2 Arrests in Theft Using Extinguishers
Two men were arrested on suspicion of robbing a man Wednesday night after spraying him with fire extinguishers in the parking lot of Webster University, according to police.
Jeremy Rea, 18, of Mesa, Ariz., and Brian Wolke, 19, of Brea were arrested on suspicion of robbery and booked into Orange County Jail, Irvine Police Sgt. Dick Bowman said.
The victim, who was not identified by police, was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
“This is the first attack by fire extinguisher I’ve seen in a long time,” Bowman said.
Police said the suspects, wearing ski masks and carrying the extinguishers, approached the man about 9:30 p.m. in the 2300 block of Michelson Drive. They allegedly incapacitated the victim by spraying him with the dry chemical extinguishers, then grabbed his pocket calculator and some cash.
A motorist saw the suspects running from the scene, with extinguishers in hand and covered in white powder, and called police, Bowman said.
Police stopped the suspects’ Chevrolet on the Santa Ana Freeway at Tustin Ranch, finding the extinguishers and a knife, Bowman said.
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