Briefly In Public Safety

Student alleges text message threat

Laguna Beach police are investigating an allegedly threatening text message received by a middle school student from another student, Lt. Jason Kravetz said. The report was filed at 8:19 a.m. Feb. 10.

“We will have our juvenile investigator call the other people involved,” Kravetz said.

Mission Viejo man accused in Ecstasy case

A 22-year-old Mission Viejo man was arrested at 11:46 a.m. Feb. 10 in Lake Forest after undercover police allegedly arranged to buy Ecstasy from him, Kravetz said.

Jeffrey Shihgi Cheng was arrested on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and transportation of a controlled substance, both felonies. Cheng allegedly had a large amount of Ecstasy when he met with police for the drug transaction, Kravetz said.

Thief returns stolen items but escapes

An alert clerk stopped a shoplifter from getting away with two picture frames at 4:15 p.m. Feb. 10, but was not able to detain the suspect, who was also suspected in an earlier theft at a shop in the 300 block of Forest Avenue, Kravetz said.

The clerk thought the suspect was acting suspiciously and confronted the man when he was exiting the store. The man lifted his shirt which allegedly exposed two frames in his waistband, Kravetz said. The suspect returned the frames and fled on foot.

The clerk recognized him as the suspect in a larger theft one week prior of $2,360 worth of picture frames and a jewelry box. The returned frames had a total value of $59.

The suspect is described as a white male with short black hair and brown eyes, about 40 years old.

Multi-vehicle collision ends in man’s arrest

A 24-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested on suspicion of felony DUI and felony hit-and-run after he allegedly side-swiped three parked vehicles and rear-ended a fourth vehicle at Third Avenue and Coast Highway at 8:31 a.m. Saturday, Kravetz said. The driver of the vehicle that was rear-ended sustained minor neck injuries.

Matthew Jason Owens was held on $150,000 bail due to previous DUI and hit-and-run convictions, Kravetz said.

Owens, who was traveling southbound when the four vehicles were struck, allegedly did not stop and was located by police as he stood next to his 1997 Jeep Cherokee at Fourth Avenue and Coast Highway. The Jeep had major front-end damage and officers began a DUI investigation after allegedly smelling of alcohol. The Land Rover that was rear-ended also sustained major damage to the back of the vehicle.