Razor blade suspect not linked to local incidents

Costa Mesa police said Wednesday they know for sure that the

21-year-old Mission Viejo woman arrested last week on suspicion of

planting razor blades and nails in South County parks was not connected

in any way to similar incidents that happened in Costa Mesa in the spring

of 2001.

For more than a year now, Costa Mesa detectives have tried to catch

the culprit or culprits involved with the incidents that terrorized local

parents. Several razor blades and sharp pieces of glass were found in

parks and playgrounds in Costa Mesa and Newport Beach. They were either

planted on playground equipment or buried in the sand.

Officials have speculated that it could have been the work of one

person, several people or even copycats.

Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney said detectives have “conclusive

evidence” to prove Lori Fischer had nothing to do with the Costa Mesa

incidents.

“We can’t comment specifically on the evidence,” he said. “But we know

for sure she wasn’t connected with what happened in our city.”

An investigation into those incidents is continuing, Birney said.