CORONA DEL MAR TODAY

Alert Citizen Calls Cops Who Arrest Two and Find Loaded Guns

A call from a concerned citizen resulted in two arrests and police finding a backpack containing two guns in the Fashion Island area, police said.

Police received a call at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday about three suspicious men hanging around a parking structure near the 24 Hour Fitness in Fashion Island, said Sgt. Evan Sailor. Before police arrived, the men split up, with two of them going to the Orange Count Transportation Authority center on Avocado Avenue.

“When the officer arrived in the area of the transportation center, she observed the two subjects sitting down with a backpack in between them,” Sailor said. The men got up and ran away, leaving the backpack, before the officer could get out of her car to talk to them, Sailor said. Officers later searched the area and found the two men.

“In the backpack were a loaded Tec-9 pistol and a Beretta pistol,” Sailor said. Both weapons were loaded, and the bag had loose ammunition. Police later determined that one pistol was taken in a Northern California burglary, and the Tec-9 was stolen from one of the suspect’s parents’ home, Sailor said.

Police arrested an 18-year-old San Clemente man on suspicion of conspiracy to commit robbery; his bail was set at $50,000. They also arrested a 16-year-old male from Laguna Niguel.

“Detectives are working on identifying the third suspect,” Sailor said. He added that the three suspects apparently took a bus from San Clemente to Newport Beach, and that it appeared they were planning to rob someone on the street.

In other police news, officers responded to an injury collision at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at San Joaquin Hills Road and San Miguel Drive. No other details were available. Police also arrested a 20-year-old Lake Forest woman on suspicion of trespassing in the 1700 block of Marguerite Avenue.The arrest occurred at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and bail was set at $500. And a 30-year-old Newport Beach man was arrested on suspicion of fighting in public at 7 p.m. Wednesday at San Joaquin Hills Road and San Miguel Drive. His bail was set at $500.