The City of Laguna Beach alerted the public that there was a threat against the Laguna Beach City Council on January 4 2017.
The alleged suspect is being investigated.
The City of Laguna Beach notified the Media that a incident occurred on Wednesday January 4 2017.
Detectives were alerted by Laguna Beach City Hall employees about a suspicious posting placed on Craigslist.
The posting was titled, “Going to Laguna Beach city council with My Gillie suit.”
The posting contained five different photos of a man with an automatic rifle hiding in the brush while wearing a Ghillie suit (camouflage clothing).
The posting by the author stated, “I am warning the city council that I am going to show up with my gillie suit, to remove these tyrants from office, in 2017.”
The post also stated, “Call the police and the city, council and tell them I am coming to end this corruption, from the Laguna Beach City Council, once and for all. Hahahahahaha, you are going down now.”
Given the criminal nature of the posting, along with the photographs of an armed assailant in a Ghillie suit, the Police Department immediately opened an investigation.
Later that same day, Michael James Ross, a 33-year-old resident of Laguna Beach was identified as the suspect.
In furtherance of the investigation, detectives obtained a search warrant for his home; and with the help of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department SWAT Team, a search warrant was served on the residence in the 21500 block of Tree Top Lane.
Inside the home, investigators located six rifles, a semi-automatic handgun, and over 100 boxes of ammunition.
At the conclusion of the search warrant, investigators arrested Michael James Ross for a violation of California Penal Code Section 422-Criminal Threats and California Penal Code Section 76-Threats to Public Officials. His father, Robert Mason Ross, 75 years old, was arrested for a violation of California Penal Code Section 29800(a)-Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearms.
They were initially each held on $20,000 bail, but the Orange County Superior Court later granted a motion to increase the bail to $250,000.
The District Attorney’s Office assisted with obtaining restraining orders against Robert Ross and Michael Ross.
Both men are prohibited from contacting or being in the vicinity of all five City Council Members and the City Mananger.
The investigation is ongoing. This incident reiterates the importance that if you, “See Something, Say Something.”
