Police: Robbery suspects arrested; one allegedly tried escaping into the ocean
Photo credit: Huntington Beach PD
Two suspects have been arrested after an armed robbery at a Huntington Beach park led to one suspect fleeing on foot and the other into the ocean.
The suspects, identified as Oscar Muniga (24) of Los Angeles and Angel Uriarte (31) of Compton, were each booked on multiple charges, including conspiracy to commit a crime and being felons in possession of a firearm.
The incident started around 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 18th, at Murdy Park in Huntington Beach. Muniga and Uriarte allegedly threatened a woman with a gun before stealing her purse and fleeing in a vehicle.
Witnesses described the vehicle as a black sedan, which Huntington Beach police were able to track down and pursue. They used a PIT maneuver to disable to vehicle near Bolsa Chica State Beach. Muniga subsequently surrendered to police; Uriarte, on the other hand, ran away and dove into the ocean.
Uriarte eventually swam back to the shore and surrendered to police, after which he, along with Muniga, were taken into custody.
Uriarte was booked on additional charges of resisting arrest, evading police with wanton disregard for safety, and an outstanding warrant in a different jurisdiction. His bail was set at $110,000, while Muniga’s bail was set on $50,000.
