Crime Log: Discarded fire alarm ties up emergency services in Seal Beach

At 12:23 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11, the Seal Beach Police Department received a report about a suspicious package. The caller reported a beeping noise coming from a bag in a trashcan in front of a business on Pacific Coast Highway.

Suspicious, the caller reported the strange circumstance to the police. The Seal Beach Police Department notified the bomb squad and the Orange County Fire Authority. According to the Crime Log, the bomb squad was at the scene at 1:50 p.m. The Fire Authority was present at 2:07 p.m.

In the end, it turned out no further emergency response was necessary.

The beeping noise in the bag came from a discarded smoke detector.

No Los Alamitos Crime Log this week

Due to the Sun Newspapers’ Thanksgiving holiday production schedule, the Los Alamitos Crime Log was not available at press time.

For the same reason, details were not available concerning calls made to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department about crime in the communities of Rossmoor and Sunset Beach.

Crime Log Assembled by Charles M. Kelly

The crimes listed in the Sun Newspapers were reported to Seal Beach Police Department, Los Alamitos Police Department and Orange County Sheriff Department between  Nov.  9 and  Nov. 22, 2009. Only street names are used; times given are reported times, not incident times. Crime Log entries are based on preliminary information. Space limitations make it impossible to publish every incident. Until proven guilty in a court of law, all suspects are considered innocent.

IN SEAL BEACH

Monday, November 9

Hazard—5:44 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said there was a power line dangling in the alley to the rear of the location. The Orange County Fire Authority was advised and dispatched a unit.  At 5:59 a.m., the Fire Authority notified the Seal Beach Police Department that the line in the alley were not a power line. It was a cable line. The Fire Authority did not know at that time which cable company was responsible for the line in question. It turned out the line belonged to Time Warner. The cable company fixed the line later that day. In the meantime, the Fire Authority placed cones around the line.

Reckless Driving—6:21 p.m.—Westminster and Seal Beach Boulevard—Police received a report that an elderly woman pulled into traffic and almost rear ended someone at the light at Bolsa and Westminster.

By the time caller reached dispatch, the driver was going westbound at Westminster and Seal Beach Boulevard.

The caller said the driver stopped at a red light. However, she kept pulling into the middle of the intersection before the red light. Then she had to back up behind the crosswalk.

Assist Other Agency—7:50 p.m.—Loyola Plaza and College Park Drive—In response to a request from the Long Beach Police Department, the Seal Beach Police Department sent two units to coordinate a perimeter to search for an armed robbery suspect. The suspect was described as a Hispanic male, 16 to 17 years old, 5 feet 9 inches tall, with short brown hair. He was wearing a gray sweatshirt and jeans.

He was last seen running toward Anaheim on foot while carrying a duffel bag.

The LBPD was handling the case. They just requested that Seal Beach conduct a search for the suspect.

Tuesday, November 10

Juvenile Problem—9:53 a.m.—Marina Drive—A school guidance counselor said a juvenile refused to go to school. The counselor asked the police to make him go to school. Seal Beach Police Department unit 113 dropped the boy off at school at 10:54 a.m.

Opossum—7:18 p.m.—Primrose Circle—The caller said an opossum tried to get through the caller’s fence, but got stuck. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.

The Long Beach agency is contracted to provide animal control services to the city of Seal Beach.

Wednesday, November 11

Extra Patrol Checks Requested—1:28 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller requested nightshift patrols for transients sleeping in the upstairs hallways of the complex.

Disturbance, Juveniles—4:20 p.m.—Marina Drive—The caller said four juveniles, two boys and two girls, were throwing water balloons at people.

Thursday, November 12

911 Hang-up—1:07 p.m.—Wisteria Avenue—A child was heard talking on the open line. There was no emergency. It turned out a little girl was play with the phone.

Bike Theft—7:32 p.m.—Seal Way—Loss: two bikes worth approximately $150 in all. The caller did not know when the crime occurred. Because of the value of the bikes, the crime was classified as a petty theft.

Bike Theft—8:30 p.m.—Seal Way—In a separate incident, a caller reported the theft of a green Raleigh bike stolen within the previous hour. The bike was  valued at $350.

Because of the value of the bike, the crime was classified as a petty theft.

Friday, November 13

Burglary Report—8:22 a.m.—Pacific Coat Highway—Loss: a pressure washer used by the caller for janitorial work. Point of entry: a tampered door. The crime apparently occurred between 6:15 a.m. and the time of the call to police.

Saturday, November 14

Prowler—1:21 a.m.—2nd Street—The caller reported a man white man in a leather vest in the back yard, possibly trying to break into the residence. The caller’s husband was watching him. Police contacted a suspect and arrested the man for public drunkenness.

Disturbance—9:52 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—A white man described as 50 to 60 years old was throwing things from the back balcony. Police arrested the man for public drunkenness. He was treated for an abrasion to his forearm.

Sunday, November 15

IN LOS ALAMITOS

Monday, November 16

Disturbance, Juveniles—1:41 p.m.—Bloomfield and Katella—Four juveniles in a vehicle were trying to touch the caller’s moving vehicle with their hands out the window.

Tuesday, November 17

Combative Patient—11;17 a.m.—Katella Avenue—An individual under treatment tried to leave the facility. The patient was counseled.

Wednesday, November 18

Traffic Hazard—8:59 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—A truck was doing work in the center median with no cones around it and vehicles had to swerve to miss it. Officers were unable to locate the truck.

Thursday, November 19

Suspicious Circumstances—6:25 p.m.—Humboldt Street—Someone was heard on the line, screaming to call the police. Sounded like it was outside the caller’s residence but no one was outside.

Officers found the incident to be a neighbor screaming for a friend.

Friday, November 20

Unknown Problem—6:12 p.m.—Oak Street—Orange County Fire Authority personnel were called, but turned out the caller wanted to speak to the police about an individual who reportedly tried to break into her house. She said it might have been a shadow as officers checked the perimeter and found nothing.

Saturday, November 21

Transient—11:24 a.m.—Cerritos Avenue—A man came into a business and was very combative to employees before leaving. He was last seen going down Cerritos.

IN ROSSMOOR

Wednesday, November 18

Grand Theft Report—11:55 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive.

Terrorist Threats Report—2:15 p.m.—Mainway Drive.

Thursday, November 19

Suspicious Person in Vehicle—4:48 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive.

Burglary Report—3:07 p.m.—Montecito Road.

Friday, November 20

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—12:34 p.m.—Montecito Road and Bradbury Road.

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—8:02 p.m.—Foster Road and Blume Drive.

Saturday, November 21

Suspicious Person or Circumstances—10:48 p.m.—Drysdale Lane.

Sunday, November 22

Vandalism Report—2:07 a.m.—Rowena Drive.

IN SUNSET BEACH

Wednesday, November 18

Suspicious Vehicle—1:10 p.m.—S. Pacific Avenue and 25th Street.

Thursday, November. 19

Unknown Trouble—12:41 a.m.—S. Pacific Avenue and 19th Street.

Saturday, November 21

Court Order Violation—12:45 p.m.—7th Street.

Sunday, November 22

Disturbance, Music or Party—12:44 a.m.8th Street.

Brian Smith of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.