By Charles M. Kelly
On Wednesday afternoon, May 18, a citizen called the Seal Beach Police Department to report that a dog had been left inside a vehicle. According to the caller, the windows were rolled up. The vehicle was gone by the time the police arrived.
In California, it is a crime to leave an animal unattended in a car under conditions that endanger animal’s health. The Penal Code is 597.7 The punishment for violating 597.7 depends on whether it is your first offense—that is, the first time you were caught committing the offense—and on whether the animal was injured.
The first time you are convicted of this crime, the fine is a maximum of $100 per injured animal—unless the animal is injured or killed.
If the animal dies, the maximum penalty is a $500 fine, six months in the county jail or both.
If you are convicted of this crime more than once, it will not matter whether the animal was harmed. Subsequent convictions for violating PC 597.7 are punishable by a $500 fine, six months in the county jail or both.
In related news, the Los Alamitos Police Department Blog recently posted a two-part series on the dangers of leaving a child unattended in a car.
That’s a violation of California Vehicle Code 15620. The penalty: a $100 fine, according to an April article published in the Pasadena Star-News.
If the child suffers injury or death as a result of being left in the car, the person responsible could also be prosecuted for child endangerment—a crime punishable by two, four or six years in state prison, according to the 2008 edition of the California Penal Code.
The Los Al PD Web site includes a video on the dangers of leaving children in cars and a link to a Washington Post article on the subject.
The Web site for the Los Alamitos Police Department blog is http://losalamitospolice.blogspot.com.
To make a comment on this story at the Sun Newspapers’ Web site, go to Sunnews.org.
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 May 17 and May 29, 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.
IN SEAL BEACH
Monday, May 17
Pedestrian Check—3:38 p.m.—Main Street and Electric Avenue—Police unit 111 stopped a pedestrian. The man was arrested for burglary, violating parole and marijuana possession.
Tuesday, May 18
Annoying Phone Calls—3:59 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A citizen reported receiving harassing phone calls from an unknown person.
Walk Through—5:19 p.m.—Emerald Cove Way—The caller came to the Emerald Cove Way location to view the property. There was a bike with a helmet in the garage and the bathroom door was shut.
Police checked the property and determined no further police services were required.
Fight—5:24 p.m.—Marina Drive and 1st Street—The caller reported a fight. One man was bleeding from his nose. People were running in different directions. The caller apparently asked some of the men involved if they needed medical assistance and the caller was told no. Report taken.
Wednesday, May 19
Suspicious Vehicle—2:34 a.m.—Main Street—The caller said a car parked in the alley had both doors open. There was no one in or near the car. Police unit 121 checked. The car doors were secure. Someone had left a bag of groceries inside the vehicle.
Animal Information—9:04 p.m.—Dolphin Avenue and Seal Way—Police received a report of a baby seal that appeared to be in distress and did not look well. The seal was on the shoreline. Message delivered to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Thursday, May 20
Petty Theft—9:50 a.m.—8th Street—According to the citizen who reported the crime, a back pack that was left unattended on the beach while the citizen surfed was stolen between noon and 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 19.
Robbery—5:08 p.m.—Main Street—The crime apparently occurred on Wednesday night. One of three white males wearing dark clothes pushed a citizen down and hit her three times while the other two went through her purse. Loss: $300 cash. Report taken.
Saturday, May 22
Vehicle Burglary—9:06 p.m.—Electric Avenue—The crime apparently occurred some time on Wednesday, May 19. Loss: $60 cash, credit and debit cards and a California driver’s license.
The cards have been used. Point of entry: possibly an unlocked door.
Sunday, May 23
Vehicle Burglary—3:37 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The crime apparently occurred between noon and the time of the call to police. Point of entry: smashed window. No report desired. No loss. Log entry.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, May 24
Burglary Report—3:15 p.m.—Ballantine Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:57 p.m.—Bellwood Road and Brimhall Drive.
Wednesday, May 26
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11 a.m.—Hillrose Drive.
Thursday, May 27
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:42 p.m.—Bradbury Road.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—6:28 p.m.—Kittrick Drive and Donovan Road.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—11:21 p.m.—Pemberton Road and Baskerville Road.
Friday, May 28
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—7:42 p.m.—Bellwood Road and Brimhall Drive.
Saturday, May 29
Disturbance, Music or Party—11:10 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Tuesday, May 25
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—11:38 p.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Wednesday, May 26
Drunk in Public—1:16 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway.
Disturbance—8:15 p.m.—N. Pacific Avenue and 25th Street.
Thursday, May 27
Disturbance, Music or Party—1:56 a.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Friday, May 28
Disturbance—11:09 p.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Saturday, May 29
Disturbance—8:22 p.m.—Pacific Avenue.
Disturbance, Music or Party—9:24 p.m.—Pacific Avenue.
