Briefly In Public Safety

‘Penis envy’ leads to assault arrest

A 24-year-old Gardena man was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon at 3:35 a.m. Tuesday at Main Beach after allegedly kicking a 26-year-old Aliso Viejo man in a dispute over whose penis was larger, Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

Police found the victim lying on the ground with a bloody face and two black eyes. The suspect and victim were part of a larger group that had been partying and drinking alcohol in Huntington Beach and moved to Laguna Beach because the beaches had closed in the other city, Kravetz said.

At some point, the suspect and victim began arguing over who had a larger penis, Kravetz said. When the suspect, identified as Alex John Leon, pulled his penis out, the victim reportedly called him a derogatory name and Leon allegedly pushed the victim to the ground and kicked him in the face with his shoes on, Kravetz said.

Police arrived to break up the fight, and the victim was taken to Mission Hospital Laguna Beach for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The suspect, Leon, was arrested on suspicion of assault, giving a false name to a police officer, and three warrants.

The warrants, out of Torrance, involved marijuana possession, vandalism and resisting arrest. He was held on $115,000 bail in Orange County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday, according to jail records.

Suspicions lead to man’s arrest

A 38-year-old Georgia man was arrested on various warrants after a citizen called police about a man apparently using or selling drugs near a shop in the 1300 block of North Coast Highway at 10:29 a.m. Aug. 20, Kravetz said.

A police officer located the man in the vicinity, smelled burning marijuana and saw the suspect throw something green-colored into the bushes, Kravetz said.

The officer determined the object was a cored-out apple used to smoke marijuana. The officer allegedly found a small amount of marijuana in the suspect’s possession, and also determined he had one felony and two misdemeanor warrants out for his arrest.

The arrestee was identified as Gregory Van Sexton, of Perry, Georgia. The warrants involved felony vandalism, public intoxication and driving under the influence. Van Sexton was held on was $17,000 bail.

Man allegedly damages skateboard ramp

Laguna Beach police are investigating a man who, apparently irate over a skateboard ramp set up near his home, was accused of damaging the ramp in the 2000 block of Alexander Road at 12:21 a.m. Aug. 20, Kravetz said. The ramp was valued at $1,200.

The suspect, who lives across from where the ramp was placed in the street, allegedly went over to the victim’s house and threw the ramp down a hill on the side of the victim’s house, causing extensive damage.

Kravetz noted that it is not legal to leave skateboard ramps, or other large sports equipment such as basketball hoops, on public streets, but it also isn’t legal to damage someone else’s property.

Partying youths cited at vacant home

Seven juveniles were issued citations after police were called to a vacant home on North Stonington Road on a report of young people trespassing and partying.

Officers found the group in the backyard, allegedly drinking and smoking marijuana, along with the son of the homeowner.

The juveniles were issued various citations, including marijuana possession, alcohol possession and tobacco possession, and released to their parents. Of the six boys cited, four were 15 and two were 16. A 15-year-old girl was also cited.

Woman accuses man of slapping her

A homeless woman accused a homeless man of slapping her in the face during a fight at 10:12 p.m. Aug. 21 in the 300 block of Cliff Drive, Kravetz said.

Jack Dennis Parker, 44, was detained on a citizen’s arrest and booked by police on a battery charge.

DUI checkpoint, license check tonight

The Laguna Beach Police Department will be conducting a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. today. This will be the third of four DUI checkpoints planned this year.

Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.