Menifee man suspected of prowling apartment complexes arrested

MENIFEE, Calif. (AP) — A man accused of prowling local apartment complexes in the early morning hours with the intent to commit a burglary was arrested Thursday after leading police on a short chase for some food, said the police with.

Irving William Firtha-Morrison, a Menifee resident, was taken into custody on suspicion of prowling, burglary and resisting arrest. He was being held at the Cois Byrd Detention Center, according to Menifee police.

Several incidents involving a hooded man wearing dark clothing loitering around local apartment complexes were reported to police. In one case, the man entered a home through an unlocked door but fled when the residents woke up, police said.

The man was caught on surveillance cameras multiple times and the footage was shared with Nextdoor and Ring.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, officers spotted a man matching the description of the prowler in the area of ​​Park Plaza Avenue and Town Center Drive. When the investigators approached him, he fled, but the officers caught up with him and arrested him.

Menifee residents are urged to keep their doors locked — “even when they are home” — and to report any suspicious activity to police at 951-677-4964.

Anyone with additional information about Firtha-Morrison should contact Detective Flores at 951-723-1663 or email [email protected].