Police Blotter: Man In SUV Seen Snapping Photos of Kids at Park

About seven hours before the Rancho Santa Margarita City Council convened and passed unanimously on first reading an ordinance that prevented registered sex offenders from entering local parks, an incident took place that had a suspicious feel—at a local park.  

An informant called the Orange County Sheriff and said that he witnesed a man park his large SUV near Arroyo Vista Elementary; the man then used a camera to take photos, apparently of children who were playing in the adjacent park, from the SUV.

The call was made Wednesday, about 11:30 a.m., on the 23300 block of Arroyo Vista.

'Hey, that's my foot you just ran over!'

A Rancho Santa Margarita man was involved in a heated argument with the driver of a dark-colored Toyota 4Runner early Tuesday evening, according to a call made to the Orange County Sheriff.

The man was screaming at driver, claiming that he was injured because the man had run the vehicle over his foot. The caller was uncooperative, screaming at the man uncontrollably. According to a call history, the man has a history of getting into fights about parking issues, and he often claimed that people hit him with their vehicles.

The call came in around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, from the 22300 block of Gilberto.

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 January 24 to January 26.

Welfare Check 11:27 p.m. Thursday, on Brisa Fresca. An informant said his neighbor was outside yelling, screaming and kicking his car.

Reckless Driving 10:20 p.m. Thursday, on Plano Trabuco Road and Rancho Cielo. A caller saw a driver speed and swerve while playing loud music with women inside his gold Honda Civic.

Suspicious Person in Vehicle 9:13 p.m. Thursday, on Legacy Way. A woman said a man approached her children seeking their help locating his camera.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 7:39 p.m. Thursday, 22100 block of El Paseo. An informant said her daughter had just left the RSM library, telling her that a man was watching pornography on a library computer.

Vandalism Report 6:49 p.m. Thursday, 32100 block of Mill Stream Road. A woman said someone shot her car with a paintball gun.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 5:16 a.m. Thursday, on Daylily. A caller said a group of youths were smoking cannabis out of a bong in the backyard of some elderly neighbors; the caller didn’t think the youths lived there.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 10:15 p.m. Wednesday, 900 block of Sable. A caller said a woman was performing a sexual act on a man in a spa at the Archstone Apartment complex.

Trespassing 9:33 p.m. Wednesday, on Dove Canyon Drive and Country Club. A man said a person in a white mini-truck kept running the gate to play golf.

Traffic Stop 6:43 p.m. Wednesday, on Antonio Parkway and the 241 toll road. Deputies arrested a 19-year-old man, who was released after posting bond from the Central Mens Jail.

Welfare Check 1:36 p.m. Wednesday, on Via Contento. A caller said a man was yelling, saying that he wanted to hurt himself.

Receiving Stolen Property 11:57 p.m. Tuesday, on Allyssum. A woman crashed her vehicle into one of the walls outside her residence. Deputies arrested the 18-year-old woman for having a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit, and for possession of stolen property. She was released after the District Attorney refused to prosecute her.

Traffic Stop 9:21 p.m. Tuesday, on Antonio Parkway and Alas del Paz. Deputies arrested a 23-year-old man, who was cited and released from the Intake Release Center.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 1:47 p.m. Tuesday, on Antonio Parkway and Via Verde. A caller said a man was trying to open car doors for more than hour. Deputies arrested a 25-year-old man, who was released from the Intake Release Center.

Petty Theft 4:35 a.m. Tuesday, 23000 block of Antonio Parkway. A CVS employee said a man had stolen a pack of cigarettes.

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