Manhunt on Bay Island Fails to Turn Up Pair of Burglars

Two burglars who police said stabbed a construction worker Friday on Bay Island in Newport Beach eluded an extensive house-to-house search and a dragnet on the small island, which is accessible only by footbridge.

George Carpenter, 50, of Costa Mesa was doing remodeling at the house when he surprised someone breaking into the residence, said Newport Beach Police Sgt. Mike McDermott.

The burglar grabbed a wood chisel and stabbed Carpenter several times, McDermott said. While the two struggled, another burglar came into the room and struck Carpenter to the ground, McDermott said.

Both burglars fled on foot.

Carpenter suffered minor injuries. He was treated at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach and released.

Carpenter alerted other construction workers in the area who blocked off the only connection to the mainland, a footbridge at Island Avenue, McDermott said.

The first officers arrived at the scene less than a minute after the original call, and police deployed 18 officers, a dog patrol and a helicopter. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department also dispatched a Harbor Patrol boat to look for the men.

Despite the two-hour search, officers didn’t find the men and now believe they escaped before workers were able to block off the bridge, McDermott said. “We got all the officers together and did a systematic search of the island, but we didn’t find them,” McDermott said.

The victim described one of the burglars as a 6-foot man in his 20s with light brown hair and a slim build. The burglar was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, dark pants and gloves.

Carpenter could not provide a description of the other burglar.

Police did not know if anything was taken from the house but said the two were not carrying anything when they fled. The investigation is continuing.

McDermott noted that crime on the 22-house island is extremely rare. “It’s the second time in 20 years I have been out there on duty,” he said. “And the first time, it was a [false] alarm.”