BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Police seek Laguna man reported missing

Laguna Beach police are trying to locate Brock Sumner, 22, whose grandmother reported him missing recently.

She last saw Sumner on Sept. 14 in the late evening when he left with friends to go to a hotel in Huntington Beach. He has not been seen since, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

Sumner had lived with his grandmother in Laguna Beach for the last four years. The case has been assigned to a detective for investigation.

“Thus far, there are no obvious signs of foul play, but [the detective] will start interviewing people and checking jail records, etc.,” Kravetz said.

Teen accused in election-related arson

A Laguna Beach teenager was arrested on suspicion of arson and vandalism to a pickup truck with a “Yes on Prop. 8” sign that was parked outside Laguna Beach High School around 4:29 p.m. Oct. 29, Kravetz said.

The truck had been driven to the school by the parent of a student at another school who was competing in a sporting event in Laguna Beach.

A citizen called police to report that two teenagers, a male and female, were involved in the incident.

Police alleged the male took the sign from the truck and threw it into the street, then wrote “No on 8” in black marker on the passenger side of the vehicle. Then he allegedly lit some paper on fire and threw this into the back of the truck. The papers burned out and did not set the truck on fire.

Both suspects, 15, were questioned by police. The male was detained for arson and vandalism and was eventually released to his parents, Kravetz said.

In another act of political vandalism, two Obama/Biden signs were reported burned in front yards of two homes on Marilyn Drive at 7:32 a.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

Man kicks, allegedly damages, fire door

A 28-year-old Michigan man was arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism after allegedly kicking a fire door at a police impound yard in the 2000 block of Laguna Canyon Road at 4:22 a.m. Oct. 30, Kravetz said.

The suspect, Brent Nowak, was attempting to get his towed vehicle released, and became angry when there was a problem with the payment, Kravetz said.

The kick caused more than $500 in damage.

Man arrested as suspect in shoplifting sunglasses

A San Diego man with a taste for expensive eyewear was arrested Oct. 29 at an Emporio-Optic shop in Newport Beach after employees at the Laguna Beach Emporio-Optic store on Forest Avenue called police to report the theft of three pairs of sunglasses, totaling $3,600, Kravetz said.

The suspect, David Kallmar, 43, had been trying on multiple pairs of sunglasses at the Laguna Beach shop, and when he left, three pairs of sunglasses were allegedly missing.

While Laguna Beach police were taking the report at about 4:30 p.m., store staff called the Newport Beach shop to advise them of what happened, and were told the suspect was currently in the Newport store trying on sunglasses.

Newport Beach Police responded and detained the suspect, who was identified as the same man who stole eyewear from the Laguna Beach store — and was wearing a pair of the stolen sunglasses, Kravetz said.

Man arrested after alleged refusal to stop for police

A Laguna Beach man faces multiple charges after allegedly refusing to stop for police seeking to pull him over on suspicion of driving under the influence about midnight Oct. 30, Kravetz said.

Richard Dixon, 59, was driving in the area of Glenneyre and Thalia streets when police tried to stop him. He allegedly drove home instead, stopping in his own driveway in the 600 block of Agate Street. When the officer ordered him out of the vehicle, Dixon allegedly did not comply with the orders.

According to police records, police then pulled a gun on Dixon, and he ended up with a bleeding head. He was arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor evading, DUI and resisting/obstructing police officers, Kravetz said.

Homeless woman arrested at Unitarian Church

Members of the Unitarian Church on Cypress Drive placed a homeless woman under citizen’s arrest at 5:55 a.m. Oct. 31 after “a continuous problem with her sleeping on their property,” Kravetz said.

Kathryn Lorayne Doe, 62, also allegedly was storing her belongings in the church yard and refusing to leave when asked, Kravetz said. Doe was booked by police on suspicion of illegal lodging and released on her own recognizance.

Parking revenues stolen from Glenneyre Street lot

Two coin vaults containing $745 were reported stolen from a parking lot in the 400 block of Glenneyre Street at 8:10 a.m. Oct. 31, Kravetz said.

The suspect had to have keys to get inside, and police are investigating how that happened, Kravetz said. The locks have since been changed, he added.

$20,000 diamond stolen in ‘switch’ theft

A $20,000 diamond was reported stolen from a jewelry store in the 400 block of South Coast Highway in a “switch” at 11:31 a.m. Oct. 31, Kravetz said.

The suspect had come into the store and examined a loose diamond, then gave the jeweler a fake diamond and left with the real one, Kravetz said.

Stolen vehicle is recovered, minus stereo

A woman who apparently left her keys in her car got the vehicle back within an hour of its being reported stolen, Kravetz said.

The victim flagged down police to report the theft at 1:51 a.m. Saturday from the 100 block of Brooks Street.

At 2:36 a.m., the officer received a Lojack activation and followed it to the 1400 block of Catalina Street where the Mercedes was parked, with keys inside.

The vehicle had been ransacked, an outside door lock damaged and a car stereo stolen.

Cab driver reports being stiffed on fare

Five men who agreed to pay $25 for a cab ride from Club M on South Coast Highway to Nyes Place — a distance of about three miles — allegedly tried to pay with $9 instead at 3:15 a.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

After the cab driver refused to take the $9, the riders got out of the cab and into their own vehicle, and drove away.

The cabbie gave the officers a license plate.

Bottles of acid damage tile floor of restaurant

Two bottles of muriatic acid were reported knocked over onto the tile floor outside a restaurant in the 400 block of South Coast Highway at 8:22 a.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

The tile was damaged when about a third of the contents of one bottle leaked onto the tile.

Police are unsure whether the incident was random or if the restaurant was specifically targeted, Kravetz said.

Muriatic acid is used for cleaning concrete and brick.

Bar fight results in hospital trip for man

One man was taken to the hospital with injuries after another man allegedly punched him in the face and knocked him out briefly at Ocean Ave. Brewery at 11:34 p.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

The alleged aggressor in the incident claimed that he was, in fact, the victim. Neither man was arrested.