Missing Your Ride? Search Warrant Yields Stolen Newport Beach Bikes

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A search warrant delivered on Friday yielded narcotics, prescription medications with intent to sell, credit card skimmer and stolen bicycles.

"On Friday, October 7 at 9:45 a.m., Newport Beach Police Department detectives served a search warrant on the person of Matthew Simpson and on his residence in the 16700 block of Viewpoint Lane in Huntington Beach," public information officer Jennifer Manzella said. "In the course of the search, detectives located and seized narcotics."

Approximately 858.8 grams (almost 1.9 pounds) of methamphetamine, 19.3 grams of marijuana, 30 milliliters of Lorazepam oral concentrate, 30 milliliters of Morphine sulfate oral solution, and 12 milliliters of Haloperidol oral solution; along with 121 Adderall pills, 15 Alprazolam pills, and 15 Tramadol pills, she said.

"Detectives also found various other prescription medications, an operable digital scale and 65 unused plastic baggies inside the home," Manzella said. "Based on this located evidence, Mr. Simpson was arrested for Possession of Controlled Substances for Sale."

Other property in the home was also seized in the course of the investigation. These include a credit card skimmer and several pieces of mail belonging to other persons (both items that are commonly used in identity theft), $3,839.00 cash, and nine bicycles.

"One bicycle was identified as stolen property from a Newport Beach garage burglary that occurred in July of this year; detectives later returned the bicycle to its rightful owner," she said. "The remaining eight bicycles, which are also believed to have been stolen, are listed on the Newport Beach Police Department’s Facebook page."

Victims of recent bicycle thefts in the Orange County area are encouraged to review the photographs and contact us at 949-644-3791 if they believe that their bike is pictured.

“We are very proud of the detectives’ work on this case,” said Lieutenant Jay Short. “Thanks to their diligent efforts, we were able to safely apprehend the suspect, recover and return stolen property to its rightful owner, and remove dangerous narcotics from the street.”

Newport Beach Police detectives will continue to pursue leads in this case to address any potential identify theft or fraud, and to return the remaining eight bicycles to their rightful owners.

This investigation is still open and ongoing. Anyone with additional information in this case is encouraged to contact Detective Roland Stucken at 949-644-3756 or rostucken@nbpd.org.

Image courtesy of Newport Beach Police Department