Suspect spent night hiding in bathroom, police say

A Moreno Valley man wanted in Costa Mesa and Riverside County was arrested Wednesday afternoon after Newport police said he spent the night hiding in a restroom.

Police said Christopher Williams, 46, was found by an employee of Henry’s Groceries, 2112 Oceanfront West, inside the market’s bathroom in a detached storage area about 10 a.m. Wednesday.

The employee called police who later found Williams in the area, scratched and bruised, wearing his jacket inside out as a disguise, Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

Authorities believe Williams was the man they had been chasing earlier about 2 a.m. from Costa Mesa into Newport Beach. Williams had broken into Cutting Edge Systems, 2950 Airway Ave., and loaded four large engraving machines into his van about 2:20 a.m., Costa Mesa police said.

Officials said that when police tried to pull him over, he sped into Newport Beach. By the time the units caught up, Williams had ditched the van and loot, Manley said. When officers found Williams later that afternoon, a Costa Mesa officer who was involved in the chase positively identified him, Sailor said.

— Joseph Serna