Hermosa Beach activist and resident Jim Lissner, who was arrested Oct. 13 for climbing into a parked police cruiser, will now face two misdemeanor counts in Torrance Superior Court Nov. 18, according to the Hermosa Court Liaison Office.

Hermosa Beach City Prosecutor Ken Meersand reviewed the case and will file the two charges this week. Lissner will face tampering with a police vehicle and disobedience to officers.

If convicted, Lissner could receive the maximum sentence which is a fine not to exceed $1,000, one year in county jail or both.

Hermosa Beach Police arrested Lissner Oct. 13 at approximately 1:30 a.m. after he climbed into a police cruiser parked on the downtown pier plaza.

According to Hermosa Beach Press Information Officer Paul Wolcott, Lissner, 56, was booked, cited and released from the station later that morning.

Wolcott said an officer patrolling the area noticed Lissner standing near the police car before he opened the door and climbed inside. The arresting officer didn’t know Lissner who is recognized by most police officers and city officials.

Although Wolcott could not comment whether Lissner was drinking, he did recall that Lissner did not know where he was and could not remember his phone number or where he was born.

“During the booking process. he didn’t know any of this information and most people can answer simple questions like these,” said Wolcott. “I don’t think officers ever questioned his motivation as to why he got into the vehicle.”

Lissner is known around town for his anti-alcohol efforts related to the approvals of liquor licenses and an oversaturation of bars within the city.

In 2000, Lissner received the California First Amendment Assembly Beacon Award in the Exemplary Pursuit of Open Government by a Citizen category. The assembly acknowledged Lissner on his efforts to reduce duplication costs for public records.

Lissner has negotiated duplication cost reductions with an estimated 80 police departments and county coroner’s offices.

In 2001, Lissner was victorious in a U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling, requiring the U.S. Customs Department to provide him with supplemental information on a 1998 steroid case which led to suspensions and pay cuts for two Hermosa Beach police officers.

Lissner also sued the city in November of 1996, alleging that the City Council conducted an “inadequate and defective review process” for the renovation of downtown Hermosa Beach. The lawsuit was later dropped.

Lissner did not return phone calls.