An 89-year-old Rossmoor man was hit by a car as he tried to cross Los Alamitos Boulevard Thursday, Oct. 28.
The victim is in the hospital and listed in critical condition. The driver was apparently sober at the time of the accident.
The incident caused major traffic congestion in the area, prompting the chief of the Los Alamitos Police Department to issue a letter to the public about the accident.
According to a Los Alamitos Police Department press release, Tzu Tseng Wang was in the crosswalk when he was struck by a maroon Honda Civic at about 6:51 a.m.
The driver, a 60-year-old woman who has not been identified, was making a left turn from Orange Avenue onto Los Alamitos Boulevard when the collision occurred.
Wang was treated at the scene by Orange County Fire Authority Engine 2 of Los Alamitos.
Wang sustained multiple injuries to his head, hip and legs. He was transported to Long Beach Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition.
Los Al Police Chief Todd Mattern, in a letter to community members, explained that because of the severity of the victim’s injury, it was necessary to “freeze” the scene. “Unfortunately, these types of investigations require street closures that can last for several hours,” Mattern wrote.
“In this case, traffic diversion was especially problematic because there are no parallel major streets within miles that could have been used as detours,” Mattern wrote.
He went on to point out that the collision took place during morning rush hour, causing gridlock in the Rossmoor, Los Alamitos and Seal Beach area.
Mattern wrote that investigators were able to reopen Los Alamitos Boulevard at about 8:30 a.m.
The case is currently being investigated by the Serious Traffic Accident Response Team, which is comprised of investigators from both the Seal Beach and Los Alamitos police agencies.
Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call Los Alamitos Police Sgt. Maria O’Connell at (562) 431-2255.
Mattern’s complete letter may be found at http://losalamitospolice.blogspot.com/2010/10/letter-from-police-chief-regarding.html.
To make a comment on this story at the Sun Newspapers’ Web site, go to Sunnews.org.
SBPD joins online social network
Special to the Sun
The Seal Beach Police Department has launched pages on two social networking sites.
According to a press release, the purpose of the SBPD’s new Facebook and Twitter pages is to expand communications with and provide information to its “customers”—the public.
Police Chief Jeff Kirkpatrick said that while the city’s SBTV3 local access cable station provides a steady stream of information for the public, use of Facebook and Twitter will provide residents, businesses and visitors with quick and easy access to the latest information. He added that he hopes use of the two sites—which are especially popular with young people—will encourage young people to keep informed on and involved in police department news and activities.
The agency’s Facebook Fan Page can be found by conducting a search on your Facebook page. The Fan Page provides a forum for the community to leave comments on individual postings.
The Seal Beach Police Department isn’t the only local law enforcement agency with a social network presence. Los Alamitos Police Department maintains a blog, a Facebook page and a Twitter page. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department also maintains Facebook and Twitter pages. The address is Twitter.com/SealBeachPolice.
Subscribing to Twitter allows Seal Beach Police “followers” to get up to date information and breaking news as it occurs.
Information entered by the Seal Beach Police Department on the Facebook site is automatically entered on Twitter.
For more information, call Sgt. Steve Bowles, SBPD public information officer, at (562) 342-7391 or e-mail SBowles@ci.seal-beach.ca.us.
To make a comment on this story at the Sun Newspapers’ Web site, go to Sunnews.org.
SB community officer
nominated for ‘Property Officer of the Year’
Seal Beach Community Service Officer Dominic Sarabia has been nominated for Orange County Property Officer of the Year. He was nominated by the O.C. Regional Chapter of the California Association for Property and Evidence, Inc.
Sarabia is Seal Beach’s property and evidence technician, splitting his time between managing the Seal Beach Police Department’s Property and Evidence room and parking control.
To make a comment on this story at the Sun Newspapers’ Web site, go to Sunnews.org.
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 Oct. 18 and Oct. 25, 2010.
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, October 18
Welfare Check—6:07 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway and Seal Beach Boulevard—A bicyclist fell of his bike and almost fell into the path of traffic while riding southbound on Seal Beach Boulevard. The caller thought he might be under the influence of either drugs or alcohol. At 6:23 p.m., another caller said the bicyclist had just fallen again. Police unit 217 contacted the bicyclist. He was arrested for public drunkenness.
Tuesday, October 19
Traffic Stop—3:04 a.m.—Landing Avenue and 12th Street—Police unit 217 arrested a man for driving under the influence. The suspect’s name was Trevor Fajardo. He was born Nov. 1, 1984.
Attempted Burglary Report—6:48 a.m.—Primrose Circle—Someone apparently tried to break into a caller’s home during the previous night. The kitchen door had signs of tampering and the screen was bent. There was also a footprint in the dirt outside the door. The caller didn’t desire a report. Counseled.
Wednesday, October 20
DUI—11:24 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller used a cell phone to report someone driving on the Seal Beach Pier. Police unit 217 arrested a woman for driving under the influence. The suspect’s name was Rosemary Torres-Medina. She was born June 30, 1990.
Thursday, October 21
Hazard—8:27 a.m.—College Park Drive—The caller said large rocks were placed on the bike trail under the bridge near College Park Drive. The caller said it looked as though the rocks were placed there on purpose. The rocks were removed from the path by 8:59 a.m.
Vehicle Burglary—7:44 a.m.—Hazelnut Avenue—The caller said the inside of the car was ransacked. Loss: unknown. Point of entry: unknown. No suspect information. The crime apparently occurred between 11:15 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20 and 5 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 21. No report desired. The caller just wanted the incident to be logged.
Vehicle Burglary—8:05 a.m.—Ironwood Avenue—Point of entry: unknown. Nothing was taken. No suspect information. The inside of the car was apparently ransacked. The crime occurred between 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20 and 7:40 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 21. Log entry.
Friday, October 22
Vehicle Burglary—9:28 a.m.—Rose Street—Point of entry: through the side door. Loss: unknown. Interior ransacked. No suspect information. The crime apparently occurred between 10:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 21 and the time of the call to police. Report taken.
Petty Theft Report—12:45 p.m.—Hazelnut Avenue—Someone rummaged through the caller’s unlocked vehicle during the night. Loss: a maglight. The caller requested documentation. Log entry.
Welfare Check—4:03 p.m.—Montecito Road—A request to check on the welfare of a resident resulted in the arrest of Timothy Miranda, born Feb. 6, 1969, on a bench warrant for possession of burglary tools.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—7:07 p.m.—Montecito Road—Two Asian men were removing cabinetry and other items from the location and loading the items into a van. The caller thought this was suspicious because they were using a shopping cart to move items to the van. Police unit 216 determined the men were workers.
Saturday, October 23
Welfare Check—6:55 a.m.—Plymouth Drive and Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller was concerned about an elderly man riding a motorized wheelchair in the number three traffic lane while wearing all black attire. The caller said he was hard to see.
Animal Information—11:36 a.m.—Main Street—The caller said two large dogs had been tied up in front of the location for the past hour. Another citizen advised police that one of the dogs was a mastiff and that the mastiff tried to attack another dog. According to the log, the dogs were removed from the area as of 11:51 a.m.
Sunday, October 24
Suspected DUI—1:08 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard and Golden Rain Road—The caller used a cell phone to contact 911 about a possible drunk driver. The motorist was stopping at green lights and swerving in lanes. Police unit 216 contacted the driver. The driver was given directions. Assisted.
IN LEISURE WORLD
Monday, October 18
Fire Back Up—2:14 p.m.—McKinney Way, Mutual 15—The Orange County Fire Authority was en route. Smoke was inside the kitchen. The caller lived on the second floor of the building. No one was home downstairs and the windows were hot to the touch. Police unit 116 confirmed there was a fire. The OCFA handled the fire.
IN LOS ALAMITOS
Monday, October 25
Open Door—1:32 p.m.—Pine Street—The caller said a neighbor’s gate was open and the dogs ran loose. The caller met officers and helped get the dogs back in the yard.
Tuesday, October 26
Disturbance, Juveniles—6:01 p.m.—Los Alamitos Boulevard—Juveniles pulled cement blocks off a wall. The juveniles left the scene, but a report was filed.
Wednesday, October 27
Traffic Hazard—6:34 p.m.—Bloomfield Street—Two 18-wheelers sat in the turn lane for more than 30 minutes. The trucks were moved as officers arrived.
Thursday, October 28
Water Problem—7:54 a.m.—Chestnut Street and Catalina Street—The caller reported water coming up from the ground near a garage.
Friday, October 29
Keep The Peace—2:56 p.m.—Farquhar Street—The caller was going to to pick up a check from a business and expected trouble. Officers assisted.
Saturday, October 30
Suspicious Circumstances—11:14 p.m.—Pine Street—The caller heard a scream of terror, possibly from an alley.
Sunday, October 31
Welfare Check—3:34 p.m.—Cerritos Avenue—An individual left for the store an hour earlier and had not returned. The missing person returned as officers took a report.
IN ROSSMOOR
Friday, October 25
Fraud Report—6:34 p.m.—Montecito Road—No further information was available.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—11:51 p.m.—Copa D’Oro Drive and Silver Fox Road—An individual described as a transient was detained. The individual agreed to leave the area.
Tuesday, October 26
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—3:48 a.m.—Foster Road and Copa D’Oro Drive—A vehicle was found with an open door.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—9:22 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive—The caller reported a Hispanic man in a white truck.
Suspicious Person in Vehicle—4:26 p.m.—Bellwood Road and Brimhall Drive—The occupant of a silver Volkswagen was detained and released to the occupants parents.
Wednesday, October 27
Keep the Peace—9:32 a.m.—Kensington Road—This was a civil matter concerning a child custody dispute.
Suspicious Person or Circumstances—9:23 p.m.—Donovan Road—A dog’s excessive barking excessively led a resident to suspect an intruder was on the side of his house.
Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputies checked the residence. They did not find anyone.
Thursday, October 28
Petty Theft Report—9:44 a.m.—Martha Ann Drive—No further information was available.
Friday, October 29
Stolen Vehicle—6:51 a.m.—Copa D’Oro Drive—Call cancelled prior to the arrival of a Sheriff’s Department unit.
Burglary Report—10:37 a.m.—Rossmoor Way—This turned out to be a citizen requesting assistance. No burglary report was required.
Burglary Report—12:14 p.m.—Montecito Road—This was not a burglary, either. A deputy took a trespassing report.
IN SUNSET BEACH
Wednesday, October 27
Fraud Report—11:07 a.m.— Pacific Avenue—A report for identity theft was taken.
Thursday, October 28
Drunk in Public—5:38 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—An intoxicated individual was reported in front of Viking Liquor. The individual was detained. The individual was cooperative and agreed to leave the area.
Brian Smith of the News-Enterprise contributed to this article.
