Security guard in critical condition after beating

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- A 26-year-old security guard was severely beaten early

Saturday morning after trying to halt an outside drinking session at the

Villa Siena apartment complex, police said.

Laien Kawakami and Chuck Raymond, both 20, were arrested on suspicion

of attempted murder in connection with the beating that left the guard in

critical condition, Sgt. Mike Ginther said.

Just before 1 a.m., officers responded to a call from the apartment

complex reporting a man had been knocked to the ground and kicked

repeatedly, Ginther said. When officers arrived at the apartment building

on Adams Avenue, they found the guard on the ground with severe head

injuries, he said.

The guard was transferred to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana. He

was still unconscious the last time police were updated Saturday morning,

Ginther said.

Hospital officials refused to comment on the severity of the guard’s

injuries.

While police were attending to the man, officers searched the complex.

Police said Kawakami and Raymond fit the description of witnesses and

allegedly had blood on their shoes and clothes, Ginther said.

“The two men were outside drinking and apparently weren’t happy that

[the guard] was breaking up their fun,” Ginther said.

Attacks on security guards are not common in Costa Mesa, Ginther said.

He believes this one was motivated by alcohol.

Kawakami, of Anaheim, and Raymond, of Costa Mesa, were booked in Costa

Mesa city jail with bail set at $250,000 for each.