End of Year Crime Log: Sleeping parolee one of silliest crime stories of 2011

When you are a fugitive parolee, you probably don’t want to attract police attention.

Sleeping in a parked vehicle that doesn’t belong to you is likely to attract the very attention you want to avoid.

On Thursday, Feb. 10, Seal Beach Police officers found a stolen vehicle with a sleeping occupant inside. It was 9:47 a.m. It turned out the snoozing occupant of the car was a parolee wanted for an outstand warrant out of Las Vegas.

Donald Tatich, born Aug. 3, 1950, was booked for possession of stolen property—the car—and for the outstanding warrant.

This incident gave Tatich the dubious distinction of being one of the silliest people to make it into the Sun Crime Log this year.

Not to mention his return to prison, which is probably a less restful place to sleep than the inside of a car.

But he wasn’t alone in his foolishness.

In one instance, for example, a suspected crossword puzzle fan turned desperately to law enforcement for help.

Below is a look at the sillier Crime Log entries for the year.

Current News-Enterprise Editor Ted Apodaca  and former News-Enterprise Editor Brian Smith contributed the Los Alamitos items to this article.  Thanks, guys.

Thanks also to the cops, dispatchers, support personnel and citizens of Seal Beach.

Monday, January 21

You need a permit and a much better pitch—1:53 p.m.—Ironwood Avenue—A young man described as a teenager was reportedly going door to door, insisting he needed to shake people’s hands. Seal Beach Police unit 116 advised him about soliciting business without a permit.

Tuesday, February 15

Grease Collecting—11:05 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller complained about a large tanker truck with a generator that had been making noise for the past 20 minutes. Seal Beach Police unit 242 contacted an individual who was responsible for the truck. The truck was emptying grease tanks at the location. This was described as a “bi yearly” occurrence. The truck would be finished in 10 minutes as of 11:39 p.m. He was advised to stop making noise and said he would comply.

Tuesday, April 5

Sleeping on a bench—2:50 p.m.—Farquhar Avenue and Los Alamitos Boulevard—A man was sleeping on a bus bench. The responding Los Alamitos Police Department officer found a man waiting for a bus.

Tuesday, April 5

Even identity thieves pay taxes—10:13 a.m.—Brookline Drive, Mutual 9—A Leisure World woman attempted to file taxes on Monday, April 5, only to learn someone else had filed taxes under her name and Social Security Number. Report taken.

Wednesday, April 6

Come back soon, friends—1:19 p.m.—B Row, Surfside Colony—A citizen reported that a whale appeared to be beaching itself in front of the Surfside Colony.

A whale rescue organization was apparently present. According to the dispatch log, someone told the officer assigned to Seal Beach Police unit 107 that California gray whales prefer shallow waters for feeding and cleaning during their migration. At 1:46 p.m., unit 107 told dispatch the whale was about 100 yards out from the beach. Police unit 107 continued to monitor the situation. At 1:59 p.m., the log recorded the conclusion to the story: the whale had moved on.

Tuesday, April 12

You didn’t notice the newspapers?—4:18 a.m.—14th Street and Landing Avenue—The caller said a vehicle kept stopping, then going in reverse and making U turns. The caller followed the suspicious vehicle in the alley off Electric Avenue at 14th Street and Dolphin. Seal Beach Police unit 207 determined there was no need for police services. It turned out the driver was a newspaper delivery man.

Friday, April 15

Neither Chivalry nor chauvanism are dead—11:33 a.m.—10th Street and Central Avenue—The caller wanted police officers to stand by while he spoke with construction workers at the location. The construction workers had reportedly harassed his girlfriend every morning as she left for work.

Wednesday, May 25

The smallest burglar in Seal Beach—8:36 a.m.—Canoe Brook Drive—The caller said there was a squirrel in his bedroom. The squirrel was not attacking him, but he requested Long Beach Animal Care Services, which provides animal control services to Seal Beach.

Saturday, June 11

Sir, your sense of humor needs work—9:47 p.m.—8th Street—The caller said someone was at his door, claiming to be a policeman. The caller didn’t believe them. The call was cancelled before a police unit was dispatched. The “policeman” turned out to be a prank arranged by a friend.

Thursday, June 16

Doesn’t anyone use a dictionary anymore?—10:30 a.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—A man actually called 911 to ask for a three letter word for captain of the sea.

Wednesday, June 22

To be fair, the caller apparently didn’t see the driver—9:27 a.m.—Copa De Oro Drive —The caller asked for an Orange County Sheriff’s Department patrol check for an older white sports utility vehicle with pool equipment in the back that had been parked in front of the location for the past half hour after driving up and down the street. No description of the driver.

The caller said they all use the same pool man and the vehicle did not belong to their pool man. It turned out to be the usual pool guy with a different vehicle.

Saturday, July 23

Actually, that is a reasonable time of day for work—11:14 a.m.—5th Street—The caller complained about an individual sanding glass bottles off and on for over a month. The caller said the sanding was extremely noisy. Police unit 107 contacted the individual who was sanding the bottles. The individual turns wine bottles into lamps. Seal Beach Police unit 107 determined there was no crime of any type. However, the lamp maker agreed to stop sanding bottles for the day.

Friday, July 29

Sir, please pay attention—11:58 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller said a man was holding a camera over the glass window in the women’s restroom. Police unit 107 contacted a man matching the suspect’s description in front of Seal Beach Lifeguard Headquarters. All the photographs on the camera were of landscaping and signs. The man was interviewed in the field and advised to be aware of his surroundings when taking photographs.

Tuesday, August 2

You forgot something, you stupid crook—7:30 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said someone tried to steal a 30 pack of beer from the business. The log did not include a description of the suspect. However, it didn’t matter. The would-be thief left the beer in the parking lot and drove away. Log entry.

Wednesday, August 10

The last grease collection—10:31 p.m.—Pacific Coast Highway—The caller complained about noise coming from a loud generator at a business. Police unit 241 contacted the grease removal contractor. The contractor said this was his final stop at the location because the business is no longer there. Matter solved.

He’s not a prowler, he’s a repairman

On Wednesday, Aug. 17, a Seal Beach citizen became suspicious upon spying a stranger opening at least one garage door, looking inside and then closing the doors.

According to the police log, the incident occurred at or near the intersection of 4th Street and Ocean Avenue.

The citizen called the Seal Beach Police Department. The citizen described the man.

SBPD unit 107 responded.

The officer determined that the “suspcious subject,” meaning the individual who was the subject of the officer’s call,  was working on the  washer/dryers at a location on Ocean Avenue. Disposition: Matter solved.

Monday, September 5

Where there is no smoke … —1:02 p.m.—Marina Drive—The caller reported finding a bag of marijuana and a pipe near the raquetball courts. It turned out there was no marijuana, just a pipe that was placed in the trash. Matter solved.

Tuesday, September 6

Cash is usually best anyway—7:52 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—The caller put his credit card in the dollar slot of the parking ticket machine. Assisted.

Thursday, September 13

You should learn the difference between grass and bushes—3:44 p.m.—Seal Beach Boulevard—The caller said a woman dressed in black was lying behind shrubbery. Police unit 106 determined that the woman was just waiting for a friend. She was not hidden in the bushes. She was just lying on the grass.

Saturday, October 1

You couldn’t have reported this sooner?—11:17 a.m.—Ocean Avenue—A citizen  flagged down Seal Beach Police unit 107 to report the theft of a bike. Loss: a green and black, 18-speed, 23-inch mountain bike that was taken over the previous week.

Thursday, October 13

That should be the worst thing that happens to you—10:42 a.m.—Oakmont Road, Mutual Unknown—The caller was on the phone with a customer when the woman, a Leisure World resident, may have passed out in mid-conversation. Leisure World Security was en route. As it turned out, the customer simply fell asleep. Matter solved.

Friday, October 14

Hole on the Beach—8:35 p.m.—Ocean Avenue—A citizen hailed Seal Beach Police unit 207 to report that a man was digging a  hole on the beach. The hole was apparently quite deep—the man was in the hole up to his chest. Police unit 207 located the hole west of the Seal Beach Pier. The log did not say why the man dug the hole in the first place. The man was apparently gone by the time police arrived.

The hole was filled in.

Sunday, October 16

First you have car trouble, then someone calls the police—12:38 a.m.—Lexington and Howard—Two individuals in an older white Mustang were reportedly eyeing a work truck. The caller believed they may be casing the work truck, possibly with the intent to break into the truck. The suspects had been in and out of their car. A police unit determined that their car has broken down and they were not casing the truck.

A guy who can afford an SUV can afford to buy beer—12:37 a.m.— Katella Avenue—The caller told the Los Alamitos Police Department that an individual stole some candy and attempted to steal some beer. The caller got the beer back and the suspect was last seen heading south on Noel in a red SUV—the perfect color for a getaway vehicle.

Man in tree prompts call to Leisure World Security

There was a man in her tree. It was well past midnight and there was a strange man in her tree with a flashlight.

According to the Seal Beach Police Department log, it was Friday morning, Oct. 21, when a Leisure World woman living in Mutual 15 spied the suspicious man outside her home. She called Leisure World Security.

It is not clear from the police log if Leisure World had a patrol unit in the area at the time or dispatched one. In either case, Leisure World Security confirmed that there was indeed a man with a flashlight in a tree on McKinney Way.

At 3:34 a.m., Leisure World Security called the Police Department. Police dispatched unit 241. The officer got the man out of the tree and arrested him for public drunkenness.

Monday, October 17

911 does not provide technical support—10:15 a.m.—17th Street, Seal Beach—The caller was an elderly woman having  television problems. She was advised to call Verizon FIOS.

Tuesday, October 25

And who will teach you?—5:59 p.m.—Dolphin Avenue, Seal Beach—It turned out the caller didn’t have an emergency. He was showing his wife how to use the cell phone.

Monday, November 7

Let’s hope he got a watch for Christmas—5:15 a.m.—6th Street, Seal Beach—The caller told the 911 dispatcher he meant to call for the time.

Thursday, November 10

If only this was all the cops had to patrol for—6:26 p.m.—Crestview Avenue—Seal Beach Police Unit 241 performed a patrol check for children who might not have been picked up from school. Log entry.

Sunday, November 20

You need a permit to play soccer?—12:19 p.m.—Landing Avenue—The caller said a group of 15 individuals were playing soccer on the baseball field. The caller said they accessed the property by jumping the fence. However, police unit 107 found they had a permit to play there. No further police services were necessary.

Monday, November 28

Reading is better for you anyway, son—1:21 p.m.—Sea Breeze Drive—Someone called 911 and hung up. The dispatcher called back, only to get an answering machine. The dispatcher tried again. The adult who answered said her 8-year-old son dialed 911 because she turned off the TV.

Friday, December 2

Scrooge was not a thief; the Grinch on the other hand … —6:40 p.m.—College Park Drive—The caller said someone stole Christmas decorations from the caller’s front yard.

Tuesday, December 6

You’ll be seeing that vehicle for several months to come—5:45 a.m.—Lampson Avenue—The caller said there was a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot near the tennis courts. The caller described the vehicle as an older model mobile home or camper with the light on in the back. The caller, a College Park East resident, had never seen it there before.

Police unit 106 determined that the people in the vehicle were construction workers from the 405 Freeway project.