The Los Angeles County Fire Department recently promoted Belmont Shore resident Scott Salhus to battalion chief, effective Saturday, Dec. 1. He will be assigned to Battalion 22 in the Santa Clarita Valley.
Salhus was born and raised in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach and attended Lowell Elementary, Rogers Middle School, and graduated from Wilson High.
He attended California State University Long Beach and graduated from Rio Hondo Fire Academy prior to starting his career with the Los Angeles County Fire Dept.
He joined the fire department 25 years ago and has served as: firefighter, firefighter specialist, paramedic, fire prevention specialist and fire captain.
He resides with his wife Greta and two daughters, Amber and Emily in Belmont Shore.
Seal Beach seeks sobriety checkpoint grant
The Seal Beach City Council authorized the city manager (or chief of police) to apply for a sobriety checkpoint grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Seal Beach could receive more than $60,000 in grant money to conduct eight sobriety checkpoints in 2013.
Seal Beach Police made:
• 89 DUI arrests in 2007
• 111 DUI arrests in 2008
• 112 DUI arrests in 2009
• 152 DUI arrests in 2010
• 203 DUI arrests in 2011
To make a comment on these stories at the Sun Newspapers’ website, go to www.sunnews.org.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, November 26
Trashdigger—10:36 a.m.—5th Street and Centeral Avenue—A caller said a woman was digging in the trash on 5th Street, in the alley between Central and Marina.
Public Works Information—10:38 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard and Westminster Avenue—The caller said the street lights were out at all four corners. Message delivered to Public Works Department.
Tuesday, November 27
Suspicious Person—10:14 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said that a man on a bicycle stopped on the southbound side of Pacific Coast Highway and took pictures of the Naval Weapons Station.
Jail Booking—1:12 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A pay-to-stay inmate was booked into custody at the Seal Beach Jail.
Malicious Mischief—1:29 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said someone broke the window on a camper shell on a pick-up truck. The crime occurred between 8 and 10 a.m. that day. The caller did not desire a police report. The caller just wanted the police to know.
Patrol Check Requested—5:30 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a woman in a white sedan stopped in the middle of the street, blocking the caller. The caller requested a patrol check of the area because the caller thought the woman had been driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Wednesday, November 28
Municipal Code—6:18 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—At 6:58 a.m., the officer in police unit 106 contacted an individual at one of the Shops at Rossmoor businesses to inform him about the section of the Seal Beach Municipal Code that concerns deliveries before 7 a.m. At 7:04 a.m., that individual apoligized to the officer and said his watch must be two minutes fast.
Possible Vandalism—12:47 p.m.—Cottonwood Lane—The caller said the tire of a friend’s car might have been slashed. The caller said this was not the first time it had happened.
Petty Theft—2:58 p.m.—Wisteriz Street—The caller said someone took a package valued at $20 off the caller’s front porch. The caller identified a suspect vehicle occupied by a woman and a driver whose gender was not mentioned in the log. No report. Log entry.
Found Property—6:11 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller found a purse in a shopping cart. At 6:22 p.m., the caller phoned police a second time to say she returned the purse to its owner. Police unit cancelled prior to dispatch.
Illegal Peddlers—7:50 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller, relaying second-hand information, said two juveniles, both boys, were in front of the business, stopping passersby and asking if anyone wanted to buy coupons.
Thursday, November 29
Petty Theft—9:19 a.m.—6th Street—A citizen reported the theft of a cell phone, glasses and jeans from the citizen’s cars. The crime apparently occured between 11:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 26, and 7 a.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27. Report taken.
Welfare Check—9:55 a.m.—1st Street and Marina Drive—The caller saw a man in a wheelchair on Marina Drive, headed towards 1st Street. The caller thought someone should check on the man because the caller believed he looked like he might need help.
Police unit 106 contacted the man in the wheelchair. He did not need assistance. No further police services were necessary.
Bike Theft—3:31 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—A men’s black cruiser with bright orange rims was taken from the residence between 9 a.m. and the time of the call to police. The bike was chained to another bike in front of the residence and the lock was cut.
Grand Theft Report—3:46 p.m.—7th Street—The caller said that someone took the caller’s surfboard from the front porch three weeks earlier. The caller said she had been informed that her surfboard had been sold at a location in Newport Beach. The business in question had information about a suspect. Report taken.
Petty Theft Report—5:20 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The crime occurred between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. The theft might be related to another case. Loss: a black Phat Fusion cruiser with red rims on the tires. It was locked up in front of the residence and the lock was cut. No suspect information. Report taken.
Friday, November 30
Petty Theft Report—9:20 a.m.—Oakmont Road—The caller said that sometime between 10 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 29, and 6 a.m., Friday, Nov. 30, someone stole a black Panama Jack bicycle from in front of the location. The bike was valued at $175. The bike was not secured. Report taken.
Bike Theft—10:13 a.m.—6th Street—The crime occurred on Nov. 29 sometime before 9 p.m. Loss: two bikes that were chained to a post. One bike was a hot pink beach cruiser valued at $200.
The other bike was a black low-rider style bike with high handlebars that was valued at more than $500. Report taken.
911 Hang-Up—9:55 p.m.—College Park Drive—The dispatcher heard the sounds of children playing on an open line. The dispatcher called back and confirmed that suspicion: small children had been fighting over the phone. No futher police services were necessary. The police unit was cancelled prior to disptach.
Saturday, December 1
Patrol Check—3:16 p.m.—Southshore Drive—The caller said juveniles were going door-to-door, trying to get residents to pay for curb painting. The caller did not believe they had a license.
Disturbance, Music—8:39 p.m.—7th Street—The caller said a neighbor at an unknown address was playing loud music. Police found an art show in progress. The owner agreed to turn down the music.
The event would end at 10 p.m.
Disturbance, Music—11:01 p.m.—1st Street—The caller said some individuals were playing loud music. The caller said they refused to stop after the caller repeatedly asked them to stop. Police unit 207 contacted those individuals and advised them to stop playing the loud music. The said they would comply.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Wednesday, December 5
Suspicious Person—12:05 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—The caller reported a man around the parking lot and looking into vehicles. He wore a brown long sleeve shirt, jeans and tennis shoes.
The subject was last seen leaving on foot, headed east on Farquhar into the residential area.
Wednesday, December 5
Disturbance, Music—7:59 p.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller reported a loud band in a garage east of the caller’s residence. The caller said it was an on-going problem and was willing to sign a complaint. Patrol contacted the resident at the address in question.
There was no band, just one male with a small, amplified guitar. The individual agreed to unplug the guitar and play acoustically.
The noise did not appear unreasonable. Both parties were counseled.
Saturday, December 1
Keep the Peace—9:07 a.m.—Tarawa Drive—The caller requested that an officer assist because her ex-husband was scheduled to be there at 10 a.m. to pick up his gun safe. However, the caller had jewelry in the safe and was afraid her ex husband would take it. Patrol assisted the pickup.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, December 3
Suspicious Vehicle—12:28 p.m.—Tucker Lane—The caller said a four-door vehicle was parked with the driver’s door wide open and no one near the vehicle.
Tuesday, December 4
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—7:28 a.m.—Wallingsford and Katella—A deputy performed a patrol check for a man described as a transient who was riding a bike through Rossmoor with all his belongings strapped to the bike.
The caller was certain he was casing the neighborhood.
Vandalism Report—9:03 a.m.—Blume Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—5:57 p.m.—Harrisburg Road—The caller said two men who said they were with Verizon Cable supposedly came to check on the service. The caller said their identification did not look credible.
Wednesday, December 5
Annoying Phone Call—3:30 p.m.—Baskerville Road.
Thursday, December 6
Burglary Report—8:01 p.m.—Piedmont Avenue—The caller came home to find the caller’s residence burglarized. The caller requested a walk thru by a deputy.
Friday, December 7
Grand Theft Report—4:49 p.m.—Wallingsford Road.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
