BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Six arrested in heroin sting outside Laguna

Laguna Beach police seized 55 balloons of heroin with an unknown street value Tuesday following an undercover sting operation conducted outside the city limits at 1 p.m. in the Monarch Bay Plaza shopping center parking lot in Dana Point, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Darin Lenyi said.

Detectives took six suspects into custody on various drug-related charges after completing a drug transaction with the suspects. Because of the ongoing investigation, the identities of the arrestees are not being released at this time, Lenyi said.

The arrestees, all males, included: two 19-year-olds, two 18-year-olds and one 17-year-old from Laguna Niguel; and one 19-year-old from San Juan Capistrano.

The suspects were charged variously with: transportation and sale of a controlled substance; sale of heroin; possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia; being under the influence of a controlled substance; and DUI.

During a search of two of the suspects’ residence in Laguna Niguel, another 40 heroin balloons were seized, Lenyi said.

The suspects were booked at Laguna Beach City Jail.

Man’s body found in Heisler park identified

Laguna Beach police have identified the man whose body was found in Heisler Park on April 9 as Rod Allen Norwood, 39, whose last known address was in Costa Mesa. Norwood was found at about 6:30 a.m. by city workers alongside another person sleeping in the park. When the employees sought to move the two along, they could not rouse Norwood.

Alcohol was found near the body, and police do not suspect foul play in the death, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jason Kravetz said.

Police considered Norwood to be homeless in Laguna Beach, Kravetz said.

Man driving limousine wildly held without bail

A Torrance man who allegedly drove a limousine through Laguna Beach erratically with passengers hanging out the windows was arrested at 3:01 p.m. Saturday on suspicion of DUI and other charges, and held without bail, Kravetz said.

Ali Champion Amira, 41, faces multiple charges, including driving a limousine with stolen license plates. Amira had warrants for his arrest on various prior charges of vandalism, terrorist threats, annoying phone calls and battery.

Police learned Amira had picked up the three passengers in Huntington Beach, offering them free rides in the limousine. A citizen reported the limousine being driven wildly through Newport Coast into Laguna Beach, striking the center divider numerous times, Kravetz said.

Amira is in Orange County jail.