Police Blotter for Week of Feb. 18-24

It was a busy week for Los Altos police for the period of Feb. 18-24, with nearly a dozen traffic incidents, a case of grand theft and two people reported missing, although both voluntarily returned home within a day. 

The Santa Clara County Fire Department was involved in two cases involving a car fire and a house fire. No injuries were reported in connection with either incident.

The two-alarm car fire occurred Feb. 22 at the intersection of Interstate 280 and Magdalena Avenue. According to reports, the 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicle  drove off the roadway, struck a tree and ignited. The fire was caused by the collision, according to authorities.

The estimated dollar loss for the vehicle was put at $8,500. There were no occupants of the vehicle at the scene at the time of the fire. The California Highway Patrol and the San Jose Police Department are following up to see if the vehicle was stolen.

The Santa Clara County Fire Department was also called to put out a fire at a home on Orange Avenue on Feb. 22 at about 3 p.m. According to the fire department report, the fire was confined to a container.

Los Altos police investigated a possible drug incident Feb. 22 from a location near Thurston Avenue and Grant Road, but no drugs were found nor arrests made, according to Sgt. John Korges.

A case of grand theft was reported from a home on Nightingale Court Feb. 24  at 10:27 a.m.  An undetermined amount of jewelry of undisclosed value was taken, according to Korges. Another case of petty theft was reported on Granger Avenue at 12:02 p.m. on Feb. 21 when someone stole a leaf blower off the back of a gardening truck, he said.

Also reported were two missing persons cases; one from a home on Edge Avenue on Feb. 24 and another from a home on Kent Drive in the early-morning hours of Feb. 25. Korges said both people reported missing had voluntarily returned home by the evening of Feb. 25.

Two non-injury hit-and-run accidents were also reported on Feb. 24, one at the intersection of Cuesta Drive and El Monte Avenue at 2:12 p.m. and another at the intersection of North San Antonio Road and Almond Avenue at 4:36 p.m. No further information was immediately available. 

A motorist was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence on Feb. 20 at 4:28 a.m. at the intersection of Main and Second streets.

Another person was arrested on suspicion of driving without a license Feb. 22 at 7:08 p.m. after being stopped at the intersection of West El Camino Real and San Antonio Road in Mountain View. The driver was cited by police and the vehicle towed.

There were half a dozen automobile accidents reported Feb 18; five were non-injury incidents, and minor injuries were reported in the sixth case. The minor injury accident was reported at 1:32 p.m. at the intersection of South San Antonio Road and Whitney Street.

The other incidents were reported  at 10:30 a.m. at the intersection of Grant Road and Foothill Expressway, at 6:29 p.m. at the intersection of North San Antonio Road and California Street, on El Camino Real at 7:08 p.m., on Foothill Expressway and Homestead Road at 8:52 p.m. and again on El Camino Real at 9:12 p.m.     

Two more non-injury accidents were also reported Feb. 23—one at 1:37 p.m. on Pine Lane, and another at the intersection of North El Monte Avenue and Jay Street at 6:13 p.m. 

There was a report of a restraining order violation on Feb. 21 filed from an address on Giffen Road. Los Altos police said that case is being referred back to the District Attorney's office for review.

A case of malicious mischief was also filed that day, but the reporting party agreed to follow up with the family of the subject responsible for minor damages. An individual was arrested for public drunkenness on Oak Avenue at 11:42 p.m. Earlier in the day, police had to contain a loose dog and hold it until its owner arrived.

The locations and dates of some additional incidents are noted on the map that accompanies this report.