BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Family burned in ceremonial fire

A Laguna Beach couple and their young daughter sustained second- and third-degree burns about 9 a.m. Wednesday morning in a fire in their backyard in the 31000 block of Laurel Lane in South Laguna, Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

“The homeowner, a long-time Laguna resident, was making preparations for a religious ceremony, which involved baking bread over an open fire,” Kravetz said.

“He squeezed either lighter fluid or gasoline on an existing fire that quickly exploded. His wife and 8-year-old daughter were standing nearby and sustained facial burns.”

All three were taken to South Coast Medical Center by other family members, and then quickly transported to Western Medical Hospital Burn Center via ambulance.

All will survive their burns, Kravetz said.

Traffic stop ends in arrest

An 18-year-old Anaheim man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a controlled substance after a traffic stop at 12:57 a.m. Thursday at Upland Road and South Coast Highway, Kravetz said.

Scott Ausin Cortes allegedly did not have a prescription for the medication, which resulted in a misdemeanor arrest of possessing a controlled substance.

Man arrested after being ejected from bar

A Costa Mesa man was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance after a disturbance at the Ocean Avenue Brewery at 12:57 a.m. Friday, Kravetz said.

Security officers took the man out of the bar because he was allegedly trying to start fights, taking off his shirt and acting aggressively, Kravetz said.

“It took six of our officers to get the man handcuffed,” Kravetz said.

The suspect, Tom Walas, 26, was also booked on a charge of resisting arrest.

Alleged drunk driver hits parked vehicle

A Laguna Beach man was arrested on multiple charges after his pickup truck allegedly plowed into a parked vehicle near Aliso Beach hard enough to eject a passenger and his dog at 5:35 p.m. Friday, Kravetz said.

The crash also knocked down a light pole and tied up traffic for about an hour.

Russell Ryan Shapley, 23, was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia, and held on $100,000 bail. He had minor injuries.

A 17-year-old and an 18-year-old in the parked vehicle were taken to Mission Hospital via ambulance for treatment of their injuries.

One sustained a severe leg laceration and a broken leg.

The dog was ejected from the parked vehicle and landed on Aliso Beach parking lot, but wasn’t injured.

The dog was held at the city animal shelter.

Early morning crash sends one to hospital

An Aliso Viejo teenager was taken to Mission Hospital after her vehicle was broadsided by another vehicle at 7:07 a.m. at Coast Highway and 10th Avenue, Kravetz said.

A 2009 Silver Chevy Suburban was making a left turn from westbound 10th Street to southbound Coast Highway, and hit a 1998 Acura RSX going northbound.

The Acura broadsided the suburban.

The 18-year-old driver of the Acura was taken to the hospital.

The driver of the other vehicle, who police allege caused the collision, is a 51-year-old resident of Parker, Colo.

She was treated by paramedics at the scene.

Man accused of making threats, battery

Ronnie Richard Spain, 55, was arrested for terrorist threats and battery at 10:12 a.m. Saturday at Main Beach, Kravetz said.

Spain, who police say is homeless, allegedly waved a steak knife at another homeless man and threatened to kill him, Kravetz said. Spain is also accused of using anti-gay slurs and stating he was going to harm the man because of that.

Spain also allegedly kicked the victim during the altercation at Heisler Park.

Alcohol training draws bigger crowd than planned

A recent training session for alcoholic beverage servers in Laguna Beach offered through the police department drew three to four times the number of participants as expected, City Manager Ken Frank stated in his April 10 Friday Update to city staff.

“Representatives from the California Alcohol Beverage Control and the California Bureau of Security and Investigative Licensing joined staff from our Police Department to provide this training opportunity that addressed issues related to regulating security personnel working in licensed establishments as well as employees who serve alcohol,” Frank wrote.

“Although initially it was anticipated that attendance would be 30 to 40 participants, the business community made an overwhelming response for this training resulting in more than 120 people attending this event.”