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Laguna Beach man arrested in FBI raid

An early morning FBI raid in Laguna Beach on Thursday, March 11 led to the arrest of a resident on a state weapon possession charge, authorities said.

The raid, in the 1100 block of Catalina Street, was related to the nationwide federal investigation into the Jan. 6 insurrection, Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jim Cota said.

The FBI confirmed it executed a federal search warrant but said it’s under seal and the agency was unable to provide any details about the probe, said Thom Mrozek, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice.

Cota did not comment further on the federal case.

At the conclusion of the raid, Garrett Andrew Gauvain was taken into custody by Laguna Beach police for possession of a firearm within ten years of a misdemeanor battery conviction, according to the police department and court records. He posted bail and was released.

Gauvain, 49, later told Daniel Langhorne of the Laguna Beach Independent that he was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 but never went up the steps or into the building.

He said the agents told him his phone was pinged by a cell tower by the Capitol that day.

“They showed me on a map that my phone was pinged,” he told the Independent. “I was within 40 to 60 feet (of the Capitol) but only for a brief time.”

He said he didn’t approve of the Capitol breach.

On Thursday, neighbors said they awoke to pounding and a commotion, and were stunned to see about 10 FBI agents swarming on the property, one wearing a jacket that said, “FBI Counterterrorism Unit.”

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office said Friday it had not yet received the weapon possession case.

 

 


Source: Orange County Register

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