Laguna Beach Crime Spree Ends With Prison Time

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — The "well dressed man" who refers to himself as a gemologist and went on a crime spree across Laguna Beach homes and businesses over the summer was apprehended in a chase through Oceanside. He pleaded guilty Monday to committing those thefts. Now, he will spend 32 months in state prison, according to Orange County Superior Court Records.

The 30-year-old man said the burglaries and other thefts that authorities say netted him about $200,000 in valuables, court papers obtained Monday show.

Edward David Torrison of Oceanside pleaded guilty to four counts of second-degree burglary, two counts of grand theft and one count of receiving stolen property, all felonies, and admitted sentencing enhancement allegations of property damage exceeding $65,000.

Torrison, who is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday, admitted his guilt Friday in his second court appearance in the case.

He was arrested Sept. 26 in Oceanside, where he lives with his girlfriend. Police found about $500,000 in stolen jewelry and two loaded guns in the suspect's residence, according to Laguna Beach police Sgt. Jim Cota. During the apprehension, "Aloha," a Gecko, was injured as Torrison threw the reptile's aquarium through a plate glass window during his escape.

The gecko was found under rubble and wood, and though it was injured, it is recovering, though the Laguna Beach Police Department said in September that they were pursuing felony cruelty charges against Torrison for that incident.

Torrison also startled customers at the"The Arcade," a Tattoo business in Oceanside, but was detained by a citizen inside, known only as Jesse.

"Jesse calmly had Torrison on the ground, detained," Cota said. "Though we don't encourage people to intervene in cases such as this, Thanks to Jesse's help we were able to handcuff Torrison and take him away without anyone getting seriously injured."

Police were initially called July 26 about burglaries at the Shops at the Cliffs shopping center, where losses at four stores exceeded $200,000, Cota said. A second suspect shown in surveillance video from one of those burglaries is still at large and remains unidentified, he said.

Police suspect Torrison was involved in other burglaries, as well, Cota said, including a break-in on the north side of Laguna Beach.

After Torrison's arrest, Laguna police got "phone calls galore" from other law enforcement agencies working to solve similar crimes, Cota said.

Laguna Beach Police Department Photos