Last week, the Sun declared Crime Log 2010 as the Year of the Van Vandal.
This week, as we look at the relatively quiet last six months of 2010—quiet, at least, in terms of light-hearted crime—we begin with the story of the stripping suspect.
He wasn’t suspected of stripping, mind you.
And, no, the man was not a stripper.
The story is best told as the Seal Beach Police Department told it in a press release.
After that, we’ll look at the lighter side of crime this year from July to December.
Suspect performs strip search on himself
A police pursuit ended with a suspect stripping naked before surrendering to the Seal Beach Police Department, according to Chief Jeff Kirkpatrick.
In a press release, Kirkpatrick said the Seal Beach Police received a report about a man attempting to run over a pedestrian during morning rush hour on Thursday, Sept. 2.
That’s a felony.
According to the police log, it was 8:03 a.m. when the SBPD received a report of a reckless driver near Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard.
Kirkpatrick said Seal Beach officers spotted the suspect’s car and tried to stop the vehicle. “The driver refused to yield and the chase was on,” Kirkpatrick wrote.
“The low to moderate paced pursuit traveled through Seal Beach to the freeways, up into Long Beach and several of its neighborhoods; and, back down the I-405 to the freeway adjacent to the SBNWS,” Kirkpatrick wrote.
“The driver became boxed into the stopped traffic and surrendered peacefully after bringing his car to a stop in the middle of the freeway,” Kirkpatrick said.
After the suspect got out of his car, police ordered him to raise his arms and expose his waistband.
This is a standard police practice to make sure a suspect doesn’t have a firearm within easy reach.
“The driver went us one better,” Kirkpatrick wrote. “He stood in the middle of the freeway and stripped naked.
Kirkpatrick praised officers Eric Tittle and Al Cabrera and Cpl. Mike Henderson for their role in what Kirkpatrick called “a clean arrest.”
No one was injured and no property was damaged during the chase.
Crime Log Assembled by Charles M. Kelly
The crimes listed in the Sun Newspapers were reported to Seal Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Police Department and Orange County Sheriff Department between June 22 and Dec. 8, 2010.
Only street names are used; times given are reported times, not incident times.
Crime Log entries are based on preliminary information. Space limitations make it impossible to publish every incident. Until proven guilty in a court of law, all suspects are considered innocent.
Tuesday, June 22
Someone sure needs counseling—5:34 p.m.—Marina Drive—Someone used a fire extinguisher to spray a vehicle and then broke the fire extinguisher. The affected vehicle left prior to the arrival of a police unit. No suspect information.
Thursday, July 1
A temporary problem—8:07 a.m.—8th Street—The caller said a white delivery truck was blocking the caller’s driveway and the alley.
The caller said there was an on-going problem with the same truck.
Maybe so, but as it turns out the on-going problem is unlikely to go on much longer.
The caller phoned the police again to say the truck had driven off. The truck was a moving van. The neighbor was relocating. Matter solved.
Thursday, July 8
911 Hang-up—8:57 a.m.—Annandale Drive, Mutual 1—The call turned out to be a misdial. A woman was trying to call in her prescription. The call was cancelled before a unit could be dispatched.
Monday, July 12
Play quietly—2:33 a.m.—Main Street—The caller heard yelling and profanity. The caller apparently thought a fight was in progress. Police unit 127 found some people playing soccer.
Wednesday, August 18
You risked arrest for that?—9:45 a.m.—Candleberry Avenue—Loss: a pair of sunglasses valued at $200. The vehicle was apparently unlocked when someone entered during the night and took the sunglasses.
Saturday, September 4
We can relate, ma’am—12:34 p.m.—7th Street—The caller said a woman in her 60s was sitting on the lawn, and cussing to herself. Police unit 1B1 determined that the woman had accidentally locked her keys in her car.
Tuesday, November 2
Wouldn’t it have been easier to go to a fast food place?—12:17 p.m.—Provincetown—The caller had a barbecue pit in her backyard and found a piece of paper in it. The caller thought someone tried to turn on the fire pit. Counseled.
Tuesday, December 7
Sounds like a job for a librarian—12:01 p.m.—Kenwood Road, Leisure World Mutual 7—The caller said one of his encyclopedias was stolen while he was being transported to the hospital. Minutes later, according to the log, he apparently determined that the book was not stolen, just misplaced. Counseled.
Wednesday, December 8
Something smells wrong—11:11 p.m.—13th Street—The caller phoned police for the second time to complain about a man she believed was smoking marijuana. Her concern was perfectly legitimate: she said the smoke was making her baby sick. She wanted police to contact the man and counsel him about smoking pot.
However, what police found was a man smoking regular cigarettes.
