Front Page Letters Calendars Archives Sign Up Contact Us StuNewsLaguna Volume 4, Issue 35 | April 30, 2019 Search our site... Search Police Files Interesting details emerge in double homicide suspect’s possible motives Media reports are saying that double-murder suspect Jamon Buggs “was possibly after men he believed had a romantic history with a woman from his past,” according to detectives. Those reports came following Buggs’ attempted burglaries in Irvine where he allegedly NEWPORT went “looking for a Caucasian man by the name of Jared.” Instead, Buggs came across a BEACH residence with a man by that same name, but of Asian descent. Meanwhile, according to Eyewitness News, suspicious surveillance footage has Broken Clouds surfaced which includes a man “resembling Buggs.” A resident of Corona del Mar told the Humidity: 93% television station that his vehicle was broken into a week ago Friday. “Three days earlier, the Wind: 3.6 m/h same suspect (Buggs) was seen in his neighbor’s backyard in Corona del Mar.” 57.1°F The CdM resident added that his former neighbor was Darren Partch, one of the victims in the double homicide. Still, however, police officials are saying that there is no evidence that Wendi Miller, the THU FRI SAT other victim, had any prior interaction with Buggs. 57/57°F 57/62°F 59/61°F Courtesy of Irvine Police Department Jamon Rayon Buggs Yesterday, Buggs was in the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach for his scheduled arraignment, however, it was postponed until May 17. He is currently being held without bail. His charges include the two counts of murder, attempted burglary of an inhabited dwelling, discharging a gun at an inhabited dwelling and being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Buggs faces a minimum sentence of life without the possibility of parole and a maximum sentence of the death penalty. Buggs had a prior conviction for an assault on a police officer in San Diego County in 1995. Buggs is accused of murdering Darren Donald Partch, 38, of Newport Beach, and Wendi Sue Miller, 48 of Costa Mesa. The two were found deceased inside a residence in the 2100 block of East 15th Street in Newport Beach on the evening of April 21. Partch and Miller were last seen at the Loft and Sandpiper in Laguna Beach early Saturday morning, April 20, at approximately 1:45 a.m. Miller was the CEO for the nonprofit organization Wings for Justice, an advocacy group for children in the family court system. Partch was a former minor league hockey player and most recently worked for Atrinsic, an Irvine-based financial services company, as an account executive. Funeral arrangements for both have been planned. For Miller, a service is scheduled for this Friday, May 3 at 2 p.m., at Mariners Church in Irvine in the Community Center. For Partch, there is a Celebration of Life planned for Saturday, May 4 at the Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive Memorial Park and Mortuary in Costa Mesa at 5:30 p.m. Police arrest two driving out-of-town stolen vehicle On Saturday, April 27, just before 2 a.m., a Newport Beach Police Officer was on a patrol check in the area of the 2300 block of University Drive and observed a suspicious vehicle occupied by two males. Upon further investigation, the police officer discovered that the vehicle, a Jeep Wrangler, was stolen out of Imperial County. The officer stopped the occupants and they denied that the vehicle was stolen. However, both were arrested. Tayrik Nathahl Jones, 20, from Winchester, was taken into custody and charged with taking an auto without the owner’s consent and possession of burglary tools that were also found in the vehicle. He was booked and held on $20,000 bail. Mark Joel Adams, 26, of Costa Mesa, was also arrested for taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent and for an outstanding DUI warrant. He was held on $30,000 bail. A night out leads to $175,000 missing diamond ring On Thursday, April 18, sometime between 4:30 and 9:30 p.m., someone reportedly entered a building in the 2100 block of E. Ocean Front and stole a diamond ring that the victim left on the bathroom counter. Upon the victim’s return later that evening, and noticing the ring was missing, she notified the Newport Beach Police Department and filed a report. The ring was valued at $175,655. No arrests have been made and police are continuing to investigate. Scroll down to Police Beat for all arrests & crime report Fair Game By TOM JOHNSON Things are “Bruin” in Trojan-land for Irrelevant Week Gimme a U, gimme a C, gimme an L, gimme an A…what’s that spell? Well, it spells UCLA. It’s a cheer I promise Irrelevant Week founder Paul Salata has never learned or cared to for that matter. You see, Salata is a Trojan through and through. USC, cardinal and gold all the way. You know, the fight song and the two fingers. So when the last draft choice of the NFL was announced Saturday afternoon, naming Caleb Wilson, tight end from UCLA, as the final draft choice, number 254, and hence Mr. Irrelevant 2019, it was laughable. It’s like the Yankees honoring the Red Sox. The Lakers celebrating the Celtics. The Dodgers recognizing the Giants. It’s a party just never meant to be. That being said, Irrelevant Week, a week-long celebration annually in Newport Beach celebrating the final draft choice of the NFL, will take place June 28 through July 2, working around a schedule allowed by Wilson and his new team, the Arizona Cardinals. Caleb is a big guy at 6’4”, 235 pounds. So he’ll be able to handle the barbs. The fact is, this past year as a Bruin, Wilson caught 60 passes for 985 yards, leading all tight ends in the FBS in both categories. He was also named second-team All-America by Sporting News and CBS Sports. Can he make the NFL come the fall? Ryan Succop, Mr. Irrelevant 2009, did. And he was a kicker. Succop was on hand Saturday to announce the selection of Wilson because Salata has gotten up there in years and couldn’t make the trip to Nashville. But even Salata, now in his nineties, is probably writing Bruin jokes for his presentation at the Irrelevant Week banquet celebration. Paul is going to need to get his blue and gold out because this party is going to be fun. • • • There will be a Memorial Service/Celebration of Life for Wendi Miller this Friday, May 3, at 2 p.m. at Mariners Church in the Community Center, 5001 Newport Coast Drive, Irvine. Then Friday night, there will be a celebration called “A Night for Wendi” at the Harp Inn in Costa Mesa. Flashback Heart Attack will perform for the fundraiser. There’s also an auction planned, with all monies going to the family to help with expenses. I’m told it was one of Wendi’s favorite places, especially when Flashback Heart Attack was performing. The party starts at 8 p.m., the band goes on at 9. She, of course, was murdered a little over a week ago, along with former minor league hockey player Darren Partch. Newport Beach Police have identified Jamon Rayon Buggs, 44, of Huntington Beach, as the suspect and he’s behind bars. He’s now facing charges of two counts of murder with a This is as close as we can special circumstance. He’ll potentially face life in prison without the possibility of parole or come to actually singing to our even the death penalty. readers on their birthdays! Buggs is being held without bail. We’d love to include yours – A celebration of life for Partch is scheduled for Saturday at the Harbor Lawn-Mt. Olive and/or your friends and Memorial Park and Mortuary in Costa Mesa at 5:30 p.m. • • • children’s birthdays here. Harley Rouda was elected Representative for the 48th District last November. He took Just email to: office in January. He’s hardly had time to organize his office and already Michelle Steel has [email protected] announced her opposition come 2020. Celebrate and enjoy your Speaking Thursday of last week in Los Angeles to Radio Korea, Steel said she’s “considering” a run. She’s currently a Supervisor for the 2nd District in OC. birthday! Her decision is far past “considering,” she just hasn’t filed the paperwork yet. She wanted to get a jump on some of the other names who are also looking at the seat, including April 30 Janet Nguyen, a former state senator. Kerry Getz Steel said she’s planning to hold her first fundraising event in Los Angeles on June 4, with hopes to raise $5 million for next March’s primary. Tim Brown Harley, if you want to change the paint color of your office, get to it. You probably want to Events, programs at give it a chance to dry. May 1 • • • OASIS Senior Center Bob Irish The District 1 Town Hall meeting originally scheduled for this Monday, May 6 has been Lisa Ramsey canceled. Mayor Dixon’s next town hall will be held on Monday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Marina Park. Tom Iovenitti Wayne Smith May 2 Barry Gammel Enda Wels 801 Narcissus Ave., Corona del Mar Kathy Flynn Shaw 92625 Larry Weichman 949.644.3244 Marice DePasquale Parking is Free! Mike Johnson OASIS Senior Center is on Facebook! Sign up to receive the newsletter Richard Moriarty HAPPENINGS Tod Ridgeway The Amazing, Incredible, Unbelievable Geologic History of May 3 Newport Beach and Southern California Chandler Bell Wednesdays continuing through May Eric Lieberman 24 from 4-5:30 p.m.