Briefly In Public Safety

Woman held after parked cars are hit

A 38-year-old Ladera Ranch woman was arrested on suspicion of DUI and hit-and-run after a citizen reported seeing a Ford Escape hit two parked cars near Alta Vista Way and Solana Way at 3:02 p.m. April 21, Lt. Jason Kravetz said. The suspect’s vehicle was seen heading toward South Coast Highway. Officers stopped the vehicle about 10 minutes later at Crown Valley Parkway and arrested the driver, Stefanie Michelle Handler.

Woman suspects tablemate in theft

A woman told police she suspects her wallet was stolen from her purse by a woman she was sitting next to at a luncheon April 21, Kravetz said. During the luncheon at the Surf & Sand Hotel, the victim got up from her table for 25 minutes and left her purse hanging on the back of a chair. Sitting next to her was a woman she had never met before. After she left the hotel, she went to make a purchase and discovered her wallet was missing. She reported the theft at 4:07 p.m. the same day. The monetary loss of the wallet and its contents is $638.

Old shoes add up to grand theft

A box containing 35 pairs of used shoes was reported stolen from a garage in the 700 block of Browncroft Road at 6:32 p.m. April 21, Kravetz said. The box was in an open garage when it was stolen. The total loss is about $7,000, a grand theft, because the shoes, although old, had individual values ranging from $185 to $200 each.

Traffic stop leads to no-bail arrest

A 43-year-old Orange man was jailed on drug allegations and a parole violation after being pulled over at 12:53 a.m. April 22 in the 1900 block of Laguna Canyon Road after allegedly speeding, Kravetz said.

Nick George Matrisciano also allegedly had the wrong license plate on his VW, and the car registration was expired. Inside the vehicle, officers allegedly found a bag of methamphetamine and a scale, in addition to prescription medications for which he did not have a valid prescription.

Shoplifting lands parolee in jail

A paroled sex offender was arrested and held without bail three months after he allegedly stole of a $3.99 bottle of Naked Juice from a Laguna Beach market, Kravetz said.

Det. Tim Kleiser put together a flier regarding the suspect after viewing the Feb. 22 theft on store security video, showing a man putting the juice down his pants and leaving the store. One officer recognized the suspect as Maurice Cordell Fletcher, 34, of Mission Viejo, a paroled sex offender who had just been released from custody and had an ankle bracelet.

The bracelet was activated, and Fletcher was arrested at 9:08 a.m. April 22 after he was found downtown. Fletcher was held without bail in Orange County Jail, according to jail records.

Woman treated after bus bench fall

A woman who fell off a bench at the bus depot at 6:10 p.m. April 22 was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries, Kravetz said. Police responded to a call of an unconscious woman on the ground, bleeding from the mouth. The woman was not arrested.

‘Bounced’ man goes to hospital

A man who was denied entry to the Sandpiper at 12:39 a.m. April 23 was accused of denting the hood of a BMW parked outside by falling on it, and also allegedly ended up getting punched in the face by a man who left the scene, Kravetz said.

Police took the man to the hospital for treatment.

Man sought in theft from store

Laguna Beach police are seeking a suspect who allegedly stole watches and wallets from a shop in the 1400 block of South Coast Highway at 12:34 p.m. Saturday, Kravetz said.

The suspect, who reportedly entered the shop and then walked out with the merchandise, is described as a male Caucasian 45 to 55 years old, thin, 5-foot-11, wearing a black hat with a black hooded sweatshirt and dark pants.

Dispute ends in Nigerian’s arrest

A Nigerian man was held as an illegal immigrant after being accused by his girlfriend of damaging her computer during a fight at 7:45 a.m. Sunday in the 500 block of Cypress Drive, Kravetz said. The victim said the suspect threw the computer on a table, causing $1,200 in damages. Police arrested Yinka Olonode, 30, on a felony vandalism allegation and then determined that he was in the U.S. illegally. ICE was contacted and placed Olonode into custody.