Laguna Beach police arrested a 39-year-old Gardena motorist at gunpoint Friday, July 25, who fled pursuing officers for 2.6 miles and collided with two other vehicles, injuring another driver.
Hector Chavez was arrested for suspicion of felony hit and run, DUI and evading, and held for $100,000 bail, Sgt. Louise Callus said.
The driver who was injured, a 65-year-old Dana Point woman, was taken for treatment of neck and shoulder pain after her vehicle crashed into a pedestrian railing after caroming off Chavez’s vehicle near West Street at Coast Highway, said Callus.
The 10:30 p.m. pursuit was set off by a report of an erratic driver, which an officer caught up with at Moss Street, Callus said. The vehicle failed to stop, heading south before ultimately yielding at Sea Cove, she said. The other motorist struck by Chavez was heading northbound and escaped injury.
Monday, July 21
Traffic collision. Coast Hwy. 12:56 p.m. A passenger was injured in a two-car collision. Further details were unavailable.
Sexual battery. 2100 block S. Coast hwy. 6:39 p.m. A 23-year-old disabled woman was fondled on the trolley. The family wants no further investigation to avoid traumatizing the victim.
Traffic collision. Coast Hwy. Bald tires, speed and a trailer prevented a motorist from avoiding a collision with a stopped vehicle, which also rear-ended a car ahead.
Public intoxication. 700 block of S. Coast hwy. 8 p.m. Jeffrey Bradway, 51, of Santa Ana, was arrested for suspicion of burglary since he had no ability to pay for the bottle of wine and raw bacon he consumed in a store. He was held for $20,000 bail.
Wednesday, July 23
Fraud report. 1000 block of N. Coast hwy. 3 p.m. Someone tried to pass a fake bill.
Pedestrian stop. 30900 block of Coast Hwy. Ionela Manolache, 23, of Anaheim, was arrested for a bench warrant, issued by immigration authorities after her deportation. Bail was set at $25,000.
Thursday, July 24
Occupied vehicles. 1600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 12:15 a.m. A 52-year-old New York resident was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Pedestrian stop. Cliff Dr. 7:51 a.m. Beau Dylan Gordon, 30, identified as homeless, and Kimberly Diane Moranville, 21, of Garden Grove, were both arrested for outstanding warrants after officers contacted them for camping in Heisler Park.
Traffic stop. Cypress Dr. A 47-year-old Oakdale resident was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Friday, July 25
Pedestrian stop. Mountain Rd. 12:22 a.m. Jahmalik Michael Carpenter, 20, of Dana Point, was arrested for a bench warrant and held without bail.
Traffic collision. 10th Ave. 2:13 p.m. A motorcycle rider was injured after rear-ending an SUV, resulting in the closure of northbound lanes. Congestion was magnified by a simultaneous closure at Hinkle Street.
Saturday, July 26
Eco enforcement. Bluff Dr. 9:36 a.m. Oscar and Gerardo Avina, of Riverside, were cited for illegal spear fishing within a marine conservation area. The brothers, who had fishing licenses, bagged a perch, a corbina and a garibaldi.
Pedestrian stop. 2800 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 1:26 p.m. Phillip Isaac Caraveo, 38, of Hemet, was arrested and held without bail at the request of his parole agent.
Vehicle burglary. 31100 block of Coast Hwy. 7:29 p.m. The owner of a vehicle parked in the Aliso east parking lot reported a smashed window.
DUI. 600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 11 p.m. Angelo Bruno Molina, 33, of Lake Forest, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.
Sunday, July 27
Failure to yield. Coast Hwy. 1 a.m. Aaron Daniel O’Reilly, 20, of Dana Point, was charged with evading police and held for $20,000 bail.
DUI. 2900 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 4:41 a.m. A 51-year-old Carlsbad man was cited for DUI and held for $10,000 bail.
Grand theft. 30800 block of Coast Hwy. 3:32 p.m. A camera bag holding two lenses valued at $1200 were taken from a bench.
Welfare check. 900 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 9:37 p.m. A 63-year-old Laguna Woods man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Monday, July 28
Disturbance. N. Coast Hwy. 12:29 a.m. Two teens from Woodland, Calif., who apparently tried to stiff a cab driver, were cited for petty theft.
LBPD should reconsider high speed car chases and take into consideration the imminent threat to public safety.
Do this in honor of your fallen officer J Coutchie who DIED as a direct result of his violating Vehicle Code for unsafe speed. LBPD speculates the officer was speeding to “catch a vehicle speeding” well, two wrongs don’t make a right and the officer is dead as a result of his speeding.
Consider the THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY over a DUI car chase and the lawsuit from killing innocent civilians. The LBPD is out of control if they justify excessive speeds that result in loss of human life.
Pedestrian, bicycle & vehicle safety of innocent citizens of LB should take priority over any high speed car chase that does not involve loss of human life or 911 emergency!!! If you are in pursuit to SAVE A LIFE then taking some risk to respond to emergency may be justified but the recent high speed LBPD car chases MUST STOP!!