Hermosa Beach News

Attempted rape victim fights off her attacker

By Jennifer Evans

An unidentified 28-year-old woman was almost raped in her apartment Easter morning while sitting on her couch watching television after a night out on the Hermosa Beach pier plaza.

The suspect, described as a clean-cut 25-to 30-year-old black man about 6-feet-1-inch tall and about 160 pounds, entered the victim's first-floor apartment soon after the bars closed early Easter Sunday morning.

The victim, who lives in the 700 block of Monterey, told police the door was unlocked but said she has no idea who the man was. According to police, she was watching television and eating when she noticed a reflection of a person in her television at approximately 2:30 a.m. When she turned around, she saw a man standing in her living room.

The suspect allegedly hit her in the face, pulled her to the floor and tried to take off her pants. However, the woman was able to fight the man off with repeated screams and punches.

Unable to take her pants off, the attacker escaped. According to police, the woman was extremely upset and suffered physical injuries but was not hospitalized. According to Hermosa Beach Sgt. Paul Wolcott, it is a possibility the suspect followed the woman home. However, the woman told police she did not notice anyone following her.

The morning of the attempted rape, the man was wearing jeans and a white button-up shirt. A composite sketch of the suspect is in the process of being completed, but was unavailable at press time.

Wolcott said the Hermosa Beach Police are conducting a thorough investigation.

“We want to remind people to try to be aware of their surroundings and if they think they are being followed, call the police and we will send someone to you,” Wolcott said.

Anyone with information about this crime should call the Hermosa Beach Police Department at (310) 318-0360.

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY. Police were called to the 400 bock of Herondo Street by a woman, who came home and discovered a maintenance man in her apartment without permission. Apparently, there was an ongoing problem with the plumbing in the unit, but the woman was not informed that maintenance workers would be in her home the afternoon of March 31. After returning home at 2:27 p.m., she began changing clothes and came upon the maintenance man while undressed. When a male police officer arrived, the woman would not let him in her apartment and was described in the police report as in hysterics over the incident. A friend later drove the woman to the police department where she explained the situation to a female police officer. The authorities informed her that it was a civil incident and if she was unhappy about the service in her apartment that she should take it up with the building's management. No crime was reported related to the incident.

CAR JACKING. A man with a knife attacked two men and stole their van from the 2900 block of Ingleside Drive at 10 a.m. March 26. The victims parked the van and left the keys in the ignition. Moments later an unknown man got in the vehicle and when the owner of the car asked what he was doing, he was told that the vehicle needed to be moved because a larger truck was arriving. One of the men then got back in the van and the 51-year-old stranger moved out of the driver's seat over to the passenger side. Just after the man began moving the vehicle, the intruder began screaming at him and brandished a knife. He yelled expletives and told the man to keep driving or he would kill him. At this point, the driver's associate ran to the car that had only moved about 10 feet to see what was the matter. The driver told him in Spanish that the assailant was going to kill him. At this point the man outside the vehicle began struggling with the armed man through the passenger-side window until the attacker sliced his arm. Then the car jacker stabbed at the driver and lacerated his hand. The man in the driver's seat then jumped out of the car and fled as his assailant sped off. At 10:22 a.m., Manhattan Beach police spotted the vehicle but the car thief also saw the authorities and sped off. A resident then flagged down the police and directed him to the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Market Place where the fleeing suspect had flipped over the vehicle. Police brought the original victims to the scene where they positively identified the suspect that attacked them and absconded with the vehicle.

Hermosa Beach News

Report: reinstate fired HBPD officer

By Chris Yang

A former officer with the Hermosa Beach Police Department who appealed a decision to terminate him in 2005 recently received a bit of good news from a county agency reviewing his case.

Officer Richard C. Wulliger of the Los Angeles County Civil Service Commission recently issued a report indicating that Todd Lewitt should be reinstated because he was inappropriately disciplined by the Police Department in conjunction with an incident that took place at an airport on Aug. 14, 2005.

Lewitt received a letter informing him of the department's intent to terminate after he was stopped by security at John Wayne Airport in Orange County. Lewitt was stopped after screeners detected a firearm on his person. In a subsequent interview with The Beach Reporter, Lewitt stated that he informed one airport official that he was “a cop” and that he was carrying his gun. Lewitt also indicated that the primary reason stated for his termination was providing a false statement to the department after the incident at the airport. Lewitt subsequently appealed the department's decision to the Civil Service Commission, which released its report this week.

According to the Daily Breeze, Wulliger heard from both the Transportation Security Administration and the Police Department before deciding that Lewitt “did not engage in any misconduct” and “should not have been disciplined.”

Lewitt has all along maintained that his termination was an act of retaliation for not conforming to the department's ethos. He was openly critical of the department's handling of an incident involving City Manager Steve Burrell in which Burrell was pulled over by Lewitt and Officer Steve Saylor for driving erratically. The department later acknowledged that Burrell received preferential treatment during the stop. He also reportedly participated in an interview with federal officials in conjunction with a civil rights investigation into the Police Department following the arrest of three South Bay residents in 2004.

In 2005, Lewitt's residence was the subject of graffiti vandalism that may have been affiliated with his participation in the FBI's investigation or his criticism of the handling of the city manager's incident.

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

BURGLARY/STOLEN VEHICLE. Someone reportedly burglarized a residence between 5 p.m. Dec. 27 and 8 p.m. Jan. 2. While the owners were away on vacation, someone entered a residence through an unlocked back door in the 700 block of Eighth Street and removed various items as well as a sport utility vehicle. In addition to taking an X-box and ransacking the property, the burglar drove off in a green 2002 Ford Explorer belonging to the resident's girlfriend. An empty “Slurpee” cup was found in the bedroom along with a half-eaten corn dog.

CREDIT FRAUD. A resident who lives in the 1800 block of Valley Park Avenue was contacted by a local department store after an account was opened under her name. Approximately $1,200 was fraudulently charged on the account between noon Dec. 22 and noon Dec. 23. The victim later discovered another charge to another one of her accounts at a different department store worth approximately $943.66.

VANDALISM. A resident allegedly discovered someone had punctured his tires with a sharp object. The incident, which occurred sometime Jan. 1, also happened before on Dec. 17. Both times, the car was parked in the resident's driveway.

Hermosa Beach News

FBI acknowledges review of police conduct

By Chris Yang

The Federal Bureau of Investigation recently confirmed that it is reviewing the conduct of the Hermosa Beach Police Department in conjunction with the arrest of a mortgage broker earlier this year. News of the review is yet another indication that federal agents continue to monitor the department's conduct following an initial investigation that was first reported in June 2005.

The agency's interest in the case of Enrique Coello (see “Police Action Draws Fire” Sept. 28, 2006) was first reported by the Daily Breeze on Dec. 15. Friday's report in the Breeze was the first development in the case to appear in the news since the department issued a press release in September indicating no criminal charges would be filed. The report is an unwelcome bit of news for local officials, who may have thought the incident was going to go away after department leaders declined to prosecute Coello following his arrest.

Still, city leaders may take heart from a correction that appeared in the Breeze the day after the story appeared. The initial report, which included the headline “FBI investigating Hermosa Beach resident's arrest,” was clarified to state that the bureau is not investigating the case, but “reviewing the allegation.” In particular, the correction clarified that the FBI “routinely reviews complaints, but does not always open an investigation.”

When asked about the correction, a press officer with the FBI's Los Angeles office declined to comment except to say that she stood by the comments made in the Breeze.

Whether an “investigation” or “review” is taking place, news of the federal government's interest in the city of Hermosa Beach continues to leave a cloud over the Police Department. Residents first became aware something was wrong after the Los Angeles Times broke the story of a formal investigation by federal agents on June 20, 2005. Though agents have interviewed several residents with respect to the investigation, no indictments have been issued and no charges have been filed. A local business owner interviewed twice by federal agents confirmed that the officers were primarily “interested in (Officer Raul) Saldana” as well as “the city as a whole.”

With no official word from the federal government except that an investigation is still open and that the matter is “pending,” local leaders are left in somewhat of a precarious state. Shortly after his arrival, Police Chief Greg Savelli indicated that he had not yet met or spoken with federal officials. Mayor Sam Edgerton downplayed the initial report in 2005 by describing the matter as a “routine inquiry” and “a big yawn.”

Meanwhile, a spokesperson with the Justice Department's press office declined to comment on the matter despite repeated attempts by The Beach Reporter to obtain information from the Civil Rights Division.

As for Coello's case, an internal investigation that was initiated by the department is still under way. Though he declined to comment, Coello did indicate that he is meeting with the police to discuss a complaint that had been filed with the department.  

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

GRAND THEFT. A resident who moved from Redondo Beach recently discovered that a jewelry box she owned was reportedly missing. The resident believes the box may have been taken when she moved on July 15. Jewelry worth approximately $3,000 was in the box.

THEFT. Two bicycles were allegedly taken from a locked and secured parking garage storage unit in the 400 block of Second Street. The incident reportedly occurred between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Dec. 12.

PETTY THEFT. Someone allegedly used a drill to break in to a coin-operated air/water machine in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway. The person reportedly removed $293 from the machine between 9 a.m. Nov. 5 and 9:36 a.m. Dec. 12.

BURGLARY. Someone reportedly burglarized a residence in the 400 block of Gould Avenue. Residents of the property on Gould left for a trip Dec. 7. After returning at approximately 2:30 p.m. Dec. 11, they discovered the premises had been ransacked and several items taken. The items missing were miscellaneous coins, a digital camera, furniture and a watch.

BURGLARY. Someone reportedly removed jewelry and an XBox 360 from a residence in the 300 block of 26th Street. The incident allegedly occurred between 7:45 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Dec. 15. After returning from work, a resident reportedly discovered jewelry missing from the bedroom. The resident reporting the incident stated that the doors and windows are “never locked.”

ROBBERY. A resident was allegedly robbed while walking back to his residence in the 800 block of Bayview Drive. The incident allegedly occurred at 2:33 a.m. Dec. 15. The victim allegedly noticed two individuals following him as he was walking back to his residence. The victim then stated that he was grabbed from behind by one of the individuals, and felt an object pressed against his head. Fearing for his safety, the resident handed over his wallet. The second individual allegedly stood to the side, held a skateboard and said “You don't want me to crack you with this.” After taking approximately $100 in cash from the victim's wallet, he was then told to keep walking and not look back.

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

BURGLARY. Someone reportedly removed a 50-inch plasma television from a residence in the 1200 block of Owosso Avenue. The incident allegedly occurred between 8 p.m. Nov. 29 and 5:17 a.m. Nov. 30. The victim allegedly exited his house to work in a rear workshop, locking the back door as he left. Upon returning, he noticed the door was unlocked and the television was gone. Several cables had reportedly been cut.

BURGLARY. Someone reportedly ransacked an apartment in the 2900 block of Manhattan Avenue and took a laptop computer. The incident allegedly occurred between 8 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 28. Upon returning to her apartment, the victim allegedly observed damage to the front door, which was opened by the intruder.

BURGLARY. A resident allegedly observed someone attempting to remove items from her purse at 3:19 p.m. Dec. 2. The incident allegedly occurred in the 2500 block of Ardmore Avenue. While preparing to drive to another city, a resident allegedly left her purse near the open front door to her home. Before departing, she began watering plants in her back yard. After hearing the doorbell, she allegedly walked to the side gate and told the person to leave. After realizing the front door was open, she returned to observe someone reaching into her purse. After shouting “Get out of my purse you little b**ch,” the suspect fled.

VANDALISM. A resident in the 200 block of 28th Street allegedly observed an individual smash the windshield of a Volkswagen Jetta at 2:46 p.m. Dec. 2. After the individual began smashing the sunroof of another car, the witness called the police.

BURGLARY. Someone reportedly entered a residence in the 1000 block of Hermosa Avenue and removed a Dell 17-inch flat-screen monitor. The incident allegedly occurred between 10 a.m. Nov. 18 and 10 a.m. Nov. 25.

Hermosa Beach News

Police issue rare jaywalking ticket

By Chris Yang

A rare occurrence took place within the city of Hermosa Beach recently when a resident was cited by a police officer for jaywalking on Monday night.

A 26-year-old resident of Hermosa Beach who requested anonymity described a citation that was issued for jaywalking “across a quiet intersection on a quiet Monday night here in Hermosa Beach.” The resident admitted that though he was in the crosswalk, he did try to cross the street while the light was red. “It was quiet and there was no traffic,” said the resident. “I didn't think nothing of it and the cop pulled me over and made an issue of it.”

News of the citation came as a welcome surprise to at least one local business owner. Harold Cohen owns and operates the Mexican restaurant on 14th Street known as La Playita. Cohen has witnessed numerous instances of people jaywalking and hopes that local police officers will consider enforcing the law in a more aggressive fashion.

“That's good news,” said Cohen. “There needs to be an emphasis on it before somebody gets killed. It's flagrant. The people are just flagrant about it.” He added, “It may seem harmless, but I think a lawless attitude pervades in Hermosa Beach.”

Cohen urged local officials to consider issuing an edict that law enforcement officers consider placing a higher priority on enforcing jaywalking violations. “There needs to be a directive from the police chief or the city manager,” said Cohen.

One reason why so few citations are issued by Hermosa Beach police officers may have something to do with the way the actual jaywalking law is written. According to Sgt. Paul Wolcott, within Hermosa Beach there are “very few places where the roadway conditions exist to constitute an actual violation of the law.” Section 21955 of the California Vehicle Code states that “between adjacent intersections controlled by traffic control signal devices or by police officers, pedestrians shall not cross the roadway at any place except in a crosswalk.”

Wolcott cited the block between Pier Avenue and 11th Street as an example of where a true violation of the law might occur. While a traffic signal is located at both Pier Avenue and 11th Street, there is no intersection along Hermosa Avenue between those two signals. Anyone attempting to cross that section of Hermosa Avenue would technically be considered in violation of the law.

As for the circumstances under which a person might receive a citation for jaywalking, Wolcott echoed the statements of other neighboring police departments, which indicated that a decision to issue a citation occurs at the individual officer's discretion. According to a story published in the Daily Breeze in 1995, officers with the Torrance Police Department consider “the violator's attitude, whether it's day or night, the amount of traffic and the frequency of violations in the area.” In the same story, then-Manhattan Beach Police Chief Ted Mertens stated that his department targets the downtown (Manhattan Beach) area for jaywalking, “especially at night when people are bar-hopping.”

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

VEHICLE BURGLARY. Someone allegedly removed a digital camera from a resident's vehicle at an unknown time and location. The camera, a Canon SD 700, is worth approximately $400. The victim allegedly kept the camera in the glove compartment of a 2005 BMW and recently noticed it was missing.

GRAFFITI. Someone allegedly sprayed the letters “HB” on the north side of the wall located in the 600 block of Cypress Avenue. The incident occurred between Nov. 13 and Nov. 14. The initials were sprayed in orange-colored paint.

CORPORAL INJURY. A resident allegedly called 911 after being hit by her live-in boyfriend. The incident allegedly occurred in the 3300 block of Palm Drive at 3:25 p.m. Nov. 16. The victim allegedly got into an argument with her boyfriend after going drinking. After she was reportedly struck in the face and thrown to the ground, she called 911.

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

GRAND THEFT. Someone reportedly broke into a coin-operated change machine and took approximately $12,000. The incident occurred between Oct. 25 and Nov. 13 in the 600 block of Pacific Coast Highway.

THEFT. Someone reportedly attempted to open a charity solicitation box on the counter of McDonalds. He took the box after he was unable to open it. The incident occurred at 10:08 p.m. Nov. 8 in the 1100 block of Pacific Coast Highway.

PETTY THEFT. Someone allegedly took the starter from a motor home between Sept. 1 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 8. The incident occurred in the 1000 block of Aviation Boulevard.

GRAND THEFT. Someone allegedly removed camera equipment, jewelry and clothing from a residence in the 1200 block of Owosso Avenue. The incident allegedly occurred between 10 p.m. Nov. 13 and 10 a.m. Nov. 14.

BURGLARY. Someone allegedly attempted to pry open a sliding glass door of a house under construction and took two mounted security cameras. The incident occurred between 5 p.m. Nov. 13 and 6:50 a.m. Nov. 14. 

Hermosa Beach News

Police catch man, youth in graffiti spree

By Chris Yang

It's almost too much of a coincidence. Two days after a new ordinance providing guidelines on how to handle graffiti went into effect in Hermosa Beach, two residents were caught red-handed defacing various buildings and walls throughout the city with green spray paint.

Hermosa Beach police arrested 24-year-old Matthew Wicen and detained a 12-year-old cohort for defacing Clark Field, the Strand and several city vehicles with green swastikas and messages including “H.B. Locals,” among others. Officers came across the two after receiving a call reporting a vandalism in progress at 3:45 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 12.

Wicen, who lives on Eighth Street, was quickly charged with felony vandalism and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The 12-year-old was released into the custody of his parents. Police interviewed Wicen Monday and drove him around the city to point out locations that had been tagged.

The incident even drew the attention of Police Chief Greg Savelli, who commented on the matter at the Neighborhood Watch's Meet the Chief's event.

“It could be related to a hate crime,” said Savelli. “There's a reference to Sharon Tate. We don't know just yet.” He added that the mother of the 12-year-old incorrectly believed that he was spending the night at a friend's house.

Sgt. Paul Wolcott took the opportunity to stress the need for parents to be aware of whom their children socialize with. “The parents need to be aware of who their children's friends are,” said Wolcott.

According to a report in the Daily Breeze, local officials estimate the damage to run approximately $3,000, but conceded that it might be higher if the city decides to completely repaint some of the vehicles that had been tagged.

After the incident first came to light over the weekend, Public Works employees wasted no time removing the pair's handiwork and were seen on Monday washing away most of the graffiti located at Clark Stadium.

Wicen identified himself to investigators as a writer at local newspaper the Easy Reader. The Breeze was able to confirm with the owner of the publication that Wicen did at one time submit music reviews to the paper as a freelance writer.

The incident is also some measure of vindication for the newest member of the City Council, Kit Bobko. Bobko urged the city to adopt a new ordinance in August pertaining specifically to graffiti. The council eventually agreed and adopted a resolution in October that states, “No person shall permit any graffiti that may be viewed from the public right-of-way or other public property to remain on any building, structure, tree, shrub, sidewalk or curb owned or possessed by such person.” It also grants local officials greater discretion to abate graffiti from public and private property, as well as sets guidelines for the removal of graffiti from private property without the owner's consent. The ordinance was adopted by a unanimous vote of the council Oct. 10 and went into effect 30 days thereafter.

At the council's meeting Tuesday, Bobko urged the city prosecutor to prosecute both the minor and the adult “to the fullest extent of the law.” He added, “I want to let everybody know that we're serious about these types of things. I think that the real crime with that whole business is that someone is not only costing the city money that's completely wasted but it's also taking guys away from other jobs they could be doing.”

As of Tuesday, Wicen's case had not yet been filed in Municipal Court. A spokesperson with the county district attorney's office acknowledged that no information was available regarding an upcoming court date and that any inquiries should be referred to the Hermosa Beach Police Department. A follow-up phone call Tuesday to the Police Department or to Wicen's residence was not returned.

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

ATTEMPTED BURGLARY. Someone allegedly attempted to gain entry to a detached garage at a residence in the 900 block of First Street. The incident allegedly occurred between 9 a.m. Nov. 10 and noon Nov. 12.

BURGLARY. Someone allegedly burglarized a residence in the 2300 block of the Strand between 5 p.m. Nov. 13 and 6:50 a.m. Nov. 14. Construction workers arrived Nov. 14 to allegedly discover an open garage and a damaged sliding door at the residence. The property is currently under construction. Two surveillance cameras worth approximately $1,000 were reportedly taken from the home.

GRAND THEFT. Someone allegedly removed a Trek mountain bike from a bike stand on 22nd Street. The incident allegedly occurred between 6:50 and 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12. After locking his mountain bike to a stand with a standard cable lock, the owner allegedly returned to find the bike was gone.

AUTO BURGLARY. A vehicle parked in the Hermosa Beach parking structure was burglarized at 3 p.m. Nov. 7. A computer bag, laptop, digital camera and passport were allegedly taken from a locked vehicle on the top floor of the parking structure on Hermosa Avenue. The sunroof was reportedly opened about 8 inches.

BURGLARY. A purse containing a cell phone was allegedly stolen from a pier plaza establishment at midnight Oct. 28.

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

BATTERY. An individual was allegedly punched in the face by a former co-worker in front of a pier plaza establishment. The incident allegedly occurred between 12:30 and 12:45 a.m. Nov. 1. A woman reportedly confronted the victim and began yelling at him. She allegedly then subsequently slapped him in the face and walked away. She reappeared 15 minutes later and struck the victim in the forehead with a closed fist.

ASSAULT AND BATTERY. A motorcyclist was allegedly assaulted after getting into an argument with the driver of another vehicle. The incident allegedly occurred between 4:20 and 4:26 p.m. Nov. 5. While driving southbound along Hermosa Avenue, the motorcyclist nearly collided with a vehicle traveling northbound that turned left. Angered by the near collision, the motorcyclist allegedly followed the vehicle into the parking lot of a local restaurant and words were exchanged. The driver of the vehicle then reportedly punched the motorcyclist in the face.

FICTITIOUS CHECK. An employee of a Strand hotel recently discovered a duplicate check in the amount of $880. The incident took place in the 1300 block of the Strand and occurred sometime after Oct. 10. After contacting the bank, the employee allegedly learned the check was fraudulent.

GRAND THEFT. Someone reportedly removed approximately $2,605 from a residence in the 300 block of 29th Street. The incident occurred between 2 p.m. Sept. 20 and 9:12 p.m. Nov. 4. A resident allegedly discovered that money was missing from a safe and from her children's piggy banks.

THEFT. After being transported to the hospital for food poisoning, an individual discovered that $200 was missing from his wallet. The incident allegedly occurred in the 1000 block of Hermosa Avenue. After falling ill, the victim was taken to a local hospital by the Hermosa Beach Fire Department. While attempting to pay for the hospital's services the next morning, the victim discovered that roughly $200 was missing from his wallet. The incident occurred between 10:30 p.m. Nov. 3 and 6 a.m. Nov. 4. The victim does not know how the money was taken.

STUN GUN ROBBERIES. Two robberies involving stun guns were reported just minutes apart Nov. 3. First, at 10:42 p.m. In the 2200 block of Bataan Road, a victim's money was stolen after being threatened with a stun gun. Then at 10:42 p.m. in the 2500 block of Voorhees Avenue, a person brandishing a stun gun robbed another victim of their money and cell phone.

Hermosa Beach News

Burglar strikes popular restaurant for $10,000

By Chris Yang

Officials with the Hermosa Beach Police Department are currently investigating the theft of more than $11,000 from a popular Strand restaurant earlier this month.

According to an incident report filed with the Hermosa Beach Police Department, someone removed approximately $11,574 from Scotty's on the Strand restaurant sometime after closing on the night of Saturday, Oct. 21. The burglary was not reported until the next morning, when an employee returning to work noticed broken glass strewn on a table. After discovering pry marks on the door leading to the restaurant's office, she notified the police.

According to the report, the owner's nephew secured the building sometime between 10:30 and 11 p.m. Oct. 21. A server discovered the break-in shortly after returning to work at 7 a.m. Oct. 22.

Sgt. Paul Wolcott of the Hermosa Beach Police Department conceded that a detective had been assigned to the case. “It's a crime of opportunity,” said Wolcott.

After gaining entry to the business, the individual(s) allegedly pried open a door to the office, along with a safe located inside the office using “some sort of electric tools.” A piece of the door's deadbolt lock was found lying on the desk. Approximately $10,000 was removed from the safe, while a smaller amount was taken from inside the desk.

Police suspect a handwritten letter left behind during the incident may have been authored by the burglar(s), but the detective assigned to the case would not comment on its contents.

“We're at the very preliminary stages of the investigation,” said Detective Wayne Lewis. “I'm going to have a talk with them this afternoon (Tuesday), so there might be some developments.”

Scotty's owner, Tom Zevgaras, seemed to take the incident in stride in a conversation several days after the break-in. “We'll see what happens,” said Zevgaras.

According to a report that appeared in the Daily Breeze in March, burglaries were the primary cause behind a 7.6-percent increase in crime from 2004 to 2005. In June, a story in the Breeze blamed an increase in the number of residential burglaries “from 137 in 2004 to 187 in 2005” on residents leaving their doors and windows open.

Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch

THEFT. Two patrons of a bar allegedly had their purses stolen at 11:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Two patrons of an establishment in the 700 block of Pier Avenue allegedly left their purses unattended. When they returned, their purses were gone.

ASSAULT. An individual was allegedly observed striking another person repeatedly on 15th Street at 2:36 p.m. Oct. 27. The person being struck was reportedly lying on the ground as the other individual struck him repeatedly with a black leather belt. When questioned by police, neither individual acknowledged the incident.

ROBBERY. Someone was allegedly pushed to the ground and robbed between 2 and 2:30 a.m. Oct. 28.  While standing in a parking lot in the 700 block of Pier Avenue, a woman holding her purse was allegedly pushed from behind. She fell to the ground, losing control of her purse in the process. She allegedly remained on the ground for several minutes before getting up again, during which time someone took her purse.

BURGLARY. Someone reportedly removed a metal badge from a locker at 2 Pier Plaza. The incident allegedly occurred between 8 a.m. Oct. 21 and Oct. 26. The victim reported there was no forced entry and that no one else had the combination to his locker.

THEFT. Someone reportedly stole property while attending a resident's Halloween party in the 1700 block of Hermosa Avenue. The incident allegedly occurred between 1 and 1:17 a.m. Oct. 29. While hosting a party, a resident was allegedly informed of the presence of a suspicious male in a bedroom. The resident later followed the individual to the 1700 block of Palm Drive, where he allegedly brandished a knife while speaking with the resident. The resident allegedly noticed that the individual was carrying something in his belt and grabbed the item, which later turned out to be her roommate's cell phone.

Hermosa Beach News

Parking becomes top issue for new project

By Chris Yang

The issue of parking reared its ugly head again Tuesday night when the Planning Commission considered a proposal to develop property currently located at the corner of 15th Street and Hermosa Avenue into a new office complex.

A plan introduced by Cardinal Real Estate Investments to construct a 19,000-square-foot commercial building was met with cautious optimism by the commission, which voted unanimously to recommend the City Council should approve the project at the council's next meeting.

According to the city's 40-page staff report, the project would see the property currently occupied by Classic Burger and Hermosa Donuts replaced with 31 or 33 “office-condominiums,” a restaurant and snack shop.

One of Cardinal's partners, Mike Flaherty, addressed the commission to discuss a plethora of issues related to a new three-story office complex.

“It's a project that takes us away from the club culture,” said Flaherty. “The current site is underutilized, downtrodden. We believe there is a strong demand for office use.”

To emphasize the viability of the proposal, Flaherty stressed that demands for the building's 34 parking spots would primarily occur during the day.

“Our key parking demand is during the day,” he said. Part of his presentation included pictures taken at various times and locations throughout the city. Most emphasized his point that the area's parking demand increases significantly during the evenings and on weekends, when according to Flaherty, most users of the new building would not be present. According to the staff report, the new building's parking spaces would all be situated in a subterranean parking lot and would be shared both by restaurant patrons and by office workers.

“Every conversation begins with the same thing,” said Commissioner Pete Hoffman. “Parking, parking, parking.”

He added, “It just keeps coming back to parking for me.”

The public hearing drew many residents from the surrounding vicinity who voiced their concerns about the proposal, including several business owners, the owner of the Hermosa Pavilion and a representative from the First Church of Christ, Scientist.

Local resident Chris Alexander raised one of the few voices of dissent during the hearing. “We have a stretch of a block,” said Alexander. “There's not going to be any parking in those areas.”

Though several additional conditions were placed on the project before its approval, the commission ultimately agreed to proceed. Commissioner Sam Perrotti used his time to suggest placing a condition on any new parking structure that is built within Hermosa Beach. “We should dedicate one level (of a new parking structure) to residential use,” said Perrotti. He added that such a proposal might mirror the current agreement between the city and the Beach House Hotel, which allows patrons of the hotel to use the entire first floor of the parking structure on Hermosa Avenue. While he acknowledged that such a decision would ultimately be left up to a future commission, Perrotti implored any individuals to consider his request.

When the discussion turned to the city's in-lieu parking program, Community Development Director Sol Blumenfeld responded by explaining some of its details.

“There are 28 in-lieu spaces (that have been purchased) to date,” said Blumenfeld. Once the city reaches 100 in-lieu spaces, it is obligated to construct a new parking structure, said Blumenfeld. Cardinal Investments, which submitted its application to the city prior to the increase of in-lieu parking fees from $12,500 to $28,500, was the only organization to oppose the increase. Flaherty testified publicly at the council's meeting when it considered the matter, but the council disagreed and eventually went ahead with the price hike.

Hermosa Beach News

We Get Letters

Editor's note: Last week, we asked our readers about the Hermosa Beach City Council voting to raise its pay.

Ask the voters

The Hermosa Beach City Council wasted no time in giving themselves an increase in compensation of nearly the maximum allowed pursuant to a new Attorney General's opinion (No. 06-504, August 2006). Sam Edgerton and Peter Tucker voted no at a recent council meeting at nearly 12:30 a.m. in the morning when most of the audience was gone. They had to calculate back nearly 20 years to comply with the requirements of the California Government Code. It does not seem right that a current council can go back and do what prior councils decided to not do and passed up salary increases for so many years. It would have been much more appropriate if they simply gave themselves a 5-percent or even 10-percent raise for the last couple of years while a majority of them were on the current council. This monthly compensation is in addition to a generous car allowance of $350 per month, an even more generous free medical insurance benefit and PERS retirement for some. What received no mention that morning was that this same state law allows for the compensation to exceed the maximum or be decreased at any municipal election by the voters. It would be more appropriate to place the salary increase on the next ballot in November 2007 instead of adopting the ordinance at the next regular council meeting Oct. 24.

Kathleen L. Midstokke, Hermosa Beach

Should have refused raise

Until proven otherwise, first-term Hermosa councilman Pete Tucker and fourth-termer Sam Edgerton will run for re-election next August. Thus, given political expediency, their statements and council votes this election-year period would best be viewed with a jaundiced eye.

This political expediency was displayed by them in the late hours of the Oct. 10 council meeting wherein Tucker and Edgerton voted against a 77-percent increase to their council salary while knowing full well the raise would be passed by the other three on council. Their stated reasons for voting against the raise were just so much hooey given they did not back up their words by personally refusing to accept such enacted raise.

Tucker and Edgerton needed only to state that they individually would refuse to take the increase and insist that such be incorporated into the salary ordinance. There is precedence for this. Former mayor Etta Simpson had the city specify that she was to receive only $1 while on council.

So if Tucker and Edgerton are really against the salary increase, and were not simply pontificating in an election year, then they should cause the ordinance to be reconsidered and then modified to specify a lesser amount that they personally are to be paid should they be re-elected to the next council. Otherwise, Tucker and Edgerton must forever wear this unnecessary 77-percent pay raise on their sleeve exactly as if they had voted yes for it with councilmen J.R. Reviczky, Michael Keegan and rookie member Kit Bobko.

Howard Longacre, Hermosa Beach


Didn't use common sense

As a group, the Committee Responsible for School Expansion has questioned the need for a gym from its conception. The need for more classrooms was paramount to a gym. Exercise is healthier out of doors, especially in Hermosa Beach.

When gyms are necessary, they are planned in advance with concern for student grade levels, separating elementary from junior high. The decisions of the past have led to overcrowding.

The School Board's dogma for a gym or else within the existing limited space has prevailed over common sense.

Gordon B. Evans, Hermosa Beach

Hermosa Beach News

Four vie for two HB Public Works seats

By Chris Yang

Two seats on the city's Public Works Commission are set to expire later this month on Oct. 31. Responding to a public notice soliciting applications, the city received replies from four residents - Julian Katz, Brian Koch, Sean Krajewski and current commissioner Victor Winnek. The applicants are competing for seats held by Winnek and another commissioner, Robert Beste. Winnek is reapplying to retain his seat on the commission.

The commission was first established in 1999 by a vote of the City Council. According to the city's Web site, its duties are: to review and make recommendations to the council on all capital improvement projects; to assist in the development and updating of design guidelines for public improvements; and to make recommendations on any other items referred to it by the council.

Though the commission serves only in an advisory role, it has at times been the site of heated policy debates and the subject of intense criticism. At its August meeting, one resident referred to the commission's process as a “kangaroo court,” while another labeled commission chair Winnek as a “dictator.”

Despite the criticism and the seemingly mundane issues associated with anything to do with “public works,” the body does have a sizable impact on local events. It was the Public Works Commission that initially decided to reduce Pier Avenue from a four- to two-lane road earlier this year. In September, it served as the public forum for the city to present its vision of upper Pier Avenue and for residents to air their views on the controversial striping project. It also allowed residents to evaluate a new stoplight placed at the intersection of 16th Street and Pacific Coast Highway following the death of a teenager earlier this year.

Beste, who currently works for the city of Torrance as its Public Works director, provided some details about the position by phone Tuesday morning.

“There is quite a bit to get up to speed on,” he said. “New commissioners do have to spend some time to kind of come up to speed and really understand the history on different kinds of things.” He added, “It does take a little effort in the beginning.”

When deciding who should be appointed to the commission, Beste suggested that the council should select residents that represent a “good cross section of the community.”

Of the four applicants, two are engineers, one is an attorney and one is a restaurateur. Winnek is the lone applicant to be currently serving in local government. Koch previously served on the commission from 2000 to 2003. Interviews will be conducted by the City Council prior to its next meeting on Oct. 24, when the appointments are to be made. The appointments are for four-year terms. Once appointed, commissioners are required to file statements of economic interest for the purpose of disclosing conflicts of interest. Members serve at the pleasure of the City Council. There is no limit on the number of times a member may reapply to serve. Because the seats are staggered, the terms of the three remaining commissioners will expire in 2008.