SAN BERNARDINO: Driver causes gas station fire, flees

Prosecutors will decide whether criminal hit-and-run charges are warranted against a motorist who backed into a fuel pump last night in San Bernardino, igniting a gas station fire that incinerated his car and the pump, police and city fire officials say.

The blaze was reported at 6:16 p.m. Sunday at a Valero gas station near Del Rosa Avenue and Date Place, just south of I-210.

The driver fled after parking the burning car next to the gas station, but fire crews activated an emergency shut-off valve and prevented the flames from spreading to the building. The driver fell in the parking lot, but managed to walk about 1-1/2 miles to his home, said fire department Capt. Jason Serrano.

The man’s relatives later summoned paramedics to their home along the 2100 block of Belle Street to provide medical aid for a gash he suffered on one leg, police Lt. Paul Williams said this morning.

The cost of the damage has not been determined, and the man – in his mid-40s — has not been arrested, Williams said.

 

Men dressed as ninjas rob medical marijuana deliveryman

Police on Monday were investigating reports of two men dressed as ninjas who robbed a man delivering medical marijuana in West Covina.

The men with masks over their faces allegedly chased the vendor in the 800 block of South Sunset Avenue, causing him to drop a bag that contained an unknown amount of marijuana and money, West Covina Police Lt. Alan Henley said.

Henley said the victim reported that had made a home delivery and was headed to his car just before 10 p.m. Friday when he was confronted by the pair of robbers.

“Two guys jumped out of the bushes dressed like ninjas, waving batons,” Henley said. “It just sounds so unique and bizarre. We haven’t had any similar incidents.”

There were no detailed descriptions of the robbers. Henley said the case was being referred to detectives.

 

Mystery over new charges in college student’s decapitation

Two people were charged last week in connection with the slayings of an Orange County college student and his friend, but authorities have released few details about the new accusations.

All authorities would say is that the two new defendants were not involved with the homicides but discovered information afterward that they should have relayed to police.

“Someone had the opportunity to contact the police or knew there was evidence of a crime and failed to do so,” said Costa Mesa police Lt. Paul Dondero.

Police, however, have declined to publicly name the new suspects or describe their alleged roles in the case.

“The release of more information at this stage of the ongoing investigation may compromise witnesses and/or may jeopardize the possible arrest of any additionally involved persons,” Costa Mesa police Lt. Tim Schennum wrote in an email.

The suspects were arrested and charged in connection with the slaying of college student Samuel Herr, 26, of Costa Mesa and Herr’s friend, Irvine resident Juri “Julie” Kibuishi, 23. Herr was decapitated.

Daniel Patrick Wozniak, 27, who worked as a community playhouse actor, has been charged in the killings and faces the death penalty if convicted. Prosecutors allege that Wozniak killed Herr, his neighbor at the Camden Martinique apartment complex on Pinecreek Drive, after luring him to a military base in Los Alamitos.

Wozniak, prosecutors allege, then killed Kibuishi at Herr’s apartment. The scene was made to look like a sexual assault so authorities would suspect Herr of Kibuishi’s slaying, prosecutors contend.

Herr’s body was dismembered. Body parts — including Herr’s severed head — were eventually found scattered in a park in Long Beach, according to the Daily Pilot.

Herr was an Afghanistan war veteran and Orange Coast College student. Kibuishi also attended OCC.

Wozniak has pleaded not guilty

 

Like to sleep in your car? Not in Rancho

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA – Anyone found sleeping in their vehicle on city property could face a fine of $1,000 or six months in jail.

The City Council in Wednesday voted 4-1 to pass an ordinance that the city’s Chief of Police Lt. Brian Schmutz said will give his deputies greater control in responding to ‘suspicious person in car’ calls.

Schmutz told the council in the last year his department has responded to 330 calls for such service. At least a couple dozen have been found to be “sleeping in cars” calls, he said. Others, he said, residents voiced concerned about people doing drugs in their vehicles or casing a neighborhood.

Schmutz said he asked the council to take a look at this law after doing an analysis of training needs and patrol schedule for his deputies.

“One tool used to enforce neighborhood safety would be this ordinance,” Schmutz said.

He also pointed to cities such as Lake Forest, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo Tustin, San Juan Capistrano, San Clemente Laguna Niguel, Costa Mesa and Irvine, who already have the law on their books. In some cases, the laws are more stringently enforced allowing no sleeping in cars at any time, he added.

Schmutz also cited an arrest of a man found sleeping in his car last year near a school zone. In this case, the man arrested for possession of a loaded firearm. During their investigation deputies also found police insignia and handcuffs. Later, the located the keys for the handcuffs in the man’s socks, Schmutz said.

The ordinance, which will go to a second reading on March 14 to allow for more public input, would prohibit anyone from sleeping in a car, trailer, camper or tent traveler parked on a city maintained street or alley between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. It will not be enforced on private property. If passed then it will go into effect 30 days later.

Councilman Jesse Petrilla said he was not in favor of the law citing safety concerns such as a tired driver.

“When the 241 Toll Road is complete travelers may be passing through from as far away as San Diego,” he said. If they feel they may fall asleep, this could be dangerous. If someone is down on their luck, I believe the last thing they need is a $1,000 fine or six months in jail.”

“I believe in private property rights and limited government,” he said. “This goes a little bit farther than I feel comfortable with.”

The council discussed issues regarding a tired driver and homelessness as well as the possibility of an intoxicated driver.

Schmutz pointed out that homeless people could still sleep at other locations such as commercial centers, restaurants or camp grounds. He pointed out that someone sleeping in their car in a neighborhood would not be fair to residents and reminded the council there are no bathroom facilities in such a case. He also added that a sleeping person is vulnerable when sleeping in public.

As far as motorists sleeping off a hangover, Schmutz said a person can still be arrested for DUI if they are found behind the wheel with keys in their car, even if they’re asleep.

“Our City Council is committed to providing every possible tool to our police department to ensure the streets and neighborhoods of Rancho Santa Margarita always remain the safest in the state of California, Mayor Tony Beall said.

 

Suspicious backpack deemed non-threatening

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Authorities determined that a suspicious package, which shut down traffic lanes Wednesday morning, was non-threatening.

The package, which was called in as a backpack with suspicious devices inside, was reported just after 7 a.m. at 7701 Warner Ave., said Huntington Beach police Lt. Tom Donnelly.

Donnelly said the Orange County Bomb Squad determined the device to be non-explosive.

Authorities would not say what was inside the backpack.

Police shut down Warner Avenue between Beach Boulevard and Nichols Street. “We secured the scene for safety,” Donnelly said.

Units were being cleared by 9 a.m.

 

Man’s body found at Huntington Harbour

HUNTINGTON BEACH – Authorities are investigating a body found Wednesday evening in Huntington Harbour but say there are no initial signs of foul play.
Investigators were notified after an Orange County Sheriff’s Department diver’s team recovered a man’s body from the water in the harbor near the 3400 block of Sagamore Drive just before 6:15 p.m., Huntington Beach police Lt. Chad Nichols said.

There were no initial signs of foul play, Nichols added, and authorities have not identified the man.
Nichols said police are investigating whether the body is a man reported missing earlier in the week.