Lolita Harper
NEWPORT-MESA -- Thousands of people countywide flocked here for a
coastal holiday weekend experience, increasing the demand for public
safety, but officials said it was nothing unusual.
Police, fire and lifeguard officials said Memorial Day weekend was
fairly quiet and did not pose any significant safety problems.
Costa Mesa police investigated a murder Sunday at the Country Inn &
Suites, but said it was not related to typical Memorial Day activities. A
42-year-old Newport Beach man was found dead with severe head injuries in
one of the rooms Sunday morning. No arrests have been made, and the
investigation is continuing.
Overall, calls for service increased but nothing out of the ordinary
occurred that was directly related to the holiday weekend or the
increased number of visitors to the Newport-Mesa area, officials said.
Lifeguard Capt. Eric Bauer said about 260,000 people visited the
beaches this weekend, which is a little less than normal for what is
considered to be the summer kickoff weekend.
"It just didn't seem as crowded as most Memorial Day weekends in the
past, but everybody had a great time and went home safely," Bauer said.
Bauer credited the poor surf and overcast mornings for the decrease in
beach crowds and subsequent rescues, which totaled 16 over the three-day
span. Lifeguards also issued about 2,000 preventive actions, which vary
from warnings to swimmers about being out too far or telling kids not to
throw sand, Bauer said.
Lifeguard Lt. Rob Williams reported two minor rescues on Monday, one
that required medical aid.
"That call was a drunk girl who had to go to the hospital," Williams
said.
Alcohol frequently plays a role and increases the need for law
enforcement, especially on a three-day weekend when people have reason to
celebrate, Birney said.
"Holiday weekends tend to be busier because there are groups of people
who get together and a mix of alcohol is usually involved," Birney said.
Another of the more serious incidents in Costa Mesa involved alcohol
and resulted from an altercation between two men at a Memorial Day
barbecue in the 1800 block of Placentia Avenue, Costa Mesa Police Lt.
Dale Birney said.
A 25-year-old Costa Mesa man was taken to the hospital after an
unknown assailant broke a beer bottle over the victim's head and then
stabbed him in both legs with the ragged glass, Birney said.
There were three arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence;
two on suspicion of being drunk in public and four for allegedly
