A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 18, for two men accused of robbing two other men on New Year’s Eve in Los Alamitos. One of the victims remembered one of the suspects from high school, according to Capt. Bruce McAlpine of the Los Alamitos Police Department.
The suspects have been identified as Rossmoor resident Jared John Julian, 22, and Los Alamitos resident Jesse John Ruiz, 19.
The following is the police account of the event.
It was New Year’s Eve, Saturday, Dec. 31. Two individuals were in the parking lot of the Vons shopping center on Los Alamitos Boulevard when they were approached by the two suspects. It was about 10:59 p.m., according to the LAPD’s Weekly Crime Summary.
The suspects struck up a conversation with them.
One suspect, who McAlpine said was later identified as Julian, demanded they empty their pockets. The suspect appeared to reach for something in the back of his clothes. That gesture gave the victims the impression he might be armed.
The victims put their property on the ground. The suspects fled with cash, credit cards and what Capt. McAlpine described as two smartphones.
One of the victims remembered Julian from high school. The victims also recognized the second suspect, but could not identify him by name.
Julian was arrested on Jan. 1, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Web site.
Most of the victims’ property was recovered the night of the robbery, except the two smartphones.
McAlpine said that based on the description, police immediately suspected Ruiz.
“He’s one of our local folks that we’ve dealt with a number of times,” McAlpine said.
Police contacted Ruiz, but the victims were initially unable to identify him at a field “show up.” Later, however, McAlpine said police obtained evidence and arrested Ruiz.
He was arrested on Jan. 3, according to the Sheriff’s Department Web site. Julian is being held on $50,000 bail, according to the sheriff’s Web site. Ruiz is being held without bail, according to ocsd.org.
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Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL BEACH
Monday, December 26
Municipal Code Violation—1:13 a.m.—Bluebell Street—The caller said four juveniles, all boys, were going through trash cans in the neighborhood.
Petty Theft Report—4:02 p.m.—Montecito Road—Two beach cruisers were taken from the caller’s car port at an unknown time. Report taken.
Tuesday, December 27
Vandalism—7:01 a.m.—11th Street—Someone spray painted the word “memo” in red on the wall on the back of the apartment building next door to the caller’s home. The graffiti was on private property and the property owner did not want a report. Assisted.
Grand Theft—9:26 a.m.—1st Street—Someone stole a bicycle from the caller’s apartment between Dec. 24 and the time of the call to police. The two bikes were collectively valued at $1,000.
Illegal Peddler—3:39 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A woman was in the parking lot, asking for money. She was with a 10-year-old boy. The caller said it was the same woman who usually has an infant with her.
Fire—8:13 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said six men lit a Christmas tree on fire on the beach. The caller said they were still on the beach. Police unit 241 apparently found a group of juveniles fleeing towards First Street. Police contacted some juveniles, but determined they were only spectators.
Wednesday, December 28
Vandalism—8:31 a.m.—10th Street—There was red spray paint on the wall behind the church. The property owner intended to remove the paint. Report taken.
Petty Theft—2:30 p.m.—Beryl Cove Way—The crime apparently occurred between midnight and 5 a.m. Loss: an iPod, a laptop and make-up of unknown collective value. Point of entry: an unlocked vehicle.
Petty Theft—5:50 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—A silver colored Rock Hopper mountain bike was taken within the previous half hour from the alley of the location. The bike’s serial number and value were unknown. Report taken. Police unit 207 was advised of the call.
Thursday, December 29
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:47 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a group of four to six men were sitting in a parking space in the lot, smoking and making what the caller described as gang-type hand gestures to each other. The caller said they looked suspicious. Police unit 141 determined the men were construction workers. No further police services were necessary.
Disturbance, Juveniles—6:23 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Three juveniles, all boys, two on bikes and one on a skateboard were playing around behind the store. They were climbing on to the roof of the store and jumping on the trash bin.
Check Area—9:20 p.m.—11th Street—The caller heard a long whistle and a short whistle, possibly coming from a ship. The Harbor Patrol told the Seal Beach Police Department that it was the fog horn sounding.
Friday, December 30
Disturbance—9:05 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—An individual described as a transient was reportedly inside the business, screaming. The caller reportedly asked him to leave, but he just kept screaming at the caller. The man in question was interviewed in the field.
Counseling—9:42 a.m.—Montecito—The caller was upset. The caller said construction workers were slamming their digging equipment into the ground, causing his house to shake. He asked that they not raise their equipment so high in order to minimize the impact. The caller asked to speak with an officer. Counseled.
Saturday, December 31
Vandalism Report—9:55 a.m.—College Park Drive—The caller said the lock to the entrance at the gate of the community garden had been tampered with. A message was delivered to Public Works to check the lock. Log entry.
Disturbance—5:59 p.m.—Blue Heron—The caller said a loud disc jockey at the location was creating a disturbance. Advised.
Vandalism—8:40 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—Someone threw eggs at the caller’s house. This was apparently an on-going problem. Report taken.
Sunday, January 1
Hazard—10:23 a.m.—11th Street and Electric Avenue—The caller said a power pole line was down and the pole was leaning as well. Police unit 107 determined that there was no power line—just a support cable for the pole, which had a slight tilt. Message left for Public Works.
Parking Problem—2:41 p.m.—Main Street—The caller said there were several cars in the bank parking lot and the caller could not use the ATM as a result. However, there was nothing the police could do. The cars were on private property and there was no illegal parking going on.
IN Leisure World
Wednesday, December 28
Patrol Check Requested—2:07 a.m.—North Gate Road and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller was going eastbound on the 22 Freeway when the caller saw a motor vehicle on the bike path at the end of Northgate Road. The vehicle had its lights on. The caller felt this was suspicious due to the time. It turned out the suspicious vehicle belonged to Leisure World Security.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Friday, December 16
Keep the Peace—5:45 p.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller reported that she was waiting in the parking lot for assistance from police to pick up instruments that belong to her. She said her employer was refusing to release the property, but that she had proof that it was hers. Assisted.
Sunday, December 18
Suspicious Person—1:29 a.m.—Green Avenue—The caller reported seeing some suspicious people in his neighbor’s garage. The caller saw a vehicle earlier, but no longer saw it. The caller said he could not provide a description because it was too dark, but said one of the people was wearing a red shirt. Police contacted three men smoking in the garage. Police determined there was no crime.
All three men went inside.
Tuesday, December 20
Defrauding Innkeeper—1:11 a.m.—Howard Avenue—The caller said three individuals would not pay their taxi-cab fare. Also, one of them threw up in the cab. The three men were still in the taxi.
The caller later said that the suspects were standing outside the taxi. Police counseled the suspects. No further action was reported.
Wednesday, December 21
Drug Violation—9:09 p.m.—Green Avenue—The caller said two juveniles, both boys, were smoking marijuana in the alley. The caller said he could smell the marijuana and see it.
One of the two suspects wore a hat and they were seen heading towards Bloomfield in the alley.
Thursday, December 22
Disturbance, Juveniles—9:05 p.m.—Toland Avenue—The caller said juveniles were hiding on the embankment and throwing things at passing cars. The caller could see at least two suspects on the Ball Road side, wearing hooded sweatshirts, but could not tell what they were throwing because it was too dark. The suspects were gone by the time a police unit arrived.
Friday, December 23
Illegal Peddler—6:13 p.m.—San Joaquin Avenue—The caller said a man was going door-to-door selling cleaning supplies. The man, who was described as being in his 30s, was asking to come inside to demonstrate and the caller said it seemed suspicious and thought the man might be casing the house. Police contacted the suspect. He left the area.
Saturday, December 24
Hit-and-Run—11:30 a.m.—Katella Avenue and Los Alamitos Boulevard—The caller said he was following a white van after a collision with the van. The van was occupied by two people, but they ignored the caller’s request to pull over. When the vehicles reached the Target center, the van pulled over into the parking lot.
The caller advised that he was now confronting the driver of the van. An argument ensued over the collision. Both parties were counseled and there was no damage to either vehicle.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, January 2
Disturbance, Mechanical—12:58 a.m.—Rowena Drive—The caller complained about noise directly behind the caller’s location. The caller said it sounded like a circular saw. The deputy heard loud noise coming from a residence near Silver Fox Road and St. Cloud Drive. However, the noise stopped while the deputy was at the door.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:10 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:27 p.m.—Foster Road.—A deputy searched for two unknown individuals who entered a residence that is vacant and under construction.
A man went through the back yard and came back through the residence to open the door for a woman. The man wore a dark T-shirt and blue jeans. The woman wore pink sweats and was described as possibly white and in her 30s.
Tuesday, January 3
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—5:58 p.m.—Piedmont Avenue and Kensington Road.—The caller requested a patrol check for two or three men with flashlights on their heads who were seen going in and out of a residence on Piedmont Avenue.
Thursday, January 5
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:29 a.m.—Rowena Drive—A man was reported soliciting door-to-door.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:52 p.m.—Hedwig Road and Weatherby Road—The caller said two men used wires to get into a vehicle that they then towed away.
The caller thought it was suspicious because one of the vehicles was not marked.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—1:22 p.m.—Christy Lane—A man was reported selling door-to-door.
Friday, January 6
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11 a.m.—Engel Drive—The caller said Christmas trees had been dumped on lawns throughout the neighborhood. In other words, illegal dumping.
Disturbance—6:53 p.m.—Ruth Elaine Drive and Donnis Road.
Unknown Trouble—7:17 p.m.—Shakespeare Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:47 p.m.—Kensington Road.
Saturday, January 7
Burglary Report—7:25 a.m.—Oak Knoll Drive—The log did not say if this was a residential or automobile burglary.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
