Sheriff Chopper Hunts Suspected Car Thief

An Orange County Sheriff's Department helicopter that buzzed over Capistrano Beach and Dana Point Thursday was hunting a suspected car thief, a department official said.

At 11:24 a.m., deputies responded to a report of a stolen vehicle on the 34000 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point, between the cross streets of Crystal Lantern and Binnacle Lantern, said OCSD Lt. Joe Balicki.

Witnesses at the scene said the suspect ditched the vehicle and fled on foot. Balicki said the suspected thief was subsequently arrested without incident, however.

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, there was no information on the identity of the suspect, Balicki said.