Police Evacuate South OC Shopping Center Amid Pipe Bomb Scare, 2 Arrested

IRVINE, CA — Irvine Police and the Orange County Sheriff's Department Bomb Squad evacuated the Orchard Hills Shopping Center late Tuesday after a pipe bomb scare in the parking lot. Both a Corona resident and a Simi Valley man were arrested after the incident, according to Irvine Police.

Shortly after 6 p.m., police arrived at the Irvine shopping center on reports of possible illegal drug use occurring at a Chevron gas station. There, officers discovered two suspects and a suspicious device inside their vehicle, according to Irvine Police Information Officer Ziggy Azarcon.

"Officers approached two men who were inside the car and took them into custody," according to Azarcon. Investigating officers found a suspicious device, believed to be a pipe bomb, and called in the Orange County Sheriff's Department bomb squad.

"The bomb squad rendered the device safe," Azarcon said. It was unknown why the device was in the car, and police had no information suggesting the men planned to use it, according to police reports.

Shawn Alan Beverly, 56, Corona, was arrested and is being held on multiple pending charges, including being a felon in possession of ammunition, possessing a destructive device with the added charge that the device was in a public street or highway and on or near a public place ordinarily passed by human beings, as well as narcotics charges.

Shawn Patrick Jacob, 48, of Simi Valley, was arrested on an outstanding felony warrant out of Riverside County.

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The incident resulted from a resident's call regarding possible illegal activity.