Last week the Seal Beach Police Department found and spoke with Eric Jesus Andrade, the “person of interest” in the John Donnelly arson/homicide investigation. However, news reports that Andrade had been “cleared” as a suspect were inaccurate—as he was never a suspect in the first place. Police located Andrade around 1 p.m., Wednesday afternoon, May 11. “We were seeking Mr. (Eric Jesus) Andrade as a witness in this case,” according to Sgt. Michael Henderson, the Police Department’s public information officer.
“We located him and he cooperated with an interview with detectives. At this time he is not considered a suspect.”
The bodies of Donnelly, 67, and his dog Eddie were found after firefighters put down a blaze in their 17th Street home during the pre-sunrise hours of Saturday, April 30.
The fire caused $500,000 worth of damage to the house.
Authorties now believe the fire was arson and Donnelly’s death was a homicide.
Anyone with information about the case should call Seal Beach Police Detective Pete Krok at 562-799-4100, extension 1110. Graveside services for Donnelly will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 21 in the Willow Park are of Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Rd. For information, email Donnelly’s cousin Jim Crotwell at jimcrotwell@kw.com.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Thursday, May 5
Suspicious Person—7:38 a.m.—Bluebell—The caller said a man might be smoking drugs in the park. He was also looking through a camera lens that he had with him. Police were unable to locate him.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—1:40 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Police unit 107 observed an elderly woman in a car. It turned out she was sleeping during a break. No further police services were necessary. Log entry.
Warrant Service—1:49 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A man wanted on several warrants turned himself in at Seal Beach Police Headquarters. Based on those warrants, police arrested James Burgess on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Parking Complaint—10:23 p.m.—Seventh Street—The caller complained about a car blocking the caller’s driveway. Police unit 207 determined the car was barely blocking the driveway and so advised the caller.
Friday, May 6
Transient—6:29 a.m.—10th Street and Central—The caller said a transient individual with a car full of items appeared to be sleeping under a tree. The individual was gone by the time a police unit arrived.
Suspicious Property—7:18 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported seeing a pink envelope with gray duct tape on the bushes in front of the ATM five minutes earlier. Some details were blacked out in the log.
Police unit 106 determined the suspicious property was in fact a pillow. No further police services were necessary.
Attempted Theft Report—10:52 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A woman tried to leave the store with a shopping cart full of groceries on Thursday, May 5. She left the cart when the manager asked her for a receipt. The log did not say why the caller reported the incident on the day after it occurred. Some details were blacked out in the log. Report taken.
Suspicious Person—1:46 p.m.—Seal Way and 11th Street—The caller said a transient man sitting on the steps of a home that faces the beach was saying inappropriate things to passersby. The caller was certain the man did not live there. He was gone by the time a police unit arrived.
Vehicle Burglary—3:56 p.m.—Catalina Avenue—Between Wednesday, May 4, and Friday, May 6, someone pried the door lock of the caller’s van. Some details were blacked out in the log. There was no loss, but the victim wanted a report. Report taken.
Welfare Check—4:03 p.m.—Marina Drive—The caller said a man was laying under a tree behind a bench to the front of the caller’s business. The man was breathing, but not moving much. Police unit M7 contacted the man and determined he was taking a nap. No further police services were necessary.
Transient—6:46 p.m.—Seal Way—The caller said a transient man was drinking beer on the beach area in front of homes on the boardwalk. His name was blacked out in the log. Police unit 207 issued him a citation.
Arrested—7:05 p.m.—Main Street—The caller said several customers had complained about a man inside the store. According to the log, he left the store to go outside to scream and then came back inside. Police unit 207 arrested Todd David Street on suspicion of public intoxication.
Animal Information—7:06 p.m.—Basswood and Lampson Avenue—The caller said three baby skunks couldn’t get up the curb. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Disturbance, Juveniles—8:57 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said six kids were skateboarding in the parking lot of the office building.
The caller wanted the police to ask them to leave the property. The caller would not stand by to wait for the police. The skateboarders were gone by the time the police arrived.
Arrest—10:59 p.m.—Apollo and Westminster—The caller reported a suspicious driver. At 11 p.m., the caller said the driver had pulled over and was out of the car. The caller stood by for the police. Several details were blacked out in the log.
Police unit 241 arrested Elias Garcia on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Saturday, May 7
Dead Animal—7:06 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Eighth Street—Police unit 444 reported a dead skunk in the no. 2 lane on the southbound side of Pacific Coast Highway at Eighth Street.
Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Burglary—1:23 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A man reportedly took two display cell phones and other items from the store. Some details were blacked out in the log. Report taken.
Disturbance, Party—11:06 p.m.—Blue Heron—The caller complained about a party in a neighbor’s back yard.
The caller said the police would need to go through the back to hear the noise. The caller said the music was too loud. The caller said there was an on-going issue with the Seal Beach Police only knocking on the front door or going by the front and not hearing the music. Police unit 207 issued a first response notice about the noise complaint.
Sunday, May 8
Extra Patrol Check Requested—12:28 a.m.—Old Ranch Parkway—The caller said a transient man was seen around 6:30 p.m. the previous day, loitering in the trash area. The caller said the man asked employees what time the restaurant closed. The man was gone by the time police arrived.
Traffic Collision—6:52 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported a traffic collision involving a sedan and a GMC truck. The caller said the sedan drove on the wrong side of the road and hit a tree. Everyone got out of the cars. The caller asked the drivers if they wanted medical attention. Declined. Two tow trucks dispatched. Report taken.
Illegal Peddler—12:12 p.m.—Catalina Avenue—The caller said a curb painter was going door-to-door. Police detained one individual. Some details were blacked out in the log. The individual’s vehicle was apparently searched and the individual was interviewed in the field. Police unit 107 issued the individual a warning against violating the Municipal Code.
Monday, May 9
Transient—4:55 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a transient man was refusing to leave. He had just asked for ice cream and tried to pay for it with soap. He was also asking customers for money. He kept walking in and out of the store. He was holding a pillow. According to the caller he was talking to himself and might be mentally ill. The caller did not know if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. He was gone by the time police arrived.
Tuesday, May 10
Vehicle Burglary—6:27 p.m.—Sunflower Circle—Someone stole tools from the caller’s work truck between 10 p.m., Monday, May 9, and 4:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 10. Point of entry: a cut lock. Report taken.
Choking—12:08 p.m.—Main Street—The caller reported a woman on the sidewalk who was having difficulty breathing. She was apparently choking. The Orange County Fire Authority was en route. Passersby tried the Heimlich maneuver without success. By 12:11 p.m., the Fire Authority was present. The woman was conscious and breathing. Assisted.
Petty Theft Report—5:44 p.m.—Main Street—The caller, relaying second-hand information, said a customer saw a man take T-shirts from the sales table. Log entry.
Burglary Report—6:09 p.m.—Wisteria Street—Between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., someone entered the caller’s home by prying the rear sliding door. Loss: unknown. Report taken.
Suspicious Person—6:51 p.m.—Westminster Avenue—The caller said an individual pulled bolt cutters and gloves out of a backpack. Some details were blacked out in the log. He was gone by the time police arrived.
Suspicious Person—8:32 p.m.—Avalon Drive—The caller said four men jumped the gate into Gum Grove. They were gone by the time police arrived.
Wednesday, May 11
Municipal Code Complaint—6:08 a.m.—Old Ranch Parkway—The caller said individuals in the parking lot were trimming trees and using a tree grinder, causing excessive noise. The caller said work started at 5:30 a.m. Police unit 106 contacted the person responsible for the activity and advised them to comply with the Municipal Code. They said they would comply.
Municipal Code Complaint—8:28 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller, relaying second-hand information from the Volunteers in Policing Unit, said a fisherman was smoking on the pier. He was smoking multiple cigarettes. Police unit 107 counselled the man. Log entry.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—3:15 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported three men in a car driving through the parking lot. The caller overheard them talking about seeing “dollar signs” and thought they might be casing. Police were unable to locate them.
Suspicious Vehicle—11:08 p.m.—Fifth Street—The caller reported a parked car running for at least the past hour. The car appeared to be unoccupied. Police located the registered owner. No further police services were necessary.
Thursday, May 12
Municipal Code Complaint—3:34 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said an individual was using a pressure washer in the parking lot. Police unit 207 contacted a worker who said he was finishing up and would be done in less than 10 minutes.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
Welfare Check—2:25 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—The caller saw a man unconcious in the parking lot. The caller said the man had a shopping cart with him and the caller wanted police to check on him. Police contacted the man. Joseph Briggs was cited on suspicion of drinking in public and released by police.
THURSDAY, APRIL 28
Information—10:22 p.m.—Cerritos Avenue—A caller from the school reported a locksmith was going to be at the school to fix a door that was glued shut by students. Log entry.
FRIDAY, APRIL 29
Disturbance—7:06 a.m.—Cerritos Avenue—The caller said a man approached the caller’s car, asked for money and asked her to perform a sexual act. The caller said she left the area after the man talked to her.
The caller also said the man was going up to people in other cars and saying the same thing. Police contacted the man and advised him to leave the area.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
Petty Theft—9:52 a.m.—Carlsbad Circle—The caller reported their bike was taken overnight. The caller said the bike was found down the street, but the caller wanted to make a report. The caller believed it was the same person who took it from the residence on Thursday. Police counseled the caller.
SATURDAY, APRIL 30
Counseled—11:49 a.m.—Tarawa Drive—A person in the Los Alamitos Police Department lobby reported an IRS scam.
The person said $5,580 was taken from her account through a fake IRS call. The money was recovered but the person wanted police to take a report.
MONDAY, MAY 2
Suspicious Vehicle—10:29 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—A caller reported seeing a man in a van, which the caller described as beat up with wires sticking out of it. Police contacted the man and found he was playing with some radios while waiting for his clothes to dry at the laundromat.
MONDAY, MAY 2
Burglary Alarm—7:01 p.m.—Winners Circle—The caller said someone broke in to the janitor room, electrical room and the paper towel dispenser in a bathroom. Loss: cleaning supplies. The caller requested extra patrol checks.
Jesus Ruiz of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
