Briefly In Public Safety

Man knocked out after hitting pole

A 31-year-old man was knocked unconscious after his vehicle hit a utility pole at 6:42 p.m. Saturday at Laguna Canyon Road and El Toro Road, Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz said.

The vehicle was traveling westbound on El Toro at a high speed and failed to negotiate a left turn onto Laguna Canyon Road, according to Kravetz.

The vehicle slid across the intersection and struck a utility pole, knocking the driver out for a brief time. The driver was taken to the hospital for treatment of moderate injuries.

The driver was not drunk, and the pole did not come down, Kravetz said.

Four cited in water balloon attack

Four people, including a juvenile, were issued citations after allegedly hurling water balloons at police officers and two females on the 200 block of Legion Street at 1:06 a.m. Sunday, Kravetz said.

The officers had followed the females from a local bar while checking for underage drinkers. While they were talking with them, a Toyota 4-Runner drove by and the occupants threw water balloons at the officers and the detainees, Kravetz alleged.

One of the females was struck in the head, but the officers were able to avoid being hit.

Another nearby officer pulled the vehicle over and all four occupants were issued citations for assault and battery.

Those cited were a 16-year-old boy, a 20-year-old man, a 20-year-old woman and a 19-year-old woman.

Drivers targeted in traffic operation

Laguna Beach police stopped 24 drivers who allegedly failed to stop for a pedestrian at a crosswalk during a decoy operation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15, Kravetz said.

During the operation, a male police employee, dressed in a purple suit, crossed back and forth in various crosswalks intersecting South Coast Highway and Glenneyre Street.

During this three-hour period, 20 drivers were issued traffic citations and four were given warnings for failure to yield to a pedestrian, Kravetz said.

Four motorcycle officers were stationed around the crosswalks in order to stop errant drivers, while a fifth officer monitored the operation from a police vehicle.

“With summer quickly approaching, we want to remind all drivers to cautiously approach intersections and be on the lookout for people crossing the street,” Kravetz said.

Six adults cited in underage sting

Six adults were issued citations April 16 during an undercover Alcohol Decoy Buy Program conducted by the Police Department, according to Sgt. Bob Rahaeuser.

Four decoys, all younger than 21, asked a total of 53 adults to buy liquor for them at nine retail outlets in the city. It is illegal in California to furnish alcohol to anyone 20 or younger.

“In most instances the decoys were turned down and scolded for wanting to drink,” Rahaeuser said. “Unfortunately six adults did agree to purchase alcohol for the underage decoys and were consequently issued misdemeanor citations.”

Personnel costs associated with the program are reimbursable through an Alcohol Beverage Control grant.

Police union joins online social sites

The Laguna Beach Police Employee’s Assn. has joined Facebook and Twitter, according to President Larry Bammer.

“After recognizing that social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter are great resources to communicate with the public, the Laguna Beach Police Employee’s Assn. has launched Laguna Beach Pea on Facebook and LagunaBeachPEA on Twitter,” Bammer said in an e-mail.

Woman sought in shoplifting

Laguna Beach police are seeking a woman who walked into a sport shop in the 200 block of Forest Avenue at 3:51 p.m. Saturday and stole multiple bathing suit bottoms worth $38 each, Kravetz said. The suspect had two children with her during the theft. The stolen bottoms were Billabong “Mosaic” style.