Police rule death on 405 Freeway an...

Police rule death on 405 Freeway an accident

The death of an Irvine woman, who was believed to have jumped from

a moving limousine on the San Diego Freeway (405) last month, has

been ruled an accident, Costa Mesa police said Wednesday.

“We can’t prove that it’s suicide based on the investigation,”

Sgt. Marty Carver said.

Jessica Lynne Rowe, 25, died Aug. 10 when she was hit by an

unknown number of vehicles after she exited through the window of a

speeding limo.

The death is not being investigated as a homicide, Carver said.

The case is now closed.

“The investigation didn’t discover anything suspicious that would

make it a homicide,” Carver said.

Newport Beach Police promotes three officers

The Newport Beach Police Department held a promotion ceremony

Tuesday to honor three officers who moved up in rank.

Lt. John Desmond was promoted to the rank of captain; Sgt. Craig

Fox became a lieutenant; and Officer Lloyd Whisenant was promoted to

sergeant.

Department staff, city employees and friends and families attended

Tuesday’s ceremony.

Desmond, a 26-year veteran of the department, will now take

command of the support services division, responsible for hiring and

training new officers. Desmond began his law enforcement career as a

reserve officer with the Garden Grove Police Department.

With his promotion to lieutenant, Fox will transfer to the patrol

division as a watch commander.

A graduate of Corona del Mar High School, Fox first worked for

Newport Beach Police as a cadet more than 20 years ago.

Fox was promoted after testing a second time for the lieutenant

rank, he said. The application process includes a written test and

department evaluation.

“It’s not an easy process,” Fox said.

Whisenant, who began his career with Newport Beach Police 11 years

ago as a reserve officer, will now serve as a field supervisor in the

patrol division.