LOCK YOUR DOORS! Some citizens continue to live in denial. Yes, the Central Coastal towns are relatively crime-free, but bad guys still lurk in the shadows. On 7-21-2011, a residential burglary occurred in the 2600 block of Laurel Avenue in Morro Bay. The resident left the house doors unlocked while they were away. When they returned to their peaceful, crime-free little neighborhood, they found their home had been entered. Thieves left with two new flat-screen televisions, multiple firearms, jewelry, and money. The total loss was almost $10,000. We are finding that thieves will readily pass up a locked car or house, preferring the convenience of an unlocked one. A locked car will remain untouched in a cluster of unlocked cars where items are taken. This ain't Fresno or L.A., but it ain't utopia either. LOCK UP!

Some Unusual Police Incidents

The following are merely highlights taken from hundreds of hours of work output of the Morro Bay Police Department’s routine law enforcement, investigations, contacts and follow-ups; if you can call anything in law enforcement "routine."

Harbor Festival weekend went well without any major incidents. We had our usual alcohol related incidents that commonly occur during large events like this. We were pleased to have allied agency help from the San Luis Police Department, the Atascadero Police Department and the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Department. This added work force insured the overall safety of the event.

• In the afternoon of September 30th, officers responded to a theft report from a business in the 300 block of Quintana Road. A vehicle battery and scrap metal were stolen from the location. Suspects were described as two men in a truck who had been looking for recyclable materials. This case is under investigation. 
• On September 30th, our School Resource Officer was working the Morro Bay High School football game when he encountered a severely intoxicated male juvenile. The juvenile was arrested for public intoxication and transported to Sierra Vista Hospital for medical treatment. The juvenile was in possession of a knife on campus and admitted to narcotics use in addition to the alcohol.
• Again, during the evening of September 30th, our School Resource Officer encountered an adult female at the MBHS football game who had been drinking. This woman was involved in a verbal altercation with other adults attending the game. She was escorted off campus.
• In the early morning of September 30th, officers responded to a report of a man trying to steal a car in the 300 block of Pacific Street. Officers located a very intoxicated man who had entered a vehicle and was trying to take the keys away from the owner. The man was arrested.
• On September 30th, the MBPD investigated two separate missing person reports. The first was a report of a dependant/at risk adult male missing from a residence in the 400 block of Shasta Avenue. The man was located approximately three hours later and safely returned home. The second missing report involved a 10-year-old from the Harbor Festival. The child was quickly found and returned safely to the very appreciative parents. 
• In the morning of October 1st, officers responded to a report of a theft from a church in the 3000 block of Hemlock Avenue A laptop computer was reportedly stolen. The case is under investigation.
• In the early evening of October 2nd, officers responded to a report of horses running loose in the Cloisters area. When officers arrived, they found the horses under the control of passing motorists. This could have been a deadly incident as the horses were heading towards the freeway when captured. The horses were eventually returned to the owner.
• In the early morning hours of October 2nd, officers responded to a motel in the 200 block of Atascadero Road. They located a woman who had been attacked by a man identified as her ex-boyfriend. The woman claimed the man prevented her from leaving the hotel room, took away her telephone to prevent her from calling for assistance, and physically restrained and attacked her. The man fled prior to police arrival. The woman was treated for her injuries. Later that day, Morro Bay Police Detectives developed information that led them to an address in Santa Margarita where the suspect was possibly staying. MBPD Detectives, assisted by the Atascadero Police Department and the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, took the suspect into custody without incident. The man was booked at the county jail for Attempted Murder, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, False Imprisonment, Felony Domestic Violence, Victim Intimidation, Obstructing the Use of a Cellular Telephone, and Vandalism.  
• In the afternoon of October 3, 2011, officers responded to a report of a man who was unconscious on the roadway in the 2700 block of Alder Avenue. San Luis Ambulance personnel tried to revive the man who was transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center. The man unfortunately could not be revived and passed away at the hospital. At this time, foul play is not suspected. Officers assisted in notifying family members and offering chaplain services.
• On October 4th, officers responded to the 500 block of Kings Avenue to investigate a burglary. Officers learned that almost $7,000 worth of landscaping equipment had been stolen from a locked shed at the residence. This case is under investigation.
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• In the evening of October 5th, officers responded to a residence in the 500 block of Monterey Avenue where a man, who was on probation, was reportedly using heroin. Officers conducted a probation search of the location and the man was arrested for being under the influence of a narcotic, possession of drug paraphernalia and violating probation. A report was also filed with Child Welfare Services relating to a five-year-old child at the residence being exposed to narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
• In the evening of October 5th, officers responded to the 400 block of Atascadero Road. where they located a stolen motorcycle. The license plate on the motorcycle had been changed. A man at the location was arrested for felony vehicle theft. The man was also found to be in possession of several grams of methamphetamine.
• In the morning of October 6th, officers responded Lila Keiser Park regarding a woman who was screaming and swinging a baseball bat at a man. Officers learned this was a boyfriend / girlfriend incident. Both subjects were counseled and a domestic violence report taken. 
• In the evening of October 7th, officers responded to the 400 block of Kings Street. regarding a fight in progress. Due to a MBPD staff shortage, assistance was requested from the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office. One of the combatants was gone by the time police arrived. The remaining man was uncooperative and heavily intoxicated. Following investigation, the man was arrested for public intoxication. This location has been an on-going problem and MBPD will be working with the neighbors regarding a possible public nuisance violation.
• In the early morning of October 8th, officers responded to a report of a man purposely driving his car into an apartment building in the 300 block of Sequoia. The man was reported to be intoxicated. The man left prior to the arrival of officer’s. The 18-year-old man left behind $15,000 in damage and a building that was unsafe for continued habitation. Following investigation, the man was located the following night in Cayucos and arrested by MBPD Officers for felony vandalism.
• In the evening of October 9th, officers responded to the 3000 block of Panorama to investigate a report of a dog bite. The residents had adopted a seven-month-old dog that had a history of running with coyotes. The victim was bitten on the face by the dog causing serious lacerations and puncture wounds. The dog was turned over to Animal Control for follow up.
• In the evening of October 11th, Officers responded to assist CHP with a single vehicle rollover accident on South Bay Blvd. The 17-year-old female driver from Atascadero was found hanging up side down, held in place by the seat belt. Fortunately, she was uninjured in the incident, but she was arrested for driving under the influence alcohol and transported to the Juvenile Services Center.

• In the early morning hours of October 13th, a MBPD employee coming to work on Hwy 41 reported an erratic and possible drunk driver. Officers responded and stopped the vehicle. The driver was arrested for driving while impaired on prescription medications. 

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Information was obtained from the Morro Bay Peace Officers / Community Newsletter.
Photo of Morro Bay Police Car by Jerry Kirkhart