BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Witnesses say man threatened to kill people

Laguna Beach police took an unidentified man in for a psychiatric evaluation after being called to a market in the 1000 block of North Coast Highway at 11:39 p.m. Thursday, police Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

Witnesses said the man was in front of the store threatening to kill people with a knife. No one was actually being threatened, Kravetz said. The man, described as about 60 years old, was taken to a hospital.

Pair arrested after stop on suspicions of drugs

A Long Beach man and a woman were arrested after a traffic stop behind a hotel in the 1400 block of North Coast Highway at 3:49 a.m. Friday, Kravetz said.

After stopping Christopher Lange, 48, police learned he had a no-bail warrant for his arrest. A search of the suspects revealed prescription pills, police said. During the arrest, Shevonna Martinez, 27, approached and said she was a friend of the suspect, Kravetz said. Officers discovered that Martinez had two misdemeanor warrants out for her arrest, and allegedly found a syringe in her purse. She was arrested on the warrants and on suspicion of drug involvement.

Student treated for ingesting cleaner

A student was taken to a hospital for treatment after he drank household cleaner in an apparent suicide attempt, according to police logs. Police were called to the 600 block of Park Avenue at 12:56 p.m. Friday, and met the student at the nurse’s office.

The victim, a juvenile, was transported to Mission Hospital, according to the logs.

12-man brawl leads to arrest, police say

A man was arrested at 6:56 p.m. Friday after police were called to the north end of Heisler Park on a report of a fist fight involving 12 homeless men, Kravetz said.

One man, alleged to be the instigator, left as police arrived, and then ran down a bluff when officers told him to stop. The officer caught and arrested Justin Robert Levins, 28, on suspicion of resisting arrest. No charges were filed in the fist fight incident because the people involved did not want prosecution. There were no injuries and police do not know what the fight was about.

ONSTAR response leads to DUI arrest

A driver with ONSTAR was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence at 1:30 a.m. Saturday at Summit Drive and Bluebird Canyon Road, Kravetz said. ONSTAR called Laguna Beach police to report an accident involving a client in a BMW in which air bags were deployed. ONSTAR had called the driver, Darin David Rasmussen, 41, who said he was OK and was leaving a note at a vehicle he had just hit.

When police responded, it turned out that Rasmussen had hit a fence and a parked Toyota SUV in the 700 block of Summit Drive. Rasmussen was not injured. Police arrested him on suspicion of DUI.

Man jailed when unable to pay for $12,000 bail

A man who racked up 12 warrants for his arrest was taken into custody at 8:19 p.m. Friday in the 800 block of Glenneyre Street, Kravetz said.

Jeffrey Paul Carmichael, 50, had 11 warrants on suspicion of drinking in public and one on a drunk in public allegation. Carmichael was taken to Orange County Jail when he could not post bail of $12,000 “” $1,000 for each warrant.

Bedding stolen while residents away

Residents of a home in the 200 block of Diamond Street reported at 2:21 p.m. Monday that they returned home after being away for some time to find two smashed windows at the house, Kravetz said. A suspect apparently broke the windows to enter, and stole two bedspreads and a pillow, totaling $110. Nothing else was taken from the home.

Grocery clerks almost catch deli thief

Police are seeking a man suspected of habitually stealing deli meat from the Ralphs in the 700 block of South Coast Highway over a period of time, Kravetz said.

Employees told police they have been finding empty deli meat containers around the deli area, and apparently the suspect has been taking the meat out of the box and walking out of the store with it.

On Tuesday, the store employees caught the suspect allegedly in the act and confronted him. The suspect ran to his vehicle and a store employee stood behind the vehicle, but the suspect backed out and fled with the meat. The store clerk moved out of the way and was not hit.

The suspect is described as a 25-year-old white male driving a silver two-door Scion with paper license plates.

Resident says home repeatedly burglarized

A resident in the 400 block of Oak Street reported that her home has been broken into on at least four occasions since December, Kravetz said. The suspect has stolen money, and clothing has also been taken. The total loss of the four residential burglaries is $1,180. There are no signs of forced entry. The report was made at 10:03 a.m. Monday.