Baby Oil Causes Bomb Scare During Double Intentional Vehicle Crashes
Police have arrested a man on suspicion of plowing a green SUV into two buildings in Orange County, including a social services facility where he left a mysterious package.
Jesus Torres Jr., 36, of Orange was arrested in front of his residence Monday night after a witness recorded his full license plate number during the second incident.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department received a call at approximately 7:30pm from a social services employee that a man had rammed the front glass doors of the building at 840 North Eckhoff Street with a SUV.
"The heavy-set driver got out of the SUV and left a package inside the building, then got back in and drove away,'' said sheriff's Lt. Lynn Komstedt, reports City News Service. The building, which contained about 50 people, was evacuated while bomb squad detectives investigated the contents of the package - a small vial of clear liquid.
During the search for the suspect, the department received a report of a hit-and-run. A suspect had crashed through the doors of Car Quest, a car parts business, and hit several vehicles in the act. A witness provided a full license plate number, which matched the partial number given to police at the first scene.
The potentially hazardous liquid turned out to be baby oil, according to L.A. Now. Whew.
Torres was found sitting in his SUV in front of his residence. He was arrested for four felonies, including hit-and-run, vandalism, burglary and facsimile of a weapon of mass destruction. Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino says Torres has a history of domestic violence and vandalism.
No injuries were reported during the incidents.
A motive for the crimes has not been reported. Torres is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday. He was being held on $20,000 bail at Central Jail Complex in Santa Ana.
