BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Man accused of spitting in officer’s face

Laguna Beach Police arrested two people at 2:15 p.m. Dec. 26 in the 1800 block of Glenneyre Street “” one for allegedly spitting into the face of an officer, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

The pair had allegedly refused to stop for police at South Coast Highway and Diamond Street after a citizen called to report a possible drunk driver heading northbound on Coast Highway from Dana Point.

The driver took off and was eventually stopped on Glenneyre Street.

The arrestees are Jason Lee Motis, 41, of Costa Mesa, who was held on a felony parole violation warrant and battery on a police officer. The driver, Hannah Elizabeth Riley, 32, of Dana Point was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Woman held in battery of grocery store clerk

A 62-year-old Lompoc woman was arrested after allegedly punching a checker in the stomach at Albertson’s supermarket in South Laguna at 4:57 p.m. Dec. 26, Kravetz said.

Bette Marie Bjorkman, was charged with one misdemeanor count of battery. Bjorkman apparently went to Albertson’s to return a crab cake which she said was poisoned “by the CIA,” according to police records.

While processing her return, she allegedly punched the female checker in the stomach. She was taken to Orange County Jail.

DUI checkpoint on Saturday nets five arrests

Five drivers were arrested on suspicion of DUI Saturday, during the first of four DUI/Driver’s License checkpoints of the year targeting southbound drivers in the 30000 block of Coast Highway, according to police.

The checkpoint operated from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., during which time 1,502 vehicles passed through. Of those, 644 vehicles were stopped and the drivers checked for sobriety and possession of a valid driver’s license. Eleven people were given field sobriety tests, and out of those, five were arrested for DUI. In addition, the driving status of 12 drivers was checked and two were found be unlicensed or driving on a restricted license.

Suspect held in multiple thefts from vehicles

Laguna Beach police think they may have solved a rash of vehicle burglaries, primarily in underground parking lots, in which windows were smashed and items stolen, Kravetz said.

Steven Enrico Beltramo, 36, was stopped by police in the 200 block of Agate Street at 7:34 p.m. Dec. 26 because he fit the description of the burglar “” a male with a skateboard and backpack.

While an officer was speaking with Beltramo, dispatchers received a call from a guest at a hotel in the 1600 block of South Coast Highway, next to the location.

The guest said his vehicle had been broken into and several items stolen. The suspect had shattered a window to gain entry.

When Beltramo was searched by police, the stolen items were found in his possession, Kravetz alleged.

He was arrested on suspicion of vehicle burglary, possession of stolen property, possession of a narcotic paraphernalia (a methamphetamine pipe) and possession of burglary tools. He was booked and taken to Orange County Jail.

“The investigators will be piecing all the crimes together,” Kravetz said.

“We do have one of the vehicle burglaries on video and will be matching up the video to this subject.”

Search for missing teen leads to arrest

A 22-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested at 11:48 a.m. Saturday after police allegedly found a syringe of heroin in his home, Kravetz said.

Police had gone to the home of Ryan Bright in the 1000 block of Keller Way looking for an 18-year-old female who had been reported missing by her father.

Bright was on formal probation and when police searched the home, they allegedly found the narcotic.

Bright was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of probation.

The father was notified that his daughter had been found with Bright, her boyfriend, and was safe, Kravetz said.