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Topanga sheriff reports modest rise in Part 1 crimes; CHP warns of distracted-driving crackdown April 1
Summary
Deputy Richard Baldy told the council February had five Part 1 crimes and a slight rise in year-to-date totals. CHP said it will mount a 'maximum enforcement' operation on April 1 focused on distracted driving, DUI and speeding; residents continued to press for more local enforcement and answers on parking enforcement.
Topanga Town Council — At the March 20 Topanga Town Council meeting, Los Angeles County deputy Richard Baldy delivered monthly crime figures and CHP announced an upcoming concentrated enforcement operation aimed at driving violations.
Baldy’s report: Deputy Baldy said total Part 1 crimes for February were five: two assaults, one residential burglary, one grand theft and one theft from an unlocked vehicle. Baldy said those incidents included a burglary on Light Hill Drive in which a safe was pried open and jewelry was taken, and a grand-theft case involving auto parts on Dream Leaf. He said the town’s year-to-date total was 10 crimes in 2025, up from eight at the same point in 2024.
CHP enforcement and outreach: Officer Cody Sturgis of the California Highway Patrol told the meeting his agency will conduct a “maximum enforcement” day on April 1 targeting distracted driving, DUI and primary crash factors such as speeding and unsafe lane changes. “By maximum enforcement period, I mean, we're gonna have a lot more officers than normal… everyone who's available that day will pretty much be out,” Sturgis said. He also promoted a free two-hour Start Smart teen-driver class scheduled for March 31 (6 p.m.–8 p.m.) and gave an office contact email: cody.sturges@chp.ca.gov.
Parking, enforcement constraints and street racing complaints: Multiple residents raised long-standing parking problems in Mould Canyon and Bangar Canyon and requested more enforcement. Officer Sturgis and deputies said enforcement is constrained by available staffing: Sturgis said the mountain region is often staffed by few deputies at a time and that saturation enforcement depends on officer availability. Residents urged targeted deployments on Saddle Peak and other locations where they reported street racing; Sturgis said those concerns are part of the April enforcement focus.
Abandoned vehicles and other service items: Sturgis walked residents through the abandoned-vehicle process (vehicles can be tagged and towed after 72 hours if not moved) and advised that complaints are best submitted to the CHP nonemergency line or the CHP office for follow-up.
Contact information and follow-up: Sturgis offered an office phone (818-888-0980) and his email (cody.sturges@chp.ca.gov) for signups to the Start Smart class and for reporting local traffic problems. Residents requested a clearer schedule for enforcement and more local visibility; CHP asked for reported times and locations to prioritize saturation patrols.
