Everyone on Main Street was puzzled last week when they saw what appeared to be a crime scene unit in front of the Harvey Girls Gallery.
Actually, the local business had virtually nothing to do with the blood, which apparently came from a drunk man during the early hours of Thursday morning, Aug. 1.
A private hazmat company removed the bloodstain, which apparently belonged to a man who was drunk.
A man with a bloody face walked into the Pacific Inn on Marina Drive early Thursday morning. Police received the call at about 3 a.m.
According to Sgt. Ron La Velle, public information officer for the Seal Beach Police Department, the man was too intoxicated to tell responding officers what had happend.
Officers went to Seal Beach Main Street in search of clues and found a great deal of blood on the sidewalk in front of the Harvey Girls Gallery.
La Velle said police did not know for a fact the blood on the sidewalk belonged to the man who walked into the hotel, but it seemed likely the blood was his.
La Velle said the man was taken to a hospital to have his facial injuries treated.
According to the log, police contacted the Public Works Department at 6:14 to have the blood removed. Public Works does not handle blood removal.
The Orange County Fire Department referred police to the Crime Scene Steri-Clean decontamination service.
“Since 1995 Crime Scene Steri-Clean, LLC has been providing all of California with professional crime scene clean up and biohazard removal services to those in need. We have legally and discreetly cleaned over 10,000 biohazard scenes,” said the company website.
The area in front of the shop was secured with yellow police tape and two men in biohazard suits cleaned up the mess.
Seal Beach Police recover $58 sweater stolen from Main Street shop
By Charles M. Kelly
The owners of the Harvey Girls Gallery on Seal Beach Main Street don’t much care for shoplifters.
“It’s just like stealing my purse,” said co-owner Brooke Reid. “It’s just that personal.”
Seal Beach Police recently recovered a $58 sweater that was taken from Harvey Girls on Sunday, July 21. It was near the end of the business day.
Reid and employee Katt Tyler were in the store when woman came in and asked to try on some merchandise.
Reid and Tyler continued talking while the woman was in the dressing room.
The woman came out and asked if she could try on the brown sweater.
A man came in, apparently looking for the woman in the dressing room. He said he was parked illegally. The woman left two items on the counter and said she would send the man back for them.
Reid and Tyler checked the dressing room. They immediately agreed that the woman had looked at the sweater. Reid went outside while Tyler took a quick count of merchandise.
Reid memorized the license plate number. The man in the car said they would be back.
Reid reported the apparent theft to police. Seal Beach officers went to the Lakewood address listed on the vehicle’s registration.
There, they found a woman matching the suspect’s description. According to Reid, relaying second-hand information, the woman initially denied even being there. Police encouraged the suspect to see if she had the missing sweater.
She gave the sweater to the police.
Police then called Harvey Girls and asked the store to do an inventory. The store already had an inventory scheduled and had determined the brown sweater was the only missing item. Reid said police returned the sweater about a week after the theft.
Reid has since placed the sweater on display in store window as a warning to shoplifters.
Police have asked if Reid will prosecute.
“We’ll take it as far as they want to take it,” Reid said.
However, Reid said she didn’t believe the Orange County District Attorney’s Office would file charges against this particular shoplifter. The stolen property had been returned unharmed and she doubted the DA would devote much time to the case.
But Reid thinks the woman who stole the sweater should be required to do three hours of community service in Seal Beach. She believes there should be a consequence for the crime.
“We’re in a constant state of threat of shoplifting on Main Street,” Reid said.
Crime Log Compiled
by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, July 29
Animal Information—9:17 a.m.—Sandpiper Drive—The caller said residents had moved out four days earlier. The caller said two medium-sized dogs were left in the backyard. The caller said the yard was a mess. The dogs were crying and covered with flies. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Disturbance, Juveniles—11:34 a.m.—Bolsa Avenue—The caller said two boys on skateboards were on the caller’s properties. Police unit 207 contacted the boys. They were released to the custody of their parents.
Tuesday, July 30
Disturbance, Juveniles—3:14 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a group of juveniles were playing on the sand dunes off of the First Street parking lot and making noise.
Wednesday, July 31
Disturbance, Juveniles—11:14 a.m.—Bolsa Avenue—Patrol unit 206 contacted two skateboarders at the raquetball courts. They were counseled about skateboarding and interviewed in the field.
Thursday, August 1
Suspicious Person—2:03 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a man on foot on a bridge was looking at the Naval Weapons Station. Police unit 207 found a man described in the log as a transient who was on his way to Long Beach.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Saturday, July 20
Transient—12:26 p.m.—Chestnut St.—The caller reported seeing a woman camping out under a tree for the last three nights. Patrol unable to locate the woman, but found some of her property.
Sunday, July 21
Domestic Violence—4:18 a.m.—Green Avenue—The caller reported a fight between a man and a woman. The woman screamed she couldn’t breathe and to stop. The caller said the fight was verbal and that the woman was having a hard time breathing due to an anxiety attack.
Tuesday, July 23
Vandalism Report—3:41 p.m.—Green Avenue—The caller reported side mirrors, paint damage and eggs thrown onto his car. The caller suspected two ex-girlfriends and asked patrol to contact them.
Wednesday, July 24
Fraud Report—6:55 p.m.—Tarawa Drive—The caller reported having just delivered a pizza and the customer had written a check that was fraudulent for approximately $79.86. Patrol spoke to both parties. The check had been from an old account and person ordering the food had no money until her boyfriend returned from work. The business allowed the customer to pay for the food the next day.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, July 29
Burglary Report—5:14 p.m.—Wimbleton Drive—This was apparently a residential burglary.
Tuesday, July 30
Disturbance—2:30 p.m.—Montecito Road—The caller said a neighbor threatened to talk to the caller’s father about the way she drives.
Wednesday, July 31
Patrol Check—2:12 a.m.— Copa De Oro Drive—The caller said a man in a van followed the caller from the freeway to the Rossmoor area. He was last seen on Walker Lee 5 minutes before the call to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:09 a.m.—Tucker Lane—The caller saw three men in what looked like a delivery van trying to get into a neighbor’s courtyard. They could not get in. The driver went back to the van and got a tire iron. The caller yelled at them and they left. A woman was apparently with the three men.
Friday, August 2
Citizen Assist—6:11 a.m.—Wembley Road—A caller wanted to speak with deputies about her house being egged.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:39 a.m.—Katella Avenue—The caller reported a naked transient relieving himself behind a business.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:43 a.m.—Bostonian Drive—A deputy performed a patrol check for a man who reportedly knocked and tried to push open the front door at the location.
Keep the Peace—10:01 a.m.—St. Albans Drive—The caller said a male individual on a skateboard refused to return her dog. The man in question was out front.
Vandalism Report—2:52 p.m.—Donovan Road.
Disturbance, Music or Party—11:56 p.m.—Channing Way.
Saturday, August 3
Fraud Report—9:56 a.m.—Foster Road.
Sunday, August 4
Suspicious Vehicle—2:26 p.m.—Foster Road and Piedmont Avenue.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
