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Friday, December 1

Del Amo Blvd. and Long Beach Blvd. In a police pursuit that began in Lakewood at a DUI checkpoint, at 11:12 p.m., a pickup truck that reached speeds of 100 mph and more, sped in a circle around Long Beach streets and in about 10 minutes left the city for the Carson area, then at 11:20 p.m., did the same thing on the same Long Beach streets, leaving town in a different street and stopping at 214th Street in Carson, where he hopped a fence, not to be seen again by cops or other searchers. Some reports of a person of interest are interesting, but not much more. Hasta la vista.

Sunday, December 3

5100 block of Atlantic Ave. At 12:30 a.m., an adult male was approached by several suspects intending to rob him. During the robbery, a male suspect shot the victim who suffered what’s described as a “non-life threatening gunshot.” As a result, he was taken to a hospital for treatment. Police are investigating the incident as possibly gang related.

Thursday, December 7

Studebaker Rd. and the 405 Freeway. Because of a grass fire reported at 11:50 a.m., efforts were being made to shut down the 405 at that exit.

300 block of West Sepulveda, San Pedro. Long Beach police detectives arrested 35-year-old Meleny Ann Rivera and 48-year-old Anthony Montez, both suspects in two robberies in July 27 through November 20, 2017. In both robberies, at the 2000 block of Pacific Avenue and in the 900 block of Long Beach Blvd., the suspects, armed with a handgun or knife, would enter the stores and remove several articles of clothing. As the employees approached the suspects, the suspects pointed a handgun or knife at the clerks, fleeing the locations with the clothing. No employees were injured during the robberies. With a search warrant served at the suspects’ residence, detectives recovered a pellet gun, a knife and more than 800 articles of clothing.

Friday, December 8

Pacific Coast Hwy. at Myrtle Ave. At 8:52 p.m., a male pedestrian was struck by a 2010 Chrysler 300 while crossing Pacific Coast Hwy. “The pedestrian was not in a crosswalk at the time of the collision,” an Long Beach police release stated. The victim, 45-year-old Ignacio Castelo was taken to a hospital, where he died about four hours later. The 58-year-old driver from Cypress called authorities and remained at the scene. Police determined he had a valid license and was not under the influence of alcohol at the time of the incident.

Saturday, December 9

Vons at the Traffic Circle. At 7:30 p.m., a male shopper bypassed the checkout stand and removed an easily identifiable pink backpack full of goods into the street or the parking lot, whichever came first. The checker behind the register yelled to no one in particular for help. Customers became onlookers, who, well, looked. “Third one we’ve had tonight” said the checker, who went back to the register, while some shoppers no doubt wondered, why bother?

Monday, December 11.

Deukmejian Courthouse. Felony charges were filed against 35-year-old Meleny Ann Rivera and 48-year-old Anthony Montez for their involvement in multiple robberies in Long Beach.

Cal State Long Beach. University police asked those on campus to help identify a man who allegedly harassed and groped female students while conducting a survey on sexuality he claimed was for a class. According to police, the man would approach female students and ask them to complete a sexuality survey for his abnormal psychology class. The suspect was cordial and informed the participants that the verbal question-and-answer survey was voluntary. Chief of Police Fernando Solorzano emailed, “The survey question becomes sexual and responding parties have felt uncomfortable and begin to grow suspicious. As the survey progresses the questions become more sexual in nature leading the participants to feel uncomfortable and ultimately suspicious of the subject’s intent.” Further, university police said they received calls that the suspect engaged in physical contact, touching two females inappropriately. Two of the female subjects have reported that he touched their breasts,” officials said in an email.

Cal State Long Beach. Whittier resident and CSULB graduate student in the social work program within the psychology department, 29-year-old Aaron Kosterlytzky turned himself in to police on suspicion of being the survey taker. Cited for sexual battery and released, Kosterlytzky was issued a 14-day stay away order from the campus, which will be dark some of the time anyhow and is due in court in March 2018.

Tuesday, December 12

Carfax Ave. north of Harco St. A NextDoor poster wrote that at 9 p.m., “Someone broke in my husband’s truck last night. It was parked in our driveway not close to the side walk either. They took his drills, skateboard and cash out of his wallet.” Another poster asked, “Why would he leave his wallet in there?” A third poster suggested, “Off the clock Salvation Army volunteers robbing from the not so rich to steal for the poor?”

steve@beachcomber.news