Briefly In Public Safety

Police arrest driver after pedestrian hit at Aliso Beach

A pedestrian was injured after a suspected drunk driver hit him at Aliso Beach on Monday, Laguna Beach police said.

Michael David Ash, 31, of Los Angeles, was arrested on suspicion of felony drunk driving causing bodily injury. He is being held on $100,000 bail. Ash has one prior DUI conviction in 2005.

Officers responded at 7:35 p.m. and found the victim in the road with blood coming from his head. The victim, a 23-year-old Los Angeles resident whose identity was not released, was treated at the scene before going to the emergency room at Mission Hospital Mission Viejo, said Special Investigations Officer Robert Rahaeuser.

The collision is under investigation.

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Authorities arrest 14 illegal immigrants

Border Patrol agents arrested 14 illegal immigrants at El Morro beach after their panga was spotted offshore early Saturday morning.

Authorities said they believe four others fled in the panga, which was not seized. They did not have information about the four.

The boat containing the Mexican nationals was spotted about 5 a.m., said Jerry Conlin, a Border Patrol supervisor.

“There was a search, and they had to stop after a certain amount of time,” he said.

The search was a joint effort involving Laguna Beach and Newport Beach police.

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Suspected thief caught

Laguna Beach police arrested a man suspected of grand theft Tuesday night.

Kyle Alan Veach, 22, was charged with receiving stolen property and is being held on $20,000 bail.

Police said Veach stole a woman’s purse and cell phone from her unlocked vehicle at the 1200 block of South Coast Highway. Veach also allegedly texted the victim and asked her to send him $500 via Western Union.

The woman met police by her car. Veach was taken into custody shortly thereafter.

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Driver arrested on DUI suspicion after hitting utility pole

A suspected drunk driver rolled over and hit a Southern California Edison pole near the Alternative Sleeping Location early Tuesday morning, police said.

When police arrived at the scene on Laguna Canyon Road,

the driver was found outside the vehicle, which was upside down. Police then arrested the driver, a 21-year-old Laguna Beach man, on suspicion of DUI.

Police received the report at 1:58 am., said Rahaeuser.

Edison employees later repaired the pole. Officers assisted by controlling traffic, which was restricted and slowed.

Police also arrested two more suspected drunk drivers while assisting in the area, Rahaeuser said.

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Homeless man’s body found on Main Beach

Police discovered the body of a homeless man at Main Beach early Monday during a routine patrol.

The man has been identified as Robert Hurd, 59.

Hurd was found at 12:39 a.m. near a lifeguard tower. Police believe he died a few hours before his body was found.

There were no signs of foul play. The coroner’s office took custody of the body.

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Calls on Fourth up, arrests down

The Fourth of July had more calls for service than last year, but fewer arrests, according to Laguna Beach police.

Authorities received 293 calls this year, compared with 281 in 2010. There were 10 arrests this year and 14 in 2010. Out of the 10 arrests, six were alcohol-related.

The holiday fell on a weekend in 2009 and 2010, which boosted crime and subsequent arrests.

In the last four years, 2008 had the least amount of calls with 181, and 2007 had the least number of arrests with five.

—Compiled by Joanna Clay