Bluff residents still question paint-ball case

Deepa Bharath

NEWPORT BEACH -- Nearly two weeks after a man died from injuries he

suffered from a fall that occurred while he was skating on Back Bay

Drive, Eastbluff residents say they still wonder what caused the

incident.

After resident Gary Holdren fell and cracked his skull while in-line

skating March 24, Newport Beach police said a barrage of paint balls,

probably fired from the bluffs, were to blame. Police then said witnesses

saw “three youths” shooting paint-ball pellets in the area before the

afternoon incident.

But the Orange County coroner’s report released April 8 -- a day after

Holdren died -- stated there was no evidence to show that paint balls hit

him. The report also showed that Holdren’s right eye became swollen

because his head struck the asphalt path, not because of a paint-ball

strike.

Some Eastbluff area residents, however, say they are not happy with

the way police officials are handling the case and are concerned the

“three youths” who have still not come forward or other young paint-ball

shooters may cause harm if left unpunished.

Michelle Williams Meyer says she has heard some parents say they can

identify the paint-ball shooters the police are looking for.

“If we residents can piece information together, I find it hard to

believe a powerful and efficient police department couldn’t,” she said.

A lot of people know little tidbits, but nobody knows the whole story,

said Bonita Young, Holdren’s girlfriend.

“I just want to know the truth,” the Newport Beach resident said. “I

just want to know who or what caused Gary’s death.”

But police say the investigation is far from being wrapped up, that it

is still wide open, and that rumors and hearsay cause more harm than

good.

“There has been a lot of speculation on what could have occurred,”

said Newport Beach Police Chief Bob McDonell. “Could paint-balling have

been related to [Holdren’s] fall? Sure. Do we know that for sure? No.”

He said police found wet paint on the ground where Holdren fell and on

a street sign nearby.

“There was paint on his clothing, material which has not yet been

analyzed in a laboratory,” he said. “But the material we found is not

consistent with a strike.”

It may have found its way to his clothing either when he fell or when

paramedics were treating him, McDonell said.

“We just don’t know yet how the paint got on his clothing,” he said.

There were witness reports that the paint-ball marks were on the

street before the incident.

Residents say they fear for their own safety and are concerned about

reports from elementary school students that older kids often hit them

with paint-ball pellets.

Meyer and other residents say there are several alcoves, or what kids

call “forts,” in the bluffs overlooking the Back Bay that provide perfect

hide-outs for paint-ball shooters who want to hurt people.

One such hide-out directly over Back Bay Drive looks almost like a

small cave surrounded by low hanging tree branches.

But police have received few reports about paint-ball shooting, Sgt.

Steve Shulman said.

“Unless people report these incidents to us, we can’t do anything

about it,” he said. “If someone calls us with specific information, our

detectives will definitely follow it up.”

Meyer said the way police handled the paint-ball case has shaken her

trust in the Police Department.

“I think they’re wonderful people and I’ve participated in their

Citizens’ Academy, which was a great experience,” she said. “But I’d hate

to see the Newport Beach Police Department’s good reputation tarnished

by, maybe, dropping the ball on something like this.”

* Deepa Bharath covers public safety and courts. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4226 or by e-mail at o7 deepa.bharath@latimes.comf7 .