Police arrest burglary suspects after car chase

Newport Beach police arrested a trio of burglary suspects after a short car chase Wednesday ended with a crash in Laguna Beach, according to authorities.

The incident started in Newport when a resident returned home around 2:15 p.m. and found two men inside a house in the 200 block of Evening Canyon Road, police said.

The men jumped into a nearby white Kia sedan with a third suspect and drove north on Evening Canyon Road, according to police.

Dispatchers broadcast the vehicle’s description and requested that Laguna Beach police and a Huntington Beach police helicopter join in the search, Newport Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said.

Just before 2:30 p.m., a Laguna Beach officer spotted the Kia headed north on Laguna Canyon Road, according to authorities.

When the officer started following the car, the driver ran a red light at Forest Avenue and refused to pull over, police said.

As the chase neared El Toro Road, the Kia and a white Toyota Prius collided, according to police.

One of the suspects in the Kia fled on foot while two others stayed inside the now-disabled vehicle, police said.

Officers arrested the two suspects who stayed in the Kia and found the third hiding in bushes nearby, Manzella said.

The Prius driver was not hurt in the crash, police said.

Newport Beach police also found stolen property in the Kia, according to Manzella.

Police identified the suspects as Hugo Fernando Gonzalez, 21, Evelyn Yvette Gudino, 26, and Anthony Vargas, 21. All are Los Angeles residents, authorities said.

Police asked that anyone who believes they may have been a victim of the suspected burglars call Det. Bob Bennet or Det. Jon Jarema at (949) 644-3790.

Anyone with information about the alleged crimes can also leave tips anonymously at 1-800-550-NBPD.