UPDATE: Laguna Beach California: Friday March 11 2016 03:27pm:
After a thorough search of the hotel no suspect was located inside the room.
Additionally, no evidence was located causing Laguna Beach Police Department to believe a crime took place.
Orange County Fire Authority’s Hazmat Team and Orange County Public Health used hazardous material detection equipment and determined there is no hazard.
A possible source of the irritant was a bottle of cologne located inside the room.
No injuries were reported.
The Laguna Beach Fire Department responded to a local hotel when a strong odor was reported Friday Morning March 11 2016.
Laguna Beach Fire responded to the La Casa Del Camino Hotel at 6:45am on March 11 2016.
A Hotel employee called the Laguna Beach Fire Department to report a strong chemical smell.
The Hotel Employee stated that guests were complaining of sore throats and irritated eyes.
The La Casa Del Camino Hotel is located at 1289 S. Coast Highway.
When the fire department arrived on scene they began voluntary evacuations.
During the evacuations they made contact with a male subject who seemed to be having a reaction to the odor and refusing to evacuate from inside his room on the third floor.
At 7:19 AM the Laguna Beach Police Department was called to the scene to assist due to the suspicious circumstances.
At this time the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad and SWAT team, along with the Orange County Fire Authority’s Hazmat unit is assisting with the investigation, and to identify the source of the odor.
No hotel guests were injured nor transported to a local hospital.
There is no threat to the surrounding area and the scene is contained at this time.
Updates to the situation will be provided as they become available.
For questions please contact Sgt. Tim Kleiser, Public Information Officer, tkleiser@lagunabeachcity.net, 949-497-0389.
