Newport Beach Kidnapping Leads to Cross- County Search, Arrest of Two

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — A cross-county kidnapping that led officers from Newport Beach to Santa Monica, and back to Anaheim left two arrested on Sunday.

An Anaheim man and a Murrieta resident were both arrested Saturday for allegedly kidnapping a third man during an illegal narcotics transaction, area officials said.

The Santa Monica Police Department reported two men were involved in a possible kidnapping on Saturday, Feb. 18.

Steele Malone Burnside, a 28-year-old male resident of Anaheim and Nicholas Andres Hernandez, a 29-year-old resident of Murrieta were both arrested by the Newport Beach Police Department for their possible involvement in the crime.

"On Saturday, February 18, 2017 at just before 6:30 p.m., the Santa Monica Police Department notified the Newport Beach Police Department of a possible kidnapping that occurred in our city during an illegal narcotics transaction," Newport Beach Police Officer Jennifer Manzella said.

The Newport Beach Police personnel launched an investigation and were able to determine that the suspects and victim were potentially at a location in Anaheim, and that the victim was being held against his will.

"Investigators secured the appropriate search warrants and requested the assistance of the NBPD Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Team," Manzella said.

Shortly before midnight on Sunday, the S.W.A.T. team responded to Anaheim, apprehended the two suspects listed above without incident, and rescued the victim, who was unharmed. The victim's name has not been released.

This investigation is still open and ongoing, according to Manzella.

Anyone with additional information on this case is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Ryan Peters at 949-644-3790. Messages may also be left anonymously on the Police Department’s hotline at 1-800-550-NBPD.