The following is the Avalon Sheriff’s Station significant incidents report for the week of March 15 to March 30. “It is important to note that no assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided in this report. Many people who get arrested do not get convicted or even charged with crimes for which they have been arrested,” said Capt. Doug Fetteroll, commander of the Station.
Avoid tax refund fraud
The following is the Avalon Sheriff’s Station significant incidents report for the week of March 15 to March 30. “It is important to note that no assumption of criminal guilt or affiliation should be drawn from the content of the information provided in this report. Many people who get arrested do not get convicted or even charged with crimes for which they have been arrested,” said Capt. Doug Fetteroll, commander of the Station.
Avoid tax refund fraud
Tax season is a prime time for cybercrime. As millions of Americans file their taxes, cyber criminals are looking to steal your personal information in order to cash in on your tax refund. This is a huge problem – tax identity theft has been the most common form of identity theft reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the past five years. Watch out for these two tax seasons tricks:
Phishing scams: Be on the lookout for unsolicited emails, texts, or social media posts that ask you to share valuable personal and financial information.
Imposters claiming to be Internal Revenue Service (IRS) employees: The IRS will never email or call you demanding immediate payment without having first mailed a bill – nor will they ask for a credit or debit card number via email or phone.
If you have been a victim of identity theft in general, report such incidents to the Federal Trade Commission at www.IdentityTheft.gov.
March 15
• No significant incidents.
March 16
• A golf cart, parked in the 100 block of Saint Catherine’s Way, caught on fire. The fire spread to a second golf cart that was parked beside the first cart. Both carts were badly damaged. It was determined the fire was due to an electrical malfunction and not set intentionally.
March 17
• No significant incidents.
March 18
• Deputies responded to a single vehicle golf cart accident near the intersection of Beacon Street and Metropole Avenue. The cause of the accident is under investigation. It is believed that alcohol was a factor.
March 19
• No significant incidents.
March 20
• No significant incidents.
March 21
• No significant incidents.
March 22
• Deputies from Avalon Station along with personnel from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Advanced Officer’s Training Bureau provided 16 hours of Off-Road Vehicle Operations training throughout the Interior of Catalina Island. Numerous first responders attended the training sessions, including personnel from LA County Fire, Baywatch, Catalina Island Search and Rescue Team and Conservancy Rangers.
March 23 to March 25
• No significant incidents.
March 26
• At 1 p.m., Jonathan Torres, male, 21, an Avalon resident, was arrested on suspicion of Vehicle Burglary and two outstanding misdemeanor warrants.
• An Avalon resident reported being the victim of an identity theft.
March 27
• At 1:30 a.m., a group of young adults from Avalon were gathered on a turnout on Old Stage Road. The group was approached by an individual who subsequently assaulted two of the young men in the group. By all accounts, the individual then produced a handgun and waved it at the group in a threatening manner.
The group immediately dispersed. The incident appeared to have been triggered by noise made by the group. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is encouraged to contact Detective Martin at Avalon Sheriff’s Station.
March 28 to March 30
• No significant incidents.a
