Staying out of the channel is the first step. But if you get caught in the watertry to stay calm
Staff Report
Following last weekend’s rescue of a homeless man from a West Orange County flood control channel, Los Alamitos Police Department posted a notice on their blog from Los Angeles County that advised the public on how best to avoid being caught in the current.
First: don’t go into the channel in the first place.
“It is against the law to be down inside a flood control channel, regardless of whether it is wet or dry,” said a notice from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.
According to the notice:
• If you fall in, try to stay calm.
• Try to float on your back.
• Use your legs to push yourself away from obstacles
• If you see a large obstacle, try to meet it head on and climb over it. Many people who get caught by obstacles in flood control channels die.
If you see someone fall into a flood control channel, the notice advised the following:
• Call 911 immediately.
• Do not get in the water with the victim.
• “Do not try to pull the victim out with your hands, rope, or similar device. Do not attach anything to yourself and toss it to a victim in the water. The force of the current will pull you in.”
To make a comment on this story at the Sun Newspapers’ Web site, go to www.sunnews.org.
Crime Log Compiled
by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Monday, April 2
Vehicle Burglary—6:40 a.m.—Candleberry Avenue—The crime apparently occurred between 9:30 p.m., Sunday, April 1, and the time of the call to police. Point of entry: a smashed driver’s side window.
Loss: a bag containing miscellaneous items collectively valued at about $800. Report taken.
Illegal Peddler—7:38 a.m.—Harbor and Bayou—The peddler was last seen on Bayou, selling magazines.
Municipal Code Violation—10:34 a.m.—11th Street—The caller reported an individual digging through trash cans in the area. Police unit 107 contacted two individuals. They were advised about the Seal Beach city code and they said they would comply.
Counseling—2:28 p.m.—Montecito Road—The caller complained about a neighbor walking a dog without a leash. Police unit 106 contacted both parties. It turned out to be a civil issue, meaning it wasn’t a law enforcement issue, concerning dogs on private property. No crime. The officer advised the parties to contact their homeowners association.
Disturbance—3:07 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller went into a bank and reported being followed by a white van that was last seen circling the parking lot and going behind the bank. Police unit 106 was unable to locate the white van in the parking lot.
Tuesday, April 3
Welfare Check—9:52 a.m.—Regatta and Spinnaker—The caller said a neighbor’s dog was barking loudly for the past 15 minutes. The caller said this was odd behavior for the dog. At 9:56 a.m., the log said the dog had stopped barking.
Suspicious Person—5:09 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a man at the door was acting suspicious. The caller said the man rang the doorbell awhile ago, then said he had the wrong house. He went down Ocean Avenue on his bike, then returned. Police unit 106 contacted the man and advised him that he could be arrested for trespassing if he returned. He said he would comply.
Wednesday, April 4
Burglary Report—11:54 a.m.—Fuchsia Circle—The caller was ready to file a report and had documentation of the loss. Report taken.
Petty Theft—12:44 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The crime apparently occurred at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 1. Loss: $300 worth of clothing.
Traffic Hazard—12:58 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard and Westminster Avenue—The caller reported a large number of bricks in the roadway. As of 1:17 p.m., the road was clear.
911 Open Line—2:42 p.m.—C Row, Surfside Colony—The dispatcher heard a child playing on the phone and an adult female in the background. Then the line disconnected. The dispatcher called back and spoke with an adult who said their grandchild had been playing on the phone.
Brandish Weapon—8:24 p.m.—Kitts and Westminster—The caller reported seeing a man with a gun chasing someone on a bike. The caller hung up or disconnected. Seal Beach Police contacted Naval Weapons Station security. The Orange County Transportation Authority bus did not pick up anyone. Police units checked the area but were unable to locate anyone suspicious.
Bonfire—10:18 p.m.—A Row, Surfside Colony—The caller said three or four individuals were around a bonfire on the beach. By 10:40 p.m., the fire was extinguished and the group had left the beach. Matter solved.
Thursday, April 5
Suspicious Circumstances—3:56 a.m.—Lampson—Someone attempted to open the door. The man hadn’t been seen in the last 10 minutes.
Missing Walker—12:41 p.m.—Medinac Lane—The caller said a walker was taken from the front porch. The walker was last seen the night before. However, the call was cancelled before a police unit could be dispatched. By 1:45 p.m., the caller had found her walker
911 Hang-Up—7:19 p.m.—Coral Place—Dispatch contacted an adult who said no police services were necessary. The citizen said her grandson had probably dialed. The unit was cancelled before it could be dispatched.
Disturbance—9:54 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a man just egged the caller’s house, The caller said there was an non-going problem with this individual. The suspect was described as a man wearing a black sweatshirt and a white T-shirt. He left the scene going westbound on the beach.
Suspicious Person—1:02 a.m.—Fourth Street—The caller saw someone with long hair and a hat. The caller did not know if it was a man or a woman. The caller said the individual left the caller’s screen door open.
Friday, April 6
Burglary Report—7:19 a.m.—First Street—The caller, reporting second hand information, said the theft occurred in the massage therapist area inside the gym. The crime apparently occurred between Monday, April 2, and the time of the call to police. Loss: an iPod docking station, a bottle of wine and a small coffee maker. Crime scene investigators would not respond because the area had been contaminated by the victim’s clients. Report taken.
Vehicle Burglary—9:51 a.m.—Hazelnut Avenue—The crime apparently occurred one month ago. Point of entry: a pried driver’s door. No loss. The caller requested a report for damage. No suspect information. Damage only to the driver’s door lock.
Log entry.
Petty Theft Report—1:26 p.m.—Dolphin Avenue—Point of entry: a passenger side window smashed. Loss: unknown. The crime apparently occurred between 8:30 p.m., Thursday, April 5, and the time of the call to police. It turned out there was no petty theft, only vandalism. Report taken.
Fireworks—9:12 p.m.—Central Avenue—The caller said juveniles to the rear of the fire station were lighting fireworks.
Police unit 243 contacted juveniles in an alley behind Seventh Street. They were advised not to set off fireworks and they said they would comply.
Saturday, April 7
Disturbance—8:18 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a man at the drive thru window was asking for money. The caller asked him to leave and he refused.
Fraud—9:39 a.m.—Landing Avenue—A citizen sold a generator online. When he went to take the cash to the bank, he was told the money was fake. Report taken.
Panhandlers—11:40 a.m.—Main Street—The caller said a man and a woman were sitting on a bench in front of the business with a sign asking for money.
Traffic Hazard—10:36 p.m.—405 Freeway and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller reported a tire in the number one northbound lane. The tire was removed from the road. Assisted.
Sunday, April 8
Disturbance—2 a.m.—Dolphin and Ocean—The caller said five or six juveniles were being loud near the lifeguard tower. Police unit 207 advised the juveniles to discontinue their behavior and they said they would comply.
Suspicious Vehicle—10:07 a.m.—10th Street and Electric Avenue—The caller reported a parked car with airbags deployed, broken glass and a damaged front tire. The unoccupied vehicle had fluid coming out of it. The vehicle was impounded.
Bike—4:31 p.m.—First Street—The crime apparently occurred between 8:30 and 10 a.m. The stolen bike, a yellow Electra beach cruiser with Hawaiian stickers on it, was valued at $550. The bike was locked on the stairwell, but the lock was broken. Report taken.
Municipal Code Violation—6:47 p.m.—Neptune and Ocean—The caller reported a woman with a dog on the beach. The caller said this was an on-going problem and requested extra patrol checks for the same.
IN Leisure World
Monday, April 2
Possible Trespassing—12:04 a.m.—Pelham Road, Mutual Unknown—The caller said an individual was present who was not supposed to be at the location. Police unit 106 checked the interior of the residence. The residence appeared vacant and there was no sign of trespassing. Log entry.
Tuesday, April 3
Brandishing Weapon—1 a.m.—Northwood Road, Mutual Unknown—The caller, relaying second hand information, said a resident reported a man coming to his door with a gun and a Bible. The suspect was last seen going into another unit.
Keep the Peace—3:43 p.m.—Northwood Road, Mutual Unknown—A resident’s grandson walked into the Leisure World Security office to report that a man was at his grandmother’s residence who was not supposed to be there. The citizen requested that officers stand by while the grandson asked the man to leave. Police unit 106 apparently advised the man against trespassing. Counseled.
IN LOS?ALAMITOS
Sunday, April 1
Disturbance—2:05 p.m.—Bloomfield Avenue—The caller said that a man argued with her about her driving habits. The caller said the man, in his 30s, had her car blocked in and refused to move.
He had his family in the vehicle as well.
Both parties were counseled.
Tuesday, April 3
Suspicious Circumstance—1:29 p.m.—Bloomfield Avenue—The caller said a man in his 20s with a white T-shirt and baggy shorts backed his Honda in his parking space and came into the business to ask to use the restroom. The caller refused and the man left towards Katella Avenue. The caller said that the car had major rear end damage and that he thought the man was hiding from someone.
Wednesday, April 4
Suspicious Person—12:33 a.m.—Humbolt Street—The caller reported catching a man in her back house who claimed he was there to work on the pool.
The caller told him he had the wrong house and the man went into the neighbor’s yard. The suspect was described as 25-30 years old, with blond hair, a blond beard and carrying a yellow bag.
He also had a shirt with a pool logo.
IN ROSSMOOR
Monday, April 9
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—4:14 p.m.—Bostonian Drive and Foster Road—The caller said a man in a white truck was taking pictures of houses. The caller did not need contact with a deputy.
Patrol Check—6:27 p.m.—Blume Drive—The caller requested a patrol check for a Labrador retriever running off the leash. The caller said the dog wasn’t attacking anyone, but considered it a nuisance. The caller, who the log described as irate, demanded a deputy respond instead of Orange animal control because the caller said they would take three hours. The caller did not want contact with a deputy.
Citizen Assist—6:29 p.m.—Montecito Road—The caller said an unknown person or thing dumped trash in his back yard.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:41 p.m.—Blume Drive—A man was arrested as a result of this call. He was released without bail the next day.
Tuesday, April 10
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—11:13 a.m.—Bostonian Drive and Foster Road—The caller said an unfamiliar vehicle was parked too far from the curb and occupied by a driver who was drinking an unknown beverage.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—5:50 p.m.—Martha Ann Drive—The caller just came home, only to be informed by his daughter that someone tried to open the back door several hours earlier.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—6:55 p.m.—Loch Lomond Road—The caller said several juveniles were on the roof of the school across the street.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—8:51 p.m.—Blume Drive—The caller requested a patrol check for five cars that had just pulled up in front of the park on Mainway. The caller thought that was too many cars to be at the park at that hour.
Wednesday, April 11
Keep the Peace—4:42 p.m.—Montecito Road—An individual threw pants into the caller’s back yard.
Thursday, April 12
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:53 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive and Oak Knoll Drive—The caller said a man sitting in a vehicle slumped down when the caller walked by.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—10:44 p.m.—Salmon Drive.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—11:52 p.m.—Orangewood Avenue and Los Alamitos Boulevard.
Saturday, April 14
Disturbance, Music or Party—12:52 a.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard.
Friday, April 13
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—11:15 a.m.—Tucker Lane and Blume Drive.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:36 p.m.—Donovan Road.
Unknown Trouble—7:57 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard and Hedwig Road.
Ted Apodaca of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
