Guns drawn during stolen vehicle recovery in Malibu
Malibu/Lost Hills deputies arrested a man at gunpoint for allegedly stealing a car Dec. 14 at the 22000 block of Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Sgt. Philip Brooks confirmed. Lawrence McGregor of Willow Creek was arrested for receiving stolen property. The car’s other two occupants were identified and released at the scene.
“No one was injured and the suspect did not resist when he was arrested,” Brooks said.
Deputies arrested the 39-year-old man at gunpoint as per protocol. No shots were fired.
On Nov. 23, the female victim’s car was stolen from the driveway of her Fremont home at around 7 a.m. The victim left the keys in her 1999 Toyota Avalon with it running when it was stolen from outside her house.
Car plunges into local yard
A car veered off Pacific Coast Highway and into a Malibu resident’s backyard last Thursday around noon, Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station Detective David Huelsen confirmed. The driver, who sustained minor injuries, was reportedly travelling along Pacific Coast Highway near Trancas Canyon Road when he crashed into a local backyard. As of press time, the report had not been completed and no further information could be confirmed.
Circle K appeals alcohol permit denial
The owners of the Circle K in Malibu are appealing the Planning Commission’s decision to deny the business a conditional use permit to sell alcohol. The appeal, filed by Chris Deleau of Schmitz and Associates, alleges that the commission’s decision violates the California Constitution. The issue will now be taken before the City Council.
“The City of Malibu is preempted by the California Constitution from directly regulating the purchase, sale, transportation or distribution of alcohol within California,” the appeal states. “The Department of Alcohol Beverage Control is vested with complete authority to regulate these matters and the City’s actions are therefore inappropriate and void ab initio. The City may not deny the CUP on the basis of ‘undue concentration’ or ‘saturation’ as it is preempted from making such a finding.”
The appeal also cites recently granted CUPs in making its case. It claims that because Malibu Village Wines, Malibu Shell Gas Station, PC Greens and Plate Restaurant were all granted permits since 2004, Circle K is being treated unfairly.
“The applicant contends that the denial of its CUP was discriminatory and in violation of this provision of law,” the appeal states.
The filing explains that the owners of the convenience store, located on Pacific Coast Highway near Ramblo Pacifico, believe the denial of its alcohol permit is not backed by sufficient evidence and that “the Commssion’s decisions were politically motivated and not factually supported.”
The planning commission denied Circle K’s conditional use permit to sell alcohol at its Nov. 15 meeting with a 3-1 vote, citing “an oversaturation of alcohol venues in the City of Malibu.” It was the second time an application for an alcohol permit for the convenience store had been denied by the commission.
A number of Malibu residents showed up at the meeting to protest the permit. The locals argued that the issuance of the permit would disrupt the quiet nature of the neighborhood, pose a serious safety risk because of the unusual configuration of the intersection where Circle K is located and would add to the potentially dangerous combination of the sale of alcohol on the highway at a gas station.
Geotechnical testing scheduled
City of Malibu contractors will be conducting intermittent work along Wildlife Road and Whitesands Place from Dec. 21 through Dec. 30, according to the city.
The work is preliminary geotechnical testing for the design of the Wildlife Road Treatment and Storm Drain Outreach Project. Most of the work will take place off the road, so few or no lane closures are expected.
Work hours will be Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. No work will be done from Dec. 23 through Dec. 26 in observance of Christmas. Additionally, scheduling may be modified due to weather.
Questions about the project can be directed to senior civil engineer Rob DuBoux at 310.456.2489 x339 or coastal preservation specialist Casey Zweig at 310.456.2489 x236.
For more information visit www.malibucity.org.
The Malibu Times office closed Dec. 26, Jan. 2
The Malibu Times office will be closed Dec. 26 in observance of Christmas and Jan. 2 in observance of New Year’s Day.
Deadlines for submitting people, sports and calendar items will be early. For the Dec. 29 issue, submissions must be received by noon Fri., Dec. 23 and for the Jan. 5 issue, submissions must be sent in by noon Fri., Dec. 30.
City of Malibu holiday hours
Malibu City Hall and City parks and facilities will be open for shorter holiday hours.
Both Malibu City Hall and the Senior Center will close at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 23 and remain closed Dec. 26. Both again close early, at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 30 and will be closed Jan. 2.
The Malibu Community Pool is open Dec. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and closed Dec. 24 and 25. The pool is open from 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 26-29 and open 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Pool facilities will be closed Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, and will open again Jan. 2 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Offices and facilities at Malibu Bluffs Park, Charmlee Wilderness Park and Trancas Canyon Park will also operate under certain restricted holiday hours. Visit www.malibucity.org for more information.
DUI fatalities dropped to record low last year
In 2010, California’s DUI deaths reached record lows, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced last week.
Last year, 791 people were killed in drunk driving crashes, compared with 950 who were killed in 2009. DUI deaths in the state increased yearly from 1998 to 2005, but have been decreasing every year since 2005.
“This marks a huge milestone in the fight against drunk driving,” California Office of Traffic Safety director Christopher J. Murphy said. “While we are elated by these figures, there were still 791 lives, futures and dreams that will never be fully realized. We cannot back off from our ultimate goal-toward zero deaths.”
According to a press release, the Office of Traffic Safety credits the increased number of DUI checkpoints conducted last year with aiding in the reduction of deaths. The OTS allocated $16.8 million in federal funds to law enforcement agencies to conduct 2,553 DUI checkpoints in 2010, up from $11.7 million allocated to 1,740 checkpoints in 2009.
“Preventing these tragedies remains our top priority,” California Highway Patrol commissioner Joe Farrow said. “By combining DUI enforcement efforts of the entire law enforcement community, with the support and dedication of our traffic safety partners and the motoring public, we will continue to make strides toward reducing DUI fatalities.”
The OTS also credits programs such as the Avoid DUI Task Force, CALTRANS’ “Report Drunk Drivers Call 911” message, programs implemented by the Department of Motor Vehicles and work by organizations such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving for the lower statistics.
“The people of California are to be congratulated along with all those who actively worked to avoid these tragedies,” said Murphy. “They see that not only is drunk and drugged driving a serious crime affecting the lives of so many, it is now seen as a socially unacceptable behavior for everyone.”