Briefly In Public Safety

Alleged squatter removed from structure

A 31-year-old man who was reportedly living in an underground parking structure at 540 S. Coast Hwy. was issued citations at 9:19 a.m. Dec. 3 for illegal lodging, possession of an open container of alcohol, and possession of a shopping cart belonging to Ralphs market, Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz said. The man, who has a Costa Mesa address, was moved from the area. Police had been called to the location on a report of three men using drugs.

Phony credit card charges reported

A Laguna Beach man reported at 10:12 a.m. Dec. 3 that four fraudulent credit card charges were made on his Wells Fargo account at retail stores in San Diego County, totaling $2,000. The victim still has his card, and it is unknown how the suspects are accessing the account, Kravetz said.

Man accused of punching woman

A 36-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested after allegedly punching a woman in the face three times at a bus bench in the 200 block of Laguna Avenue at 11:35 p.m. Dec. 4, Kravetz said. The woman, whom the suspect knew, was sitting on the bench when he approached and the ensuing argument escalated into the alleged assault.

Shane Michael Rios was arrested on suspicion of battery, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and a DUI warrant.

Foot chase nabs alleged assailant

A 23-year-old Laguna Woods man was arrested after police were called to a man allegedly pounding on a parked minivan with a scared woman inside at 2:49 a.m. Saturday in the 500 block of Blumont Street.

The suspect, Michael Tyler Jacques, fled on foot as police arrived, and was caught by police after a chase that ended in the backyard of a residence on Hilledge Street.

Jacques was arrested on suspicion of resisting officers and a parole violation. In the end, it was determined that incident was the result of a fight between boyfriend and girlfriend.

DUI checkpoints planned for holidays

The Laguna Beach Police Department will be conducting a DUI/drivers license checkpoint from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Dec. 19 “” the first of four DUI checkpoints planned in the upcoming months in a special holiday DUI crackdown, according to a police department news release.

Beginning Dec. 19, the department will join law enforcement agencies across the state as part of California’s “18 Day Holiday DUI Crackdown Campaign,” in which law enforcement agencies will be deploying 300 DUI/drivers license checkpoints statewide.

Law enforcement encourages everyone planning a family gathering over the holidays to think about how friends and family will get home after drinking during holiday celebrations.

To report drunk drivers, call 911 and describe the vehicle, its location and direction of travel. With everyone’s help, families won’t remember the holidays of 2009 as a time of loss at the hands of another drunk driver.

Funding for the DUI checkpoint operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Five cited in underage drinking

Employees at five local businesses were issued citations Dec. 5 during an undercover ABC Minor Decoy Operation, according to Kravetz.

Under the surveillance of detectives, the decoys “” who were younger than 21 “” entered 16 businesses that offer alcohol for sale both on and off premises, and attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages. All but one of the businesses checked the identification of the decoys. In four instances, the employee failed to recognize the decoy was a minor, despite the indication on the ID.

Citations were issued to these employees for sales of alcohol to a minor, a misdemeanor. The businesses whose employee received a citation were: Blue Laguna, Royal Hawaiian, Sapphire, Nick’s and Eva’s Kitchen.