Three arrested in alleged robbery setup
Police said one man and two women were arrested Monday after a robbery in Laguna Beach that may have been set up by one of the alleged victims.
At 8:37 p.m. Sunday in the gated Irvine Cove community, Tasmen Lamont Lorenson, 29, of Costa Mesa is suspected of robbing a couple at knifepoint and taking the male victim’s wallet, keys and iPhone, Police Chief Paul Workman said.
Lorenson then allegedly drove off in the male victim’s silver 2003 Mercedes-Benz.
Laguna Beach police notified the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force, which found the Mercedes parked in a Costa Mesa alley Monday morning, according to the release.
While investigators were watching the vehicle, Cassaira Leann Simmons, 19, of Costa Mesa allegedly got into it and drove it to the Harbor Bay Motel in Costa Mesa.
Laguna police responded at the scene, and Lorenson was arrested on three felony charges of robbery, auto theft and conspiracy to commit a crime. Simmons was arrested on one felony charge of possession of stolen property.
After interviewing the two suspects, police discovered that the female victim, Alana Cosette Hayes, 27, of Mission Viejo had allegedly planned the robbery herself.
Hayes was found with the male victim in Mission Viejo late Monday night and arrested on four felony charges of robbery, auto theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and possession of a controlled substance, according to the news release.
The man was shocked to find out his girlfriend had set him up, police said. The male robbery victim has only been identified as a 26-year-old from Rancho Santa Margarita.
All three suspects are believed to be involved with Orange County white supremacist groups, police said.
They were booked at the Laguna Beach Police Department before being transferred to Orange County Jail.
Twitter: @KellyParkerTCN