Three arrested after beer theft, altercation

Authorities say they arrested two known Costa Mesa gang members and a 15-year-old boy Wednesday for allegedly stealing beer from two convenience stores and attacking one shop’s manager in the process.

Around 4:20 p.m., a 19-year-old from Costa Mesa walked into the Arco gas station’s mini-mart at 2021 Newport Boulevard, grabbed an 18-pack of beer and left without paying, police said.

The clerk called police and identified the suspected thief as Rene Ramirez. The clerk had gone to school with him and recognized a large scar on his head, police said.

About three hours later, Ramirez allegedly did the same thing at the US Gas station at 2502 Harbor Boulevard, except with help this time.

Ramirez and a 15-year-old boy from Riverside each grabbed an 18-pack of beer and fled without paying, police said.

However, the store’s manager chased them and watched them hand over the beer to another man later identified as 24-year-old Raymond Magallanez, of Costa Mesa, police said.

The manager confronted them, and the four allegedly got in to a scuffle.

Police described the manager falling to the ground after trying to yank away the beer, and when he fell, the three suspects allegedly started punching and kicking him.

At one point, one of them grabbed a beer can and threw it at the manager, police said.

Other witnesses watched this and called 911 after following the suspects to an apartment complex in the 400 block of Merrimac Way.

Officers and detectives arrested the three suspects and booked Ramirez and Magallanez on suspicion of robbery and burglary.

Both are being held in Orange County Jail on $50,000 bail.

The 15-year-old was taken to Orange County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of the same charges.

Police asked that anyone with more information on this case contact them at (714)754-5205.