Three Los Angeles residents suspected in a Newport Beach burglary were arrested after a brief pursuit through Laguna Canyon that ended Wednesday, March 25, when the suspect’s car collided with another outbound car near El Toro Road. No one was injured in the wreckage, authorities said.
Laguna Beach police Sgt. Tim Kleiser said a Laguna officer spotted a car near Forest Avenue at 2:28 p.m. that fit the description of a broadcast made minutes earlier by Newport police about suspects who had fled when a home burglary was interrupted.
When the motorist realized he was being followed, he ran a red light at Forest Avenue and failed to yield to the pursuing officer along Laguna Canyon Road, which was free-flowing at the time, Kleiser said. The fleeing Kia reached speeds of 70 mph, he said.
Eyewitness Kenn Robillard, who was inbound at the time, disputed that account and said the pursuit took place in the middle turning lane. “The traffic was heavy and slow in this area,” said Robillard, who questioned the value and public safety of 10 other pursuing police cars.
The driver bailed out of the car after the collision, but was spotted hiding in bushes from a helicopter and taken into custody along with two others who remained in the vehicle, Newport Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said.
She identified the people taken into custody as Hugo Fernando Gonzalez, 21; Evelyn Yvette Gudino, 26; and Anthony Vargas, 21, all of Los Angeles.
The incident began at 2:17 p.m. when a resident in the 200 block of Evening Canyon Road returned home and surprised two men inside, who fled in a white Kia, Manzella said.
Police recovered property, presumably from other victims, in the car, said Manzella.
Fire Consumes Studio Apartment
Fire investigators have yet to determine the cause of a blaze that caused $50,000 in damage to a ground-level studio apartment in the 1800 block of S. Coast Highway last week, fire officials said.
The occupant came home about 10:23 p.m. Thursday, March 19, and found her apartment ablaze, fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse said. “She was able to get her cat out of the apartment and both were uninjured,” he said.
Four engines and two trucks from the Laguna and Newport Beach departments doused the fire, said LaTendresse, which also destroyed the contents valued at $10,000.
The fire broke out in the kitchen and properties nearby were evacuated, the police department log said.
Park Users Unlucky on St. Patrick’s Day
Two separate vehicles parked at an entrance to the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park were broken into Tuesday, March 17, during daylight hours.
“They both look like similar crimes,’’ said police Sgt. Tim Kleiser.
A cyclist returned to 20285 Laguna Canyon Road at 10:18 a.m. to find his car window smashed and a backpack with $800 in valuables taken. At 2 p.m., a similar theft and a rear-smashed car window was reported by a hiker, who lost $8,500 worth of camera gear and other items.
Monday, March 16
Fraud. 800 block S. Coast Hwy. 10:52 a.m. A woman paid $500 in cash on Jan. 14 to a man who approached her in a market parking lot and offered to make auto body repairs on her vehicle. The repairs were not completed.
Theft. 100 block of N. Coast Hwy. 12:15 p.m. Phone and clothing was stolen from the beach.
Theft. Cliff Drive. 1:46 p.m. A beach bag with phone, car keys, lunch bag and diaper were stolen from the sand.
Grand theft. 400 block of Myrtle St. 4:17 p.m. The victim discovered 16 electronic withdrawals amounting to $7,209 from a bank account over the previous six weeks.
Rescue. 1600 block of Sunset Ridge Dr. 8:43 p.m. A tree branch collapsed on a garage and part of a house.
Tuesday, March 17
Foot patrol. S. Coast Hwy. 3:06 a.m. Gary Raymond Gillette, 40, of Laguna Beach, who was arrested for misdemeanor warrants, compounded matters by allegedly bringing an ounce of pot into the jail. Bail was set at $25,000.
Domestic violence. 200 block of Cozumel. 4:20 p.m. Brett David Hughes, 49, of Newport Beach, was arrested for suspicion of felony domestic violence and held for $50,000 bail. Hughes allegedly pulled a woman from a car, causing her to fall on the asphalt where she sustained cuts and bruises.
Stolen vehicle. 900 block of Gaviota Dr. 5:52 p.m. Someone took off in an unlocked ‘95 Oldsmobile where the keys had been left on the floor.
Traffic collision. 2400 block of Laguna Canyon Road. 11:27 p.m. A 24-year-old Laguna Beach man was arrested for DUI after his car slid off the side of the road. Bail was set at $2,500.
Wednesday, March 18
Traffic stop. Crown Valley. 12:22 a.m. A 46-year-old Anaheim man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Brandishing weapons. 15-00953. 2800 block of Laguna Canyon Rd. 8:46 a.m. Philip Caraveo, 37, of Laguna Beach, was arrested for a parole violation following a report about a man threatening an employee with a knife.
Grand theft. 400 block of Poplar St. 4 p.m. Someone stole a backyard skate ramp valued at $800.
Thursday, March 19
Pedestrian stop. Table Rock Beach. 12:59 p.m. Three teens and a 22-year-old were cited for marijuana possession.
Domestic violence. 600 block of S. Coast Hwy. 2:54 pm. A 22-year-old was cited for domestic violence and held for $10,000 bail.
Drunk driving. 1300 block of S. Coast Hwy. 7:11 p.m. James Edward Skelton, 62, of Laguna Beach, was cited for suspicion of DUI after backing into a garage. Bail was set at $10,000 due to a prior offense.
Medical. Thousand Steps. 8:26 p.m. Beach-goers trapped on the rocks by rising surf exited the beach via stairs from a home on N. La Senda Drive. Rescuers mounted an all-out offensive by land, sea and air as another visitor at the same location was swept into the sea and died in February.
Friday, March 20
Suspicious person. 100 block of N. Coast Hwy. 12:57 a.m. Zachary McGuinness, 19, of Laguna Beach, was cited for suspicion of possessing meth and paraphernalia.
Traffic stop. Bluebird Canyon 2:29 a.m. A 26-year-old San Juan Capistrano resident was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Burglary. 300 block of S. Coast Hwy. 3:20 a.m. A witness described a possible suspect in the shattering of a storefront window.
Fraud report. 400 block of Flora St. 6:43 p.m. A resident reported a $3200 bank loss.
Saturday, March 21
Traffic stop. 200 block of Brooks St. 1:20 a.m. A 25-year-old from Laguna Niguel was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Traffic stop. Canyon Acres. 1:36 a.m. A 21-year-old Aliso Viejo man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.
Burglary. 1300 block of S. Coast Hwy. 3:18 a.m. Officers found a cigar case open when investigating a broken window.
Burglary. 1800 block of S. Coast Hwy. 12:10 p.m. Some alcohol bottles and a cash register containing $100 was taken by thieves who broke in through a sliding window.
Traffic collision. Blue Lagoon. 9:53 p.m. A cab driver is under investigation after arguing with his fare, who was allegedly hit by the driver’s car.
Sunday, March 22
Traffic stop. Bluebird Canyon. 12:26 a.m. A 34-year-old Laguna Beach man was cited for DUI and held for $10,000 bail.
Traffic stop. Canyon Acres Dr. 1:17 a.m. An 18-year-old from Anaheim and three other juveniles were cited for multiple misdemeanor offense.
DUI. 1700 block of S. Coast hwy. 8:47 p.m. Guido Zulema, 43, of Tustin, was cited for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.
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