Car Theft Suspects Arrested In Laguna Beach

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Early Sunday morning, Laguna Beach Police Officers responded to Bluebird Drive and Catalina Street after a witness called in an attempted car theft.

Responding officers noticed a black Mercedes with paper plates on the 1500 block of Catalina Street, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jim Cota said. They also discovered "drugs, drug paraphernalia, burglary tools" and suspected stolen property, inside the vehicle Cota said.

The driver, Dennis Busch, 38, was discovered to be on probation for possessing a stolen vehicle and other drug charges, according to Cota.

The 911 caller positively identified both men as the suspects he witnessed tampering with his vehicle, and both driver and passenger were arrested at the scene and transported to Orange County Jail.

Busch was charged with tampering with a vehicle, narcotics possession, controlled substance possession and conspiracy. Brent McArthur, 31, was charged with vehicle tampering, possessing a controlled substance, conspiracy and possessing burglary tools. Both men remain in custody and are being held on $20,000 bail.

Laguna Beach Police Department photos