Briefly In Public Safety
Pedestrian’s legs fractured by vehicle
A 19-year-old female was struck by a vehicle that failed to stop for her at a crosswalk at 5 p.m. Nov. 17 at Glenneyre Street and St. Ann’s Drive, Callus said.
The victim sustained multiple fractures to both lower legs, in addition to possible ligament damage to her left knee; she also complained of pain in both knees and her lower back from the collision, Callus said.
The pedestrian had walked in front of one vehicle that was stopped, but as she continued to cross the street, a vehicle approaching in the next lane did not stop, Callus said.
The victim was taken to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo for treatment.
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Hit-run driver sought
Laguna Beach police are seeking the driver of a vehicle that rear-ended one vehicle, pushing that vehicle into a second vehicle and then fled, at 7:40 a.m. Nov. 18 at Montage Resort Drive and Coast Highway, Callus said.
The only description of the suspect vehicle is that of a dark sedan, possibly a Pontiac.
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500 marijuana plants seized
A 51-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested after police searched his residence and allegedly found 500 marijuana plants, all between 5 and 6 inches in height, Callus said.
William Armstrong Coleman was investigated by police after a tip about a drug sale in downtown Laguna. He was held on $45,000 bail, according to police records.
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Hat theft lands man in jail
A homeless man was arrested on suspicion of burglary after allegedly stealing a $17 fedora from a shop in the 200 block of Forest Avenue, Callus said.
Charles Neil, 47, was observed in the shop and allegedly seen grabbing the hat and leaving. He was allegedly wearing the hat when he was arrested at 6 p.m. Nov. 19. Neil was held on $20,000 bail at Orange County Jail, according to jail records.
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Out-of-control SUV wreaks havoc
A driver lost control of his SUV and veered off the west side of Coast Highway near 10th Avenue at 4:51 p.m. Saturday, Callus said. The Chevrolet Tahoe landed on its side and crushed a fence after striking a San Diego Gas & Electricity power box, a Cox Cable box, an OCTA bus bench, and an OCTA sign.
The 30-year-old driver, from Santa Ana, was transported to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo for treatment of facial cuts. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt, and police suspected he might have been a DUI, but alcohol was determined not to be a factor in the collision. The driver said steering problems caused the collision.
When the electrical box was hit by the vehicle, it punched a 4-by-4-foot hole in a cinderblock wall, she added. Power in the neighborhood was out for a time following the collision, according to police records.
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Fire station doors questioned
The new, armored doors recently installed at Fire Station No. 1 at City Hall were an issue of concern at the Nov. 16 Laguna Beach City Council meeting. Councilwoman Verna Rollinger requested information about the doors, which she felt were not an attractive addition.
Assistant City Manager John Pietig responded that installation of the new doors, which open to the side, rather than roll up and will allow taller equipment to park inside the station, is not yet complete. He said the doors will fit in with the City Hall façade when the installation is done.