Local police patrolled the pubs on foot Saturday, Aug. 29, making pit stops at eight Laguna Beach establishments that serve alcoholic beverages. They weren’t bending the elbow on the job however. They were talking to about a 100 patrons who were, according to Lt. Jeff Calvert.
Their intent was to educate drinkers about the science behind imbibing and its affects. Of 66 customers who volunteered to take breath tests, four persons were over .08%, including two individuals who were over twice the legal limit, Calvert said in a statement. Rather than getting arrested, cops handed out Uber vouchers and a card that lists the DUI penalties they could face if they are caught driving while impaired.
“We’re trying to educate people to make the right decision before they attempt to drive a motor vehicle,” Calvert said. “The goal is to keep the roadways safe, with a target of getting people off the road before they even get into their cars.”
Streetbeat
Monday, Aug. 24
DUI. N. Coast Hwy. 6:22 p.m. A report about an erratic driver led to the arrest of a passenger for a warrant and paraphernalia possession when a search turned up a meth pipe.
Tuesday, Aug. 25
Grand theft. 8600 block of Coast Hwy. 12:48 p.m. Seven iPads worth $1,400 were taken from a classroom sometime between July 24 and Aug. 10.
Traffic stop. 30900 block of Coast Hwy. 9:18 p.m. A 54-year-old South Laguna resident was cited for DUI.
Wednesday, Aug. 26
Sleeper. 600 block of Sleepy Hollow Lane. 7 a.m. A report about a man sleeping on a walkway led to the arrest of Alfred Erro, 51, of Laguna Beach, for a no-bail burglary warrant.
Fraud report. 1800 block of S. Coast Hwy. 9 a.m. Briana Rae Amador, 35, of Irvine, was arrested for suspicion of forgery and identity theft for allegedly depositing a $930 check drawn on a business account into her own.
Thursday, Aug. 27
Disturbance. 200 block of Broadway St. 1:22 p.m. In response to a disturbance call, police arrested Dana Wilson, 48, of Fountain Valley, for a parole violation after finding a knife in his backpack.
Fraud. 1000 block of Flamingo Rd. 4:28 p.m. A resident learned his $3,600 wire transfer to Beirut, Lebanon, was a scam by a caller impersonating his niece.
Petty theft. 500 block of S. Coast hwy. 4:41 p.m. A person pretending to be a customer walked off with an employee’s purse; its contents was valued at $700.
Citizen hail. Catalina St. 11 p.m. Justin Tyler Scott, 41, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $15,000 due to prior offenses.
Friday, Aug. 28
Warrant service. 500 block of Broadway St. 6:14 p.m. Thomas Anthony Feeney, 63, of Parker, Ariz., for an outstanding warrant.
Saturday, Aug. 29
Traffic stop. 200 block of Thalia St. 12:11 a.m. A 49-year-old man from Mission Viejo was cited for DUI.
Assault with a deadly weapon. Brooks St. 2:39 a.m. A man who sustained a cut to his head that did not require a trip to the hospital reported being hit with a bottle and kicked at a local bar. No suspect was found
DUI. 500 block of Mystic Way. 2:57 a.m. A 21-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for suspicion of DUI after running into two parked cars.
Rape. 200 block of N. Coast Hwy. 11 a.m. An investigation is underway into allegations that a co-worker assaulted another employee earlier in the week.
Battery. 900 block of Laguna Can yon Rd. 12:36 p.m. A 15-year-old reported being kicked in the head by two people that left on a trolley.
Fraud. 1500 block of N. Coast Hwy. 4 p.m. Kirra Lynn Potts, 21, of Santa Monica, was arrested for suspicion of felony theft and defrauding an innkeeper after she tried to pay a a $2,000 hotel tab with a fraudulent credit card.
DUI. Chiquita St. 5 p.m. A 34-year-old Los Angeles man was cited for DUI.
Traffic collision. Aster St. 9:18 p.m. Erik Arnulfo Morales Arriola, 19, of Laguna Niguel, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and four warrants.
Traffic stop. 300 block of Cliff Dr. 10:36 p.m. A 30-year-old Anaheim man was cited for DUI.
Sunday, Aug. 30
Traffic stop. Glenneyre St. 12:08 a.m. A 68-year-old Costa Mesa woman was cited for DUI.
Lifeguard rescue. Table Rock Beach 12:23 a.m. Jeremy Steven Suarez, 25, of Rancho Cucamonga, who admitted to dropping acid earlier in the day, was arrested for intoxication, but not before his claims of swimmers in distress set off a search by lifeguards from the air and on the ground.
Traffic stop. 30600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 1 a.m. A 49-year-old Mission Viejo man was cited for Dui.
