IRVINE : Businessman Held in Illegal Dumping

Police arrested a furniture store owner Wednesday for allegedly leaving behind a dozen 55-gallon drums filled with hazardous paint chemicals after his business relocated in Mexico.

It was the third arrest of a businessman in recent weeks on suspicion of illegally dumping hazardous materials. On Aug. 7, police arrested the owner and manager of two Orange County electronics companies on felony counts of dumping and storing toxic wastes.

“We’re trying to send out a message that businessmen who handle hazardous waste can’t just walk away and leave it or we’re going to treat you like a criminal,” said Jerry Johnston, deputy district attorney in charge of consumer and environmental protection.

On Wednesday, Lifestyle California owner Michael Wu, 41, of Laguna Hills was arrested in Irvine on one felony count of abandoning hazardous waste. Wu, who is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail at the Orange County Jail, is scheduled to be arraigned today in Harbor Municipal Court.

The arrest culminates a yearlong investigation by Irvine police and the Orange County district attorney’s office. Authorities say a county health investigator discovered the drums filled with paint waste at the northeast corner of the abandoned property at 17622 Von Karmen St. in August, 1989. Hazardous materials investigators said the chemicals, primarily thinners and acetones, probably were used to clean equipment.

The business in Mexico is still in operation.

Charges also have been filed against Lifestyle California’s parent company, Wood Textures Inc., based in Edison, N.J. The business is owned by Wu’s brother, Thomas Wu, authorities said.

“We are focusing more and more on these types of businessmen,” Johnston said. “In the past, we treated these matters civilly, but now that the Legislature has enacted tougher laws, we are treating them as serious criminal matters.”