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Top Stories on This Webpage: Starting April 5, 2007
Read the complete news stories, just below on this webpage:
Deadline nearing for parking referendum - The deadline is nearing for a referendum aimed at stopping a new ordinance that will allow for pier plaza businesses wishing to expand to pay into a parking fund rather than provide additional on-site parking. By April 12 at 6 p.m., Hermosa Beach resident Jim Lissner, who doesn't approve of the city's decision to allow for businesses such as Sharkeez to expand without having to provide for any on-site parking, will have to turn in 1,400 “good” signatures. “I don't have a huge amount of signatures so far,” Lissner said, adding that all 1,400 signatures will be checked by the Los Angeles County Register assuring that names and addresses match, and that the people who signed are registered voters. Lissner initiated the referendum after the Hermosa Beach City Council approved the ordinance March 13. The new ordinance allows for any business on the pier plaza that wishes to expand to pay into the city's parking fund via in-lieu fees instead of building additional on-site parking. The previous ordinance demanded that businesses planning to expand also increase the number of parking spaces depending on the size of the planned expansion. For Sharkeez, that meant 20 additional on-site parking spots.
Commission moves Sharkeez expansion plans forward - Aloha Sharkeez will soon be more than just the burned-down bar on Pier Avenue thanks to a resolution passed from the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission at its March 20 meeting. It's been almost a year since the popular watering hole became known as “Sharkeez inferno” when it burned down in an early morning blaze. However, according to the new plans, the remodeled Sharkeez will be 2,000 square feet larger than its original structure. Damage from the fire will not allow the building to be repaired; therefore, owner Greg Newman will have to reconstruct the bar from the ground up. The new watering hole will be 5,600 square feet, have two floors with a larger patio and a retractable skylight on the upper floor. However, food and alcohol will not be served past midnight on the top floor. The building will not exceed the 30-feet height limit and according to the resolution, the new structure will minimize impact on ocean views for surrounding residents.
Glen Ivy's request to serve beer
and wine denied -
The Hermosa
Beach Planning Commission denied Glen Ivy's request to serve
beer and wine at the spa at its March 20 meeting.
Located in the Hermosa Plaza on
Pacific Coast Highway upstairs from 24-Hour Fitness, Glen Ivy
Day Spa is a traditional spa with massages, facials and other
body treatments. However, one thing they have not been permitted
to serve their guests is alcohol. Mari Markell, director
of sales and marketing for Glen Ivy Hot Springs Inc., explained
that at the other Glen Ivy locations where beer and wine are
permitted, it is served only to guests receiving spa treatments
and it is not a prominent feature of the spa. “We don't
advertise it and it's not on any of our Web sites,” Markell
said. “In fact, last year we only made $450 profit from the sale
of wine, so clearly it is not a money maker for us. That is not
the reason we serve it.”
Despite
Markell's rationale, all Planning Commissioners agreed it would
not be wise to grant the spa a conditional use permit allowing
it to sell beer and wine.
Sharkeez wants to expand by more than 50 percent - Later this month, members of the city's Planning Commission will consider a request by the proprietors of a popular pier plaza establishment known as Aloha Sharkeez to expand their business by roughly 55 percent. In light of this, the founder of the business recently began lobbying commissioners in anticipation of the upcoming hearing on Feb. 20. In particular, a proposal was recently submitted to the city requesting an increase in the size of the building by approximately 2,000 square feet. The property's owners, Ron and Greg Newman, are also requesting approval to provide outdoor seating on both the first and second floors of the building. But a roadblock soon appeared after local officials reached a determination that the fire damaged more than 50 percent of the building. Under the old zoning code, nonconforming commercial properties, of which Sharkeez was one, were required to conform to current code standards upon their reconstruction from a calamity.
West L.A. man attacked over the weekend - According to his account reported to police, a West Los Angeles man was stabbed several times by another man in Hermosa Beach while walking to his girlfriend's house in south Redondo Beach early Saturday morning. The victim, Jon Crush, said he was walking to the residence from the pier plaza around 2:30 a.m. when a man walked up from behind him and demanded his wallet. Crush said the man pulled his jacket over his head and stabbed him on the side near the rib cage. He said he fought with the man until he fled the scene without any of Crush's property.
HBPD receives a call of a man with a gun, wearing a T-Shirt with a Skull-and-Crossbones design, in the area of Park Avenue and Monterey Boulevard.
What Is Your Opinion? Is Crime In Hermosa Beach Becoming More Dangerous?
Assault With a Deadly Weapon: 2:06 a.m. April 9, 00 block of Pier Avenue. Police arrested one man on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly hitting and kicking the victim, who was taken to a hospital for treatment. A second man, who may also have hit the victim, left with a third man.
Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach Crime Close-Up. Years 1998 to 2004 Crime Stat Comparison http://www.hbneighborhood.org/1%20HB%20CrimeNews%202006%201.htm
Seven Robberies in ten days in the Hermosa, Manhattan and Redondo - 3 Robberies in Hermosa Beach in 4 days - ROBBERY: 12:30 a.m. March 26, 28th Court and Morningside Drive. Two men robbed the victims at knifepoint of a wallet and two cell phones. One was described as Latino, in his late teens, 5-foot-9, 150 pounds with a thin build, shaved head and goatee and wearing gray sweat shirt and blue jeans. The other was described as white, in his late teens, 6-foot-2, 170 pounds with a thin build, short dirty blonde hair and wearing a sweater and jeans.
The Beach Reporter – April 5, 2007
Hermosa Beach News Deadline nearing for parking referendum
The deadline is nearing for
a referendum aimed at stopping a new ordinance that will allow for pier
plaza businesses wishing to expand to pay into a parking fund rather than
provide additional on-site parking.
In an effort to defend the ordinance and stop people from signing the referendum, Sharkeez owners Ron and Greg Newman have sent out mailers, e-mails and will run advertisements, stating their opinions regarding Lissner's proposed referendum.
Newman's Web site,
www.saveourplaza.org/ has
information in favor of the ordinance and the parking-in-lieu program for
all downtown businesses, and states that the ordinance will prevent the
plaza from looking like a parking structure.
“We might also see new
applications from other businesses on the Plaza,” said Lissner, who believes
there is a possibility of businesses such as Paradise Sushi expanding and
taking advantage of the 100 percent parking-in-lieu fee ordinance. |
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The Beach Reporter – April 5, 2007
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. |
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The Beach Reporter – March 22, 2007
Hermosa Beach News Commission moves Sharkeez expansion plans forward
Aloha Sharkeez will soon be
more than just the burned-down bar on Pier Avenue thanks to a resolution
passed from the Hermosa Beach Planning Commission at its March 20 meeting.
Parking for Sharkeez as
well as other businesses on Pier Avenue became an issue during the March 13
City Council meeting. After the council debated for an hour, it approved an
amendment that exempts pier plaza buildings that exceed a 1-to-1 gross floor
area to building site ratio from providing a minimum of 25 percent of the
required parking onsite.
There was little discussion
from Planning Commissioners at the March 20 meeting regarding the adoption
of the resolution. |
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The Beach Reporter – March 22, 2007
Hermosa Beach News Glen Ivy's request to serve beer and wine denied
The Hermosa Beach Planning
Commission denied Glen Ivy's request to serve beer and wine at the spa at
its March 20 meeting.
Despite Markell's
rationale, all Planning Commissioners agreed it would not be wise to grant
the spa a conditional use permit allowing it to sell beer and wine. |
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The Beach Reporter – February 22, 2007
Hermosa Beach News Sharkeez's plans to expand move forward
Factions both for and against the expansion of a popular pier plaza establishment known as Aloha Sharkeez appeared before the Planning Commission to voice concerns about the project. After a dramatic public hearing that touched upon some of the core issues facing Hermosa Beach, the commission signed off on plans to expand the business by a 4-1 vote.
Commissioner Ron Pizer
voted against the motion.
Newman also argued that
allowing an expansion of his business would give other business owners on
the plaza an incentive to follow suit. “I think this building is going to
add a lot to the city,” said Newman. “It's going to cause a lot of other
businesses to upgrade their business.”
“I don't want him not to
rebuild,” said local resident Barbara Ellman. “I just really want to know
what the definition of ‘original footprint' is. I'm really concerned about
parking.”
The Newmans compared their new building to the upscale plaza restaurant, while
critics mentioned a recent decision by the council to deny a request by the
owner to stay open until 2 a.m. Critics of the downtown scene saw the denial
as an acknowledgment by city leaders that the city's infamous nightlife
needs to be reined in.
Another condition imposed by Commissioner Pete Hoffman required the skylight to be closed when the building's heating and air conditioning system is on. The commission's decision is not final, though, and may be appealed by the City Council at its next meeting Tuesday, Feb. 27. |
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The Beach Reporter – February 8, 2007
Hermosa Beach News Sharkeez wants to expand by more than 50 percent
Later this month, members
of the city's Planning Commission will consider a request by the proprietors
of a popular pier plaza establishment known as Aloha Sharkeez to expand
their business by roughly 55 percent. In light of this, the founder of the
business recently began lobbying commissioners in anticipation of the
upcoming hearing on Feb. 20.
But a roadblock soon appeared after local officials reached a determination that the fire damaged more than 50 percent of the building. Under the old zoning code, nonconforming commercial properties, of which Sharkeez was one, were required to conform to current code standards upon their reconstruction from a calamity.
This requirement, known as the 50 percent rule,” would have created a substantial liability for the Newmans under the city's parking requirements, which require property owners to submit funds “in-lieu” of providing parking. The city imposes fees, which were recently raised from $12,500 to $28,900 per parking space, based upon a building's usage and square footage.
But a plan introduced by
Mayor Sam Edgerton to exempt commercial properties from the 50-percent rule
last September was eventually adopted, freeing the Newmans from a sizable
encumbrance estimated by some to reach upward of half a million dollars.
That figure depends on how
the city classifies the rebuilt business (the parking requirements for a bar
are greater than a restaurant) and may run in excess of several hundred
thousand dollars. A public notice posted on the city's Web site notifying
the public about the Planning Commission's upcoming public hearing indicates
that local officials have granted Newman the “restaurant” classification
with respect to his business.
The changes have created a large backlash among some residents and community activists who fear that the small beach community has created a monster, so to speak.
Longtime residents occasionally appear before commissions and the City Council lamenting the fact that the downtown area is just not accessible in the evening due to the crowds and rowdy atmosphere.
Just last month, the issue reared its ugly head in the city's annual review of conditional use permits for businesses in the downtown area (see “H.B. commissioners take another look at downtown” Feb. 1).
Whether the commission eventually approves the Newmans' request to expand Sharkeez, one thing is most definitely certain - the issue of whether Hermosa Beach has too many bars and restaurants will remain a topic of debate for the indefinite future. |
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The Beach Reporter – February 15, 2007
Hermosa Beach - Letters to the Editor
Parking issues Impose a moratorium on mansions
As you may know, there is an ongoing
“mansionization” problem in Manhattan Beach and some of the other
surrounding communities in the South Bay. This must be so since our elected
leaders have formed a subcommittee to look into this very issue. The problem
is with homes/ condos being purchased and then torn down to give way to the
mansions that are then built to the setback limits of the lot. Now what you
may not be aware of is that this can also be the case when a developer seeks
an exception from the building code to combine lots to build a much larger
and more dense building than previously existed on the separate parcels.
This activity has now increased in Manhattan Beach, in advance of what is
the proposed date in March of this year for the Mansionization Subcommittee
to report its findings. When it does so, presumably our elected officials
will enact some new restrictions. |
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The Beach Reporter – February 15, 2007
Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch ATTEMPTED ROBBERY. While walking northbound on The Strand, someone was allegedly accosted by three individuals at 7:55 p.m. Feb. 5. Two of the individuals reportedly asked the victim “What do you have in your pockets?” and began asking for money and his wallet. The victim began to yell “Help” and ran in the opposite direction. ASSAULT AND BATTERY. Someone was allegedly attacked by three unknown individuals while attending a party at an apartment in the 1700 block of Manhattan Avenue. The incident allegedly occurred around 1 a.m. Feb. 4. The victim was allegedly struck several times by the suspects, who left the apartment immediately following the incident. BURGLARY. Someone allegedly entered a business in the 400 block of Pier Avenue and removed a black leather handbag. The incident allegedly occurred at 1:30 p.m. Feb. 7. The owner of the business suspects someone entered his place of work through a rear door that is left open during business hours. BURGLARY. Someone allegedly removed two laptop computers from an apartment in the 400 block of Herondo Street. A resident returned from work to find pry marks around his door lock and two laptop computers missing from his apartment. The resident may have left the dead bolt unlocked. The incident allegedly occurred between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Feb. 8. GRAND THEFT. Someone entered a gated construction site in the 1200 block of Eighth Street and removed a copper pipe and 250 feet of electrical wiring. The incident allegedly occurred sometime after construction workers left at 4 p.m. Feb. 6 and before they returned on 8 a.m. Feb. 7. |
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The Beach Reporter – February 8, 2007
Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch VEHICLE BURGLARY. Someone reportedly removed two cameras from a 2001 Ford Explorer after it was parked in the 1000 block of Loma Drive. After parking her car in the driveway of her residence, the victim allegedly locked and secured her vehicle. The following morning, she returned to discover the driver-side door open and the vehicle unlocked. Two digital cameras were reportedly stolen.
ASSAULT AND BATTERY. Five individuals were allegedly observed involved in an incident that took place in the 200 block of Hermosa Avenue at around 11:26 p.m. Feb. 2. While crossing the street with two friends, an individual allegedly engaged in an altercation with two individuals driving northbound along Hermosa Avenue. The two people inside the car claim that the pedestrians were obstructing the road. At some point, one of the pedestrians began to kick the car. He later engaged in a scuffle with the driver and passenger of the car after they emerged from the vehicle. When police arrived, both parties appeared to have resolved the dispute and were cordial with each other.
BATTERY. A patron of a pier plaza establishment was allegedly struck by another individual at approximately 1:25 a.m. Jan. 28. The incident allegedly occurred after the victim came into contact with the individual at the business located in the first block of the pier plaza. After striking the victim, the attacker allegedly ran out of the business.
BATTERY. A patron of an establishment in the 100 block of Pacific Coast Highway suffered a fracture after a bouncer allegedly removed her from the business. After ordering a drink from the bar, the wife of a band-member performing at the establishment allegedly became irate when one of the bartenders would not return her credit card. Bouncers were quickly dispatched to remove her from the premises. She later discovered that she suffered a fractured wrist as a result of the incident, which occurred at 1 a.m. on Dec. 31. |
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In 1912, the Hermosa Beach Pleasure Pier opened to great fanfare during the city’s earliest days.
This weekend the city will celebrate 100 years with a kickoff event Sunday and events throughout the year.
The Beach Reporter – January 11, 2007
Hermosa Beach News Hermosa Beach through the years
This
is the first in a three-part look at the 100 years of Hermosa Beach.
In 1900, Amos Burbank and
Eugene Baker, acting on behalf of the Hermosa Beach Land and Water Company,
purchased 1,500 acres from the owner of Rancho Sausal Redondo for $35 per
acre, or roughly $54,000. The company, which also included two silent
partners, Gen. Moses Hazeltine Sherman and E. P. Clark, would go on to make
several improvements over the next few years, including a sewer system,
wharf, pier and water supply.
In December 1907, the young
town suffered a minor setback, losing the use of its pier to the high tide.
The “recreation pier,” an all-wood structure measuring 24 feet wide, was
built three years earlier at a cost of $8,000. |
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The Beach Reporter – January 11, 2007
Hermosa Beach – Crime Watch VEHICLE BURGLARY. Someone allegedly removed items from a gray Honda Accord in the 400 block of Monterey Boulevard. The incident reportedly occurred between 7 p.m. Jan. 2 and 7:50 a.m. Jan. 3. Among the items allegedly taken were $60 in cash, a bracelet worth $70 and Chanel sunglasses worth $400.
VANDALISM. Someone allegedly smashed the driver-side mirror of a white GMC Yukon parked in the 1000 block of Bard Avenue. The incident allegedly occurred between 5 p.m. Jan. 6 and 5 a.m. Jan. 7.
BICYCLE THEFT. Someone allegedly locked a bicycle in front of a pier plaza establishment after midnight Jan. 1. After returning on Jan. 2, the victim's bicycle was gone.
VANDALISM. Someone allegedly shattered the window of an office in the 100 block of Pier Avenue. The incident allegedly occurred between 9 p.m. Jan. 3 and 7 a.m. Jan. 4.
GRAND THEFT. Someone allegedly burglarized several items from a black Toyota hatchback parked in the 500 block of Second Street. The incident reportedly occurred between 10 p.m. Jan. 6 and 8 a.m. Jan. 7. Among the following items taken were a Leatherman tool, a laptop briefcase, a camera, two Mont Blanc pens and an iPod. |
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The Beach Reporter – November 9, 2006
Hermosa Beach News Incumbent, newcomer elected to BCHD board
Voters from the South Bay's
trio of beach towns backed on-the-job experience during the balloting
Tuesday for the Beach Cities Health District board, electing the one
incumbent running and a doctor new to politics.
For Congress, Harman, D-El
Segundo, glided to victory in the 36th Congressional District she has held
for all but two years since 1992.
The one bit of intrigue to
an otherwise sleepy race centered on Manhattan Beach native and School Board
member Bill Eisen. Nine candidates appeared on the original ballot until
Eisen stepped out of the race due to a likely conflict of interest. |
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The Beach Reporter August 17, 2006
Hermosa Beach News Fire Department frustrated by delays in Sharkeez investigation
In recent weeks, officials
with the Hermosa Beach Fire Department have become increasingly frustrated
at the lack of progress with the investigation into a fire that burned down
one of the city's most popular bars, Aloha Sharkeez.
But as of Monday, asbestos
no longer appears to be an issue with the Fire Department. Asbestos was not
a major issue, said Crawford. Our concerns are mostly with the structure's
stability. The investigation was not able to go any further until removal of
(the) heavy equipment, and that has been put on hold.
I'm kind of in the dark
about how this whole process works, said Newman. I don't know why everyone
thought we were supposed to do the demolition. Newman also conceded that an
architect is currently working on plans for what will replace the charred
wreckage. He added that no officials with the Fire Department had contacted
him in recent weeks regarding the incident. |
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The Beach Reporter August 3, 2006
Hermosa Beach Crime Watch DEADLY WEAPON ASSAULT. Someone riding a bike on The Strand was allegedly shot with a pellet from an Airsoft pellet gun July 12 at 5:08 p.m. The victim was riding with his friend northbound in the 200 block of The Strand when his friend realized someone standing in the vicinity had shot something at the victim. The suspect did not know the victim, who was not injured by the incident.
VEHICLE BURGLARY. A vehicle parked in the garage of an apartment complex in the 400 block of Herondo Street was allegedly burglarized on July 12, at an unspecified time. A cell phone, sunglasses, and yoga bag worth approximately $100 were reportedly stolen from the vehicle.
VEHICLE BURGLARY. Several items were reportedly stolen from a vehicle parked in the 1700 block of Monterey Boulevard between 7 p.m. July 14 and 10 a.m. July 15. The victim's California Drivers' License, a handicap placard and the vehicle's stereo were reportedly stolen.
VANDALISM. Someone reportedly smashed a victim's car windshield between 9:50 and 11:15 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. The vehicle was parked in the lower parking lot located at 702 Pier Ave.
BATTERY. On Sunday, July 16, at 12:46 a.m., several individuals were involved in an incident at a Pier Plaza establishment that led the citation of two people for misdemeanor battery. As a woman danced with two of her friends in the establishment, a man approached them on the dance floor and asked the woman to dance. After she refused, words were exchanged between the two parties. Each party claims to be the victim of an assault. |
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The Beach Reporter June 8, 2006
Hermosa Beach News Three council candidates boycott forum
Three of the four
candidates who battled for the City Council seat filled after Tuesday's
voting touched off a pre-election day dustup when all but one skipped a
televised political forum hours before it began.
Janice Brittain, an education administrator, was the sole attendee. |
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The Beach Reporter April 20, 2006
Hermosa Beach - Crime Watch NARCOTICS TO A MINOR. A man was reportedly arrested in the 2500 block of Pacific Coast Highway after police discovered opened bottles of alcohol and what appeared to be cocaine in his possession which was allegedly given to a 17-year-old girl the evening of April 13. Police responded to a medical emergency and entered what is assumed to be a hotel room. The girl was standing at the foot of the bed and the suspect was standing next to her to try and keep her from falling over. Officers noticed that her pupils were dilated and a small amount of blood appeared around her lips. She appeared to be in a daze. The suspect told police that she had been drinking vodka and said she was a friend of his daughter's whom he was going to be taking home soon. He told police she was 17. He said he booked the room and allowed the girl to use it when he was away. The man also admitted to leaving open bottles of vodka and Southern Comfort in the room with her, and said she had lied to her parents about her whereabouts. Officers noticed that the man was sweating profusely and asked him if he was in possession of any narcotics to which he said that he had cocaine in his pocket. Police retrieved a small vial that contained white powder. Paramedics treated the girl who appeared to be suffering from a cocaine overdose. |
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What Is Your Opinion? Is Crime In Hermosa Beach Becoming More Dangerous?
The Beach Reporter April 13, 2006
Hermosa Beach News West L.A. man attacked over the weekend (4/13)
According to his account
reported to police, a West Los Angeles man was stabbed several times by
another man in Hermosa Beach while walking to his girlfriend's house in
south Redondo Beach early Saturday morning.
After the incident, Crush
said he then called his girlfriend who picked him up on Pacific Coast
Highway to take him to the hospital. She in the meantime had called 9-1-1
and police responded. |
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HBPD receives a call of a man with a gun in the area of Park Avenue and Monterey Boulevard.
The Daily Breeze April 14, 2006
Lights & Sirens
Q: HB Police Activity
At 4 p.m. April 6, I was passing the intersection of Manhattan and 27th Street in Hermosa Beach. Five or six Hermosa Beach police cars were blocking a car with two men in it. They had their hands behind their heads and the officers had their guns drawn and were shouting orders to the men in the car.
Bette Golik
Hermosa Beach
A: Hermosa Beach Police officers received a call of a man with a gun in the area of Park Avenue and Monterey Boulevard, Hermosa Beach Sgt. Paul Wolcutt said. The man was described as white and wearing a T-Shirt with a skull-and-crossbones design, he said.
An officer was near 27th Street and Manhattan Avenue around the time of the call and saw a male appearing to match the description, Wolcutt said.
Officers performed a felony traffic stop, determined he was not the man with the gun and sent him on his way, Wolcutt said. The man with the gun was never found, he said.
The Daily Breeze April 12, 2006
Assault With a Deadly Weapon:
2:06 a.m. April 9, 00 block of Pier Avenue. Police arrested one man on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly hitting and kicking the victim, who was taken to a hospital for treatment. A second man, who may also have hit the victim, left with a third man. A second victim told police that she was punched while trying to stop the incident. The second victim said the incident began when she and another woman were waiting for a taxi, three men were flirting with them and the male victim asked the men to leave.
Stabbing / Assault With a Deadly Weapon:
2:45 a.m. April 8, Ardmore Avenue and Fifth Street. A man who police said had an approximate 10-inch cut on his stomach said he was walking south on Fifth Street when a man walked up behind him, asked how he was and what was up, then stabbed him and fled. The man said he then walked to a hotel and called his girlfriend. The report noted that the victim was uncooperative and initially refused medical treatment.
The Beach Reporter April 6, 2006
Hermosa Beach Crime watch
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Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach Crime Close-Up. Years 1998 to 2004 Crime Stat Comparison http://www.hbneighborhood.org/1%20HB%20CrimeNews%202006%201.htm
The Beach Reporter - February 3, 2005
Hermosa Beach News
Annual police report cites 2004 crime stats (2/3)
By Whitney Youngs
According to Hermosa Beach's annual statistical report for 2004, major crime in most categories exhibited a downward direction compared to 2003, but just like in 2003, there was a continued upward trend in the category of the number of adults arrested.
According to the report, of the major crimes reported - murder, rape, robbery, assault, burglary, theft and auto theft - the police documented 714 crimes in 2004 compared to 752 crimes reported in 2003.
"It's always been described to me over the years that our crime rate is somewhat flat and I think this year's report is still somewhat characteristic of that," said Hermosa Beach Police Chief Mike Lavin. "We are up in a few categories, we are down in a few others. There are no real significant changes."
Police reported no murders this year compared to one last year while sex crimes declined from 11 cases in 2003 to seven cases in 2004.
The murder reported in 2003 was that of Hermosa Beach resident Joel Bues, 25, who was killed in his car at the intersection of Pier Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway in March 2003 at approximately 12:45 a.m.
Bues was shot to death while driving his BMW, which he pulled up to a red light at the intersection in the outside left-hand turning lane. Police were never sure if the shooting was a random act of violence or if Bues knew the suspect.
According to the report, robbery rose slightly with 20 cases reported in 2004 compared to 13 in 2003.
Assaults increased by only three cases from 140 in 2003 to 143 in 2004. On the other hand, burglary reports declined by three cases from 143 in 2003 to 140 in 2004.
Theft, which includes grand and petty thefts, and auto theft also declined in 2004. In the area of theft, police reported 388 cases in 2003 compared to 359 in 2004; and in auto thefts, police had reported 80 in 2002 and 56 in 2003, which are both up from 2004's 45 reported cases. DUI reports also decreased from 285 in 2003 to 164 in 2004.
"I not sure exactly why we have seen a drop in DUIs," said Lavin. "We still participate with the South Bay DUI Task Force which deploys every month. In addition to that, we are still out there doing our own thing."
Police continued arresting more people this year with 1,388 adults arrested. The figure continues to grow each year, setting new records in more than a decade. Police arrested 1,315 adults in 2003, which had already constituted the highest number of arrests since 1991.
"I think the large number of arrests is a result of the activity downtown," added Lavin. "It brings us an awful lot of business.
I'm not sure if we are necessarily seeing larger crowds. My impression is that the size is very much the same over the years. What we are seeing is a very transient crowd - a lot of different people who are circulating through just in the different people we arrest. People who are in the area have heard about Hermosa Beach and want to come check it out."
Juvenile arrests in 2004 were reported at 20 compared to 28 in 2003.
Police once again reported no fatal traffic accidents in 2004, 2003 or 2002; and reported 60 injury traffic accidents in 2004 compared to 88 in 2003. In the downtown area, the Police Department has had to staff foot patrols in the downtown area virtually every night of the week, which is an indication that the area has become more active during the week as well as the weekends.
"It remains busy on the weekends, in particular, but even now during the week it's busy, busy enough where we would never staff foot patrols down there at night we are now staffing them about six nights of the week," explained Lavin.
"We almost have to maintain a presence down there to kind of keep things under rein. People get intoxicated and start fighting, and if we weren't down there to stop it, we would see our misdemeanor batteries escalating into felony assaults with deadly weapons.
Someone could even go to the point of killing someone else just because they are in a drunken stupor and they're doing something really stupid. So really one of the real basic missions of the officers down there is to try and stop those disturbances from getting out of hand."
The number of police calls for service decreased this year from 32,241 to 30,215 while the number of disturbance calls rose from 3,025 to 4,201. The number of parking citations also increased from 46,800 to 51,137.
Hermosa Beach
Crime Statistics - 1998 to 2004Criminal Adult Total Calls Disturbance Burglary Robbery Assaults DUI Citations Arrests For Service Calls
1998 -- 113 17 77 150 562 608 19,951 3,199
2004 -- 140 20 143 164 1,419 1,388 30,215 4,201
Crime Categories That Have Shown an Increase from 1998 thru 2004
Criminal Adult Total Calls Disturbance
Burglary Robbery Assaults DUI Citations Arrests For Service Calls
Up Up Up Up Up Up Up Up
23.9 % 17.6 % 85.7 % 9.3 % 152 % 128 % 51.4 % 31.3 %
Source: The Hermosa Beach Police Department Activity Reports
The Hermosa Beach Neighborhood Association
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