Local Surfer Saves a Life
By Ted Reckas | LB Indy
Maira Khan, 22, of Irvine, was rescued after being swept into the ocean from the rocks at Pearl Street beach Sunday, April 3, by local James Pribram, who intervened after observing the incident from his parents’ house overlooking the beach.
Khan, who does not know how to swim, was hit by waves that were big enough to stop rock training for rookie lifeguards earlier in the morning, according to marine safety officer Josh Bynum, who responded to the call.
Khan literally sank to near the bottom of the sea floor in about 10 feet deep water, according to Pribram, before he prevented the near-drowning by grabbing her wrist and swimming her ashore.
“There was an inconsistent swell, and the perfect tide so you could get out to a dangerous spot before a big set comes in,” said Bynum.
Khan suffered numerous cuts and scrapes on both arms and legs and was vomiting as if she had ingested seawater, but was not seriously hurt and declined to be taken to a hospital, Bynum said.
“I kind of had a home court advantage. I grew up surfing and snorkeling and swimming there,” said Pribram, who operates a surfing school and is active in environmental causes. “I think we’re both lucky. It was a pretty heavy experience.”
Anti-Semitic Signs Posted
By Andrea Adelson | LB Indy
Anti-Israeli posters, apparently printed from a computer, were posted near Laguna Beach’s Chabad last week, police reported.
Last Friday, April 1, police cited Hassan Aghaie Sadr, 51, of Lake Forest, for placing similar unauthorized signage on trees and phone poles in the downtown area, said Sgt. Louis Callus. Similar signs had been removed the previous day by authorities, she said. The sign said “Boycott Apartheid Israel” with an Israeli flag circled with a line through it.
Vandals Go on Window Smashing Spree
Owners of five vehicles in the vicinity of Oak Street last Saturday, April 2, discovered vandals had smashed their car windows overnight apparently for sport, since police report that little was taken.
One other car window-smashing incident also was reported early last Saturday on Driftwood Drive. Two other vehicle burglaries were reported elsewhere in the city on Tuesday, March 29, in the 1600 block of Hillcrest Drive and 800 block of Laguna Canyon Drive, where thieves stole contents from the vehicles.
“We have not had an opportunity to plot these out so not so sure they are all related other than the ones that were done over night on Friday to Saturday,” Sgt. Louise Callus said.
Tuesday, March 29
Drug involvement. 9:30 a.m. 30800 block of Coast Highway. Montage security called police about a guest with a knife, who was acting strangely. Craig Roger Measel, 42, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested for allegedly possessing a controlled substance. Bail was set at $20,000.
Drugs. 1:11 p.m. Thurston. Two eighth-graders were discovered with marijuana. The girl was released to her parents and the boy transported to juvenile hall due to being on probation for a prior similar incident.
Traffic stop. 1:34 p.m. Canyon Acres. A 44-year-old Laguna Woods resident was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Wednesday, March 30
Traffic stop. 7:01 a.m. Agate Street. A 38-year-old Dana Point man was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Traffic stop. 9:19 a.m. Ocean Avenue. Driver Avelino Rios and his passenger Francisco Rios, both of Santa Ana, were arrested for outstanding DUI warrants and other charges. Bail was set at $10,000 and $15,000, respectively.
Pedestrian stop. 4:16 p.m. Cleo Street. A juvenile skateboarding without a helmet was cited.
Domestic violence. 4:52 p.m. San Nicholas Drive. Justin Paul Tierney, 26, of Orange, was arrested for an outstanding domestic battery warrant and a 42-year-old friend arrested for obstructing police after a neighbor reported a disturbance.
Thursday, March 31
Indecent exposure. 12:05 a.m. 30800 block Coast Highway. Police who responded to a report of a couple having sex in the bushes flushed out three juveniles. A female from Florida was released to her mother, staying at a hotel nearby. The two male juveniles from Riverside County were detained, issued curfew citations and subsequently released to their parents.
Traffic stop. 11:36 p.m. Reef Point. Two people were arrested, including a Huntington Beach man charged with DUI, though the details were unclear.
Defrauding an innkeeper. 11:41 p.m. 1200 S. Coast Highway. Two women accompanied by a man, all in their early 20s, walked out on a $298 restaurant tab. One left a wallet and promised to return; its contents was an invalid credit card.
Friday, April 1
Suspicious. 10:43 a.m. S. Coast Highway. Police cited and released a driver found to be in possession of burglary tools after a witness spotted a vehicle driven by a man that had been peering into vehicles in an underground parking lot.
Transient camp. 1:11 p.m. 20200 block of Phillips St. A small encampment was discovered in a gully.
Pedestrian stop. 10:37 p.m. 3200 Alta Laguna Blvd. A 20-year-old Orange woman was cited for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Saturday, April 2
Drug involvement. 3:52 p.m. 200 block of Ocean Ave. Michael Lomas Gugliotta, a transient, was arrested for suspicion of possessing 1.56 grams of cocaine, an ecstasy pill and .12 grams of marijuana. Bail was set at $15,000.
Vehicle burglary. 7:54 p.m. 31700 block of Coast Hwy. Thieves smashed a window and stole items valued at $420.
Traffic stop. 11:17 p.m. Legion St. A 50-year-old Newport Beach man was cited for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Sunday, April 3
Pedestrian stop. 12:12 a.m. Cleo St. Two of four people were arrested on misdemeanor drug charges, including a 24-year-old local resident.
Traffic stop. 12:45 a.m. 600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. A 58-year-old Laguna Hills woman was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Traffic stop. 1:33 a.m. 100 block of Diamond St. A 17-year-old San Clemente woman was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Traffic stop. 2:52 a.m. 200 block of Canyon Acres Dr. A 48-year-old Laguna Beach man was taken into custody for violating a protective order.
Disturbance. 4:48 a.m. Wave St. Justin Nuckolls, 33, of Rancho Cucamonga, was arrested for suspicion of possessing cocaine and held for $20,000 bail.
Samaritan rescue. 1 p.m. Pearl Street. A local resident and a person from Lake Elsinore rescued a swimmer stranded on rocks.
Theft. 6:45 p.m. 22000 block of Rico Rd. Several items were taken from an unlocked vehicle.
Traffic stop. 8:26 p.m. Forest Ave. A Nevada woman, 26, was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
