Briefly in the news

Deepa Bharath

A 26-year-old security guard who was attacked by two people outside a

Costa Mesa apartment complex early Saturday seems to be recovering from

severe head injuries, officials said Monday.

Mohamed Slam was listed in critical condition at Western Medical

Center in Santa Ana on Saturday, but his condition was upgraded Monday,

said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney.

“His condition has improved somewhat,” he said. “But given the nature

of his injuries, it could go downhill in a hurry. It’s a touch-and-go

situation.”

Police said Slam was attacked by two other men -- Laien Kawakami, 20,

of Anaheim and Charles Parker, 20, of Costa Mesa -- at the parking lot of

the Villa Siena apartment complex. Witnesses reported the two men knocked

Slam down and kicked him.

Police made the arrests based on witnesses’ descriptions of the

suspects, officials said. Also, the arrested suspects had blood on their

shoes and clothing, police said.

Kawakami and Parker are being held in Costa Mesa jail in lieu of

$250,000 bail and are scheduled to be arraigned today at Harbor Justice

Center.