BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Woman foils mugging attempt

A Mission Viejo mother was allegedly assaulted by a would-be robber on the 900 block of Laguna Canyon Road at approximately 6:40 p.m. Aug. 22.

The suspect, described by police as a male, age 15-25, ran up between the woman and her daughter as they walked away from the Sawdust Festival and allegedly tried to steal the mother’s fanny pack that was around her shoulder, Det. Lenyi said.

The victim held on to the pack, and a struggle ensued until eventually the suspect fled without the item and ran to a waiting black pickup truck, possibly a Toyota Tacoma, Lenyi said.

Police have released a composite of the suspect.

Anyone with information about this case may contact Det. Ross at (949) 497-0369.

Arrest made in theft of blind woman

A 27-year-old Santa Monica woman was arrested on suspicion of stealing from a blind woman at a coffee shop on No. Coast Highway Aug. 17.

A witness reported seeing the suspect steal a suitcase that was sitting next to the victim in the shop, Det. Lenyi said.

The suspect was arrested in the 100 block of North Coast Highway.

Man suspected of drinking and slurring

A man was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication after he and a friend allegedly harassed a group of women on Legion Street and South Coast Highway Aug. 18, Laguna Beach Police Det. Sgt. Darin Lenyi said.

The two men were allegedly making racial comments about the women’s Middle Eastern ethnicity and then allegedly threw chocolate ice cream at one of the women, hitting her in the back, Lenyi said.