Brazen Laguna Purse Snatcher Nabbed In Newport Beach: Cops

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A San Bernardino man was arrested on suspicion of stealing a purse in Laguna Beach. The incident began with the alleged purse thief accosting a family strolling along South Coast Highway on Sunday evening, and ended with a high speed chase toward Newport Beach, cops say.

Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Jim Cota told Patch that a woman, her husband and son were all walking near the 600 block of South Coast Highway when a man approached them and grabbed the woman's purse.

James Kelley, 25, of San Bernardnio allegedly "got into a 'scuffle' with the husband and the son, when they attempted to stop him," according to Cota. Both teenager and the father were both hit with a flashlight during the incident, according to Cota.

It was not immediately clear if anyone was injured in that exchange.

The thief then entered a vehicle and headed north toward Newport Beach at speeds upwards of 90 miles-per-hour.

Newport Beach Police reportedly used a spike strip to blow all of the four tires from the vehicle at the intersection of West Coast Highway and Dover Drive at 10:30 p.m. according to reports.

The car was stopped at Bayside and Coast Highway, where the suspect was apprehended by Laguna Beach Police. Officers inspected the vehicle and discovered a weapon, flashlight and a stolen credit card. As for the purse, the suspect told officers that "he threw it out of the car window" during the pursuit.

Kelley was being held in Central Jail on $100,000 bail, according to the Orange County Sheriff's Department.

Laguna Beach Police Photo