Laguna Woods Man Arrested for Sept. Cross Orange County Car Chase

MISSION VIEJO, CA — A 42-year-old Laguna Woods man was arrested Thursday on multiple counts of burglary, narcotics and driving a stolen vehicle at high rates of speed. The Santa Ana police have reported the suspect is being held on suspicion of at least seven burglaries and leading police on a high-speed pursuit through Orange County while smoking methamphetamine.

Security guards at Santa Ana College spotted Maurice Alexander Topps of Laguna Woods, recognizing him as a suspect in an earlier computer theft, according to Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

The security at the college called police, who arrested Topps on Monday night, Bertagna said. After his arrest, Topps was identified as a suspect in the Sept. 15 cross-Orange County vehicle pursuit.

Police then recognized Topps as the suspect in a Sept. 15 pursuit following the theft of a sport-utility vehicle, Bertagna said.

"He's good for seven commercial burglaries," Bertagna said. "Detectives will be working with surrounding agencies to clear any additional burglaries that may have been committed by the suspect. It is believed that Topps may have been involved in as many as 40 commercial burglaries dating back to August."

The SUV involved in the mid-September pursuit was stolen during a burglary at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange on Aug. 31, Bertagna said.

Topps is accused of stealing the vehicle's keys from the purse of its owner, according to Bertagna.

On Sept. 15, police spotted the SUV, which was being driven erratically near the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway and MacArthur Boulevard, Bertagna said. The officer checked the license plate and was informed it was reported stolen.

Topps allegedly refused to stop the vehicle and led police on a chase through the county into a multi-level parking garage at Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Bertagna said.

During the pursuit, officers saw Topps passing what appeared to be a drug pipe to a female passenger, who would pass it back, Bertagna said. Smoke could be seen coming from the windows and after the suspects ditched the vehicle, officers found a meth pipe in it, Bertagna said.

Topps, being held without bail, was wanted on suspicion of violating probation, Bertagna said.

Santa Ana Police Department, Photos

City News Service contributed to this report. The screenshot provided is from the 08/09/16 burglary committed in Santa Ana at the Bank Of California building located at on MacArthur Place.