Laguna Beach : Police Arrest Man in Strangling of Roommate

A 32-year-old man was arrested Thursday in connection with the strangling of his 35-year-old roommate, police said.

The body of Edward Otto Ihling Jr., a real estate salesman, was found inside the house he rented with Dale David Dalton at 1893 Carmelita St. shortly after police received an anonymous phone call at 1:17 a.m. Thursday, Lt. William Cavenaugh said.

Dalton was arrested at 4 a.m. on the sidewalk in the 200 block of Diamond Street, just a few blocks away, Cavenaugh, said.

Police would not give details about the death, but Cavenaugh said it stemmed from a “dispute” between the two men.

Neighbors said they had heard Ihling and Dalton arguing late at night inside their house, which is in a quiet neighborhood.

Al Griffin Jr., a next-door neighbor, described Ihling as a “nice man with troubles.” Griffin said Ihling had helped him sell his house recently.

Will Singer, who is with Tierra del Sol Realty in Laguna Beach, said Ihling worked at the firm one year, leaving in late 1986 to work for another real estate agency. Singer added that Ihling had said he was from Colorado.