2 Bank Robbery Suspects Arrested in Freeway Chase Ending at El Toro Base

Two bank robbery suspects were captured Thursday after a chase along the Santa Ana Freeway that ended at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, police said.

A man entered a Bank of America branch in the 13300 block of Newport Avenue just after 2 p.m., handed a teller a note and fled with an undetermined amount of cash, according to Sgt. David Kreyling.

Officers in the area heard a broadcast describing the suspect and pursued the car south on Newport. At a gas station the suspects’ car stopped, and as police approached, the driver ran off and was later arrested.

The passenger then took the wheel and drove off, ultimately heading south on the freeway. The chase ended at the Marine base, where the second suspect fled ran away but was also captured, Kreyling said.

Police identified the two men, both being held on suspicion of bank robbery, as Steven Francis Sawyer, 37, of Oceanside and Ronald Frank Corrales, 42, whose place of residence was unknown.