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Crime & Safety

Police Blotter: Man Threatens to Kill Campers, Cops at O'Neill Park

Also, two suspected gunmen end up being kids shooting fireworks, and a large group of kids bang on doors and break sprinklers.

A man called the Orange County Sheriff’s department early Monday morning wanting deputies to check the entrance of O’Neill Park in Trabuco Canyon for an intoxicated man who was yelling at people before telling them he was going home. 

Another caller said they saw the same man telling people that he would “machine gun” everyone, but he didn’t appear to be carrying any weapons.

A third caller contacted deputies about a half hour later, saying that they saw the same man threatening to kill other campers, as well as police officers. The caller described the subject as a balding white man in his late thirties to mid forties, wearing a T-shirt, shorts and hiking boots. The man, who was carrying a backpack, was last seen leaving the campsite.

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The first two calls came in around 12:30 a.m. on Monday, and the third call came in around 1 a.m. on Monday. All of the calls originated from the 30800 block of Trabuco Canyon Road. 

Suspected gunmen ended up being kids with fireworks

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Four callers reported hearing gunshots coming from somewhere in a Rancho Santa Margarita neighborhood late Sunday evening. The first caller said she heard about eight to 10 shots being fired outside of her residence on Temecula Court. The second caller, calling from Mojave Way, reported hearing six to 10 gun shots.

A third caller said he heard gunshots, possibly coming from Alma Aldea. A fourth caller said he saw a flash of light coming from the stairway leading to the rear of Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School that he thought were either gunshots or fireworks.

The first caller called back, saying two men running through the bushes near his residence. She said her husband saw the men run toward a house on the corner of the street. Deputies arrived at the home, asked the residents to come out with their hands up, but no one exited the house. The deputies eventually made their way to the back yard, where they saw a group of children run away with fireworks in their hands.

All of the calls came in around 10 p.m. on Sunday, from Temecula Court, Mojave Way, and Alma Aldea.

Large group of kids bang on doors, break sprinklers

A caller wanted Orange County Sheriff deputies to search for approximately 20 youths who were going around her Las Flores neighborhood late Saturday night banging on doors and breaking sprinklers. Before deputies arrived, the original informant called back, saying that her neighbor came over and said that the kids were friends of hers and that everything was fine.

The call came in around 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, from Meadowood.

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 July 22 to July 25.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 2:50 p.m. Monday, on Wayfaire and Wildemere. A caller saw three youths sitting on a bench in a wooded area of his complex. According to the caller, it looked like they were up to something. Deputies arrived and detained three individuals, searched their vehicle, and gave one of the subjects a citation for possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

Citizen Assist 10:20 a.m. Monday, on Tirano. A woman wanted to report a fight she had with her husband the previous evening.

Disturbance 1:22 a.m. Monday, 100 block of Sable. A caller heard a man and a woman fighting somewhere on the third floor of the Archstone apartment complex in Las Flores. The informant thought the woman was getting beaten up. When deputies arrived, they detained both individuals before arresting a 27-year-old woman, who was released after posting bond from the Intake Release Center.

Shots Heard 12:36 a.m. Monday, on Via Andorra. A caller heard five gunshots coming from a nearby condominium complex. Deputies arrived and detained three people, but after speaking to another witness, determined that the shots heard were coming from firecrackers.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 11:01 p.m. Sunday, 22700 block of El Prado. An informant saw a group of kids running around in a nearby park, shooting things with either a BB gun or an Air-Soft gun.

Disturbance 10:09 p.m. Sunday, on Seacountry Lane and Antonio Parkway. A caller wanted deputies to look for a house on Seacountry Lane that had screaming children inside.

Disturbance 8:01 p.m. Sunday, on Calle Estero. A caller saw an individual drinking hard alcohol before getting into his silver Honda, which contained open liquor bottles. There were also two children in the vehicle, according to the caller.

Disturbance 6:13 p.m. Sunday, on Via Vicini and Via Mattina. A caller said there was a large group of teens having a party in the community pool, but the teens were not residents of the community. Deputies arrived, determined that one of the party-goers had a warrant for her arrest, and arrested a 23-year-old woman.

Family Dispute 5:58 p.m. Sunday, on Via Amistosa. A woman said her 22-year-old daughter was being aggressive and throwing things around her apartment. According to the mother, the woman had problems with heroin. The daughter left the apartment and was last seen walking toward the leasing office.

Trespassing 3:18 p.m. Sunday, 22700 block of El Prado. A woman said someone was trespassing at the Avila at Rancho Santa Margarita apartment complex. 

Traffic Stop 1:20 p.m. Sunday, on Santa Margarita Parkway and Avenida de las Fundadores. Deputies arrested a 22-year-old man.

Traffic Stop 10:24 a.m. Sunday, on Santa Margarita Parkway and the 241 toll road. Deputies arrested a 34-year-old man, who is being held without bail at the Central Mens Jail.

Vandalism Report 9:23 a.m. Sunday, on Via Amistosa. A woman in the leasing office of the Villa La Paz apartment complex said someone had tagged the leasing office.

Petty Theft 9:07 a.m. Sunday, 30600 block of Santa Margarita Parkway. A teen-aged girl was caught shoplifting. The youth was cooperative and was released to her parents.

Suspicious Person in Vehicle 3:02 a.m. Sunday, on Via Magnolia. A caller saw three people in a Honda Accord, smoking some sort of narcotic out of a strange-looking pipe.

Trespassing 11:01 p.m. Saturday, 22500 block of Avenida Empresa. A woman wanted deputies to deal with a man who was asked to leave a concert at the Gate church but was refusing to do so.

Keep the Peace 10:24 p.m. Saturday, 100 block of Pomelo. A woman said security guards were towing all of her guests’ vehicles.

Disturbance—Music or Party 7:40 p.m. Saturday, on Calle Coturno. A caller reported hearing a loud party with a DJ on his street.

Disturbance 6:27 p.m. Saturday, on Via Empanada. A man said his wife broke his nose during an argument. The Orange County Fire Authority arrived to treat the man’s broken nose. When deputies arrived, they arrested the 50-year-old wife, who was released after posting bond from the Musick Facility.

Warrant Arrest 9:33 a.m. Saturday, on Grassy Knoll Lane. Deputies arrested a 22-year-old man.

Disturbance 2:23 a.m. Saturday, on Marquette Way and De Soto Way. A caller said someone told her that she saw a man and a woman involved in a heated verbal argument.

Drunken Driving 11:11 p.m. Friday, on Nutmeg Street and Tarragon Lane. An informant reported seeing a woman drive a gray Nissan sedan in circles on her residential street.

Suspicious Person/Circumstances 8:57 p.m. Friday, on Oso Parkway and Altura. A caller wanted deputies to look for a group of youths who were drinking alcohol near two vehicles. Deputies detained and released the youths.

911 Hangup 1:34 a.m. Friday, 23500 block of Avenida La Caza. A woman said she was in a fight with her boyfriend, who attacked her before leaving in a black Ford truck with which he tried to hit her. The line disconnected soon after. When deputies contacted her boyfriend, he said his girlfriend was intoxicated and that he would meet deputies in front of his apartment. The girlfriend called back, saying that she doesn’t want deputies to come over, but was told that they were on their way.

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

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