by Liz Mullen
No foul play in man washed ashore
The body of a 67-year-old man washed ashore at about 7 p.m. on Sunday Jan. 5 off the 3500 block of The Strand in Hermosa Beach. “A preliminary investigation showed no obvious signs of foul play and the drowning appears accidental,” the Hermosa Beach Police Department said in a statement. “There is no evidence that this incident is related to any of the other, recent, nearby ocean deaths,” the HBPD said. The man’s identity had not been disclosed, pending notification of his next of kin, at press time. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner is heading up the investigation into the man’s death.
HBPD makes 51 traffic stops
Hermosa Beach Police Department officers conducted a citywide traffic enforcement operation and stopped 51 drivers of cars and riders of e-bikes, issued 24 citations, arrested two drivers and impounded two vehicles on Friday, Dec 27 starting at 10 a.m.
“HBPD often conducts these details in addition to the everyday traffic enforcement by patrol officers,” Officer Keaton Dadigan told Easy Reader. “The objective was to conduct saturation enforcement to educate the public and enforce (laws prohibiting) dangerous behavior. The ultimate goal is to prevent tragic crashes.”
The two people arrested had been driving even though their licenses were suspended due to prior arrests for driving under the influence, Dadigan said. Three people were cited for driving with no license.
“Traffic enforcement is a top request from residents in Hermosa Beach,” Dadigan said. “We take safety in our community very seriously. We want people to see the officers making traffic stops and issuing citations.”
HBPD pulled over one driver for noise and that driver’s vehicle was referred to the state referee for a loud exhaust to determine whether modifications had to be made to the vehicle.
Even those car owners and bike riders who did not get a citation, got an education, according to Dadigan.
“We believe that by stopping 51 drivers for unsafe driving, we may have potentially avoided 51 crashes,” Dadigan said.
A driver who had been cited by an HBPD officer in the morning for speeding was given a speeding ticket in the evening for traveling 86 miles per hour in a 35mile per hour zone.
Shoplifter had 114 items
On Monday, Dec. 30, a woman shopper left a Hermosa Beach store with 114 items without paying for any of them.
“In Hermosa Beach, shoplifting earns you a trip to the Hermosa Beach Bed and Breakfast,” Officer Dadigan told Easy Reader, referring to the city jail.
Officers collected the 114 items that were taken and returned them to the store.
Manhattan Beach suspects sport ski masks
There were three incidents involving suspects wearing ski masks in Manhattan Beach during the last week of the year.
On Dec. 28 at about 12.15 a.m.. MBPD officers responded to a call about three subjects wearing ski masks jumping over a residential wall near the Ralph’s at 2700 Sepulveda Boulevard.
Village Mall security observed three people wearing ski masks, dark clothing and carrying bags and a ladder. MBPD officers were unable to locate the subjects in ski masks, but did find a nearby residence that had been burglarized.
The homeowners were on vacation, but it was determined that someone broke in and jewelry was taken from the home.
On Dec. 31, a security guard at Marine Avenue and Gateway Drive found a bag containing burglary tools that are believed to have been used to commit the burglary on Dec. 28 and turned the items in to police.
Also on Dec. 31, MBPD responded to a call about a confrontation between juveniles. It was determined that four juveniles had been confronted by six to seven juveniles wearing ski masks. One of the group not wearing ski masks had his shirt and shoes stolen.
On Jan. 1 at 8:37 p.m., MBPD officers were called to the 1400 block of 23rd Street about suspicious people on the property. A security company called police after suspects wearing ski masks were seen in the side yard of the property. MBPD were unable to locate the suspects.
MBPD issues e-motorcycle warnings
The Manhattan Beach Police Department warned parents against buying their kids e-motorcycles after posting a photo of an e-motorcycle being impounded. Police also arrested one “suspicious subject,” and took a suspected burglar for a mental health evaluation.
“We continue to come across these e-motorcycles ridden by juveniles around the city,” the MBPD said, in the post. “Parents, please make sure those Christmas presents are being used legally and responsibly so we don’t have to play the role of the Grinch.
“Talaria, Surron, ERidePro, and other similar type electric motorcycles are not safe or legal for operation on city streets, sidewalks, or The Strand. A few juveniles have learned the hard way and found their ‘bikes’ on the back of a tow truck,” MBPD said in the post.
On Dec. 19 on the 2100 block of Ocean Drive, MBPD received calls about a suspicious person looking into cars and walking onto properties, apparently looking for packages.
When officers tried to contact the person, the subject ran. Police chased and detained the person and booked the subject into the MBPD jail.
On Dec. 20, at about 2:27 p.m., on the 4400 block of Highland Avenue, MBPD officers responded to a call about a burglary in progress.
The resident told police someone known to them was trying to break into their home. The officers found the would-be burglar, who MBPD said had been arrested before under similar circumstances near the same home.
This man, MBPD said, appeared to be suffering from “mental delusions” and was taken for a mental health evaluation.
RBPD shuts down car show
Redondo Beach Police Department officers, with the aid of the Torrance Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff, dispersed an unlawful car show on the night of Friday, Dec. 27 in the Living Spaces Parking lot at 1519 Hawthorne Boulevard.
RBPD began monitoring the unpermitted gathering at about 8:30 Friday night and observed vehicles performing exhibitions of speed and burnouts and participants igniting fireworks.
RBPD and Torrance Police issued several citations and impounded two vehicles. Due to the large number of people and dangerous driving and behavior, RBPD, TPD and the L.A. Sheriff’s Department officers ordered the crowd to disperse at about 11 p.m.
The crowd complied and the area was cleared in about 30 minutes. RBPD then discovered graffiti the participants had left behind. RBPD is conducting an ongoing investigation into the graffiti. ER
