Police Chase Newport Beach Burglary Suspects, Recover Stolen Guns

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - An alert neighbor and an alarm system interrupted a home burglary in Newport Beach that led to a police chase ending with the arrest of three men and the recovery of stolen weapons including an automatic assault rifle, according to the newport Beach Police Department.

The incident began at 9:42 p.m. Wednesday night in the 1600 block of Highland Drive when a neighbor called police to report three individuals jumping over a fence and running from the backyard of a neighbor’s home after activating the burglary alarm there. The three then hopped in a red Mercedes Benz sedan and drove away.

Five minutes later, an officer spotted the mercedes on Irvine Avenue and attempted to stop it on mesa Drive. According to police, the suspects failed to stop and led police on a chase to Newport Blvd and the 55 Freeway, where the officer used a PIT maneuver to disable the Mercedes. Three suspects were taken into custody at gunpoint

Officers searched the car and found a loaded handgun on the floorboard and an unloaded assault rifle in the trunk along with multiple items of stolen property, Jennifer Manzella, a spokeswoman for the Newport Beach Police Department said in a written release.

“Officers were able to determine that the firearms and other items had been stolen in a residential burglary in the city of Costa Mesa, approximately one hour prior to the incident in Newport Beach,” she said. “Officers also found burglary tools – two large screwdrivers with bent heads – inside the vehicle.”

The officer who responded to the home where the attempted burglary occurred noted that there were pry marks on a door frame and that the rear sliding screen door had been opened, Manzella added. The residence was unoccupied and it did not appear that the suspects had been able to enter the home. When the resident returned a short time later, she verified that the contents of the home were undisturbed. The damage to the door frame is estimated at $800.

All three suspects taken into custody were from Los Angeles. Walter Scott Horne, 37, was arrested on suspicion of possession of burglary tools, attempted residential burglary, conspiracy, possession of a stolen loaded firearm, possession of a firearm with a prior felony conviction, and possession of stolen property. Jeffrey Hanney, 23 was arrested on suspicion possession of burglary tools, attempted residential burglary, conspiracy, possession of a stolen loaded firearm, and possession of stolen property. Davon Jasper, 24, was arrested on suspicion of possession of burglary tools, attempted residential burglary, conspiracy, possession of a stolen loaded firearm, possession of stolen property, felony evading, and an outstanding warrant for driving on a suspended license.

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