Editor’s note:
The following is the Avalon Sheriff’s Station significant incidents report for the week of June 24 to June 30, 2021.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Many people who are arrested do not get prosecuted in the first place and many who are prosecuted do not get convicted.
June 24
• A victim reported their license plates had been stolen from the 300 block of Clemente Avenue. A police report was written and the plates were entered into the states Stolen Vehicle System database.
June 25
• Deputies responded to a disturbance call at Avalon School. The caller stated juveniles were playing loud music and being loud.
Deputies contacted the disturbing parties and determined they were practicing football.
They agreed to keep their noise down.
• Deputies received a loud music call at Hermit Gulch campground. They checked the location and were unable to locate any source of music.
June 26
• While on patrol at Clarissa Avenue and Beacon Street deputies observed suspicious people drinking alcohol in public.
They detained the individuals and conducted an investigation. They determined the detainees were drinking alcohol in public and issued them citations.
• Deputies and the fire departments responded to the Green Pleasure Pier for a medical call for service.
Upon arriving they treated a man who had been stung by a stingray.
• Deputies received a call for service on the 200 block of Metropole Avenue.
The caller stated a local business’s front door was opened and the store was closed.
Deputies checked the location and determined no crime had occurred and the business had been left unlocked by an employee.
June 27
• Deputies responded to a loud music call on the 300 block of Wrigley Terrace Road. They contacted the owner and advised him of the complaint.
The disturbing party told the deputies he would comply and turn down his music.
• Deputies received a loud music call at 128 Sumner Avenue, Pete’s Café.
The deputies determined music was permitted at the location and was within the acceptable decibel range.
June 28
• Deputies responded to the 100 block of Sumner Avenue regarding a disturbance call.
Upon arrival, the deputies contacted a man in the lobby area who had slurred speech and the smell of alcohol was emitting from his breath and person.
While talking to the suspect, he became confrontational and argumentative towards the deputies.
The suspect’s wife was visibly disturbed and was constantly crying during the incident and was unable to care for her husband. Deputies arrested Shaquille McQueen-Baptiste, 27, of San Francisco, on suspicion of public intoxication. He was booked at Avalon Sheriff’s Station.
• Deputies received a telephone call from a man who stated his wife was sexually assaulted by a woman while they were visiting Catalina Island.
Deputies spoke to the wife who advised them she was not sexually assaulted and that her husband was bipolar.
The deputies determined no crime had occurred.
• Deputies and Baywatch received a call of an overturned vessel at Willow Cove.
Upon arrival they discovered a small boat towing an inflated towing tube capsized and 8 people were in the water.
Baywatch rescued all of the individuals and no one was seriously injured.
The incident is being investigated by deputies and the United States Coast Guard.
• Deputies responded to the basketball courts regarding a shattered backboard. Deputies locked the gate and secured the court for safety purposes.
June 29
• Deputies received a family disturbance call at Hamilton Cove.
The caller stated a male and female were arguing and possibly hitting the female.
During their investigation, deputies determined no crime had occurred at the location.
• Deputies and the fire departments responded to 3rd Street and Clarissa Avenue regarding a medical emergency call.
The caller stated a bicyclist had fallen off his bike and suffered a facial injury.
The bicyclist was transported to Catalina Island Medical Center and eventually airlifted over town for further treatment.
June 30
• Deputies received a disturbance call at Lovers Cove of a man standing naked on the stairs and playing a guitar.
Responding deputies contacted a man who was wearing extremely tight shorts and denied he was ever naked.
They were unable to determine if the man was actually naked at any point.
Safety Notice –Fireworks
Each year thousands of people, many of them children, are burned, blinded and even disfigured by fireworks.
In addition, fireworks cause fires that costs millions of dollars in property loss.
The illegal use, storage, or handling of fireworks on Catalina Island and surrounding waters is a violation of local and state laws and punishable as a misdemeanor or felony crime.
Instead, come out and enjoy the live professional firework show on July 4th which begins at 9 p.m.
