Police are investigating who might be responsible for inflicting deep cuts in the base of six mature eucalyptus trees in the previous week.
Damage done to five trees on the Montage resort property was found early Monday, Nov. 21, and another discovered Saturday, Nov. 26, at the nearby shopping center, police said.
The two incidents may be related, Sgt. Tim Kleiser said. Four to six weeks will be needed to determine if the 40 to 45 year old trees will recover from the two-inch deep cuts that encircle the tree trunks, an arborist told police.
Monday, Nov. 21
Theft. 200 block of Cozumel. 4:34 p.m. A bike valued at $1,000 was stolen three days earlier.
Tuesday, Nov. 22
Stolen vehicle. PD. 1 p.m. A trailer worth $4,000 was stolen from 3100 block of Laguna Canyon Rd.
Robbery. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 6 p.m. Three south-county residents who beat up an acquaintance and stole his wallet were arrested for suspicion of robbery and conspiracy. The victim sustained minor injuries and was taken for treatment to the hospital, where the assault occurred. Those arrested were Derek Warren Schmalle, 21, and Timothy James Solomon, 28, both of San Clemente, and Shanoa Lee Mitchell, 27, of Capistrano Beach.
Battery. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 7 p.m. A detective will investigate the claim of an employee who alleged a co-worker attempted to choke her because she took a break.
Vandalism. PD. 8:56 a.m. A car owner suspects someone from the ASL damaged a vehicle the previous night.
Wednesday, Nov. 23
Grand theft. 400 block of S. Coast Hwy. 2 p.m. A store reports seven rings valued at $20,000 are missing.
Thursday, Nov. 24
Drunk driving. 30800 block of Coast Hwy. 2 p.m. Paul Hart Winston, 28, of San Clemente, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.
Traffic collision. Brooks Street. 5:12 p.m. A 45-year-old Laguna Beach man was taken to the hospital for treatment of a broken leg as a result of a crosswalk collision with a vehicle, which also struck and killed one of his two dogs. While the collision is under investigation, neither drugs nor alcohol are involved, police said.
Drunk driving. Cypress Dr. 8:42 p.m. A 21-year-old from San Juan Capistrano was arrested for DUI.
Friday, Nov. 25
Vehicle burglary. 3000 block of Zell Dr. 9:33 a.m. A phone and wallet with contents valued at $1,200 was taken from a truck.
Grand theft. 500 block of Cypress Dr. 10:25 p.m. Jewelry valued at $1,200 was stolen from a home in the last few days.
Traffic collision. N. Coast Hwy. 11 a.m. The cause of a head-on collision that sent two people to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries is under investigation.
Saturday, Nov. 26
Theft. 200 block of Broadway St. 9:58 a.m. A bike owner who went into a store to buy lottery tickets returned to find his $50 bike gone.
Vehicle burglary. 700 block of Bolsana Dr. Thieves broke into two vehicles.
Grand theft. 20200 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 3:33 p.m. A hiker returned to a car to find missing a $5,700 watch left behind. The vehicle may have been left unlocked.
Disturbance. 31300 block of Monterey St. 7:17 p.m. Hugo Arturo Gonzalez, 24, of San Juan, Tex., was arrested for suspicion of domestic violence after he allegedly threw a punch at a friend and also pushed the friend’s girl friend.
DUI. 300 block of Broadway St. 9:10 p.m. Fernando Miguel Rivera, 23, of Los Angeles, was arrested for suspicion of felony DUI and held for $100,000 bail following a head-on collision where his passenger suffered a broken ankle. The driver of the other vehicle was uninjured.
Sunday, Nov. 27
Grand theft. 3200 block of Alta Laguna Blvd. 7:54 a.m. Items valued at $2,235 were taken from the bed of a truck overnight.
Vehicle burglary. 1500 block of Tahiti. 5:13 p.m. A purse, wallet and credit cards were stolen from a car.
Foot patrol. 1:49 a.m. Police cited and then released four homeless people for illegal lodging, three on Forest Avenue and another on St. Ann’s Drive.
