BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Suspect in Laguna bank robbery nabbed nearby

The FBI believes they have in custody the suspect in a January Bank of America robbery in Laguna Beach “” and a lengthy string of robberies throughout the state, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

Daniel James Dunleavy, 60, of Long Beach, was arrested last week in Corona del Mar waiting for a bus after allegedly robbing a Bank of America in that area.

In both incidents, the suspect told a teller he had a bomb.

Newport Beach police apprehended the suspect a short time after the latest robbery on March 6, sitting at a bus stop at Iris Avenue and East Coast Highway.

“Shortly after the Newport Beach arrest, we were alerted by the FBI that the suspect in custody might be the same person who robbed the Bank of America in January,” Kravetz said.

“The FBI is investigating the series of bank robberies.”

The suspect was dubbed the “turtlehead” bandit or the “chin” bandit because of the unusual shape of his chin, which was covered up by a bandage in the Laguna robbery.

The suspect is believed to be responsible for at least 10 robberies, six in San Francisco and four in the Los Angeles area, according to the FBI.

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Laguna man held in rape, assault

Jack Starkey, 24, of Laguna Beach, was arrested March 6 on suspicion of raping and committing domestic violence and false imprisonment on a 31-year-old woman, according to police.

Starkey was being held at Orange County jail in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to sheriff’s department records. He is due to appear in court on March 21.

The victim sustained minor injuries in the incident, which occurred in Laguna Beach.

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Increased DUI enforcement planned

Enhanced DUI enforcement is on tap for Laguna Beach. Increased special enforcement measures will be conducted throughout the next year as a result of a recent $11,625 grant awarded by the Office of Traffic Safety.

The grant will assist in efforts to deal with an increase in impaired driving problems.

Last year, 1,597 people were killed and more than 31,000 injured in California in drug- and alcohol-related crashes.

The grant-funded activities will target DUI offenders and drivers with suspended or revoked licenses.

This will be done through the use of checkpoints to screen for drivers who may be impaired or operating without a valid driver’s license. Checkpoints have been shown to significantly reduce DUI fatalities.

Funding for the grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Bicyclist airlifted after injury in wilderness

A man was airlifted out of the wilderness near Park Avenue in Laguna Beach Saturday morning.

The man was mountain-biking on a fire road when he injured his back. A rescue helicopter was called to take him to Mission Hospital at 9:11 a.m.

The injuries were not life-threatening, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

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Mailboxes stolen from apartment complex

Eight mailboxes were removed from an apartment complex in the 200 block of Arch Street between 6:30 p.m. March 6 and 8:30 a.m. March 7, according to police records.

The boxes were all attached to each other.

An unknown suspect took the mailboxes, and any mail inside them, and fled.

The mailboxes have not been recovered, police said.

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Marine reserve sign goes missing

The pole for a large wooden sign informing beachgoers of the rules regarding the city’s tide pools washed up at Main Beach on March 7 at 9:36 a.m., according to police records.

The sign itself was nowhere to be found, and had apparently been pulled out of the ground and taken away or was washed out to sea.

The sign is worth $678, police said.

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Teen held after heroin found in her room

A 17-year-old Laguna Beach girl was arrested on suspicion of drug possession March 9 after her mother found heroin in her room.

The girl was transported to juvenile hall and police are seeking charges against her, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

The girl, who’s name was withheld because she is a juvenile, was already on probation from a previous arrest, Kravetz said.