Police Files

Laguna Beach Police Department awarded $110,000 grant from the Office of Traffic Safety

The Laguna Beach Police Department (LBPD) will roll out a police traffic services program to deter dangerous and illegal driving behaviors that increase the risk of crashes in the community. 

“Impairment, speeding and other dangerous driving behaviors puts the community at risk on the road,” said Lieutenant Cornelius Ashton. “This funding affords the Laguna Beach Police Department the ability to allocate resources towards community education and increased traffic enforcement measures. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce serious injury and fatal crashes on our roads.” 

The grant will pay for additional enforcement measures, including: 

–DUI checkpoints and patrols specifically focused on suspected impaired drivers.

–Enforcement operations focused on suspected distracted drivers in violation of California’s hands-free cell phone law.

–Bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operations focused on driver behaviors that put vulnerable road users at risk. 

–Enforcement operations focused on top violations that cause crashes: speeding, failure to yield, stop sign and/or red-light running and improper turning or lane changes.

–Community education presentations on traffic safety issues such as distracted driving, DUI, speeding, and bicycle and pedestrian safety.

–Officer training and/or recertification: Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST), Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) and Drug Recognition Expert (DRE).

The grant program will run through September 2023.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Police Files

Man arrested on Halloween for alleged child annoyance is arrested again for allegedly stalking a juvenile and DUI

This past Sunday (Nov. 6) at 10 p.m., Laguna Beach Police Officers responded to a Jack in the Box restaurant for a possible intoxicated man inside a vehicle. Upon arrival, the officers recognized the man as Gabriel Stinnett, the 19-year-old from Lancaster, who was arrested Halloween for allegedly attempting to lure a 13-year-old into a van. 

Officers conducted an investigation and arrested Stinnett on suspicion of Driving Under the Influence (DUI). 

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of LBPD

Gabriel Stinnett arrested again on new charges

During the investigation, officers also discovered Stinnett had been involved in a separate incident where he was allegedly stalking a juvenile and was additionally arrested for Felony Stalking. Stinnett was previously arrested on Halloween by LBPD for child annoyance after allegedly trying to lure a 13-year-old boy to his van with an offer of candy. 

The LBPD Detective Bureau is actively investigating Stinnett’s actions and making an ongoing effort to keep the community informed. If anyone has had contact with Stinnett or has additional information, please contact Cpl. Fred Yeilding at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or 949.464.6687.

Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Police Files

LBPD arrests 19-year-old for child annoyance after he allegedly attempts to lure 13-year-old boy to his van

Laguna Beach Police officers arrested Gabriel Matthew Hernandez Stinnett, 19, a resident of Lancaster, for child annoyance around 9 p.m. on Halloween night, Oct. 31. Hernandez Stinnett was contacted and arrested after allegedly trying to lure a 13-year-old boy to his van with an offer of candy. The incident occurred in the 500 block of Oak Street during the City of Laguna Beach’s Halloween block party. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo courtesy of LBPD

Gabriel Matthew Hernandez Stinnett booking photo

Following his arrest, he was subsequently transported to Orange County Jail. Coincidentally, Hernandez Stinnett was also listed as a missing person.

Once there, Hernandez Stinnett was afforded due process rights and released from custody on Wednesday morning (Nov. 2).

The child annoyance charge is being submitted to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for review and consideration of prosecution. Laguna Beach Police are asking the community’s help with identifying prior incidents that may have involved Hernandez Stinnett.

Over the past several months, the LBPD has responded to other calls for service reporting Hernandez Stinnett allegedly followed young teens from school to their homes. He also has been reported hanging around Laguna Beach High School with no legitimate purpose and allegedly harassing and annoying children under the age of 18 years old. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo courtesy of LBPD

Vehicle identified by LBPD as Stinnett’s

Before the Halloween night incident, there was no identified victim to facilitate prosecution against Hernandez Stinnett. The LBPD Detective Bureau is actively investigating Hernandez Stinnett’s actions and asks anyone who has had contact with him or has additional information to contact Corporal Fred Yeilding at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or to call 949.464.6687.

Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.

Police Files

Male slides down cliff into water, appears okay but refuses to follow police orders and is arrested for drunk in public

Yesterday (Sept. 8), at 2:06 p.m., Laguna Beach Fire, Marine Safety and Laguna Beach Police personnel responded to Whiskey Cove (below McKnight Drive) for a remote rescue. 

A man had previously slid down the cliff and was acting strangely in the water. Due to limited access to the man’s location, and fast rising tide, a drone was used to advise the male to return to the sand, but he refused to leave the location.

An Orange County Sheriff’s helicopter, along with deputies and Laguna Beach PD officers, assisted to bring the man to safety. 

The male subject was unharmed and was arrested for being drunk in public.

Police Files

Six-hour standoff, after police find beaten woman, leads to local’s arrest for attempted murder

On Tuesday, Aug. 23, Laguna Beach Police arrested 31-year-old Shaun Brant, of Laguna Beach, for assault with a deadly weapon and attempted murder. He was arrested after holding LBPD officers at bay during a six-hour standoff in South Laguna. 

The incident began at approximately 10:20 a.m., when an elderly woman called 9-1-1 to report being attacked with a blunt object by Brant, her 31-year-old nephew. When the LBPD arrived on scene in the 31000 block of 9th Ave., they found the woman with significant injuries and she was transported to a nearby hospital.

Brant then barricaded himself inside the home for nearly six hours refusing to exit the residence and surrender to police. LBPD officers, members of the recently formed joint Newport Beach and Laguna Beach S.W.A.T. team, Laguna Beach K-9 handler Corporal McGuire and new K-9 Officer Rudy and an Orange County Sheriff’s Department K-9 Officer all worked together to safely apprehend the suspect following the deployment of tear gas into his home.

“We appreciate the public’s cooperation in avoiding the area and neighbors who stayed inside their homes as requested,” said Laguna Beach Police Chief Jeff Calvert. “Thank you to our partner agencies including our joint S.W.A.T team members and K-9 teams who worked together to safely take this suspect into custody and protect the surrounding neighborhood and public.”

Brant is also on formal probation. 

Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.