Two Arrested After Laguna Beach City Council Threatened on Craigslist: Police

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Two Laguna Beach residents, a father and son, were arrested after they threatened the Laguna Beach City Council last week, police officials said.

Police said city employees alerted police of a suspicious posting placed on Craigslist in early January.

"The posting was titled, 'Going to Laguna Beach city council with My Gillie suit,'" Laguna Beach Police Department Sgt. Tim Kleiser said.

According to Kleiser, the Jan. 4 posting contained five different photos of a man with an automatic rifle hiding in the brush while wearing a ghillie suit, which is camouflage clothing often used for hunting.

The posting by the author said:
“I am warning the city council that I am going to show up with my gillie suit, to remove these tyrants from office, in 2017. Call the police and the city, council and tell them I am coming to end this corruption, from the Laguna Beach City Council, once and for all. Hahahahahaha, you are going down now."

"Given the criminal nature of the posting, along with the photographs of an armed assailant in a Ghillie suit, the police department immediately opened an investigation," Kleiser said.

Michael James Ross, a 33-year-old resident of Laguna Beach, was identified as the initial suspect.

After further investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for Ross's home, Kleiser said, also the residence of his father, Robert Mason Ross.

"With the help of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team, a search warrant was served on the residence in the 21500 block of Tree Top Lane," Kleiser said. "Inside the home, investigators located six rifles, a semiautomatic handgun and more than 100 boxes of ammunition."

Investigators arrested Michael James Ross on suspicion of criminal threats and threats to public officials.

75-year-old longtime Laguna Beach resident and convicted felon Robert Mason Ross was also arrested for a violation of California Penal Code Section 29800(a)-Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearms.

As of Wednesday morning, Robert Ross remained in custody. He currently has a pretrial date of January 17, according to Kleiser. Michael Ross was released from custody on Monday night.

The District Attorney’s Office assisted with obtaining restraining orders against Robert Ross and Michael Ross to protect the council.

“Laguna Beach Police Department had two uniformed officers attend the city council meeting on Wednesday night,” Kleiser said. “Ongoing security measures with both city council and city hall are being discussed.”

Both men are prohibited from contacting or being within 100 feet of of all five City Council Members and the City Manager, the restraining order stated.

Robert Mason Ross, who was being held on $250,000 bail, pleaded not guilty Friday to four counts of felony possession of a firearm by a felon, according to court records. His son, Michael James Ross, 33, was arrested Thursday, but he was released because charges were not filed against him within 72 hours, according to jail records.

A restraining order was issued Friday, barring both men from contacting Laguna Beach City Council members or from being within 100 yards of City Hall.

"Robert regularly appears before (the) City Council alleging bizarre misdeeds and government conspiracies," the bail motion stated. "Three guns registered to Michael were not located. I believe Robert has access to the guns and is a danger to the city council. Robert is unemployed and has access to a $300,000 trust."

Michael Ross told a reporter Wednesday the photo was "joke," and a "publicity stunt for a music video."

According to the Laguna Beach Police Department, the investigation is ongoing.

"This incident reiterates the importance that if you see something, say something," Kleiser said.

Laguna Beach Police Department Booking Photo