Countywide : 2 Men Arrested in Car Theft Attempt

Two men have been arrested in connection with an attempted car theft during which one suspect allegedly shot at a sheriff’s deputy and escaped in a patrol car, officials said Friday.

Brian Thomas Greco, 27, of Arcadia was arrested 11:30 a.m. Friday by sheriff’s deputies in Newport Beach and Aren Marcus Jackson, 23, of Laguna Niguel was taken into custody by Costa Mesa police Thursday after allegedly stealing a Porsche, said Lt. Dick Olson of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

About 11:30 p.m. Monday, deputies stopped a blue pickup truck with a camper shell as it tried to push a white Volkswagen northbound on Moulton Parkway near Via Lomas in Laguna Hills.

One deputy got suspicious and was about to pat down Jackson, who drove the Volkswagen, to check for possible weapons when the suspect reached into his waistband and pulled out a handgun, Olson said. The deputy yelled, “Gun!” and jumped behind a patrol car for cover.

Another deputy turned, saw the gunman pointing at the first deputy, drew his weapon and shot at the gunman, who fired back but only hit the deputy’s boot, Olson said.

According to authorities, Greco, the pickup truck driver, sped off while Jackson hopped into the patrol car and escaped. Fifteen minutes later, another deputy found the patrol car abandoned several miles away in Aliso Viejo.

The Volkswagen turned out to belong to a resident on Moulton Parkway, in the neighborhood where the deputy first spotted the two men. The owner did not know his car was being stolen, Olson said.

Investigators found Jackson’s fingerprints on the Volkswagen and found out he was on parole, Olson said.

About 2 a.m. Thursday, Costa Mesa police received a report of an armed man in a silver Porsche at 19th Street and Anaheim Avenue, according to Costa Mesa Investigator George Wilson.

Officers chased the suspect into Newport Beach, where his fingerprints identified him as the same man sheriff’s deputies were looking for.

Jackson was arrested at his girlfriend’s house at 35th Street and Balboa Boulevard, Wilson said. Inside the Porsche were two handguns and one shotgun--all reported to have been stolen, he said.

Jackson was being held at Costa Mesa City Jail on suspicion of grand theft auto, felony evasion and violating parole, Wilson said.

Sheriff’s deputies will file a complaint with the Orange County district attorney’s office of stealing a car and attempted murder, Olson said. Greco was being held at County Jail.