Laguna Beach police surrounded a hotel in the pre-dawn Saturday, Oct. 11, to search for a suspected cat burglar after one guest reported a break in and another guest reported bashing a burglar trying to make entry in the 600 block of Coast Highway.
A thief stole a purse and its contents valued at $444 sometime between midnight and 5:30 a.m. from a ground-level room where two women slept, Capt. Jason Kravetz said. The burglar entered the open sliding door and rummaged through their belongings, he said. The theft was discovered when a guest went to the restroom and found their belongings askew, he said.
When police arrived, they learned of a second break-in attempt from another pair of guests, who had been awakened by a noise. They saw a man’s arm reaching in through their open sliding door. The husband threw a water bottle at the man, who was hit on the head and fled, Kravetz said.
Police did not find a suspect in the area.
Wednesday, Oct. 8
Suspicious circs. 12:33 a.m. 1500 block of S. Coast Hwy. 12:16 a.m. Joshua Louis Oldham, 31, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested for an outstanding larceny warrant while a friend was cited for providing police phony information; hotel security suspected the pair of trying to boost liquor from an outdoor bar.
Warrant arrest. 500 block of Forest Ave. 2:12 p.m. Gary Allen, 46, of Willits, Calif., turned himself into the police station saying he was wanted for two misdemeanor warrants.
Thursday, Oct. 9
Detective activity. 1400 block of N. Coast Hwy. 12:50 a.m. Brian Allan Davis, 39, of Temecula, and Katlynn Lee Scotti, 21, of Midway City, were both arrested for suspicion of drug sales after they tried to sell “fake” heroin to narcotics officers. Bail was set at $30,000.
Pedestrian stop. 1:28 a.m. 1400 block of N. Coast Hwy. Christopher Bowman, 31, San Clemente, was held for an alleged drug charge and $20,000 bail.
Friday, Oct. 10
Traffic collision. 1900 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 12:41 p.m. The driver of a motorcycle suffered a minor leg injury while his passenger escaped injury in a solo collision. Outbound traffic was temporarily halted.
Disorderly person. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 3 p.m. Billy Joe Turner, 35, of Tustin, refused to leave the ER after discharge. He was arrested for a no bail warrant.
Trespassing. 31100 block of Ceanothus Dr. 5:51 p.m. Three teens were cited for trespassing after a homeowner reported several people on his roof.
Traffic collision. 1500 block of S. Coast Hwy. 6:32 p.m. One person was transported for treatment after a two-car collision. Details were unavailable.
Traffic collision. S. Coast Hwy. 7:25 p.m. One person was transported for trauma care following a two-car collision.
DUI. Third Street. 9:22 p.m. A 26-year-old Santa Ana man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
DUI. Park Ave. 10:39 p.m. A 24-year-old Mission Viejo woman was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Saturday, Oct. 11
Traffic stop. Broadway St. 1:47 a.m. A 32-year-old Mission Viejo man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Drunk driving. Laguna Canyon Rd. 3:24 a.m. A 27-year-old Laguna Niguel man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Traffic stop. Forest Ave. 4:18 a.m. A 22-year-old Laguna Beach man was cited for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Traffic collision. Cress St. 4:40 a.m. Andres Martinez-Garcia, 38, of Santa Ana, was cited for suspicion of drunk driving and released at the hospital where he was being treated for moderate injuries. He had slammed into a light standard at Cress Street.
Foot patrol. Coast Hwy. 7:37 a.m. After a complaint about people sleeping on the beach, police arrested Andre Benedict Santiesteven, 21, of Alburquerque, for a delinquency warrant.
Grand theft. 800 block of Cliff Dr. 9:44 a.m. A resident identified a potential suspect in the theft of a $5,400 silverware set that vanished in her absence. Detectives will be following up.
Pedestrian stop. 300 block of N. Coast Hwy. 1:30 p.m. Eli Benjamin Means, 35, of Santa Cruz, was arrested for an outstanding warrant and held for $15,000 bail.
Fraud. 500 block of Forest Ave. 3:19 p.m. The city treasurer filed a report of a $427 counterfeit check written to the animal shelter by a Laguna Woods resident. Police think the check writer may need social services.
Hit and run. 20600 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 10:19 p.m. Marco Antonio Campos-Santa Maria, 21, of Bellflowers, was arrested in Aliso Viejo for suspicion of DUI after he allegedly fled a rear-end collision. Investigators are also seeking hit and run charges.
Sunday, Oct. 12
Vehicle violation. 1300 block of Circle Way. 12:41 a.m. A wrong-way driver caught the attention of police, who arrested Brian Blancas, 22, of Garden Grove, for suspicion of DUI and drug possession after a search turned up cocaine. Bail was set at $20,000.
Traffic stop. Wendt Terrance. 1:54 a.m. A 17-year-old Dana Point man was detained for DUI.
Vandalism. 900 block of S. Coast hwy. 9:05 a.m. A front window was discovered shattered.
Brandishing weapon. 200 block of Park Ave. 11:11 a.m. Michael Allan Hubbard, 23, of Mission Viejo, was arrested for delaying a police officer, who found him in the area where several homeless people said they had been threatened with a two-inch knife. Officers did not locate a knife and the victims did not want to press charges.
Grand theft. 300 block of Cliff Dr. A visitor who left a Macbook Air on a chair returned to fine the $1200 computer gone.
Animal calls. Park Ave. 4:15 p.m. A resident reported seeing a bobcat scratching its claws on trees.
Battery. 1700 block of S. Coast Hwy. 7:52 p.m. A patron hit a security guard that was being removed from the bar. No other details were available.
Traffic collision. 14-03586. Laguna Canyon Rd. Fulgencio Ceja Gelman, 43, of Long Beach, was arrested for suspicion of drunk driving after he ran his truck off the side of the road. Bail was set at $10,000 due to a previous DUI.
