Yet many of our finest homes sit as empty and lifeless as catacombs. So what is really happening to “life” here in our very animated and increasingly moribund Quaintville-by-the-Sea?
So fewer and fewer families reside here on a permanent basis. More and more empty mansions are robotically lit to deter burglars and to imitate signs of life. Gardeners come weekly — like the maids who scurry through the hotel rooms when the guests are out sightseeing — to whisk away the dust and leaves that settle around these spiritless homes. In fact, our last hometown seems to be morphing into a mega-version of a Hyatt for which a 100 percent vacancy rate would be just fine and dandy, as long as the property taxes were paid. Will we become like Lake Tahoe and Carmel where 26 percent of the homes are weekenders or sub rosa short-term rentals?
Category Archives: Pacific Grove
Former P.G. Teacher Accused Of Running Meth Lab
Frank Abbruzzetti
Frank Abbruzzetti, 34, was taken into custody shortly after 5:30 p.m. Friday at his home at 316 Prescott lane after an anonymous caller reported methamphetamine was being “cooked” at the residence.
Responding officers said they arrived to find Abbruzzetti smoking a meth pipe inside as they walked up to the open front door.
Two women in the house were detained for questioning and released without charge. Abbruzzetti, a graduate of Humboldt State University with a degree in chemistry, had taught at Pacific Grove Middle School and was an unemployed substitute teacher and youth recreation coach.
Fall, 2006. The house sits empty.
Governor Sets Reward In Search For Kris Olinger’s Killers
Kristopher Olinger
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the issuance of a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the brutal murder of Kristopher Olinger. Olinger was a 17 year old Monterey high school student who was stabbed to death at a beach in Pacific Grove on the night of September 18, 1997.
Kris had borrowed his mother’s car, a silver 1986 Honda Accord, saying that he wanted to take some night pictures. He visited some friends in Monterey and left a little before midnight. At 6 am the following day, his body was found in a beachfront parking area in Pacific Grove. He had been stabbed over 30 times. His mother’s car was missing, along with his wallet, camera, watch, and ring. Ten days later, the car was found on Willow Glen Way in San Jose. Kris’ murder remains unsolved.
A memorial bench is at the crime scene.
Offerings
P.G. Police Blotter for May 19, 2004
Domestic disturbance on Cedar St. Daughter with mental and drug issues, Transported to Garden Pavilion.
Report of child crying on telephone. Welfare check revealed girl was upset because she was put on restriction by father as punishment for stealing.
Welfare check on 88 year old female not answering her phone. Party was contacted and had been asleep
Complaint received re house guest intoxicated, knocking over big screen TV and punched holes in the wall. Subject contacted on Patterson Ave. Arrested for breaking into vehicle, public intoxication, malicious mischief and resisting arrest.
Report of juveniles at youth center preparing to get into a fight. Gone on arrival
Report of liquid coming from manhole cover on Pine & 6th. Unable to locate problem during area check
Report of non injury vehicle accident. Car parked on 14th St rolled backwards and crashed into retaining wall.
Juveniles contacted during noise complaint investigation, provided false ID. Cited for curfew violation and possession of tobacco. Transported to station and released to parents.
Complaint of subjects with loud trucks creating a disturbance. Unable to locate
Report of possible mountain lion sighting. Investigation revealed foxes in bushes
Welfare check on 70 yr old male revealed subject to be intoxicated and complaining of chest pains. Transported via ambulance to CHOMP
Report of vehicle vandalism on Lighthouse Ave. Driver’s side window broken. Party on Crocker Ave reported subject broke a window of his vehicle and was leaving the scene
Report of domestic disturbance on Grove Acres. Verbal dispute between neighbors
Possible beach fire at Great Tide Pool. Investigation revealed night photography shoot in progress.
Report on noninjury accident on Spruce & 18th. Report taken
Resident on Laurel reported that a telescope was left on the roof of her vehicle overnight. Check revealed that the telescope had no value and it was thrown out
Report of a door in the roadway at Oceanview & 5th causing a traffic hazard. Door was gone on arrival
Party on Central Ave reported her vehicle missing. She thought possibly her brother borrowed it a day early.
Report of loud noises on 17th St. Quiet on area check
Juvenile contacted at Pine & 18th. Cited for (308b)
Non-injury accident reported at Central & 14th. Vehicles broadsided with moderate damage.
Public disturbance at gas station. Patron refused to leave at employee s request.
Report of items stolen from PG high locker.
Report of juveniles smoking at Dyke park, Subject contacted, but no evidence of smoking found.
Report of juveniles throwing objects as passing cars from roof on Eardley. Subjects contacted and were assisting with removal and replacement of old roof tiles.
Report of diamond ring set and bracelet stolen from unlocked vehicle sometime in the last two days. No suspects noted.
Complaint of person stealing beverage from Safeway. Suspect located, arrested, booked, cited and released.
Complaint of suspicious person entering residence two time with locksmith. Unable to locate party. Neighbor reported it was a realtor
Report of sink hole on Eardley Ave. Public works notified
Report of problem with neighbor at Lighthouse apt complex. Party stated that her neighbor followed her in his vehicle, yelling at her. Subject was angry because her dogs defecated near his home.
Father called from work to report that his son had friends at their home against father s wishes. Friends contacted and told to leave.
Juvenile arrested on Patterson for driving without a license and supplying false information to the police.
Complaint of juveniles darting in and out of traffic on David & Montecito. No problem noted on arrival. Subjects advise to stay out of the street.
Resident on 19th St reported difficulties with house guest. Guest gone on arrival.
Juvenile contacted for curfew violation. Tried to hide from officer, but was transported to station, cited and released to parents.
Traffic pursuit. Driver left parking lot at Forest & Prescott at high rate of speed. Fled and tried to evade officers. Driver arrested on Lighthouse in Monterey and vehicle towed
Complaint of juveniles throwing rocks in EM Dyke park. Contacted and expelled from park.
Domestic disturbance on 13th St. Mother and son dispute.
Parties counseled and situation resolved
Complaint of disorderly male interfering with city crew doing maintenance in Berwick Park. Suspect contacted and elected to leave park
Suspicious person reported standing outside business on Forest Ave. Subject contacted and was waiting for a ride. Ride arrived and subject left.
Elderly Female reported missing. PGPD contacted Monterey – Salinas Transit dispatcher. MST dispatcher broadcast description of missing person to all MST bus drivers. PGPD retrieved missing person from MST bus. Upon retrieval, elderly female complained of chest pains. PGPD advised family member to take her to CHOMP s Emergency Room. Elderly female was hospitalized.
Recreation Trail Robber Arrested
Legrante Ellis
Pacific Grove Police Detectives have arrested and charged Legrante Ellis, 43, of Marina, with attempted robbery, armed robbery, burglary and fraudulent use of credit cards.
An investigation revealed that Ellis was responsible for the attempted armed robbery of a family on the recreational trail in Pacific Grove on April 16, 2004. It is believed that Ellis also committed a completed armed robbery of another group of individuals in the same area the following evening wherein he stole their wallets and credit cards at gunpoint.
P.G. Police Blotter 2/25/03
Week of February 25, 2003
Suspicious circumstance–white male sitting in a red Honda next to school playground. Determined to be school janitor on break.
Injury incident–Central and 19th. Green 95 Sable and green Camry. Both vehicles towed. First vehicle ran stop sign and collided with second vehicle. Driver in second vehicle taken to CHOMP.
Embezzlement–former employee of 12th St. church withdrew $5,000 from a church account without authorization.
Battery report–being hit by step father. Step-father arrested and released on bail. Standby for placement of children.
Close patrol– estranged daughter and son-in-law vandalized home interior of relative before moving out. Owner fears their return; locks to be changed promptly.
Shoplifters–fleeing from store. Two taken into custody.
Raccoon problem–Grove Acre.
Suspicious person–reported tearing down signs on Arkwright.
Citizen contact–tourist with bucket wading through tidepools. Stopped activity before any violations.
MC violation–white female feeding peanuts to seagulls. Warning cite issued.
Suspicious circumstances–report of white male, 17, loading rifle into car. Was taking possession of BB gun from friend.
Malicious mischief–unknown juveniles ignited can of hairspray on tennis court. Fled on foot.
Road hazard–complaint of large sinkhole in roadway. CalAm called, as water was the cause. Barricades erected for safety.
Armed robbery–suspect arrested, gun and $1,427 cash recovered.
Update! Chickens Get Approved
The Pacific Grove City Council balked at a recommendation to force a woman to give up her two pet hens after chicken supporters flocked to Wednesday’s meeting.
The council voted 6-1 to permit Valerie Landau, 45, and her daughter, Molly McGee, 16, to keep Garbanza, a tan bantam hen, and Lola, a Rhode Island Red, at the 19th Street home they rent. A city animal control officer had recommended against allowing the chickens after neighbors expressed concerns that the birds would attract raccoons to the Lovers Point neighborhood.
Molly said she was relieved she could keep her hens.
“I don’t consider them pets at all. They are my family,” Molly said. “I just hope that you can think of them as my family too. You wouldn’t want to tear my family apart.”
Molly, a student at Monterey High School, and six of her teenage friends brought signs to the meeting to defend the birds. One sign, borne by 16-year-old James Palmer, read “Jesus was a chicken.”
On a sad note, the chickens were killed in a mysterious act of mayhen. The raccoon proof cage was opened and the birds were killed. Gayle Sanborn had no comment..
Why Did The Chicken Cross The Cranky Neighbor?
What is more hometown like, two pet chickens kept by a teenager or a dog owned by a Carmel mortgage agent?
Two pet hens have a Pacific Grove neighborhood squawking, and it’s up to the City Council to make sure nobody’s feathers get too ruffled.
The council will consider Wednesday whether to let Valerie Landau keep two hens at the 19th Street home she rents. Some neighbors are concerned that the birds will attract raccoons or create a nuisance.
Landau, 45, and her 16-year-old daughter, Molly McGee, keep the birds in the fenced back yard at their home just blocks from Lovers Point in one of the city’s densest neighborhoods.
Landau said the birds make less of a mess than dogs. One hen, a foot-tall Rhode Island Red, is named Lola because she’s a showgirl, Landau said.
The other, a tan bantam, is named Garbanzo, like the bean.
The chickens are like part of the family, and don’t cause allergies like some furry pets, said Molly.
Raccoons Bad For More Than Just Tipped Trash Cans
Children getting perminantly crippled by parasites in raccoon poop.
The experts warn parents to watch their children carefully when playing in areas with known populations of raccoon latrines.
“If children are seen to ingest material from a raccoon latrine, the drug albendazole should be administered immediately,” Murray said, “and a sample should be sent for expert examination for Baylisascaris procyonis eggs.” Everyone should thoroughly wash their hands after playing outdoors or working in the yard.
Murray’s best advice for people with persistent raccoons at their home is to discourage the animals by eliminating access where possible, never leaving food out, and removing feces promptly. “The eggs are not infective until they ‘age’ for 14 to 28 days, so if the droppings are cleaned up immediately there is no danger,” Murray said.
Drug Deal Goes Bad, Dealer Files False Report
Kids – don’t sell drugs. If you do choose to sell drugs, don’t go crying to the police when your sales skills fall short of success.
Nicholas Gore
Nicholas Gore approached Pacific Grove police two weeks ago with an odd tale. The 18-year-old said a group of strangers had beaten, robbed and abducted him at gunpoint from the normally sleepy Country Club Gate Shopping Center. The randomness of the purported crime sent shudders through Butterfly Town, USA.
But now police say Gore invented the story to cover up a drug deal gone bad. Gore was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of making a false report to police. He was cited for the misdemeanor charge and released.