Briefly In Public Safety

Molotov cocktails reported at two locations

Incendiary devices, described as Molotov cocktails, were reported at two locations, according to Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Louis Callus. On Dec. 15 at 10:29 a.m., a resident reported explosive devices on a trail near Rancho Laguna Road and Morningside Drive. Police were dispatched and found remnants of two plastic bottles and several scraps of aluminum foil. “The bottles were stretched and partially melted, consistent with an aluminum/acid bottle bomb. The materials appeared to have been there for a least a few days before they were discovered,” Callus said.

A second report of a Molotov cocktail was made at 8:58 a.m. Dec. 17 in the 00 block of Stonington Drive.

“What looked like a possible Molotov cocktail was a bottle of tequila with a makeshift wick in it,” Callus said. “It is unknown if it was intended to be some sort of prank or an actual incendiary device.”

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Woman killed in collision

A 46-year-old Rancho Santa Margarita woman was killed as she attempted to cross South Coast Highway at Thalia Street at 6:38 a.m. Wednesday, Lt. Jason Kravetz said. The woman died at the scene. The incident is under investigation and is not believed to be related to the recent storms, Kravetz said. The victim was identified as Christine Uy, according to Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz.

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Man accused of heroin use

A 22-year-old Laguna Beach man was held without bail after his mother reported him using heroin at her home in the 30000 block of Ninth Avenue at 10:12 a.m. Dec. 17, Callus said.

Andrew Melkonian allegedly attempted to flee police by jumping off a second story balcony. Officers stopped him from making the leap, but Melkonian allegedly continued to resist. He was arrested on suspicion of resisting and held without bail on several bench warrants, Callus said.

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Man arrested in golf clubs heist

A San Juan Capistrano man was arrested on suspicion of stealing a set of golf clubs, along with two others, from a vehicle earlier in the week, Callus said. The clubs were in the trunk of a car parked in the rear of Ocean Avenue Brewery.

Donald Pierce, 37, was arrested at 7:08 p.m. Dec. 17 at Cleo Street and South Coast Highway. The golf clubs were recovered and returned to the owner.

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Teen accused of felony DUI

A 19-year-old Laguna Beach resident was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI after an accident in which his female passenger was taken to Mission Hospital Mission Viejo for treatment, Callus said.

Rhett Morgan Ewart was at the wheel when his vehicle hit a parked car at Catalina and Cress Streets at 11:48 p.m. Saturday. His passenger, 18, complained of soreness to her chest due the seatbelt, Callus said.

Ewart posted $100,000 bond.

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Checkpoint nets two DUI arrests

The Laguna Beach Police Department conducted its first of five planned DUI/driver’s license enforcement operations targeting southbound drivers on North Coast Highway at Crescent Bay Drive on Saturday, according to Lt. Jeff Calvert.

From approximately 9 p.m. until 1 a.m. 1,539 vehicles passed through the checkpoint. Of those, 344 vehicles were stopped and greeted by officers, 15 people were given field sobriety tests, and out of those, two were arrested on suspicion of DUI. In addition, the driving status of 14 drivers was checked and one was found be unlicensed and another six drivers were issued citations for not having their driver’s license with them.