Mail theft suspects arrested following vehicle pursuit from Laguna Hills to Downey

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Carrie Braun, 714.647.1848, CBraun@ocsd.org

Mail Theft Suspects Arrested Following Vehicle Pursuit

LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. (December 18, 2015) – On Friday, December 18, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies arrested David Brown, 45, Anaheim, Jessie Brown, 55, Anaheim, and Corey Richardson, 22, Anaheim, following an almost two-hour pursuit through Orange and Los Angeles counties. The suspects were arrested after they fled on foot following termination of a vehicle pursuit in the City of Downey.

At approximately 2:30 p.m., Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 25000 block of Buckboard Lane after neighbors reported seeing two male subjects taking mail from their mailboxes. The informants described the subject’s vehicle as a silver compact vehicle. The Sheriff’s Department’s airship “Duke” responded to the area with patrol units and immediately located a silver 2011 Honda Civic leaving the area. The vehicle, driven by David Brown, was travelling at a high rate of speed on Alicia Parkway towards the Interstate 5 freeway. Deputies attempted a traffic stop of the vehicle; however, the vehicle accelerated and a pursuit ensued.

Deputies pursued the vehicle for almost two hours, southbound the Interstate 5 freeway to the City of San Clemente where the vehicle turned around and headed northbound. The suspect vehicle traveled northbound Interstate 5 and on surface streets through the cities of Irvine, Tustin, Santa Ana and Anaheim before getting back onto the freeway. Deputies continued pursuing the vehicle with the assistance of “Duke” until the termination near Lakewood Boulevard and Florence Avenue in City of Downey. Downey Police Department officers and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies assisted as the pursuit traveled through their jurisdiction.

All three suspects were taken into custody by Downey Police officers as they fled on foot from the vehicle at the termination point. During the initial minutes of the pursuit, the suspects threw numerous bags and pieces of mail from the vehicle. Several items, some believed to be stolen, were located inside the vehicle. Investigators are continuing to inventory the vehicle and items located inside, to determine the suspect’s connection to crimes in Laguna Hills as well as other jurisdictions.

The suspects were arrested for possession of stolen property and felony evading; however, additional charges are pending completion of the preliminary investigation. All three suspects will be booked into Orange County Jail. The suspect’s bail and court information is not available.

Anyone with information regarding additional victims is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

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