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Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Deputies Nab Armed-Robbery Suspect

Also, a man is arrested after trying to break into his ex-wife's residence, and a woman reports a possible kidnapping.

Employees of the Ralphs grocery store in Rancho Santa Margarita called the Orange County Sheriff’s Department after attempting to chase a man who robbed the store by force on Thursday afternoon. During the robbery, the man threatened to kill one of the employees. They chased the suspect to the nearby Mobil gas station, where they lost sight of him. Deputies found and arrested a 43-year-old man who is being held on $500,000 bail.

The call came in around 2:15 p.m. on Thursday, from Santa Margarita Parkway and Antonio Parkway.

Deputies Arrest Man Trying to Break In to Ex-Wife’s Residence

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A woman called police on Thursday evening, saying that her ex-husband had been banging on her bedroom window, trying to break in to the residence. The woman has an active restraining order against him. Deputies arrived and arrested a 64-year-old hairdresser who is being held without bail.

The call came in around 9:15 p.m. on Thursday, on Via Amistosa.

Find out what's happening in Rancho Santa Margaritawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Woman Reports Possible Kidnapping by Ex-Husband

A woman said that her ex-husband took their 7-year-old son without her permission on Sunday afternoon. Her son was at her sister’s home when her ex-husband arrived and left with the child, but the woman was not there to witness the event. Deputies, who could find no custody arrangement on file for the child, tried to contact the ex-husband, but were sent to a voice mailbox that had not yet been activated. The woman met deputies in the parking lot of Melinda Heights Elementary School and filed a report.

The call came in around 4:40 p.m. on Sunday, from Melinda Road and Santa Margarita Parkway.

The following is a summary report of calls from Rancho Santa Margarita, Coto de Caza, Trabuco Canyon and Las Flores to the Orange County Sheriff's Department from Jan. 13 to Jan 16.

Disturbance 10:27 p.m. Sunday, 22400 block of Alma Aldea. A caller requested a patrol check for two noisy people who had jumped the fence near the community pool.

Assist Outside Agency 5:50 p.m. Sunday, on Aliento. Deputies were called to assist the Orange County Fire Authority with a man and two females who were possibly suffering from alcohol poisoning, and possible overdose from heroin. The man is currently on probation for a drunk driving charge, and is not allowed to be consuming alcohol, according to the terms of his probation. Deputies escorted an ambulance to Mission Hospital.

Welfare Check 3:14 p.m. Sunday, Santa Margarita Parkway and Avenida De Las Flores. A 13-year-old girl was selling candy in the food court area outside of Starbucks. The girl told the caller that she was from Vista and was dropped off there and that her parents weren’t coming back until 11 p.m. Deputies arrived and released the girl to her parents.

Burglary Report 10:34 a.m. Sunday, 21000 block of Los Alisos Boulevard. A vehicle was stolen outside of the Skyview apartments.

Drunk in Public 3:48 a.m. Sunday, 31800 block of Joshua Road. The caller reported seeing two drunk males passed out near the community pool.

Disturbance—Music or Party 10:03 p.m. Saturday, Arcilla and Rancho Trabuco. The caller reported that several youths were loitering in the street, drinking and being noisy.

Petty Theft 9:56 p.m. Saturday, 21700 block of Plano Trabuco Road. The caller reported that two males had stolen beer from the Shell gas station, and were running toward a nearby church.

Traffic Stop 9:33 p.m. Saturday, Avenida De Las Flores and Santa Margarita Parkway. Deputies arrested a 19-year-old male who was later released on his own recognizance.

Disturbance 9:16 p.m. Saturday, 100 block of Via Contento. A man said that the neighbors who live above him had been stomping on the floors all day. He asked them to stop but they refused.

Petty Theft 6:16 p.m. Saturday, 30600 block of Santa Margarita Parkway. An employee of Ross Dress for Less reported that he saw two females and three males taking things from the store.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 5:32 p.m. Saturday, 32200 block of Weeping Willow Street. A man stated that someone had tampered with his electrical box, in an attempt to break in to his residence.

Suspicious Circumstances 2:12 p.m. Saturday, on Carmesi. A caller reported that several youths were smoking marijuana on their patio. Deputies detained and released six juveniles.

Traffic Accident 9:34 a.m. Saturday, Santa Margarita Parkway and the 241 toll road.The owner of a silver Ford Explorer said that a woman, driving a red pickup truck, did not put her vehicle into “park” at the Shell gas station. Her truck rolled into his Explorer, and the two children that were in the Explorer jumped out. The caller did not know if his children were struck by the pickup truck. The Orange County Fire Authority arrived at the scene to assess any injuries.

Traffic Stop 2:05 a.m. Saturday, Antonio Parkway and Avenida De Las Banderas. Deputies arrested a 30-year-old male engineer.

Suspicious Person 1:31 a.m. Saturday, 100 block of Flor Del Sol. A caller said that a man in a white bathrobe was peeking into a child’s bedroom in the apartment below him.

Disturbance—Music or Party 12:09 a.m. Saturday, on Via Onagro. A caller reported hearing a loud nearby party, with several revelers yelling, hooting and hollering.

Disturbance 11:39 p.m. Friday, on Via Amistosa. The caller stated that several males became verbally aggressive when she approached them about being loud in their garage.

Petty Theft 9:04 p.m. Friday, on Lompoc Court. Someone stole the caller’s cell phone.

Family Dispute 7:49 p.m. Friday, on Via Amistosa. A caller reported hearing a loud verbal argument between a mother and her son.

Pedestrian Check 7:34 p.m. Friday, on Aliento. Deputies arrested a 21-year-old male.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 4:30 p.m. Friday, Antonio Parkway and Avenida De Las Banderas. The caller reported seeing an unattended large green duffle bag on the street.

Family Dispute 1:48 a.m. Friday, 31600 block of Via Conejo. The caller reported hearing a verbal and possible physical argument between a man and a woman in an adjacent apartment. One of the subjects was banging on the wall of her apartment.

Assault 9:49 p.m. Thursday, on Sagebrush. A caller said that her friend was being assaulted by her husband, who had been drinking. There was also a 9-year-old child present at the residence during the altercation. Deputies arrived and noted that the woman had hand injuries, and arrested a 32-year-old male.

Annoying Phone Call 9:31 p.m. Thursday, 31400 block of Santa Margarita Parkway. A woman complained that a former co-worker has been sending her explicit sexual emails. Deputies advised her to consider obtaining a restraining order against the former co-worker.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 7:52 p.m. Thursday, on Calle Rienda. The caller reported that a door-to-door salesperson began arguing with him when he would not open the door.

Disturbance 3:55 p.m. Thursday, Santa Margarita Parkway and Antonio Parkway. A man reported that another male was threatening to shoot him and his son.

Disturbance 3:22 p.m. Thursday, Alma Aldea and Bienvenidos. The caller reported that several youths at the Villa Antonio apartments were throwing things at passing vehicles.

You can read about more incidents on the Orange County Sheriff's Department blotter.

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