Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Get that Lemonade Stand Off the Sidewalk

Also, a number of people contemplate suicide.

Not that stepping off the sidewalk is anything we advise, but …

Police were called to the scene on Arroyo Vista on Wednesday after a caller notified Orange County Sheriffs that a lemonade stand was blocking the sidewalk.

The intrusive beverage stand, according to the caller, was diverting foot traffic into the street in order to get around the lemon monstrosity.

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

A member of Rancho Santa Margarita Police Services investigated, and determined "there was plenty of room for people to pass and there was no crime," said Sgt. Frank Nin.

Nin said that it is an infraction to block a public sidewalk.

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

The kids hawking the drinks were raising money for abused children.

The call came in at  6:19 p.m., near the corner of Arroyo Vista and Banderas.

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The following is a summary report of calls from Rancho Santa Margarita from July 16 to July 18.

Prowler 9:12 p.m. Wednesday, 29700 block of Melinda Road. A caller reported that three subjects—a man and two women—were looking inside the informant’s window about 10 minutes earlier. The subjects were about 19-22 years old.

Citizen Assist 4:03 p.m. Wednesday, on Aliento. An informant wanted to speak to a deputy about evicting a roommate. Although she was advised to call civil court, the informant insisted on talking to a deputy.

Disturbance 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, 21600 block of Plano Trabuco. Police was contacted about a man inside a business involved in a verbal exchange with staff. The subject left in a white Toyota Tundra threatening to return later.

Suspicious person in vehicle 11:02 a.m. Wednesday, at San Julian and San Bonifacio. An informant called to report a pair of males sitting in a black Saturn smoking marijuana. 

Trespassing 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, on Celeste and Altisima. A caller reported a group of juveniles near the water tower. Three of them were detained by officers.

Disturbance—music or party 11:28 p.m. Tuesday, on Silk Tassel. A caller reported a loud party. Deputies advised the partiers to quiet down.

Patrol check 11:12 p.m. Tuesday, 21900 block of Via del Lago. A caller requested a patrol unit in the area for a beige Toyota Camry driven by the boyfriend of the caller’s 22-year-old daughter. The caller indicated the boyfriend is violent and was last seen 90 minutes earlier outside the residence.

Disturbance 10:48 p.m. Tuesday, on Via Amor. A caller reported a loud argument between a male and female that lasted 30 minutes.

Citizen assist 10:41 p.m. Tuesday, 22000 block of Antonio Parkway. A woman, in the back parking lot of Santa Margarita Catholic High was waiting in her Lexus for AAA of Southern California, stated that she felt unsafe waiting by herself.

Disturbance—music or party 9:29 p.m. Tuesday, Arroyo Vista and Ria. A caller reported that very loud music was coming from the wilderness area behind his residence.

Disturbance—family dispute 8:02 p.m. Tuesday, 21300 block of Silvertree Lane. A man called OCSD to report that his 20-year-old so was being physical with him.

Reckless driving 7:11 p.m. Tuesday, Santa Margarita Parkway and Los Fundadores. An informant said that a silver Toyota Camry was being driven by someone possibly under the influence of drugs or alcohol because the car was swerving in and out of traffic. The vehicle was headed toward Plano Trabuco.

Disturbance 6:28 p.m. Tuesday, 31900 block of Magpie. A caller reported four males between the ages of 17-20 who had already been ejected from the private community of Walden once were trespassing again and were in a loud argument with the informant.

Traffic accident—injuries 3:11 p.m. Tuesday, Oso Parkway and 241. Police and Orange County Fire Authority responded to an accident which a car went over the side of the road at Oso Parkway and the 241. Several subjects were trapped in the car, including a diabetic.

Unknown trouble 3:02 p.m. Tuesday, Santa Margarita Parkway and Plano Trabuco. A caller reported a vehicle speeding westbound on Santa Margarita Parkway. The informant’s daughter left with several friends and said that all subjects were under the influence of heroin. They were going to Venice Beach.

Suspicious person/circumstances 1:09 p.m Tuesday, on 21900 block of Alma Aldea. A caller reported that a man carrying a duffle bag was in the bushes facing a window of Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School.

Suspicious person/circumstances 12:55 p.m. Tuesday, on 22900 block of Arroyo Vista. A caller indicated four juveniles were going through cars possibly for the purpose of burglarizing them.

Medical aid 12:11 p.m. Tuesday, on Paseo Vecino. An informant received an email from his father saying that he wanted to kill himself. The man had overdosed on painkillers a year ago. The informant indicated that his father might be upset over a divorce. About 27 minutes later, sheriff deputies made contact with the father at a business and requested OCFA for a possible overdose. The man was taken to Mission Hospital.

Burglary in progress 8:53 a.m. Tuesday, on 22700 block of El Prado. A woman called to report that someone was trying to open the door of her residence at the Avila Apartments.

Welfare check 2:09 a.m. Tuesday, on Teaberry Lane. An informant reported that the neighbors were out of town but the son was having a party at the location. The informant heard a male and female fighting, then heard the female crying. Both the male and female had since gone back into the house. The caller wanted police to check on the welfare of the woman. 

Welfare check 11:03 p.m. Monday, on San Ignacio. A woman called to report that her 17-year-old granddaughter was house sitting and that someone kept ringing the doorbell and leaving, and that the granddaughter is scared.

Disturbance 7:37 p.m. Monday, on Via Lampara. An informant called to report juveniles in the association’s pool with glass bottles. Although the offending young people were not disturbing the peace, the caller said that the glass bottles were against the association rules and that he would take matters into his own hands and deal with it on his own.

Assist outside agency 6:30 p.m. Monday, on Via Ermitas. A woman with a history of cutting herself contacted indicated to OCSD that her boyfriend had died and she was having a panic attack. The woman went on to say that she wanted to kill herself. Orange County Fire Authority indicated that there had not been a suicide attempt, but the woman was taken to Mission Hospital by Doctors Ambulance to be self-admitted.

Citizen assist 5:26 p.m. Monday, on Baya. A woman reported that her 15-year-old stepdaughter was claiming that her mother had been physically abusing her in Palm Springs. 

Drunk in car 4:13 p.m. Monday, on Antonio Parkway and Via Honesto. A caller reported two women, about 19 years old, drinking vodka in a black Toyota Camry.

Investigate dead body 1:40 p.m. Monday, on Via Contento. OCSD was contacted by an elderly woman who said she had not seen her roommate that morning. When she went into his room, he appeared to be stiff and not breathing. The deceased was a male in his late 50s.

These reports are culled from the Orange County Sheriff's website. Not all facts in each report are made public; the outcome of the report may differ from the original blotter item. There should be no assumption of guilt based on this limited information.


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