BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Man jumps from parking structure, has injuries

A man tried to commit suicide at 12:32 p.m. Monday by jumping four stories to the ground off the roof of the parking structure at South Coast Medical Center in South Laguna, police Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

The man, who was 30 years old and a South Orange County resident, survived the fall and was immediately taken to Mission Trauma Center for treatment of unspecified critical injuries.

A witness to the incident said the man intentionally jumped off the four-story structure. Police do not know why the man, reportedly a patient at the hospital, wanted to kill himself.

His name was not released.

Woman says she was conned out of $10,000

An elderly Laguna Beach woman told police that she was bilked out of $10,000 by a man and woman she met in a Costco parking lot in Irvine.

The man said he was going to inherit $180,000 but had to send cash to Africa first in order to show good faith. He promised to give her $90,000 out of his inheritance if she gave him money to send to Africa. The woman in the scheme, who turned out to be an accomplice, pretended to withdraw $25,000 to “help” the man get his inheritance, apparently to persuade the elderly woman to do the same.

The victim brought the pair to Laguna Beach and withdrew $10,000 from her bank to help the man obtain his inheritance.

The scam was reported to police at 6:39 p.m. Jan. 15 after the victim’s son found out about it, according to police records.

Men hospitalized after alleged beatings

Police are investigating a claim by two men that they were beaten up by an assailant at Camel Point beach, Kravetz said.

Two homeowners in the area called police to report finding two injured and intoxicated males at the beach at 7:27 p.m. Saturday. Each of the men, who are in a relationship, claimed to have been attacked by an unknown assailant. Both were taken to the hospital and treated for their injuries.

Man accused of battery on a bar doorman

A Dana Point man was arrested on suspicion of battery at 12:26 a.m. Sunday for allegedly punching a doorman at a bar after being escorted off the premises, Kravetz said.

The incident occurred at Club Bounce on South Coast Highway. Officers arrested the suspect, Dumitru Laxon, 22, in the 200 block of Mountain Street.

Alleged wrong-way driver runs from police

Police arrested a San Clemente man on multiple claims at 1:03 a.m. Sunday after he allegedly drove the wrong way on Coast Highway, then led police on a chase through North Laguna and struck a house on Cypress Drive, Kravetz said.

There were four other people in the vehicle.

An officer driving southbound on Coast Highway at Broadway saw a black Jeep heading northbound in the No. 1 southbound lane, going the wrong way. The officer moved out of the way and made a U-turn in pursuit of the Jeep, which made an illegal right turn onto Aster Street and then a fast right onto Cypress Drive, Kravetz said. The driver of the Jeep then lost control, and hit a parked Honda Civic. The Jeep then went into the front yard at 291 Cypress Drive and hit the house, causing minor damage.

Jon Jerek Vandyke, 20, was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving, DUI and child endangerment. The child endangerment charge was due to a 16-year-old female friend in the vehicle.

Two other adult females and a male adult were also in the Jeep.

Officer’s nose leads to marijuana arrest

A Laguna Beach police officer arrested a Santa Ana man on suspicion of possessing hashish and marijuana after the officer smelled burning marijuana while walking on the beach near Mountain Street at 9:39 p.m. Sunday, Kravetz said.

The officer found two men who were possibly smoking. One of the men, Gilbert Reveles Jr., 21, of Santa Ana, allegedly had hashish and marijuana in his possession. Reveles was arrested.