2 arrested on suspicion of fraudulently charging $4,000 on a credit card at Laguna’s Montage resort

Two Los Angeles County residents were arrested in Laguna Beach this week on suspicion of fraudulently charging $4,000 on a credit card at the Montage resort.

Darmia Morris, 28, of Pasadena and Jacorey Sims, 31, of Carson were arrested Monday on suspicion of identity theft, grand theft and burglary. Both were booked at the Laguna Beach Police Department and posted bail, police Sgt. Jim Cota said.

Laguna Beach police officers were initially dispatched to the Montage at 5:54 p.m. about a report of a man who was unable to pay his bill and walked away from the property at 30801 S. Coast Hwy. The man left his belongings in his room and his vehicle was in the valet parking lot, police said.

Officers later found the man in the Gelson’s parking lot, and he said he had the funds to pay for his stay and requested a ride back to the hotel, and hotel security complied, police said.

Police were called back to the hotel at 6:36 p.m. but were unable to find the man.

“Officers were able to get credit card information for the initial deposit of $4,000, which was declined the day after the male suspect and his female companion checked in to the resort,” Cota said.

“A fraud investigation confirmed that the credit card had been used fraudulently after contacting the owner of the actual credit card, who stated he filed a fraud claim with his bank when he learned about the $4,000 charge in Laguna Beach, which he never made because he was in Palos Verdes,” Cota said.

Officers were dispatched to the hotel a third time when the man returned at around 10:20 p.m., and police detained and arrested Morris and Sims.

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