There are homeless people in Laguna Beach trying to pull themselves up, but then there’s Michael Patrick Cowan.
Cowan, 50, has been a public menace since at least 2008, when he was arrested for fondling himself at the children’s playground on Main Beach.
Since then, he has been arrested numerous times for a variety of felonies and misdemeanors: public intoxication, vandalism, assault and more.
“He’s just a bad guy,” said Heidi Miller, a downtown women’s clothing store owner who frequently has to deal with Cowan because he likes to sleep near her store.
Cowan pulled a knife on Miller a few years ago in front of her old newsstand. He was arrested but eventually made it out of jail and back to Laguna.
“He’s always drunk, always high, always destructive,” Miller added. “He’s thrown my mannequins into the street, which ruined the clothes. He’s thrown glass bottles at people numerous times.
“One time, a young girl was working next door at the macaroon store, and he came in and threatened to rape her.”
So why is Cowan still urinating on the streets after so many arrests? Laguna Beach Police say they’re doing their jobs, arresting him whenever it’s warranted.
Which leaves the Orange County District Attorney, the courts, or jail overcrowding as the possible scapegoats … take your pick.
Either way, the public is left with the wreckage.
Welcome back to Laguna Beach, Michael Patrick Cowan. Make yourself at home.
Oct. 10, 2008
Michael Cowan was arrested for child annoyance at Main Beach at the children’s playground after having his hands down his pants, menacing adults and trying to play with the children. (Source: https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-xpm-2008-10-10-cpt-safetybrfs101008-story.html)
January 6, 2009
Michael Cowan approached a family as they were taking a walk through Heisler Park and punched the 18-year-old daughter in the face. The girl’s father tried to intervene and Cowan punched him in the face as well and ran away. (Source: https://www.ocregister.com/2009/01/06/homeless-man-accused-of-punching-man-daughter-at-park-in-laguna-beach/)
Nov. 29, 2016
Michael Cowan was arrested for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly used a knife to threaten a woman he didn’t know in Camel Point. (Source: https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/streetbeat-66/)
March 20, 2018
Michael Cowan threw a rock and shattered a storefront window on the 300 block of S. Coast Hwy and was arrested for felony vandalism. (Source: https://laguna378.rssing.com/chan-15759442/all_p16.html)
June 15, 2022
Michael Cowan was arrested on suspicion of three open misdemeanor bench warrants. (Source: https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/street-beat-june-15-to-june-19-2022/)
June 20, 2022
Michael Cowan was arrested on suspicion of illegal squatting at a lodging establishment. (Source: https://www.lagunabeachindy.com/street-beat-june-20-to-june-27-2022/)
Sept. 3, 2022
Michael Cowan was arrested for felony vandalism, assault on a person and battery on a person. (Source: https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/home/showpublisheddocument/12694)
