Sobering lessons in the drunk tank

For the first four days of July, Laguna Beach police officers have responded to at least 11 public intoxication calls.

For some revelers, stepping out of line (or falling on the line) with one too many drinks means spending a night detained in a holding cell.

For others, the cell becomes somewhat of a home away from home as multiple charges are filed.

The sobering cell for men measures roughly 7 by 12 feet, and has nothing in it but a toilet and surveillance camera.

Women have it a bit easier: those arrested on suspicion of public intoxication are kept in a similar-sized cell, which is furnished with a small bed and cushion. A surveillance camera is blocked from view of the toilet.

Despite the eggs, toast and potatoes breakfast, not many are likely to say their stay was a positive experience.

While the majority of the 100 or so public intoxication arrests over the last six months have gone to non-repeat offenders, there are about 10 who have been arrested on a consistent basis, Sgt. Bob Rahaeuser said.

Suspected of alcoholism, and referred to by police as transients, these individuals are often a source of complaints from citizens.

Passing out in public places, verbally abusing others and drinking in public are some of the more common complaints associated with people arrested on suspicion of public intoxication.

The decision to arrest is based on how well a suspect can care for their own safety, and how they may be a threat to others, Rahaeuser said.

“If they’re out cold we call in the paramedics and they’re taken to the hospital,” he added.

Taxing police resources, Rahaeuser said an officer may spend three to five hours watching over a suspect in the hospital.

“That officer can’t get back to work when this happens,” Rahaeuser said.

“Most with multiple charges don’t appear for their court date in three or four weeks, then a warrant goes out for their arrest,” Rahaeuser said.

In the meantime, more charges can occur.

For individuals who rack up 10 to 15 charges, the District Attorney will prosecute for a prolonged jail stay, which is often six months.

“This is ‘drying out time’ for the offender,” Rahaeuser said.

For at least one individual in town, this process has been a very familiar one.

But there is always hope.

Police Sgt. George Ramos said he was successful for a short time in helping a chronic public intoxication offender kick his drinking problem.

The man, who Ramos describes as homeless in town for more than 15 years, had become a major worry.

“My biggest concern was that he was going to kill himself,” Ramos said. “I told him that he wasn’t going to die in our city.”

Ramos got the man sober by keeping him detained for the maximum 24 hours on a public intoxication charge.

When the man was released, Ramos said he assigned a beach patrol officer to monitor him. The man would then be arrested again once he broke the law by taking a sip of alcohol in public.

“This way we could bring him in for another 24 hours to sober him up completely,” Ramos said.

“It’s amazing what a nice guy he is when he’s sober,” he added.

Through the help of religious groups, the man was able to stay on a sober path for six months, Ramos said.

But Ramos one day realized his efforts with the man fell short.

While responding to a call of a man passed out behind a restaurant, Ramos came across a clean-cut man wearing a new golf cap.

“It wasn’t until we saw his ID that we realized it was him,” Ramos said. “He was back.”

Despite not achieving complete sobriety, Ramos said he would be more than willing to help the man again.

In the past six months the man has been arrested seven times on suspicion of public intoxication.