highway

A Surf and Sand hotel employee trying to cross Coast Highway without the benefit of a crosswalk was struck by a southbound vehicle Tuesday, Sept. 30, about 4:58 p.m., police said.

The accident is the 24th collision between a vehicle and pedestrian so far this year in Laguna Beach, nearly double the collision rate of all of 2013, Capt. Jason Kravetz said.

Oscar Parada, 26, of Santa Ana suffered non-life threatening injuries with complaints of pain and abrasions, Kravetz said.

The motorist, Corona Del Mar resident Karen Curreri, was in the southbound left turn lane on Coast Highway near Bluebird Canyon, said Kravetz.

Swell Keeps Guards on the Run

The southern hemisphere swell that pumped up surf to six feet along Laguna Beach’s coastline had lifeguards scrambling throughout the weekend. Triple digit temperatures inland drew summer-like crowds to popular spots such as Treasure Island and Crescent Bay, where lifeguard staffing drops after Labor Day.

With just four towers staffed, two patrol vehicles and the rescue craft in the water, guards made 123 rescues, Friday through Sunday, Capt. Tom Trager said.

Monday, Sept. 29

Pedestrian stop. 200 block of Broadway. Eleanor Kaufman, 61, of Garden Grove, who was seen scavenging through trash, was arrested for an outstanding theft warrant.

Fraud report. 2300 block of Crestview Dr. 11:31 a.m. A resident learned someone had fraudulently copied a check.

Tuesday, Sept. 30

Detective activity. 2800 block of Chillon Way. 12:41 p.m. An Ohio sheriff’s investigation traced a case of credit card fraud to a suspect that made a purchase delivered to a local address. Police seized a Keurig coffee machine as evidence.

DUI. N. Coast Hwy. 8:15 p.m. A Lake Forest resident, 21, was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Suspicious person. 200 block of Nyes Place. 9:54 p.m. A homeless woman was arrested for being drunk in public after knocking over boxes in a backyard.

Wednesday, Oct. 1

Occupied vehicle. Pearl St. 2:51 a.m. A New Jersey man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Petty theft. 300 block of Glenneyre St. 1:53 p.m. Michael Alexander Hubbard, 23, of Mission Viejo was arrested for misdemeanor possession of stolen property after allegedly stealing earbuds from a library patron. Bail was set at $20,000.

DUI. 1300 block of N. Coast Hwy. 3 p.m. A 44-year-old Garden Grove woman was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Keep the peace. 900 block of Balboa Ave. 6:03 p.m. A resident accuses a neighbor of poisoning a pet bunny with rat poison and vows to obtain an animal autopsy.

Traffic stop. Woodland Dr. 11:20 p.m. A routine traffic violation resulted in the arrest of Brian Lee Johnson, 40, of Sebastopol, for suspicion of drunk driving and possession of psychedelic mushrooms. He had two previous DUI arrests. Bail was set at $15,000.

Thursday, Oct. 2

Traffic stop. Rockledge Dr. 1:13 a.m. A 76-year-old New Yorker was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Pedestrian stop. S. Coast Hwy. 8:44 a.m. Jeramy Michael Weigand, 24, of Mission Viejo, was arrested for a felony $20,000 warrant for drug possession. The bicycle officer stopped Weigand for smoking on Main Beach.

Vehicle burglary. 100 block of Agate St. 4 p.m. A thief broke into a vehicle and made off with a wallet, keys and cell phone.

Petty theft. 300 block of Glennyere St. 9:29 p.m. A $700 phone left in a restroom had disappeared when the owner returned.

Detective activity. 1400 block of N. Coast Hwy. 10:41 p.m. Omid Reza Sabeti, 29, of Irvine, was arrested for suspicion of possessing a controlled substance after undercover investigators made a buy. Bail was set at $25,000

Traffic stop. Hill St. 11:53 p.m. Cynthia Jeanne Jacques, 47, of Irvine, was cited for alleged drunk driving and possession of a controlled substance, prescription medications without a valid prescription. She has two previous DUI arrests.

Friday, Oct. 3

Burglary. 20500 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 7:19 a.m. Glass was broken on the door to a property, which is unlocked, but no loss was reported.

Grand theft. Oak St. 8:53 a.m. A skim boarder returned to the sand to find her backpack gone along with $1,400 worth of camera gear, a cell phone and a car rental key.

Burglary. 1200 block of Skyline Dr. 9:59 a.m. About $10,000 worth of silver utensils was stolen, possibly when the home was for sale.

Traffic hazard. 600 block of Buena Vista Way. 6 p.m. A tree from an upper street blocked the road for several hours.

Saturday, Oct. 4

Pedestrian stop. 14-03474. Cleo St. 12:47 a.m. Richard Dean Mann, 56, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for allegedly possessing a small amount of meth. Bail was set at $20,000.

Traffic stop. Calliope St. 1:21 a.m. Travis Austin Brown, 28, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for a felony warrant and alleged possession of syringes and a spoon with burnt residue. Bail was set at $20,000.

Rape. 6:19 a.m. The victim, who took a ride from a stranger to Tustin, told Tustin police she had been sexually assaulted in Laguna Beach by another person a few days before.

Fraud. 900 block of Acapulco St. 10:34 a.m. A resident learned someone in Florida had filed his tax return in April.

Traffic collision. 30800 block of Coast Hwy. 1:12 p.m. A motorcycle driver suffered minor injuries after a collision with a vehicle.

Traffic stop. 1200 block of N. Coast Hwy. 11:41 p.m. Manuel Antonio Carrasco, 32, of Santa Ana, was arrested for suspicion of meth possession and a vehicle code warrant. Bail was set at $20,000.

Sunday, Oct. 5

Vandalism. 300 block of Third St. 10:51 p.m. Siew Hong Tan, 38, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for felony vandalism after allegedly keying a Jaguar that belonged to her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend. Bail was set at $20,000.