Briefly In Public Safety

Pair accused of taking money order

A man and woman, both homeless, according to police, were arrested Sept. 1 on suspicion of cashing a $500 money order that belonged to a local businesswoman, police Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

The victim, owner of a South Laguna business, had obtained five $500 money orders, but when she returned to her business, one was missing.

She had a trace put on the money order in case anyone attempted to cash it, and a few days later, she was notified that the money order had been cashed at a bank in downtown Laguna Beach.

A police officer recognized the two names on the money order as two local homeless people, Kravetz said.

He located the two in the downtown area. They told the officer they found the money order and wrote their names on it to cash it.

James Louis Durand, 50, and Cheryl Larae Yoak, also 50, were arrested on suspicion of grand theft and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Woman accused of battery at Heisler Park

A fight between two homeless people at 6:11 a.m. Sept. 3 at Heisler Park ended in the arrest of a woman who allegedly told police she threw a chair and a cup of water on the victim because she felt threatened, Kravetz said.

Cheryl Ann Fairclough, 47, was arrested on suspicion of battery.

Spate of GPS thefts in Three Arch Bay

Three GPS devices were stolen from vehicles in the Three Arch Bay area the evening of Sept. 3, Kravetz said.

One of the devices, valued at $250, was reported stolen in the 00 block of N. Vista de Catalina at 7:25 a.m.

Man’s DUI arrest leads to drug charge

A 44-year-old Laguna Niguel man was arrested on suspicion of DUI and drug possession at 6:32 p.m. Sept. 4 at Forest Avenue and Second Street, Kravetz said.

J Rex Shepherd was pulled over for allegedly going through a stop sign at Glenneyre Street and Park Avenue.

He was already on probation for DUI and was taken into custody without bail.

During the booking search, police allegedly found a bag of cocaine on him.

Panhandler accused of assaulting man

A homeless man was arrested at 9:15 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of kicking a man who refused to give him money outside a coffee shop in the 100 block of South Coast Highway, Kravetz said.

The victim and his wife had come out of the coffee shop and were panhandled by a local homeless man, Kravetz said.

When the husband said “no,” the panhandler allegedly got up and kicked the man in the stomach.

The husband’s coffee spilled all over the ground and him. The victim grabbed the alleged assailant and detained him until officers arrived and arrested Paul Ogle, 53, on suspicion of battery and panhandling.

Musical altercation leads to arrest

George Hubert Reasons, a 58-year-old homeless man, was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a knife at a group of musicians at 10:05 p.m. Saturday in the 200 block of Ocean Avenue, Kravetz said.

A group of four was playing music near South Coast Highway and Ocean Avenue when Reasons approached them and allegedly complained that they were playing a song he had written. The song in question was “Hotel California” by the Eagles.

Reasons then allegedly pulled out a knife and displayed it in a threatening manner, but did not verbally threaten them.

Police were flagged down and officers allegedly found a 3 ½-inch knife in Reasons’ possession.

Boys face felony vandalism charges

Two Laguna Beach residents were arrested at 2:40 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of felony vandalism after allegedly breaking out the glass portion of a front door on Ocean View Street, Kravetz said.

The two boys allegedly tried to enter the home in pursuit of another boy inside the residence with whom they were upset for an unknown reason.

The boys, 16 and 17, were brought to the station on felony vandalism charges and released to their parents.

Woman, dog in custody after police encounter

A 29-year-old Dana Point woman was arrested at 8:43 p.m. Monday on suspicion of assaulting a police officer in the 800 block of Catalina Street, Kravetz said.

Officers were called to the home for a possible break-in, and found Megan Lauren Major inside.

Major was intoxicated and had entered a place where an ex-friend used to live, police said.

While officers were escorting her from the premises, she allegedly hit one of them and was then taken into custody, police said.

Officers went back inside to get her dog, and one officer suffered multiple punctures on his gloved hand from the dog continuously biting him, police said.

The officer went to the hospital for a tetanus shot, and the dog was taken to the animal shelter.