Briefly In Public Safety

Fire forces evacuation at Landmark Plaza

The second floor of Landmark Plaza in the 300 block of Forest Avenue was evacuated after a fire was reported at 8 p.m. July 8. The incident led to the closure of Forest and Second Street for a time, according to city officials.

Firefighters knocked down a wall to extinguish the blaze.

‘Found’ swim fins lead to man’s arrest

A 40-year-old Lake Forest man was arrested at 12:18 p.m. July 10 after allegedly trying to “sell” a pair of lost swim fins to a Laguna Beach mother, said Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jason Kravetz.

The fins had gone missing while the woman’s son was participating in the Junior Lifeguard program, but the fins had the owner’s phone number on them. The following morning, the mother received a call from a man who said he found the fins and to meet him at Forest Avenue and South Coast Highway. She told the man she was going to give him a $5 reward. He allegedly responded, “We’ll see if the fins are still here when you get here,” Kravetz said.

When she arrived at the location, the man had a sign saying, “Ask how you can own these fins,” and when he allegedly refused to turn them over for less than $25, the mother went to the police station. The man told police the fins were his property because he had found them. Leonard Leroy Van Wagenen was placed under arrest on suspicion of possession of stolen property.

Man attacked outside hotel, suspect arrested

A 19-year-old Laguna Niguel man was arrested on suspicion of felony battery at 2:09 a.m. Saturday after allegedly attacking a man who bumped into him, sending the victim to the hospital, Kravetz said.

Police officers happened upon the fight, near the Holiday Inn. The victim told police he was walking southbound and accidentally bumped into the suspect, who allegedly began punching him in the face.

The victim went to Mission Hospital Laguna Beach with a lacerated eye and received stitches.

The suspect, Andrew Phillip Vanle, was held on the battery charge as well as two outstanding warrants, Kravetz said.

Bible found burned at vacant church site

The vacant St. Paul’s Lutheran Church was struck by vandals who broke windows and burned flags and a Bible, Kravetz said. Officers on foot patrol at 7:31 a.m. Saturday saw an open door at the church, in the 1100 block of Morningside Drive. Inside they saw various acts of vandalism.

“There isn’t any indication this is anything more than vandalism and might be kids partying on the premises,” Kravetz said.

Laguna man arrested in heroin case

A woman was taken to a hospital with a drug overdose and her boyfriend arrested on drug charges after police responded to a report of an unconscious woman at a home in the 200 block of Aster Street at 3:06 a.m. Sunday, Kravetz said.

Jordan Michael Rich, 26, of Laguna Beach, was held on suspicion of heroin possession.

Pedestrian struck in crosswalk on highway

A woman sustained elbow and head injuries after being struck by a vehicle while in a marked crosswalk at South Coast Highway and Calliope Street at 1:31 p.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

A vehicle in one northbound lane had stopped for the woman but another driver in the next lane did not stop and struck the woman.

The driver of the vehicle that did not stop is being held at fault and cited, Kravetz said.

Police: Vandals put phone in microwave

Three juveniles are accused of causing $375 worth of damages at Mission Hospital Laguna Beach, Kravetz said.

Hospital officials said that the trio “” two males and one female “” entered the hospital around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, and went into the empty cafeteria, where they put a telephone in a microwave and turned it on, causing smoke and damage.

They also allegedly broke a small scale and, in addition, broke into the cash register, which had no money.