CRIME REPORTS: Transient Fondles Self, Kids Joy Ride

At 11:43 p.m. Monday, a caller reported a hit and run near the East Avenida Pico and Camino La Pedriza intersection. According to the report, three male minors were seen driving a vehicle up a walkway hitting three posts. The minors eventually abandoned their vehicle and ran away heading north on La Pedriza. 

At 10:52 p.m. Monday, a caller reported a drunk in public near the Calle Agua and Camino De Los Mares intersection. The informant reported seeing a bunch of intoxicated minors at a restaurant and wanted an extra police patrol. 

At 10:12 p.m. Monday, a caller reported a disturbance near the Plaza La Playa and Avenida La Costa intersection. A resident of the Riviera District was upset about a group of people on the beach who were sending off Japanese candle lanterns into the air for a memorial. 

At 7:14 p.m. Monday, a caller reported a suspicious person near the Camino De Los Mares and Camino Vera Cruz intersection. According to the report, the informant witnessed a man taking bags out of his blue mini van, light them on fire, and then put them into trash cans. 

At 2:17 p.m. Monday, a caller reported a vandalism in progress near the North El Camino Real and Avenida Del Mar intersection. The informant saw a subject driving a white Ford Ranger while throwing glass bottles out of the vehicle and smashing the window of a parked car. 

At 8:21 p.m. Sunday, a caller reported a disturbance in the 600 block of Avenida Pico. A woman in her 20’s was eating at Carrow’s restaurant and reportedly dined and ditched. She was last seen heading towards the Mobile gas station. 

At 7:27 p.m. Sunday, police arrested a 31-year-old-man in the 900 block of Avenida Pico. According to the report, the man was intoxicated and harassing customers at a convenient store. He was taken into custody and bail was set for $20,000. 

At 5:48 p.m. Sunday, a caller reported a drunk in public in the 900 block of Avenida Pico. A man was kicked out of Lowes Home Improvement for stumbling around the store with a bottle of malt liquor. 

At 2:20 p.m. Sunday, a caller reported an indecent exposure near the West El Portal and Buena Vista intersection. According to the report, a transient man was at North Beach wearing nothing but a kaki trench coat. The man was also touching his genitals while people walked by. City lifeguards would not make the contact without a deputy. 

At 11:45 p.m. Saturday, a caller reported a suspicious person in the 1000 block of Avenida De La Estrella. A group of five to six male minors were seen lighting branches on fire in a grassy canyon. The informant was concerned they may start a brush fire.

Clarification: Because of some unclear reporting in a previous version of this article, it was suggested that a local restaurant had served alcohol to minors when, in fact, that was speculation on the part of a caller. This statement was never proven more than that, according to available police records. Patch apologizes and regrets any confusion.