The Seal Beach Police Department has been awarded a $140,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic-related deaths and injuries.
The Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep local roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.
“The Seal Beach Police Department is proud to be a partnering law enforcement agency with the Office of Traffic Safety to conduct not only traffic safety enforcement operations but to provide an educational component to our traffic safety efforts,” said Police Chief Joe Stilinovich.
“This traffic component serves as a critical part of our Seal Beach Police Department mission which is to drive down crime and improve the quality of life for residents and visitors,” he said.
After falling dramatically between 2006 and 2010, the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions has been slowly rising. Particularly alarming are recent increases in pedestrian and bicycle fatalities, the growing dangers of distracting technologies, and the emergence of drug-impaired driving as a major problem.
This grant funding will provide opportunities to combat these and other devastating problems such as drunk driving, speeding, and crashes at intersections.
“Overall, California’s roadways are among the safest in the nation,” said OTS Director Rhonda Craft. “But to meet future mobility, safety, and accessible transportation objectives, we have to reverse this recent trend in order to reach our common goal—zero deaths on our roadways. The Office of Traffic Safety and the Seal Beach Police Department want to work with everyone to create a culture of traffic safety across Seal Beach and the State.”
Activities that the grant will fund include:
• DUI checkpoints.
• DUI saturation patrols.
• Distracted driving enforcement.
• Seat belt and child safety seat enforcement.
• Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement.
• Warrant service operations targeting multiple DUI offenders.
• Compilation of DUI “Hot Sheets,” identifying worst-of-the-worst DUI offenders.
• Specialized DUI and drugged driving training such as Standardized Field Sobriety Testing, Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement, and Drug Recognition Evaluator.
Crime Log Compiled by Charles M. Kelly
IN SEAL?BEACH
Dead Animal—7:31 a.m.—A Row, Surfside Colony—The caller reported a large, dead sea lion on the beach close to the jetty. Referred to Long Beach Animal Care Services.
Stray Animal—10:12 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—A police volunteer flagged down unit 444 to report a dog off leash. Police contacted the person responsible for the dog and advised him that the Municipal Code does not allow dogs to be off leash. The man responsible for the dog said he was leaving the area.
Saturday, October 31
Municipal Code Complaint—11:01 a.m.—Crestview Avenue—The caller said three mature Asian women were going door-to-door. The caller didn’t know what they were doing, but the caller did not believe they had a permit. Police unit 106 determined they were Jehovah’s Witnesses and not illegal peddlers. No further police services were necessary.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—5:49 p.m.—Eighth Street and Electric Avenue—The caller said the driver of a van stopped and asked a 16-year-old girl if she had cigarettes. When the caller asked why he was talking to the girl, the driver said he was staying at a local motel. The caller described him as a white man wearing a black baseball cap with a white t-shirt. The caller did not describe the driver’s age or build. The caller said the driver had a passenger with him, who was described as a white man, 20-30 years old, wearing a black baseball cap. They were last seen traveling northbound on Pacific Coast Highway in a white box truck with the words “affordable delivery” on the side. Police were unable to locate the van.
Sunday, November 1
Transient—10:08 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said a man, who the caller described as a transient, was seen walking from the front to the back of the location, loitering. He was gone by the time a police unit arrived.
Hazard—4:09 p.m.—Main Street—The caller said a car was leaking gas that was going down the gutter. Police contacted the Orange County Fire Authority to have them apply sand to the leak. The Fire Authority had arrived by 4:25 p.m. The firefighters cleaned up the spill and the car left.
Monday, November 2
Grand Theft Report—10:18 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The crime apparently occurred on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 11:03 p.m. Two suspects reportedly took different types of high end liquor from the liquor cabinet at the location. To qualify as grand theft in California, the value of the property taken must exceed $950. Report taken.
Petty Theft—1:18 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—Store security was chasing a man to the rear of the location. He and a woman may have fled into the Montecito Road area. Loss: three sets of bed sheets. Report taken.
Grand Theft Report—3:30 p.m.—Old Ranch Parkway—Loss: a cell phone, a tablet and computer accessories. Details were blacked out in the log. Report taken.
Patrol Check Requested—8:49 p.m.—First Street and Ocean Avenue—the caller said that four individuals inside a van had been harassing people. The van was last seen on First Street about five minutes before the call to police. The caller did not provide a description of the suspects. Police were unable to locate the van.
Tuesday, November 3
Extra Patrol Checks Requested—12:34 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller requested extra patrol checks for an apparently on-going problem with a transient sleeping in the walkway, leaving trash and cigarette butts behind. Log entry.
Suspicious Person—4:46 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a man and a woman were loitering in the front yard, taking pictures of the caller’s home. They were last seen going northbound on Ocean Avenue toward First Street.
Wednesday, November 4
Transient—7:54 a.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller said an individual was camping under the south bridge on Pacific Coast Highway in an orange/gray dome tent. The caller said there was an ongoing issue with this individual. The officer assigned to police unit 107 said he would advise on a follow-up.
Petty Theft Report—11:07 a.m.—Coastline Drive—The caller reported the theft of property from the caller’s unlocked car sometime on Sunday, Nov. 1. Loss: a backpack containing a passport, computer and an iPad. Report taken.
Suspicious Circumstances—9:41 p.m.—17th Street—The caller kept hearing loud noises outside of the caller’s house. The caller said it sounded like someone pushed against the caller’s door. The caller reportedly kept hearing random noises around the outside of the house. At 9:42 p.m., the caller heard what sounded like someone falling against the caller’s door. The caller was not expecting anyone at that time. Police unit 207 was unable to locate anything suspicious.
Thursday, November 5
Vehicle Burglary—8:17 a.m.—Bayou Way—Someone took an iPad and computer from the caller’s car between 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 4, and 7:30 a.m., Thursday, Nov. 5. Point of entry: unknown. Report taken.
Municipal Code Complaint—11:36 a.m.—Marina and First Street—The caller said a man on the bridge was fishing under the “No fishing” sign. Police were unable to locate the man.
Suspicious Person—1:36 p.m.—Kitts and Westminster—Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station personnel reported that a man tried to get on the base. Navy personnel asked for the Seal Beach Police Department to respond. Octabiano Barroza was arrested on suspicion of trespassing.
Suspicious Circumstances—9:01 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said an individual at the foot of the pier was shining a green laser at aircraft. Police were unable to locate the individual in question.
Friday, November 6
Malicious Mischief to a Vehicle—2:58 p.m.—10th Street—Sometime between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. that day, someone smashed the window of the caller’s car. No loss. Report taken.
Identity Theft—4:02 p.m.—B Row, Surfside Colony—Someone attempted to open an account in the caller’s name. No loss. Counseled.
Suspicious Occupied Vehicle—9:21 p.m.—Crestview and Avalon—The caller reported a pickup truck driving up and down the street. According to the caller, the driver appeared to be stopping and looking into residences. The truck was gone by the time a police unit arrived.
Suspicious Circumstances—9:46 p.m.—Candleberry and Fuschia—The caller said a man and a woman on bikes were loitering and possibly transient. It appeared that they were trying to fix one of the bikes. The caller was unable to provide a further description due to the darkness. Police were unable to locate them.
Saturday, November 7
Municipal Code Complaint—6:32 a.m.—Third Street and Ocean Avenue—The caller said a man and a woman had a large dog on the beach and off leash. They were gone by the time police arrived.
Grand Theft Report—11:42 a.m.—Marina Drive—The caller said someone took two bikes within the past week. The cable lock was cut. One bike was a black 15-speed street bike, the other was a gray and black 15-speed bike. Report taken. At 12:44 p.m., the caller reported finding one of the stolen bicycles. Supplemental report taken.
Possible Animal Cruelty—5:04 p.m.—Ocean Avenue and Main Street—The caller said a man was walking a dog and pulling the leash too hard. The caller said the man hit the dog in the face. Police were unable to locate the suspect.
Suspicious Person—8:27 p.m.—Catalina and Mar Vista—The caller said a man was walking through the neighborhood with an empty stroller. The caller thought the man appeared to be casing. Police were unable to locate him.
