Category Archives: Crime

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) and the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) have arrested the last suspect connected to two similar cases in Costa Mesa and Yorba Linda.

• Arrestee: Cedrick Reynolds, 28, San Bernardino (arrested by CMPD)
• Arrestee: Leonard Berry, 31, San Bernardino (arrested by OCSD)
• Arrestee: Marvin Brown, 25, Diamond Bar (arrested by OCSD)
• Arrestee: Veronica Berry, 25, San Bernardino (arrested by CMPD)

Yorba Linda Attempted Kidnapping

On Nov. 30, 2019, at 6:15 p.m., OCSD received a 911 call from a Yorba Linda resident, who reported he was attacked by three unknown suspects in his driveway after returning home from work.

After a brief struggle, the victim was able to fight off the suspects. The victim sustained moderate injuries to his face and neck. The suspects left the area before responding deputies arrived.

Investigators believe the alleged suspects planned to kidnap the victim from his home and burglarize his jewelry business in the City of Orange.

After an extensive investigation in partnership with CMPD and the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, the suspects involved in the alleged attempted kidnapping were identified as Cedrick Reynolds, Leonard Berry and Marvin Brown. The suspects were later connected to a Costa Mesa kidnapping, torture, and robbery incident which occurred four days later.

Costa Mesa Kidnap, Torture, and Robbery

On Dec. 4, 2019, at 10:13 p.m., CMPD received an audible alarm at the Diamond and Jewelry Exchange, located at 1808 Newport Boulevard. Responding officers found the door to the location unlocked. The business had closed at 6:00 p.m. and the male storeowner could not be located. After speaking to the owner’s family, a missing person report was initiated.

Prior to the audible alarm, at approximately 6:36 p.m., Cedrick Reynolds, Leonard Berry, and Marvin Brown are accused of kidnapping the storeowner from the rear parking lot of his business. The victim was abducted, placed in the back seat of the suspects’ vehicle, and tortured over several hours. The suspects returned to the jewelry store and stole cash and jewelry. They fled the scene after the alarm was activated. Following the robbery, the suspects drove seven miles to a parking lot in the City of Santa Ana, where the victim was pushed from the vehicle.

In the early morning hours of Dec. 5, 2019, the storeowner was located by the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD). He was found with serious injuries and bound with duct tape. SAPD determined that the storeowner was the victim of a kidnapping and robbery that had just occurred in Costa Mesa, and they contacted CMPD to take over the investigation. The victim was transported to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries.

Working collaboratively, CMPD detectives, OCSD investigators, and the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department, identified the suspects connected to both cases.

Cedrick Reynolds was arrested on Dec. 18, 2019, on suspicion of robbery, kidnapping for ransom, torture, false imprisonment, and battery with serious bodily injury. He is being held on $1 million bail and is expected to appear in court March 10, 2020.

Leonard Berry was arrested on Dec. 22, 2019, on suspicion of a parole violation, and was booked Jan. 24, 2020, on additional charges including suspicion of attempted kidnapping, conspiracy to commit a crime, kidnapping for ransom, torture, false imprisonment, and robbery. He is being held on $1 million bail and is expected to appear in court March 10, 2020.

Marvin Brown was arrested on Jan. 28, 2019, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime, kidnapping, kidnapping for ransom, torture, robbery, false imprisonment, and battery with serious bodily injury. He is ineligible for bail and is expected to appear in court March 10, 2020.

Yesterday, Feb. 12, 2020, the last outstanding suspect was arrested. Veronica Berry, Leonard Berry’s wife, was arrested for possession of stolen property and being an accessory after the fact. She was booked at the CMPD jail and was later be transported to Orange County jail.