Front Page Letters Calendars Archives Sign Up Contact Us StuNewsLaguna Volume 4, Issue 3 | May 3, 2019 Search our site... Search Police Files Car chase ends in Newport Beach following standoff A vehicle pursuit began Wednesday, May 1, in Laguna Beach shortly after 3 p.m. and ended several hours later with the suspect’s capture in Newport Beach near Fashion Island. It all began at 3:08 p.m. when the Newport Beach Police Department’s Dispatch Center received information that a vehicle pursuit had begun in Laguna Beach and was proceeding NEWPORT through Orange County. The vehicle was a silver Mercedes and the suspect was identified as BEACH Richard Bloustine. He was wanted for a felony no bail warrant, suspected of fraudulent activity and was reported to be armed with a gun. Overcast Clouds At 4:01 p.m., NBPD entered into the pursuit at the request of the pursuing units as the Humidity: 93% suspect entered into city limits. The suspect continued to evade pursuing police cars, while at Wind: 11.61 m/h the time on the phone with NBPD Dispatch. Finally, the suspect brought his vehicle to a stop in the 1441 Avocado Dr. parking lot. 57.9°F Although initially not compliant with officers’ orders to exit the vehicle, the suspect continued to speak with NBPD’s Crisis Negotiation Team by phone, while surrounded by armed police MON TUE WED officers in fire-ready positions. Through telephonic communication, the Crisis Negotiation Team was able to get the suspect to exit his vehicle and surrender. 57/57°F 57/60°F 59/60°F Photo from LBPD Richard Scott Bloustine The Laguna Beach Police Department then took custody of Richard Scott Bloustine, a 53-year-old Newport Beach resident. After being booked in Laguna Beach, he was then transferred to the Orange County Jail. No weapon was found in his possession at the time of his arrest. In February of 2016, Bloustine was sentenced to seven years in prison after writing more than $200,000 in bad checks. His sentence included an order by the Orange County District Attorney to pay restitution to victims and attached a fine of $444,000. His bounced checks included one for $15,000 to a Laguna Beach car dealer, a $32,000 check for the lease on a house, $13,000 to furnish that residence and $80,000 for dental work that he received in Newport Beach. According to the District Attorney, Bloustine has more than a dozen fraud-related misdemeanor and felony convictions in Orange County. His record also includes previous arrests and convictions in Arizona, Santa Barbara County and Hawaii for fraud related incidents. Vandalism hits local business Newport Beach Police responded to the 700 block of Alderwood Drive for a citizen’s complaint regarding vandalism. According to the victim, someone had driven a wood board through a forklift’s windows sometime between 12 p.m. on Sunday, April 29 and 10:41 a.m. on Monday, April 30, shattering the windows. It was additionally reported that paint had been splattered on the company’s storage container, retaining wall and the ground. No one was arrested and police continue to investigate. Scroll down to Police Beat for all arrests & crime report Fair Game By TOM JOHNSON Learn more about the Super Bloom, the Newport Beach Hometown celebration and get ready for the “legendary” CdM 5K Who’s Kitty Connolly you ask? She’s the executive director of the Theodore Payne Foundation. Follow-up question, what is the Theodore Payne Foundation? The Theodore Payne Foundation “inspires and educates Southern Californians about the beauty and ecological benefits of California native plant landscapes.” Okay, now that that’s out of the way, why do you need to know in the first place? Well, Kitty Connolly is the featured speaker at Sherman Library & Gardens’ upcoming Lunch & Lecture Series next Friday, May 10, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Her subject title is California’s Super Bloom. Here’s what they’re telling me: “Kitty has been out surveying this season’s wildflowers and enjoying the Super Bloom. She will be discussing this year’s Super Bloom and the conditions that make it happen as well as all the amazing things the Theodore Payne Foundation does to protect and grow California’s native fauna.” You’ll want to be a part of it. Lunch and lecture ranges from $25 to $35 depending on whether or not you’re a member, or friend as they call it, of Sherman Library & Gardens. The lecture only is free to members and $5 to non-members. Reservations are advised. You can do that here. • • • A note from Sue Adams, that is of utmost importance. Sue, you see, is the person behind Newport Beach Hometown and the 2nd Annual Unity Torch Walk, Mini-Hoop Shoot Challenge and BBQ next Thursday, May 9, from 6-9 p.m. at the Newport Beach Civic Center. She’s passionate about its success. You can join Special Olympic athletes, police and fire personnel, members from our City Council and staff from the Recreation and Senior Services Department for this event. It celebrates inclusion and diversity. The 3/4-mile loop walk meanders through the Sculpture trails on the hill overlooking City Hall and concludes at the Civic Center complete with a band, cheerleaders and hopefully, plenty of fans. Then it’s an evening of live music, craft beers, fine wines, the BBQ and the Mini-Hoop Shoot Challenge. Speaking of the Mini-Hoop Shoot Challenge, my money is on the Recreation Department staff over our City Council. Oh wait, I’m told there will be no betting. But that’s okay, we can simply cheer them on to victory. Hope you’ll join fun! Check out the opportunities here. • • • If you haven’t registered yet, you need to. The Corona del Mar Chamber’s CdM Scenic 5K and more is coming up Saturday, June 1. As the promotion information says, “Whether you’re a competitive runner or looking for an exhilarating & social activity to share with family and friends, register today for the legendary CdM Scenic 5K. “Legendary,” you say. And who would know better than Linda Leonhard, the chamber’s president. After all, she puts the event on and wrote the promotional copy. Besides the 5K, there’s a 2-Mile Walk, a 2-Mile Youth Run and a 1K Kid’s Dolphin Dash. Everyone who registers gets a T-shirt, race bib, swag bag and gourmet breakfast. It’s a great event, in fact, legendary in my book. For more info, check here. This is as close as we can come to actually singing to our readers on their birthdays! We’d love to include yours – and/or your friends and children’s birthdays here. Just email to: Guest Column [email protected] Will O’Neill Celebrate and enjoy your Newport Beach Hometown Special Olympics birthday! April 30 Kerry Getz Tim Brown Events, programs at May 1 OASIS Senior Center Bob Irish Lisa Ramsey Tom Iovenitti Wayne Smith May 2 Click on photo for a larger image Barry Gammel Courtesy of the City of Newport Beach Enda Wels Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Will O’Neill “Will, why doesn’t Newport Beach offer programming for adults with special needs?” A 801 Narcissus Ave., Corona del Mar Kathy Flynn Shaw family friend whose son fit the question asked me that at a wedding two years ago. I didn’t 92625 Larry Weichman have the answer, so my friend and I met with our City’s Recreation & Senior Services Director 949.644.3244 Marice DePasquale Laura Detweiler (who, by the way, is awesome). In no time, our Newport Navigator included Parking is Free! Mike Johnson programming for adults with special needs – all thanks to a friend’s direct question and the OASIS Senior Center is on Facebook! Sign up to receive the newsletter Richard Moriarty amazing work of our Recreation Department. Our great City has embraced our families and friends with special needs for quite some HAPPENINGS Tod Ridgeway time. Just within the last four years, Newport Beach joined 100 Southern California cities as The Amazing, Incredible, host towns for the Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles. Our Police Department Unbelievable Geologic History of May 3 annually hosts Tip-A-Cop events raising funds for our Special Olympians. And in 2017, then- Newport Beach and Southern Mayor Kevin Muldoon spearheaded the successful use of mobile technology to connect deaf California Chandler Bell and hard-of-hearing people with municipal services. Wednesdays continuing through May Eric Lieberman So it is no surprise that Newport Beach volunteered last year to guinea pig a new 24 from 4-5:30 p.m. in Room 2A. Led Hometown event benefitting our Special Olympics. Led by the indefatigable Sue Adams, this by David K. Larue, geologist and Michelle Foery Ackerman event was a triumph. Community members carried the torch through our Civic Center that professor. The geologic history of Walter Crowell ended in a celebration and competition sponsored by our local law enforcement, Newport Newport Beach and Southern Beach Rib Company, Barley Forge Brewing Co., and more. California is truly unique and amazing. May 4 This year’s Hometown event is May 9 from 6-9 p.m. at the Newport Beach Civic Center. You will discuss the evolution of We again have a hoop shoot challenge (our City Council team will…not win), great food and Southern California and Newport Johnnie Chen drink, and live entertainment. And all for a truly great cause.