Monday, Oct. 8
Vehicle fire. N. Coast Hwy at Emerald Bay. 10:58 a.m. unoccupied. All northbound lanes shut down.
Petty theft. 300 block of Magnolia Dr. 11:03 a.m. An unknown suspect ransacked a car, taking the owner’s manual and $20 in change. There were no signs of forced entry.
Traffic stop. 3:49 p.m. Eighth Ave. The 16-year-old driver of a car was cited for alcohol possession and his two like-aged companions cited for marijuana and tobacco after an officer smelled burning marijuana coming from a parked car. The boys were from Laguna Beach, Niguel and Capistrano, respectively.
Pedestrian stop. 300 block of Forest Ave. 9:20 p.m. Evan William Steinhoff, 19, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of possessing a controlled substance and held for $20,000 bail.
Tuesday, Oct. 9
Suspicious circs. 31700 block of Coast Hwy. 9:19 a.m. Due to a malfunctioning gas pump and a customer complaint, a store clerk reviewed surveillance video and learned someone removed skimming devices three days earlier. Police have not received reports of authorized credit card usage.
Detective activity. Alicia Pkwy. 3 p.m. Erin Patrice Laurent, 38, of Mission Viejo, was arrested for suspicion of burglary and obtaining a controlled substance through fraud after investigators tailed her to a pharmacy where she had refilled a prescription. Bail was set at $20,000. She allegedly obtained the new prescription fraudulently by initially claiming a theft of pills from a vehicle, an incident police believe was faked.
Grand theft. 4:53 p.m. 300 block Agate St. Diamond earrings and a bracelet valued at $30,000 were stolen from a closet on Sept. 10 when workers were in the house.
Wednesday, Oct. 10
Traffic stop. 12:21 a.m. 200 block of Brooks St. A 22-year-old man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Traffic stop. 1:10 a.m. 500 block of Forest Ave. A 22-year-old Los Angeles man was cited for DUI and held in lieu of $2500 bail.
Traffic stop. 1:25 a.m. A 22-year-old from Mission Viejo was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Sleeper. 1:30 a.m. 300 block of Third St. Responding to calls about several homeless people sleeping in a building frequented by transients, Matthew Paul Benusa, 28, of Laguna Beach was cited for trespassing. Bail was set at $15,000.
Vehicle burglary. 1:27 p.m. 3200 Laguna Canyon Rd. A camera and other items valued at $1650 were taken from a vehicle.
Assist. 1901 Laguna Canyon Rd. 3:50 p.m. A man who had exited his truck was pinned against another car when his truck rolled downhill. Several citizens stopped and pushed the truck away. Paramedics treated him and transported him to the hospital for further treatment. Injuries were not life threatening.
Traffic collision. 12-03897. 5:40 p.m. 3000 Mountain View Dr. A driver who experienced a medical emergency struck a parked car and a fire hydrant and rolled his vehicle on its side. He suffered moderate injuries and was extracted and transported to the hospital.
Vehicle burglary. 8:15 p.m. 300 block Legion St. The adult daughter of a woman pursued a thief that had grabbed her mother’s purse from a car and was punched for her efforts. The thief got away.
Thursday, Oct. 11
Traffic stop. Pearl St. 1:57 a.m. A 31-year-old from Springfield, Ill., was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Grand theft. 1200 block of Skyline Dr. 8:12 a.m. Four large boxes of equipment of undetermined valued were swiped off a front porch.
Petty theft. 9 a.m. 400 block of S. Coast Hwy. A 52-year-old Laguna Beach transient was arrested for petty theft after allegedly taking a rake, chair and umbrella from a beachfront hotel. Officers found a pile of things below the ocean bluff.
Fraud. 12:03 p.m. 1800 block Carmelita St. A resident’s signature was forged on a $700 check.
Stolen vehicle. 3:15 p.m. 2100 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. A motorist failed to return a Ford Fiesta rented through Aug. 17.
Public intoxication. 3:38 p.m. 400 block of S. Coast Hwy. Douglas Banis, 57, a Laguna Beach homeless person, was arrested for 12 outstanding warrants, including eight for being drunk in public.
Friday, Oct. 12
Traffic stop. 12:11 a.m. 200 block of Thalia St. A 47-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Traffic collision. 1:47 a.m. El Toro Rd. Inbound lanes of El Toro Road were closed through the rush hour due to a utility pole that had been knocked down by a solo-car collision. A woman passenger suffered facial injuries in the collision when she was ejected from a that veered into a ravine. Driver Simon J. Haxby, 21, of Irvine, was arrested for suspicion of felony drunk driving and held for $100,000 bail, Capt. Jason Kravetz said. Another vehicle that struck the downed pole flipped on its side, but righted itself and left the scene. The 63-year-old Lake Forest man, who was pulled over in Aliso Viejo, fled because he is unlicensed, Kravetz said.
Pedestrian stop. S. Coast Hwy. 4:32 a.m. A 50-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested for two outstanding drunk in public warrants.
DUI. 700 block of S. Coast Hwy. 10:31 a.m. A 58-year-old Laguna Beach woman was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Drug activity. 11:13 a.m. 600 block of Park Ave. A 16-year-old junior was detained for suspicion of possession of a knife after a dispute erupted on campus over narcotics, said Sgt. Robert Rahaeuser, who said other students were questioned and the inquiry is ongoing.
Vandalism. 1700 block of Glenneyre St. 12:35 p.m. Glue caused $15,000 in damage to a 2009 Mercedes; the owner suspects a neighbor due to a legal dispute.
Burglary. 800 block Catalina St. 6:19 p.m. Brandon Colin Heath, 18, of Riverside, was arrested for suspicion of auto theft, petty theft and DUI after officers pulled him over in the same block where a vehicle had been stolen moments before. Police were already en route, alerted to a man trying car door handles, when they received a description of a stolen vehicle. The owner had left the keys in the car while unloading groceries. Heath allegedly seized property from four unlocked vehicles prior to stealing the car, Rahaeuser said. Bail was set at $20,000.
Saturday, Oct. 13
Traffic stop. 12:49 a.m. Catalina St. A 61-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Sunday, Oct. 14
Vandalism. 1300 block of S. Coast Hwy. 8:53 a.m. Smashed pumpkin and sign torn down.
Traffic collision. 4:15 p.m. S. Coast Hwy. Two to three vehicles were involved and southbound lanes closed while one victim was transported for medical treatment. Further details were not available.
Vandalism. 2400 Coast Hwy. 4:22 p.m. Vandals broke an access gate causing $400 in damage to public property.
