Bicyclist Dies Following Accident
Rider Mark Leones, 28, of Costa Mesa, died after coming off his bike Sunday about 11 a.m. near 950 Park Avenue, Kravetz said.
No other vehicles or bicycles were involved and the rider was wearing a helmet, said police, who have yet to determine the cause of the accident.
Leones was in the company of about 15 other street cyclists, who were on the scene when firefighters arrived and found Leones in critical condition, said Deputy Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse.
Pedestrian Struck in Crosswalk
An unidentified 65-year-old Lake Forest woman was in critical condition in a Mission Viejo hospital as a result of being struck while crossing Laguna Canyon road in a crosswalk about 8 p.m. Saturday, police said.
Sharon Ann Niggemann, 61, of San Clemente, was arrested for suspicion of felony drunk driving and held for $100,000 bail, Kravetz said. The incident is under investigation as Niggemann may have had a green light when she entered the intersection, he said.
Suspected Poacher Caught
A suspected poacher who tried to flee was caught and detained by authorities that discovered 22 pounds of mussels in a truck near Crescent Bay on Tuesday about 3 p.m., Kravetz said.
The incident report will be forwarded to Fish and Game authorities for possible penalties against the 39-year-old gardener from San Juan Capistrano, who was not identified by police.
Two citizens reported seeing a man shoveling the mollusks into bags, police said.
Three Seen Fleeing Suspicious Fire
A brush fire that burned less than an acre in the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park late Wednesday, Oct. 12, is being investigated as arson, Kravetz said.
An onshore wind helped keep the blaze from spreading and firefighters were able to douse the blaze with hoses, though a helicopter was standing by, Deputy LaTendresse said.
A witness observed three young males fleeing the area in a pickup, Kravetz said.
Child Endangerment Suspected
Police arrested Ieva Wilkinson, 36, for DUI and suspicion of child endangerment and placed her two children in protective custody on Wednesday, Oct. 12, about 11 a.m., Kravetz said. Bail was set at $100,000.
Wilkinson allegedly was driving a golf cart with an unrestrained 2-year-old passenger when police arrived on Stan’s Lane, responding to a neighbor dispute, he said.
As a result of the incident, police contacted immigration authorities, which will initiate expulsion proceedings against Wilkinson, of Latvia, convicted of child cruelty in 2009 after her infant son was found crawling on Laguna Canyon Road.
Monday, Oct. 10
Suspicious. 4:20 p.m. 700 block of S. Coast Hwy. A man appeared to have been following a customer as she exited a market.
Medical aid. 5:23 p.m. Alta Laguna Park. A dog was placed in quarantine after biting off the tip of a park visitor’s finger.
Tuesday, Oct. 11
Eco enforcement. 9:29 a.m. 500 block of S. Coast Hwy. Numerous paint containers were dropped illegally in a dumpster.
Vehicle burglary. 10:10 a.m. 3200 block of Alta Laguna Blvd. Phone and wallet were taken.
Fire. 2:48 p.m. 200 block of Cress St. Firefighters forced entry into a vacant home to extinguish a kitchen fire reported by a passersby, who saw smoke coming from a skylight. Cardboard near a toaster oven mistakenly left on had ignited, said Deputy Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse. The house lacked a smoke detector, he said.
Grand theft. 3:42 p.m. 400 block of Broadway St. A terminated employee of a cellular store is suspected of taking two cell phones and 25 chargers, valued at $760, prior to being fired on Saturday, Oct. 8.
Sexual Assault. 11:13 a.m. PD. David Michael Yanniello, 40, of San Juan Capistrano, was charged with felony sodomy a day after a Huntington Beach woman described an incident on a beach in South Laguna.
Wednesday, Oct. 12
Traffic stop. 12:47 a.m. A 50-year-old Monarch Beach woman was cited for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Grand theft. 4:12 p.m. 2100 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. Jewelry valued at $7,500 was discovered stolen.
Theft. 5:21 p.m. 400 block of Shadow Lane. A skim board art piece with a turquoise ceramic portrait valued at $700 was taken from a sideyard.
Traffic stop. 100 block of Cleo St. A 48-year-old Santa Barbara man was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Thursday, Oct. 13
Traffic stop. 2:35 a.m. A 47-year-old Encinitas woman was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Vehicle burglary. 9:46 a.m. 3000 block Nestall Rd. A briefcase, laptop and checkbook valued at $1,800 was taken.
Traffic stop. 3:27 p.m. Coast and Diamond. Miguel Guzman, 34, of Garden Grove, was arrested for an outstanding $15,000 warrant for driving unlicensed.
Prowler. 4 p.m. San Tropez St. A suspicious figure was seen about midnight the previous night.
DUI 9:22 p.m. Laguna Canyon Rd. A 30-year-old Carson man was cited for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Friday, Oct. 14
Grand theft. 10 a.m. 500 block of St. Ann’s Dr. A witness observed someone stealing $400 worth of potted plants.
Traffic stop. 11:17 a.m. 300 block of Cliff Dr. After observing a driver weaving in traffic, Jude Hannah, 45, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and being under the influence of drugs. Bail was set at $15,000.
Saturday, Oct. 15
Medical aid. 12:54 p.m. Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. A female hiker who suffered moderate injuries in a fall near Willow and Boomer Ridge was evacuated by helicopter.
Medical aid. 7 p.m. Three Arch Bay. Fog prevented a helicopter ambulance from evacuating an injured body boarder, pulled from the surf by friends. “Left with no other option,” LaTendresse said, firefighters carried out the victim, in moderate distress and worsening.
Sunday, Oct. 16
Traffic stop. 12:56 a.m. A 30-year-old Woodland Hills man was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Traffic stop. 1 a.m. Canyon Acres. A 19-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested for DUI and held for $2,500 bail.
Tree down. 7 a.m. 1200 block of Anacapa Way. A hillside gave way and slid into the street, temporarily blocking the exit of occupants of about 20 homes. A geologist declared the area safe but did not pinpoint a cause.
Grand theft. 8:35 a.m. 2800 Chateau Way. Goods valued at $3,300 were taken from an unlocked vehicle.
Warning. 9:59 a.m. Shaw’s Cove. Ten scuba divers were advised about increasing surf.
