A Leisure World resident passed away Tuesday, April 8, from an unknown cause the day after she was struck by a car while crossing a street inside the retirement community.
The collision between the car and the pedestrian occurred Monday afternoon, April 7, at Interlachen Road and St. Andrews Drive.
Police do not know at this time if the woman was walking inside or outside the crosswalk. According to the Seal Beach Polcie Department, the pedestrian, identified by police only as an 86-year-old resident of Leisure World, appeared to have suffered only minor injuries and was taken to Long Beach Memorial for evaluation.
The driver of the car was identified by police only as a 28-year-old Seal Beach resident.
According to police, neither drugs nor alcohol were a factor in the accident. The death investigation will be handled by the Orange County Coroner’s Office in Santa Ana. Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the collision to contact Traffic Sgt. John Scott by phone at (562) 799-4115 or by email at jscott@sealbeachca.gov.
Police arrest suspect in Leisure World residential burglary
On Thursday, April 3, at 7:36 p.m., Seal Beach Police officers arrested Jason Chad Johnson, 47, for burglary. A witnesses told police that, in an attempt to flee the area, the suspect brandished a samurai style sword and was able to escape.
A witness reportedly saw a man burglarizing a home that was under construction in Leisure World, Seal Beach. When the witness confronted the suspect, the suspect brandished a sword. The suspect escaped.
During what police describe as an exhaustive search of the area, officers located Johnson where he was positively identified as the suspect in this case. Johnson was arrested for residential burglary (a felony) and brandishing a deadly weapon (a misdemeanor). A samurai style sword was located in his possession along with evidence that the police say pertained to the burglary. Johnson’s address is unknown. He was later transported to the Seal Beach Police Department’s Detention Center, where he was processed and later booked into the Orange County men’s Jail in Santa Ana, California.
“The Seal Beach Police Department is extremely appreciative and thankful to have citizens/residents who look after one another and their properties. Cases like these are a good example of how collaborative efforts with our police department and citizens help bring criminals to justice,” said Sgt. Phil Gonshak, public information officer for the SBPD.
Los Alamitos Police participate in distracted driving enforcement
As part of April’s Distracted Driving Awareness Month campaign, the Los Alamitos Police Department will join with over 200 other local law enforcement agencies and the California Highway Patrol in a month-long “zero tolerance” enforcement and education campaign against texting or operating hand-held cell phones while driving.
The first in a series of high visibility enforcement operations took place Tuesday, April 8, and will continue on April 17 and 22.
The goal of the operation is to persuade drivers to recognize the dangers of distracted driving and reduce the number of individuals harmed by distracted driving.
The current minimum ticket for distracted driving costs $161. Subsequent tickets cost at least $281.
Drivers who use hand-held devices are four times as likely to be in accidents that cause the drivers to be injured.
Research says sending or receiving a text message takes a driver’s eyes off the road for 4.6 seconds.
Research has found no difference between hand-held and hands-free cell phone conversations, both of which result in “inattention blindness.”
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, March 31
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—7:29 a.m.—First Street and Pacific Coast Highway—The caller requested extra patrol checks for vehicles that do not stop or yield for school buses that pick up children. The caller said this was an on-going problem.
Transient—8:25 a.m.—Marina Drive—The caller said that a transient who routinely uses the fountain near the children’s playground to bathe himself was present. He usually bathed himself around 7:30 a.m.
Grand Theft Report—6:43 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A business had an oven sitting outside the back door. An individual drove up and took the oven. He was told the oven wasn’t trash, but he took it anyway. Report.
Tuesday, April 1
Ducks—9:27 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a mother and her ducklings were in the storm drain to the rear of the location. Orange County Animal Care transferred the call. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services. The caller phoned back police to report that he had removed all but one of the ducks. Long Beach ACS personnel intended to try to get the remaining duck out.
Thursday, April 3
Found Property—2:27 a.m.—Main Street—The caller found a Chase debit card in front of the location. Report taken.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Thursday, March 13
Disturbance—3:50 a.m.—Green Avenue—The caller reported she was having an argument with her boyfriend. No weapons, alcohol or controlled substance involved. The boyfriend refused to leave and was in living room with the caller. Their three children were sleeping at the residence. Neither party would leave the residence. Patrol counseled.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—6:52 a.m.—Katella Avenue—The caller reported a man in a dark sedan parked in front of the ATM machine, and an elderly man who was possibly sleeping in it. The caller said there appeared to be open cat food cans on the dashboard. The man in the van was a mailman who fell asleep prior to going to work.
Friday, March 14
Transient—10:53 a.m.—Katella Avenue—The caller reported an unknown man holding up a lighter against a pay phone and by the window. Orange County Mental Health in route. They placed the individual on a psychiatric hold and he was transported to the hospital. Patrol assisted.
Sunday, March 16
Disturbance—5:53 p.m.—Green Avenue—The caller said a man pulled his vehicle into the caller’s driveway and started working on the vehicle. The caller asked him to move, but he refused. The caller left the area and patrol checked to see if the caller lived in the apartment building. Neighbors confirmed an individual was working on his vehicle and that he was leaving soon.
IN ROSSMOOR
Tuesday, April 1
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:01 a.m.—Wembley Road—A deputy performed a patrol check for a man who had been seen in the area for the past three days, walking his dog, circling the school and reportedly looking at the kids.
The caller said that on this day the suspect had changed his hair color and was wearing a baseball cap. The caller thought he was trying to make himself look different.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—1:45 p.m.—Yellowtail Drive—An individual sitting in a vehicle in front of the location was apparently a process server.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—7:51 p.m.—Orangewood Avenue and Weatherby Road—The caller said a man parked a vehicle and now the vehicle smelled like drugs.
Wednesday, April 2
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:18 a.m.—Montecito Road—A deputy performed a patrol check for an unknown individual who parked in front of the location around 7:30 a.m. The individual climbed into the back seat, rustled around for 10 minutes, then got out with a full head Halloween mask on and walked on Woodstock.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:17 p.m.—Hedwig Road and Wallingsford Road—The caller reported a man walking in the area.
Citizen Assist—3:34 p.m.—Brimhall Drive—The caller said that there were two bikes locked on his driveway.
Friday, April 4
Stolen Vehicle—8:21 a.m.—Shakespeare Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:06 a.m.—Druid Lane.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances —9:28 p.m.—Donnis Road—The caller said a 15-year-old girl was knocking on the door and would not leave.
The caller would not ask her what she needed because of the time of night.
Saturday, April 5
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:39 p.m.—Donnie Ann Road and Donnis Road.
Read—The caller saw an unspecified number of suspects speed off in a truck after a car alarm went off. A deputy performed a patrol check for the suspicious vehicle.
Sunday, April 6
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—7:37 p.m.—St. Cloud Drive and Seal Beach Boulevard.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
