Commentary: Bluffs incident shows effectiveness of police unit

A city can offer stunning vistas, an array of things to see and do, playgrounds for its children and jobs for their parents. But if it doesn’t offer the people who live and work there a feeling of safety and security, everything else is meaningless.

Newport Beach is renowned as an extremely safe city. Because of overcrowding in California prisons, prisoners who would have otherwise remained in the slammer are being released.

In recognition of the potentially increased risks to our safety and security, the Police Department formed the Crime Suppression Unit (CSU). The mission of CSU is to focus on anticipated increases in crime related to the early release of state prisoners (also known as “AB109er’s,” after the state Assembly bill that led to the so-called realignment).

The CSU became operational on April 19, with two police officers and one supervisor. The City Council authorized full funding for the unit. Since inception, it has made 76 arrests, of which 53 (70%) were felonies. Approximately 85% of arrestees were recidivists with lengthy criminal records.

A recent incident of note highlights the positive impact of this unit.

I became aware that the CSU unit would be following up on marginal activities being reported in the 400 block of Vista Flora (The Bluffs), which is located in my council district. Residents had expressed concern to me about activities near their homes.

On Sept. 4, CSU was monitoring activity in the area when police officers observed a white Cadillac pull up in front of a residence, pause momentarily and then quickly drive away. A neighbor had specifically mentioned a white Cadallac as one of the vehicles possibly involved, and it was registered to a male on Post-Release Community Supervision, an AB109er.

Officers stopped the vehicle, which carried a female passenger. Both subjects admitted to extensive drug use, but said there were no drugs in their possession at the time. During a subsequent legal search of the vehicle, officers located methamphetamine in the female’s possession. She was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Officers contacted the driver’s probation officer, and he issued a flash-hold — 10-day jail time — based on the circumstances.

During that vehicle stop, officers received information from a resident that a male from that block of Vista Flora was wandering the neighborhood, including the greenbelts that meander throughout The Bluffs. He was located a short time later on Vista Dorado. He admitted he ran away from the house because he saw the police officers, and was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and providing false information to a peace officer.

While officers were conducting this investigation, two males emerged from the residence and attempted to leave in a vehicle parked nearby. CSU officers contacted them and determined one was on PRCS (an AB109’er), and both were admitted drug users.

Both said they lived at the location, and one claimed to be the owner. A legal probation search of the residence was conducted, during which officers located a female who was pretending to sleep in one of the rooms.

A records check revealed she had a felony and no-bail warrant for narcotics. She was arrested.

During the search of the residence, officers also located methamphetamine and several pipes in the owner’s bedroom. He was arrested. The other male on PRCS was arrested on a 10-day flash hold after contacting his probation officer.

This one incident stemming from a general piece of information from a concerned citizen netted six arrests, mostly for drug offenses.

These arrestees are the types of people who prey on our residents, visitors and business owners. These are the “non-violent, nonsexual, non-sex-related” criminals who have been released early from our prisons. They are committing crimes — mostly opportunistic property crimes where a house or car is unlocked or valuables are left in plain view — to further their enterprise or drug dependency.

Because of the efforts of our entire Police Department, the city’s crime rate remains at a historical low — down more than 13%, year to date. We now have the additional force of the Crime Suppression Unit to keep crime low. The unit has made many more significant arrests of criminals who need to be in jail or prison. Residents and businesses have the full commitment and support of the City Council to appropriate what is necessary to maintain our safety and security.

LESLIE DAIGLE is a member of the Newport Beach City Council.