Two People Hit in Coast Highway Accidents

Two pedestrians were injured in Laguna Beach in two separate Coast Highway collisions within the last seven days, police said. In neither instance were drivers cited.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12, a 14-year-old Laguna Beach boy suffered moderate injuries while crossing Coast Highway on a skateboard when struck by a southbound pickup, police said.

Seconds earlier, the youth had narrowly missed being struck by a car heading northbound as he entered the Anita Street crosswalk about 10 a.m., Capt. Jason Kravetz said.

The accident is under investigation, but no arrests or citations were issued. Initial observations did not indicate the driver to be impaired, he said. The skateboarder, who was treated and transported for medical aid, was not wearing protective gear and his family came to the scene during the investigation, Kravetz said.

On Friday, Aug. 8, a 20-year-old San Clemente woman, who darted between two parked cars as she attempted to cross the highway, suffered a head injury after being struck by a northbound motorist and thrown into the air, Kravetz said.

The woman was transported to Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo and is expected to survive, he said. Neither drugs nor alcohol appear to have been a factor, and a counselor was summoned to the station on behalf of the distraught 22-year-old Newport Beach driver, Kravetz said.

 

Drum Circle Mellows Under a Supermoon

About 300 people picked up the rhythm during the Full Moon Drum Circle at Aliso Beach on Sunday, Aug. 10, which was again heavily patrolled by authorities but was absent parking restrictions of a month earlier that discouraged attendance and enraged fans.

“In the two months that LBPD and OC Parks personnel have assigned personnel to this event, the number of pedestrian involved traffic collisions, public intoxication detentions, and alcohol related events have gone down to zero,” Kravetz said.

Three sworn officers, nine civilian police employees and four OC Park rangers monitored the event, he said.

“The whole event was very peaceful and well behaved, and I think the police showed good restraint,” said Billy Fried, of Laguna Beach, who maintains a list of drum circle fans.

 

Golf Course Pursuit Ends in Arrest

A motorist driving on the first fairway of The Ranch golf course at 1:49 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, led police on a four-mile pursuit through the course and into the Aliso and Wood Canyon Wilderness Park.

After crashing through three gates that close off the course from the park and nearing the park entrance in Aliso Viejo, the truck hit another gate and spun around, coming to a stop, Kravetz said.

Jennifer Kay Cadero, 27, of Irvine, was arrested for suspicion of vandalism, drunk driving, evading a peace officer and driving on a suspended driver’s license. Bail was set at $20,000.

 

Monday, Aug. 4

Fraud. 2800 block of Chillon Way. 8:17 p.m. A Laguna Beach woman widowed a year ago learned from the IRS that a Florida woman was attempting to claim tax benefits from her deceased husband.

Traffic collision. Broadway Street. 9:32 a.m. One driver complained of neck pain after a black Bentley northbound on South Coast Highway broadsided a pickup truck attempting to turn left. The accident is still under investigation.

Tuesday, Aug. 5

DUI. 30600 block of Coast Hwy. 2:09 a.m. Police arrested a 24-year-old San Clemente man for DUI after a car hit a curb and was driven the wrong way in southbound lanes.

Traffic stop. 500 block of Forest Ave. 12:05 p.m. Jordan Feagin, 20, of San Dimas, on probation for a robbery conviction, was arrested for suspicion of auto theft and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was driving a rental truck stolen in Pomona two days earlier and a meth pipe was allegedly found under the driver’s seat.

Stolen vehicle. S. Coast Hwy 6:33 p.m. A man who parked his maroon Chevy Silverado truck at Sunset Terrace while at the beach returned to find it missing.

Wednesday, Aug. 6

Burglary. 1000 block of Catalina St. 9 a.m. Owners noticed that someone attempted to vandalize the lock of a home being fumigated.

Burglary. 400 block of Shadow Lane. 10:27 a.m. Thieves made off with $800 worth of clothing after gaining entry to a boarded up home.

Fraud report. 600 block of Cliff Dr. 11 a.m. Someone opened four fraudulent credit accounts and made $4,150 in charges using a resident’s stolen identity.

Drug activity. 200 block of Forest Ave. 11:18 a.m. Khaled Abdel Maksoud, 20, of Fountain Valley, was cited twice in a week for suspicion of possessing drugs without a prescription and selling pot.

Citizen contact. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 11:35 a.m. A patient claims he was assaulted at the county jail.

Traffic collision. St. Ann’s Drive. 12:11 p.m. A woman who sideswiped a semi-truck accidently backed into a mint-condition vintage Cadillac. She suffered minor injuries.

Fraud. 31800 block of Coast Hwy. 2 p.m. A woman claims that small purchases were made on her credit cards in Florida, Maryland and North Carolina after her wallet was stolen during a hospital stay.

Traffic collision. Vista del Sol 12:29 p.m. Three teens suffered abrasions when their golf cart overturned, apparently due to malfunctioning brakes.

Thursday, Aug. 7

Traffic stop. Cleo St. 12 a.m. A Mission Viejo man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Traffic stop. Montage Resort. 1:15 a.m. A 31-year-old Laguna Niguel man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Friday, Aug. 8

Citizen call. North city limits. 2:45 a.m. Andrew Stephen Phillips, 24, of San Clemente, was arrested for a misdemeanor bench warrant after a citizen called, concerned for the safety of a bicyclist in dark clothing.

Drugs. S. Coast Hwy. 4 a.m. Dominik E. Gionet, 24, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of being under the influence of a heroin after an officer found him passed out on a bus bench.

Hit and run. Victoria Drive. 4 a.m. Gregory Neil Smith, 52, of Laguna Beach was arrested for suspicion of being under the influence of prescription drugs after police were called by a motorist, whose mirror had been clipped by Smith’s van.

DUI. S. Coast Hwy. 6:38 p.m. A 32-year-old Laguna Niguel man was cited for DUI after he was observed swerving and braking erratically.

Saturday, Aug. 9

Pedestrian stop. 200 block of Broadway St. Jorge Martinez Zepeda, 29, a homeless person from the Long Beach area, who riding his bike without a light, was arrested for alleged possession of a meth pipe and a misdemeanor bench warrant.

Traffic stop. Legion St. 2 a.m. Jamie Elissa Bankus, 39, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for suspicion of DUI. Bail was set at $10,000 due to a prior offense.

Traffic stop. 600 block of Bluebird Canyon Dr. 7:57 a.m. A Dove Canyon woman, 21, was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Grand theft. Sleepy Hollow Lane. 9:39 a.m. A backpack containing a phone and wedding ring valued at $800 was stolen from the beach.

Traffic collision. Laguna Canyon Rd. 8 p.m. An inbound Ford failed to stop for a red light and collided with a small Fiat turning left onto the canyon from the toll road. The Fiat driver, a Rancho Santa Margarita woman, 51, was transported to the hospital for complaints of pain.

Suspicious person. Circle Way. 8 p.m. Among a group smoking pot and drinking on the beach, police learned Giovanni Valentino Del Campo, 24, of Buena Park, was wanted for a bench warrant and arrested.

Sunday, Aug. 10

Traffic stop. Canyon Acres 2:39 a.m. Omar Piedra, 34, of Riverside, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.

Traffic stop. Irvine Cove. 9:21 a.m. Police arrested Nikos William Urbano, 24, John Anthony Martinez, 27, and Shawn Michael Bartle, 27, all of Huntington Beach, on various drug charges. Police seized hash, mushrooms, a prescription medication and marijuana.

Sunday, Aug. 11

Traffic stop. 200 block of La Brea St. 1:13 a.m. A Huntington Park man, 19, was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.