BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Hawk devours performing bird

One of several large birds that entertain beachgoers at Main Beach was snatched and consumed by a hawk Tuesday, according to police reports. Two people called 911 at 1:39 p.m. to report that a hawk was eating a parrot on Coast Highway. The hawk flew off before police arrived. The bird owner was described as “distraught,” said Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz.

“Apparently the hawk swooped down and snatched the bird and flew off,” Kravetz said.

The large, colorful birds have become a popular attraction at Main Beach, with families gathering to have their photographs taken with them.

Lawsuit against city in police shooting dismissed

A lawsuit filed against the city of Laguna Beach by the family of a couple killed in a police shooting at the Montage Resort & Spa in April 2007 has been dismissed, City Manager Ken Frank announced Feb. 20.

The incident, involving a report of a woman brandishing a gun outside the hotel, escalated into a confrontation between Kevin and Joni Park and Laguna Beach police officers.

The Parks were shot and killed inside their hotel room, despite pleas from officers to put the gun down.

“This unfortunate and tragic event was thoroughly investigated by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and found that the shooting was justified,” Frank said in a statement.

The heirs of the Parks filed a lawsuit against the city in federal court. The lawsuit was dismissed for a mutual waiver of costs and the matter is now concluded, Frank said.

Young girl accused in shoplifting spree

An 11-year-old girl was detained in an alleged shoplifting spree from Bubbles of Laguna, Crystal Image and Laguna Toy Store at 3:21 p.m. Wednesday, Kravetz said.

The girl, who was with another 11-year-old girl, was accused of taking items from each of the stores with a total value of $65. The items were: a stone egg, play money, a napkin ring, a black bracelet, a Hello Kitty purse, a coin purse and charms. All the items were recovered and the girl, a Laguna Beach resident, was released to her parents. The case will be referred to a juvenile detective, Kravetz said.

The other girl was not accused of shoplifting.

Acquaintances suspected in Rolex theft

Two men are suspected of stealing more than $10,000 in items from a man who told police he met the pair at a local bar, then brought them back to his hotel room, Kravetz said. After continuing to drink, the victim fell asleep and awoke the following morning to find his $10,000 Rolex watch, a wallet with credit cards and a passport missing.

Man accused of carrying gun into bar

A Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon inside a bar in the 200 block of Ocean Avenue at 7:57 p.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

The suspect, Jerome Allen Kolkoski, 37, told police he was “jumped” by gang members outside a bar and went home to get his gun and retaliate. While on his way back to the bar, he encountered two parking valets and told them of his intentions, Kravetz said.

The valets called police, who located the suspect sitting at the bar, searched him, and allegedly found an unloaded, semi-automatic Glock 9 mm handgun in his rear waistband.

Kolkoski was arrested on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and for carrying a concealed weapon with the intent to assault someone, both misdemeanors, Kravetz said.

Vending machines hit at two hotels

Thieves broke into eight vending machines at two Laguna Beach hotels using a slide hammer or drilling device, Kravetz said. Seven machines were broken into “” with a loss of about $1,000 “” at a hotel in the 600 block of South Coast Highway, and one machine was broken into in the 800 block of the highway, with a reported loss of $100.

The thefts were reported at 7:17 a.m. and 11:08 a.m. Sunday.

Checker claims she was hit with pen by customer

A grocery store checker is accusing a customer of battery after an argument at the store at 4:01 p.m. Monday, Kravetz said. The clerk said that a customer had argued with her while attempting to get cash back after writing a check for her purchase. The dispute was mediated by the on-duty manager.

When the customer was leaving the store, she allegedly hit the victim on the back of the shoulder twice with a pen.

The pen strike was hard enough to cause pain, the victim alleged.