Suspects arrested in Marketplace on theft, drug charges

Two Lake Elsinore men face multiple theft and drug charges after being arrested Wednesday following a crime spree in Countryside Marketplace in Menifee.

Adam Myers, 38, and Christian Cosentino, 28, were located along with their vehicle by Sheriff's deputies responding to multiple reports of burglary in the popular shopping center, located on Haun Road south of Newport Road. Both face court dates in Murrieta on Friday, with Myers being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and Cosentino held with bail set at $30,000, according to jail records.

The incident began at 7:37 a.m. when deputies responded to the report of a burglary in progress at a business in the center, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. Employees reported that two suspects were using stolen credit cards and were stealing merhandise from the business. Deputies were told that the suspects left the location and entered another business in the same shopping center.

After the suspects were located, they were identified by employees of both businesses. Deputies discovered that the vehicle was reported stolen in Lake Elsinore.

At the same time, numerous citizens in the nearby residential neighborhood reported that their vehicles had just been burglarized. A search of the suspects' vehicle revealed stolen property, wallets, purses, credit cards, cash and a family heirloom. The property was returned to their owners.

Deputies also found the suspects to be in possession of over 75 grams of methamphetamine, 22 grams of cocaine and 15 grams of heroin.

Myers (left) faces two felony narcotics charges, a second degree burglary charge, two felony stolen property/vehicle charges and a misdemeanor petty theft charge. Cosentino (right) faces a felony burglary charge, a felony stolen property charge and 12 misdemeanor drug and theft charges.