Police Files

Police, dogs and helicopter lead to capture of four burglary suspects fleeing Newport Coast home

On Saturday, Feb. 12, at approximately 8:21 p.m., Newport Beach Police were dispatched to the area of Canyon Rim and Pelican Hill Circle in reference to suspicious circumstances. 

The victim reporting said he received notification of movement in his residence while he was away. Officers immediately responded and established a perimeter around the home. 

HB1, the Huntington Beach PD helicopter, came to the scene and began broadcasting as four male suspects were exiting from the second story of the home and attempting to flee the scene. The perimeter, set by NBPD officers, held containment until K9 Officers arrived from Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa to assist.

Officers were then able to locate all four of the suspects and take them into custody. Officers found the home ransacked and were able to recover and return all of the victim’s stolen property.

Arrested were Carlos Aruizumartinez, 42, Newport Beach; John Steven Munozdiaz, 26, Los Angeles; Gabriel Guillermo Melosanchez, 32, city of residence unknown; and Wilson Arturo Munozdiaz, 39, Bogota.

The group was charged with residential burglary, obstructing and resisting peace officers, conspiracy to commit a crime, presenting false identification to officers, receiving stolen property, possessing burglary tools, possessing narcotics and entering a structure with the intent to commit theft.

Each had bail set in the amount of $50,000.

Vehicle theft and burglary leads to $1M bail

Back in December, a grand theft report was taken at the front desk of the Newport Beach Police Department for grand theft and burglary.

The report stated that the day prior, at approximately 2 p.m., the victim parked their car in the driveway of his residence, only to come back early the next morning to find property missing from the unsecured vehicle.

Subsequently, the victim’s credit cards were fraudulently used at various locations providing Newport Beach Detectives with information to identify a potential suspect.

Last Thursday, Feb. 9, Newport Beach Police arrested Riley Blue Coull, 31, of San Marcos, in San Diego at 12 p.m. and arrested him on charges of vehicle theft and residential burglary with no forced entry.

His bail was set at $1,000,000.

Suspect breaks into Dover Shores home, but exits with nothing

A residential burglary occurred in the Dover Shores Community on Sunday evening, Feb. 13. Around 6:45 p.m., while the victims were away, an unknown suspect accessed the side of the house located in the 1000 block of Polaris Drive.

Before gaining access, the suspect broke two motion sensor lights on the side of the home and then removed a window screen, before shattering a window. 

Once inside, the suspect ransacked the master bedroom and closet before fleeing the scene. During the burglary, an interior motion alarm was activated which notified the homeowner and the police. 

No suspect was at the scene when police arrived. 

There was no reported loss.

Editor’s Note: An arrest contains allegations that a suspect has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.