Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department - Avalon Station

If a loved one, a family member or you have been arrested by or are being investigated by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LAPD), Avalon Station, it can cause lot of anxiety.  Facing such a situation, one may want to know the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense if police deny an own recognizance (OR) release.  It is also common to ask what evidence is needed to convict one for the crime that allegedly took place, the defenses possible and the sentence a judge can impose if one is convicted of the crime. 

We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is good to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be worthwhile to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, the most common types of crimes the department investigates and just a bit about the area’s history to make one’s communication with law enforcement more meaningful, more savvy and perhaps, more respectful.  This can lead to a better outcome than if one lacks such perspective.

This article is presented with this goal in mind.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department, Avalon station, has an undisclosed number of sworn police officers and civilian support personnel assigned to it. 

The Avalon station is responsible for patrolling Santa Catalina Island, the City of Avalon, the ocean waters between the island and mainland Southern California, as well as San Clemente Island.  As the reader may be aware, half of San Clemente is owned by the U.S. Navy and serves as a range for naval gunfire (Greg Hill was able to call in fire to San Clemente from a Spruance class destroyer during his summer cruise while attending the U.S. Naval Academy), as well as having a large dual runway capable of landing all types of naval aircraft.

The population of Avalon was 3,460 at the 2020 census.  Avalon attracts about one million visitors a year and is frequently visited by cruise ships.

Most cases arising out of the Avalon station’s area of responsibility are brought at the Long Beach or even the Avalon Courthouse, but some are also brought at the Clara Shortridge Foltz criminal courts building (CCB) at 210 West Temple Street in downtown Los Angeles.  Cases that may be filed at CCB instead of at the Avalon or Long Beach Courthouse would be very serious cases needing specialized prosecutors trained in handling such cases.

Our office has represented several clients charged with crimes taking place in Avalon for possession of a controlled substance and public intoxication.  The Avalon courthouse is open just one day per week for criminal matters and if one opts for trial, the case is transferred to the Long Beach Courthouse.

We have received several calls from potential clients charged with taking undersized lobsters off the coast of Catalina.

According to Neighborhood Scout, the crime rate in Avalon is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 20 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate.

According to Neighborhood Scout, the chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Avalon is 1 in 49.  Based on FBI crime data, Avalon is not one of the safest communities in America.  Relative to California, Avalon has a crime rate that is higher than 58% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

We have found that Avalon is often the place ex-husbands trying to avoid alimony payments and undocumented immigrants take refuge in.  It is a welcome place to just kind of “lay low.”

Neighborhood Scout's analysis also reveals that Avalon's rate for property crime is fourteen per one thousand population.  This makes Avalon a place where there is an above average chance of becoming a victim of a property crime, when compared to all other communities in America of all population sizes.  Property crimes are motor vehicle theft, arson, larceny, and burglary.  One’s chance of becoming a victim of any of these crimes in Avalon is one in seventy.