Police Blotter: 'Plant Whisperer' Loose in Melinda Heights

A man was seen talking to bushes and trees at Melinda Park in Rancho Santa Margarita late Wednesday afternoon.

Witnesses could not hear the bushes and trees talking back.

The informant said the man was also seen at the nearby elementary school, though there was no report on whether he spoke to the shrubbery there.

The man was wearing a black jacket and black pants, and carried a black backpack.

The call came in around 5 p.m. on Wednesday, from Melinda Road and Altisima.

Customer spots man chasing injured woman

A CVS customer saw a woman pass by the store Wednesday night with visible eye and wrist injuries, according to a call made to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. A man was chasing the woman.

Deputies detained and eventually arrested the 31-year-old man, who had violated terms of  his probation. Bail was set at $20,000 and he has since been released from the Central Mens Jail.

The call came in around 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, from Plano Trabuco Road and Santa Margarita Parkway.

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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 May 29 to May 31.

Traffic Stop 11:30 p.m. Thursday, on Via Arribo and Melinda Road. Deputies arrested a 29-year-old man, who had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He is being held on $2,500 bail at the Central Mens Jail.

Reckless Driving 7:58 p.m. Thursday, on Alma Aldea and El Paseo. An informant said someone had thrown a water cup at his vehicle that was parked near Cinnamon Productions.

Citizen Assist 2:17 p.m. Thursday, 31900 block of Pleasant Glen Road. A woman had locked her baby in her vehicle. The woman had broken a window and got her infant out of the car before deputies arrived.

Assist Outside Agency 12:37 p.m. Thursday, on Via Tortuga. A woman was choking on her food. She was transported to the emergency room at Mission Hospital.

Disturbance 3:54 a.m. Thursday, on Antonio Parkway and Coto de Caza Drive. An informant said a group of youths were hiding behind a sign in the Burger King parking lot while throwing rocks at passing vehicles.

Petty Theft 2:23 p.m. Wednesday, 30600 block of Santa Margarita Parkway. A security guard from Target had detained one woman and one youth in the office. Deputies arrived and arrested an 18-year-old woman, who was released after posting bond from the Intake Release Center .

Citizen Assist 10:28 a.m. Wednesday, 22100 block of El Paseo. A woman wanted to file a report against her husband, because she just found out that he had been having affairs with men he had met off Craigslist.

Petty Theft Report 9:21 a.m. Wednesday, 22400 block of Alma Aldea. A woman said someone had stolen her vehicle registration sticker.

Citizen Assist 5:16 p.m. Tuesday, on Via Serena. A woman said her husband was refusing to come home from a casino.

Disturbance 2:41 p.m. Tuesday, on Santa Margarita Parkway and Avenida Empresa. A woman said another woman pushed her in the parking lot in front of the post office.

Traffic Stop 1:32 p.m. Tuesday, on Santa Margarita Parkway and Avenida Empresa. Deputies arrested a 38-year-old man for having an outstanding warrant for his arrest. He is being held without bail at the Musick Facility.

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