Lewd conduct prelim
A preliminary hearing is scheduled to continue on Thursday, Oct. 1, that will determine if a former youth sports camp owner will go to trial on charges of sexually abusing a child. The preliminary hearing began on Thursday, Aug. 27.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Scott Durzo, who owned a youth sports camp business called the Total Sport Camp, was originally charged Friday, May 9, 2014, with nine felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under age 14.
According to the Orange County Superior Court website, all nine counts were based on an incident that allegedly occurred on May 1, 2005. Durzo was also charged with seven felony counts of lewd acts upon a child age 14 or 15, one felony count of sodomy with a minor, one felony count of displaying pornography to a minor, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for substantial sexual conduct with a child.
In June 2014, Durzo was released on $250,000 bail. The latest: A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27. A preliminary hearing determines whether a case will go to trial. All court hearing schedules are subject to change.
Tire iron assault
At 10:12 p.m., Sunday, June 28, 2015, Seal Beach Police officers responded to a report of an aggravated assault with a tire iron at the Mobil Gas Station on 12240 Seal Beach Blvd. Officers learned that the victim, a 26-year-old Cypress man, was filling up his gas tank when he was struck from behind with a tire iron. The victim suffered a large laceration to his head and was later treated/released from a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.
Seal Beach Police detectives on Thursday, July 16, arrested a 17 year-old male from Cypress on suspicion of aggravated assault.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office asked the court to try the suspect as an adult. Brayan (sic) Reyes has been charged with assault with a deadly weapon, assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm and second degree burglary (apparently from an incident unrelated to the gas station assault) as well as potential sentence “enhancements” for inflicting great bodily harm and using a dangerous or deadly weapon. The defendant has entered a not guilty plea.
Latest: A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 9. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled or Oct. 21. Reyes is in custody in the Orange County Jail.
Nursing home homicide
Roy Charles Laird, of Seal Beach, has been charged with one count of murder and with one enhancement of personally discharging a firearm, resulting in the 2010 death of his then 86-year-old wife. Laird was 88 at the time of his arrest.
The “enhancement” means Laird could be sentenced to 50 years to life rather than 25 years to life, meaning he would have to wait 50 years to be eligible for parole.The shooting occurred on Sunday, Nov. 21, 2010 in the victim’s apartment in the Country Villa Healthcare Center just outside of Leisure World. The DA’s Office reported that the victim was in late-stage dementia.
According to press reports, Laird was released and placed in a nursing home. According to the Orange County Superior Court website, Laird is out on a conditional release. No bail has been posted.
The latest: A pre-trial hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 8, 2016.
Child annoyance
On the afternoon of May 24, a citizen called the Seal Beach Police Department and reported a suspicious older man and a teenage girl sitting in a car together. Prior to officers arriving, the teenage girl got out of the car and the man fled the area. Witnesses told police that the man approached the girl on the Seal Beach Pier and offered to give her a ride in his convertible.
The girl accompanied the man to his car, where he reportedly offered her alcohol, displayed a large amount of cash and asked her to join him at his condominium.
Two citizens, who had been watching the man and the girl, intervened and told her to get out of the car.
The man became verbally confrontational with bystanders and fled before officers arrived on scene. Police say the man was positively identified after the incident in Seal Beach and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On May 28, Seal Beach Police Department detectives arrested a 64-year-old Los Angeles man named Michael Lux on suspicion of child annoyance and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. According to California law, child annoyance is behavior that is motivated by an unnatural interest in children. It is a misdemeanor.
The latest: An arraignment hearing was scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 26. Information about the hearing was not available at press time. Lux has been released on $35,000 bail.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
In Seal Beach
Thursday, August 13
Vandalism Report—8:27 a.m.—Bolsa Avenue—The caller said someone broke a lunch table over night, possibly by riding on it. The lunch tables were scratched with “SJ Ridingskateboards” on top of the tables. Extra patrol checks requested. Log entry.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicles—8:46 a.m.—Schooner and Galleon—The caller, relaying second-hand information, said a man wearing only his underwear was sleeping in a pickup. Police unit 107 contacted the man and advised him to discontinue sleeping there.
Suspicious—10:09 a.m.—Second Street—The caller said a man parked a bike in front of the caller’s home and then placed something in the bushes. The individual later came back for the bike and left. Police were unable to locate anything suspicious in the bushes or in the area. Log entry.
Counterfeit Bill—8:58 p.m.—Main Street—The caller was given a counterfeit bill (the denomination of which was blacked out in the log) for a take out order. The suspect walked northbound on Main Street toward Pacific Coast Highway. Report taken.
Friday, August 14
Malicious Mischief—1:31 p.m.—Candleberry Drive—Someone smashed a car window between 11:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 14, and 1 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14.
Saturday, August 15
Suspicious Vehicle—2:08 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Studebaker—Police unit 206 saw a driver stop in the middle of the street. The driver was detained. Blas (sic) Parraportillo was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving.
Assist Lifeguards—6:45 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—Police unit 940 was out with two participants in a dispute. One of the two individuals had reportedly thrown something from the pier at the other person. They were counselled.
Sunday, August 16
Vehicle Code—8:03 a.m.—Ocean Avenue and Dolphin—The caller said bike riders on Ocean Avenue were not stopping for pedestrians crossing the street. Beat units advised.
Bike Stop—8:07 a.m.—First Street and Ocean Avenue—Police unit 107 arrested Michael Anthony Mohasci on suspicion of giving false information to a peace officer.
Municipal Code—8:34 a.m.—Ironwood Avenue—The caller reported construction that had been taking place for an hour. The caller said this had been an on-going problem on Sundays. Police unit 106 advised a homeowner about the Seal Beach Municipal Code and the homeowner agreed to comply.
Monday, August 17
Transient—7:05 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a transient was on the patio, near the drive through, harassing employees and threatening to kill employees and customers. The caller said the man was advised against trespassing on Sunday, Aug. 16. Police unit 106 contacted the individual at Apollo and Westminster. According to police unit 107, the man did not trespass on this day because he did not enter the store. As of 7:51 a.m., management was advised about obtaining a restraining order. The suspect was advised not to return.
Burglary—9:42 a.m.—Spinnaker Way—The caller reported the theft of a beach cruiser from the caller’s garage between 10 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14, and 5:15 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 15. Report taken.
Tuesday, August 18
Coyote—3:47 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a coyote circled around the caller’s dog while he was walking the dog. The caller wanted a report. Referred sighting to Long Beach Animal Care Services. Counseled.
Welfare Check—10:18 a.m.—Landing Avenue—The caller said a man was passed out on the corner near the parking lot. The caller thought he was breathing, but he had been there all morning. Police unit 107 checked. The man was napping. Log entry.
Suspicious Person—11:20 a.m.—Crestview Avenue—A man walking a pit bull was talking to the caller’s kids. When the caller approached the man, he told the caller to look up gang.com. Police were unable to locate him.
Wednesday, August 19
Camp—9:21 a.m.—Bolsa Chica and Old Bolsa Chica—The caller said a transient camp with tents was being set up on the southwest corner of Bolsa Chica and Old Bolsa Chica. The caller believed there might be at least four transients there. Police contacted one individual. Police unit M7 requested Public Works. According to the log, Public Works staff intended to return Thursday, Aug. 20, to clean up a large encampment. Police interviewed one individual in the field.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—1:53 p.m.—Daisy Street—The caller saw three individuals in a van in front of the location. The caller had never seen them before and was concerned. However, at 2 p.m., the caller said she spoke with them and they were her gardeners. The call was cancelled prior to the arrival of a police unit.
Thursday, August 20
Vehicle Burglary—11:39 a.m.—11th Street—Point of entry: a window. Loss: unknown at the time of the report. Report taken.
Counseling—7 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller had a meeting with a woman to adopt a puppy. The woman grabbed the puppy out of the caller’s hands and refused to give it back. The suspect also took the caller’s cellphone and car keys and refused to give them back. Report taken.
Friday, August 21
Suspicious Circumstances—12:01 a.m.—Electric Avenue—The caller reported hearing someone in the alley between 12th and 13th streets saying, “Help.” The caller couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman. The caller couldn’t see anything—it was too dark. Police were unable to locate anyone.
In Leisure World
Friday, August 14
Petty Theft Report—1:25 p.m.—Annandale Drive—The caller, relaying second hand information, reported the theft of a small wheeled cart. The caller believed a suspicious person from an earlier incident was seen in the possession of the missing cart. Police unit 107 contacted the suspect. Gregory Whitaker was arrested on suspicion of petty theft.
Monday, August 17
Reported Drug Violation—7:36 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a man was outside Leisure World, near the globe, smoking a joint. Police unit 207 contacted an individual who met the caller’s description of the suspect. It turned out the man wasn’t smoking a joint—it was a cigar.
Smoke Investigation—7:40 p.m.—Del Monte Drive—The caller said people were evacuating the building.
The caller reported smoke, but no flames, coming from the building. The fire alarm was going off. The Orange County Fire Authority was en route.
At 7:45 p.m., the Fire Authority was still trying to figure out where the smoke was coming from. At 7:46 p.m., Leisure World Security was present and was opening doors to see where the smoke was coming from.
As of 7:48 p.m., it was determined that police services were no longer necessary. The source of the smoke had been identified: a resident had just burned a pot. Police advised the Fire Authority of this fact. Assisted.
Tuesday, August 18
Vehicle Code—12:08 p.m.—Golden Rain Road and St. Andrews Drive—The caller said a 60-year-old man with an open container was on a motorcycle. He was last seen going westbound on Golden Rain from St. Andrews.
In Los Alamitos
Saturday, August 8
Grand Theft Report—12:21 p.m.—Fenley Drive—The caller reported a theft of a tailgate to a 2015 Ford Super Duty F250 valued at $4,000 taking place overnight. Report taken.
In Rossmoor
Monday, August 10
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—4:07 p.m.—Ballantine Drive—The caller reported a black Ford with the engine running that was occupied by two individuals. The car had been there for more than an hour and the caller requested a check.
Laurie Hanson of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
