By Charles M. Kelly
The Seal Beach Police Department arrested a motorist for driving under the influence on Monday night, Oct. 12, on Pacific Coast Highway.
The Sun Newspaper was unable to confirm the motorist’s name by press time at either the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Web site or the Orange County Superior Court Web site.
Sgt. Steve Bowles, public information officer for the Seal Beach Police Department, did not have access to the suspect’s name when the Sun Newspapers contacted him.
The arrest followed three police agencies responding to a vehicle roll over on the Anaheim Bay Bridge.
As the Sun Newspapers reported in the Thursday, Oct. 15 issue, the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Department responded to a traffic accident on the Sunset Beach side of the bridge.
According to the SBPD log, five vehicles were involved in the collision that caused one vehicle to roll over.
Bowles confirmed that no one was injured in the traffic accident. He said two people complained of pain, but no one required transportation to a hospital.
The log notated that as of 8:50 p.m., the drunk driving suspect was under arrest.
The suspect was identified in the police log. However, there was no record of the suspect at either the Sheriff’s Department or county courthouse Web sites. It is not known if the suspect is still in custody or out on bail.
Bike thefts in Leisure World
A resident of Thunderbird Drive, Leisure World, reported the theft of a bike valued at $450 to the Seal Beach Police Department Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 14.
According to Sgt. Steve Bowles, public information officer for the SBPD, there have been five or six bikes reported stolen in the retirement community in recent weeks. Bowles agreed this seemed a like a lot of bike thefts for the gated retirement community.
Bowles said it was hard to say when the bikes are being stolen because many Leisure World residents don’t ride their bikes on a daily basis.
The retirement community’s Golden Rain News publication recently reported on the rash of bike thefts.
What was your favorite Crime Log entry in 2009?
As the end of the year approaches, the Sun Newspaper has begun compiling the more interesting, and occasionally silly, crime stories of 2009. If you would like to offer a suggestion, e-mail Assistant Editor Charles M. Kelly at editor2@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 Oct. 12 and Oct. 24, 2009. 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, October 12
Trash Digger—12:14 p.m.—5th Street—The caller said a Hispanic man was going through the caller’s trash. The caller said this was an on-going problem. The caller said the man would rip open trash bags to get at recyclables and leave the rest of the trash all over the alley way. The suspect was described as 35 years old. He was reported driving a white Chevy truck.
Unknown Trouble—11:06 p.m.—Welcome Lane—The caller asked for police help, but poor reception caused the call to “cut out” before police could learn what was going on. It turned out the caller thought she heard a noise at the side of her trailer home. Police unit 127 checked and determined no further police service was necessary.
Disturbance—1:24 a.m.—13th Street and Landing—The caller said he bought a scooter. However, the people who sold the scooter told him they were going to tell the police that he robbed them. According to the Crime Log, the caller sounded drunk.
Tuesday, October 13
Burglary Report—4:33 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said someone stole $3,000 worth of perfume from the business at 3:10 p.m. The caller said surveillance video recorded two suspects, both Hispanic men in their 30s.
Wednesday, October 14
Traffic Control—7:44 a.m.—Bolsa Avenue—The caller said parents were creating a traffic hazard by stopping in the middle of the street and blocking driveways as they dropped their children off at school. School traffic was cleared.
Dead Opossum—9:18 a.m.—Sunflower Circle—There was a dead opossum in the caller’s back yard. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Welfare Check—10:59 a.m.—Lampson Avenue and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported an abandoned motorized wheelchair on the corner off Seal Beach Boulevard. It turned out the “chair” was a three-wheel cart. A cane was sticking out of the side of the cart. The cart had a Leisure World sticker on it. This led to the identification of the owner. The cart was transported back to Leisure World.
Panic Alarm—1:47 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The daughter of the residents said the housekeeper pushed the alarm button by mistake, thinking the button controlled the garage door. Alarm handled.
Thursday, October 15
Truant Juvenile—11:12 a.m.—Marina Drive—The caller had an on-going problem with a student not showing up for school. The caller asked the Seal Beach Police Department to go to the student’s residence and pick up the student. Police unit 113 contacted the juvenile and took the minor to school.
Friday, October 16
Arrest—11:38 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a man was trying to cash a fraudulent check at the Chase Bank. The caller said the suspect cashed two fraudulent checks on Thursday, Oct. 15, at the Chase branch. The suspect was arrested.
Complaint—7:03 p.m.—10th Street—The caller said a painting contractor was using an air gun and compressor to paint a neighbor’s house. The caller also said the contractors were using floodlights. The call was cancelled prior to the dispatch of a police unit. The Seal Beach Municipal Code allows construction until 8 p.m.
Saturday, October 17
Counseled—11:39 a.m.—Rose Circle—Sometime during the night, someone stuck nails in a citizen’s white Mercedes. The citizen said this was an on-going problem.
Burglary Report—4:46 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Loss: a bike and ladder, taken from the caller’s garage. The crime occurred sometime that day. No suspect information.
Sunday, October 18
Burglary Report—10:59 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller had video of two suspects stealing make up on two separate occasions. One suspect was described as a white man in his mid-30s, last seen wearing a black Raiders baseball cap and white shirt. The second suspect was described as a white woman with brown hair and a large build, last seen wearing a purple shirt and light-colored sweats. Loss: over $1,000.
Vehicle Burglary—3:26 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Loss: radio face. Point of entry: driver side window smash. The crime occurred between 6 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Counterfeit Report—5:11 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller received a reportedly fake $100 bill at 4:18 p.m. The suspect was described as a 40-year-old Hispanic man, approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall with a thin build, last seen wearing a blue Dodger baseball cap, a white T-shirt and blue dickie pants.
Vehicle Burglary—5:28 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Loss: car stereo. Point of entry: driver’s side door. The crime occurred between 4:30 p.m. and the time of the call to police in the parking lot of the Old Ranch Towne Center.
Vehicle Burglary—7:54 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Loss: a car stereo and CDs. Point of entry: a pried door. The crime occurred between 11 a.m. and the time of the call to police.
IN LEISURE WORLD
Tuesday, October 12
Sweepstakes Scam—2:21 a.m.—Northwood Road, Mutual Unknown—The Leisure World resident had sent a total of $4,800 to sweepstakes scammers starting on Oct. 1.
Citizen Assist—2:27 p.m.—Kenwood Road, Mutual 7—The caller thought someone had stolen his dog. The dispatcher relayed the information to Leisure World Security. The dog was located.
Wednesday, October 14
Counseled—2:30 p.m.—Burning Tree Lane, Mutual 1—The caller wanted a police officer to look at a letter she received that said she won $550,000.
License Plate Stolen—3:55 p.m.—El Dorado Drive, Mutual Unknown—The rear license plate was stolen off a resident’s vehicle.
Grand Theft—4:49 p.m.—Thunderbird Drive, Mutual Unknown—A bike valued at $450 was stolen between 2 and 4 p.m.
Thursday, October 15
Lottery Scam—11:47 a.m.—Northwood Road, Mutual Unknown—The caller sent two separate checks for $32,750 to a Bulgarian “lottery.”
Friday, October 16
Theft—5:23 p.m.—Golden Rain Road, Mutual Unknown—The caller lost her debit card on Sept. 15. She told police that someone used the card to charge $41 against her account on Sept. 16.
