BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Injured chase suspect approaches court date

A man accused of leading Huntington Beach police on a car pursuit early Jan. 1 was arraigned this week and is scheduled to appear in court Thursday, according to Orange County prosecutors.

The suspect led officers through Newport and Costa Mesa, where they rolled his Chevrolet Blazer onto its roof and arrested him, police said.

James Edward Spurgin, 49, Orange, was rushed to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana for his injuries and was released into police custody soon after, Lt. Dave Bunetta said.

The chase began at 12:30 a.m. when officers saw Spurgin violating traffic law, Bunetta said.

They pulled the car over at Victoria Street and Adams Avenue, just over the border into Costa Mesa, he said. As an officer started talking to the driver, he suddenly sped away.

Police chased the white Chevy for a few minutes before they had a clear shot at a “PIT� maneuver � a standard procedure in a chase � at Fair Drive east of Fairview Road, ramming its side rear to cause it to spin out of control. The Blazer then hit the south curb and rolled onto its roof, causing lacerations to his head and abrasions to his back and arms.

He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, evading a police officer, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia, according to police.

Repeat robbery suspect arrested for 3 heists

Huntington Beach police arrested a man suspected of being the “Jelly Belly Bandit,� who robbed two Huntington Beach banks and one bank in Orange over the last few weeks.

Darin Ben Minasian, 33, Huntington Beach, was arrested in his home in the 8300 block of Amsterdam Drive, according to police.

Officers acted on a tip after they put out a news release asking for information on whoever robbed the Union Bank on Adams Avenue and Wells Fargo on Beach Boulevard, police said. Police used a search warrant to find evidence linked to the robberies in Minasian’s home, investigators said. A white Toyota Tundra they said was a getaway vehicle was also found there. Police allege he confessed to all three robberies, and Minasian was arrested at 4:30 p.m. Friday.