Briefly In Public Safety

THC-laced cookies lead to arrest

A Newport Coast youth was arrested on suspicion of trying to sell cookies made with THC butter in the 600 block of South Coast Highway at 9:37 p.m. Aug. 4, Sgt. Louise Callus said.

The youth, whose name was not released because he is a juvenile, was booked and released to his parents.

*

Dogs may have deterred burglar

Family dogs may have scared off a would-be burglar at a home in the 1500 block of Skyline Drive, Callus said. The residents reported at 9:03 a.m. Sunday that a window screen had been removed and the window left open about two feet. Nothing was stolen from the home.

*

Spa employee accused of theft

A Laguna Beach spa employee was arrested on suspicion of stealing a $50,000 ring from a client at 2:42 p.m. Sunday, Callus said.

Courtney Taylor Torres, 23, of Corona, was working at a spa in the 600 block of North Coast Highway as a massage tech. She removed the ring from the client and placed it into a dish. When the massage was over, the client left but returned when she realized she had forgotten her ring. When she went back to the spa, the ring was gone. Torres was responsible for setting up the room for the next client, and during the investigation allegedly admitted that she took the ring, which was recovered and returned to the owner.

Torres was arrested on a grand theft charge and posted a $20,000 bond.

*

Man Tasered in fight with officer

A 23-year-old Fountain Valley man was arrested after allegedly fighting with a police officer who had stopped to help him after he fell into the street at 7:17 p.m. Sunday in the 800 block of North Coast Highway, Callus said.

Jon Franco Kelsey was running at full speed down the sidewalk when he tumbled into the street. A police officer observed this and tried to help Kelsey, when Kelsey’s girlfriend approached and allegedly told the officer that Kelsey had just taken LSD.

The officer tried to escort Kelsey off the street, but Kelsey allegedly charged the officer and attempted to punch and kick him. The officer drew and discharged his Taser but the weapon was too close to be effective, Callus said. The two began to wrestle on the ground and Kelsey threw the much larger officer off of him. Two citizens stopped to assist and, with their help, the officer was able to get Kelsey under control and in handcuffs.

The officer sustained a cut on his nose and abrasions to his elbows in the struggle. Kelsey, who also had contusions and abrasions, was held on suspicion of being under the influence of a drug, battery on a police officer and resisting arrest. He was held on $20,000 bail, according to police records.

*

Phone account opened by fraud

A Laguna Beach resident reported that a collection agency was attempting to collect payment for a T-Mobile account that had gone unpaid. But the resident had never opened the account, which was apparently opened two years ago by someone using the victim’s personal information, Callus said. The report was made at 3:11 p.m. Monday in the 800 block of Temple Hills Drive.

*

Disturbance leads to man’s arrest

A man was arrested on suspicion of violating a restraining order after police were called to the 400 block of North Coast Highway at 4:33 p.m. Monday on a report that five men were creating a disturbance and yelling racial slurs, Callus said.

One of the five, Matthew Scott Hess, 29, had a warrant for his arrest on an alleged narcotics charge in San Bernardino, and a restraining order against one of the other people involved in the alleged disturbance, Callus said.

Hess was cited on the drug warrant and taken into custody on $15,000 bail in the alleged restraining order violation. He was held in Orange County Jail.

*

Shop owner detains suspect

The owner of a dress shop in the 100 block of South Coast Highway gave chase after allegedly observing a girl steal a $200 dress and flee at 12:52 p.m. Monday, Callus said. The suspect, a 15-year-old from San Diego, was tracked to two other stores and eventually detained at a local shop, where she was held by police until her father arrived.

While the father was walking his daughter out of the store, she attempted to pull away from his grasp and began to yell. During the struggle, the father allegedly pushed the girl, who fell into a clothing rack. Police then cited the father on a battery charge. The daughter was also cited on a petty theft charge. There were no injuries, and the dress was returned. The girl was eventually released to her mother, who is divorced from the father.