Lifeguards Use Tape to Silence Transient

Two Long Beach lifeguards failed to use proper procedure when they taped the mouth of an apparently drunk, profanity-spouting transient and left him bound on the beach for several minutes, the chief lifeguard said Monday.

City lifeguard officials were reviewing the apprehension Sunday of Don Peterson for possible disciplinary action against the two veteran lifeguards, said Lifeguard Chief Jim Rae. He refused to release the names of the lifeguards.

“The officers just got frustrated at the time because the guy was verbally swearing at the general public,” Rae said. “It was a judgment call that shouldn’t have been done.”