Police Bust Hideout In Former Marine Corps Hangar In South OC

IRVINE, CA — A makeshift living space containing a large cache of reportedly stolen items was discovered in a former Marine Corps air station in south Orange County Friday, the Irvine Police Department said.

According to the department, police were making a "proactive check" on the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro when they discovered the hideout.

The alleged trespassers were identified as Anaheim residents Joshua Micheal Rosario, 29, and Patricia Lynn Ratliff, 53. Police said the pair decked out a room in the hangar with disco lights, a fog machine and what appeared to be a music recording studio along with more traditional home furniture, like a couch and TV.

Car batteries powered the equipment inside, police said.

In addition, there were several items inside of the room — some police say were stolen. The items included 11 bicycles, numerous spools of copper wire, an illegal M-800 firework, personal property from Irvine residents, two airsoft rifles and drug paraphernalia.

They two suspects were arrested on warrants and other charges. Rosario was also arrested on suspicion of burglary and drug possession.

Irvine police said the pair had been cited or arrested “multiple times” before on suspicion of trespassing at El Toro.

No further information was immediately available.