Police Arrest Man Suspected of Mortgage Fraud

After a two-year investigation, police investigators arrested a 51-year-old Pasadena man Wednesday, Sept. 17, in Los Angeles, now accused of a $400,000 mortgage fraud involving a Laguna Beach home.

Police allege Paul Clark siphoned $400,000 in cash from Chase bank in 2012 by obtaining a new mortgage on a home in the 3000 block of Mountain View that lacked a mortgage, Capt. Jason Kravetz said.

The rightful owner resided elsewhere while remodeling the Mountain View property and discovered the fraud in 2012 when he started receiving foreclosure notices, Kravetz said.

Clark used sophisticated methods to hoodwink the lender into issuing a new mortgage, including a stolen notary stamp as well as obtaining an appraisal and recording the new mortgage in the owner’s name, Kravetz said. “It took a lot of time and effort to pull off,” he said.

Det. Larry Bammer identified Clark as a suspect through the bank account where the money had been wired, said Kravetz, adding that Clark apparently victimized an elderly Rancho Cucamonga woman in a similar scam.

 

Monday, Sept. 15

Traffic stop. 1200 block of Glenneyre St. 10 a.m. John Walker Motley, 24, of Costa Mesa was arrested for a warrant and held for $7,500 in bail.

Traffic stop. N. coast hwy. 12:54 p.m. Marcus Summers, 19, of El Cajon, was arrested for a no-bail San Diego felony warrant for making threats.

Tuesday, Sept. 16

TC injuries. El Toro Rd. 7:49 a.m. One driver suffered minor injuries in a collision involving two vehicles.

Traffic stop. Fourth Ave. 12:41 p.m. Edmundo Zuniga, 46, of Orange, was cited for two misdemeanor warrants for driving with a suspended license.

Sexual perversion. 500 block of Forest Ave. 2:19 p.m. A woman described being inappropriately fondled Sept. 2 on Main Beach by a man she had met earlier that evening at a bar. The report was taken by a medical clinic in San Diego.

Vandalism. 31100 block of Coast Hwy. 7:57 p.m. Someone disconnected a water line to an ice machine, flooding the area.

Wednesday, Sept. 17

Fraud report.. 200 block of S. Coast Hwy. 4:48 p.m. A customer used a fraudulent cashier’s check to purchase items from a store, discovered after the patron had left. Police have not received similar reports from other local businesses.

Miscellaneous report. Catalina Ave. 8:36 p.m. After a vehicle hit a stop sign, police arrested a 26-year-old from Newport Beach for outstanding warrants.

Burglary. 2700 block of Temple Hills Dr. 8:28 p.m. During a two-hour absence by residents, someone entered their home, ransacked it and stole $9,000 in jewelry. The point of entry isn’t immediately known.

Thursday, Sept. 18

Attempted burglary. Lagunita Drive. A resident returned from vacation and found window screens missing and bent, but no losses.

Friday, Sept. 19

Traffic stop. 300 block of Broadway St. 12:12 a.m. A 23-year-old from San Diego was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Traffic stop. Coast Highway. 2:17 p.m. Sebastian Uribe Guerra, 45, of Laguna Niguel, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and held for $15,000 bail due to two prior offenses.

Drug activity. 200 block of Broadway St. 4:13 p.m. Shannon Kathleen Kane, of Rancho Santa Margarita, was arrested for allegedly fraudulently obtaining prescription medications, after suspicious pharmacists alerted police.

Traffic collision. 100 block of Diamond St. 7:40 p.m. A pedestrian was knocked to the ground but received only minor injuries when struck in crosswalk by a vehicle turning southbound on Coast Highway. The driver was found to have caused the collision for failing to yield right of way.

Suspicious circumstances. N. La Senda. 8:48 p.m. A piece of sensitive military equipment valued in excess of $250,000 was mistakenly delivered to a resident in Three Arch Bay. The non-explosive item was sent from a military base and apparently was to be shipped to the manufacturer for repair. Police declined to identify the branch of the military service involved.

Pedestrian stop. 3200 block of Alta Laguna Blvd. Garrett Graves, 18, of Huntington Beach, who was acting strangely, was arrested for alleged possession of LSD. Bail was set at $20,000.

Traffic stop. Park Ave. 11:56 p.m. Tony Olin Black, 54, of Woodstock, Ga., was cited for suspicion of DUI and held for $10,000 bail due to a prior offense.

Saturday, Sept. 20

Traffic stop. Cress St. 1:41 a.m. A 38-year-old Santa Ana woman was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Traffic stop. Carmelita St. 2:29 a.m. A 35-year-old Westminster man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Traffic stop. Second St. 2:29 a.m. A 52-year-old Orange resident was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Drunk driving. 100 block of N. Coast Hwy. 5:05 a.m. Jessica Anne Jackson, 28, of Whittier, was arrested for drunk driving and driving on a suspended license. Bail was set at $15,000 due to prior offenses.

Pedestrian stop. 300 block of Broadway St. 5:18 p.m. Ramin Ahadi, 30, of Irvine, was arrested for suspicion of burglary, petty theft and resisting arrest after fleeing a store with $232 worth of groceries. A manager chased the shopper, who dropped the bag of items. Police detained a suspect boarding a bus, who was later identified by the store clerk.

Traffic stop. 100 block of S. Coast Hwy. 11:36 p.m. Shawn Patrick O’Hare, 35, of Lakewood, was arrested for suspicion of DUI and child cruelty and held for $100,000 bail. A 9-year-old son and passenger in O’Hare’s vehicle was released to a relative.

Sunday, Sept. 21

Vehicle violation. Myrtle St. 2 a.m. Jessica Hilda Hardesty, 28, of Montclair, was arrested for suspicion of DUI as well as three warrants for suspended license violations.

Traffic stop. 300 block of Broadways St. 2:35 a.m. A 32-year-old Irvine man was cited for DUI and held for $2500 bail.

Arrest. 1400 block of Mar Vista Way. 1:22 p.m. A 53-year-old Laguna Beach woman was arrested for a misdemeanor $15,000 grand theft warrant.