SUMMER RIOTS
ON THE
CALIFORNIA
RIVIERA

By Dennis Kaiser

DANA POINT NEWS

Summer has arrived with a bang at local beaches, according to Dana Point Police Services. "It seems like the kids have all this pent up energy left over from El Nino," said Lt. Paul Ratchford, chief of police. "People are crowding the beaches even on cloudy days. Unfortunately, the kids are creating some problems." About 70 youths, apparently arguing about their territories at Salt Creek Beach (at the Ritz Carlton's door), engaged in a rumble that threatened to turn into a full blown riot on the sand, Saturday afternoon (June 20).

At about 3 PM, Dana Point deputies called for back-up from Laguna Niguel sheriff's deputies, when juveniles and young adults began to scuffle. (Fight? Dana Point Online) Sheriff's Deputies were able to contain the violence, and there were only two arrests, Jeffrey Williams, 19, and an 18-year-old male juvenile arrested for fighting. (An 18-year-old male juvenile? Isn't an 18-year-old an adult? DP Online) Ratchford said lifeguards have reported larger crowds for this time of year than they have ever seen, and with the crowds has come some violence. (Now Dana Point residents not only have to worry about getting poisoned by fecal matter in the water at the beach, they have to worry about finding themselves in the middle of violence that the police are unable to prevent. Some resort town. Dana Point Online)

"We're going to monitor it and send personnel to keep it under control when necessary," Ratchford said. "Hopefully things will calm down. Heaven forbid it gets worse." (What does it mean when we have to have uniformed police patrolling the beach to keep it safe? What has happened to our community, when no one trusts anyone else, and the whole spirit of the place is submerged under the Lieutenants and Sergeants of the police. Is it any wonder this society has an epidemic of suicides? The answers and solutions are not in more of the same. DP Online)


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