Police Seek Person Who Dumped Chlorine in Rescue Tank for 17 Sea Lions

Laguna Beach police today sought the public’s help to find whoever injured 17 sea lions by pouring “a large amount” of chlorine into a salt water holding pool where the animals had been treated for ailments at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center.

The incident occurred sometime between 8 p.m. on April 27 and 6 a.m. the following day, said Laguna Beach police Sgt. Tim Kleiser.

“The pool housed 17 sea lions getting ready for release later in the week,” Kleiser said, adding that “all 17 were injured with varying degrees of corneal burns” as a result of the chlorine infusion.

Seven of the sea lions continue to receive treatment from a staff veterinarian, Kleiser said.

“This is the first known animal assault ever to take place at the non- profit PMMC, which services all of coastal Orange County,” Kleiser said.

Anyone with information on the case was urged to call detectives David Gensemer or Abe Ocampo at (949) 497-0377; or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s hotline number, (800) 853-1964.

OTHER PATCH HEADLINES

• Police Seek Additional Victims of Teacher/Coach Accused of Molestation
• Video: Wedding Singer’s Rapping Grandma Dies at 101
• Did State’s Largest Bank Bilk You?
• Toddler Drowns in Trabuco Pool
• Capo Teacher, Longtime Little League Coach Is a Child Molester, Police Say
• Crews Battle Big Waves, Flooding in Capistrano Beach
• ‘Django Unchained’ Actress Ordered Apologize to Arresting Officers She Accused of Racism
• OC’s Corinthian Schools File Bankruptcy As Attorney General Calls for Student Debt Forgiveness

City News Service

Get Patched in! Sign up for free news alerts for your town.

ALISO VIEJO | FOUNTAIN VALLEY | LAGUNA BEACH | LAGUNA NIGUEL-DANA POINT |LAKE FOREST | LOS ALAMITOS-SEAL BEACH | MISSION VIEJO| NEWPORT BEACH-CORONA DEL MAR | RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA | SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO | SAN CLEMENTE