Fight leads to arrest of West Newport man

James Meier

WEST NEWPORT -- The Fourth of July festivities began early Thursday on

Lugonia Avenue as fireworks allegedly sparked a 27-year-old man to draw a

handgun and assault a neighbor, police officials said.

Michael Woodward was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly

weapon after the alleged confrontation with Florian Saylor, 22, said

Newport Beach Police Sgt. Steve Shulman.

Shortly after the fight was reported at 1:46 a.m. Thursday, police

arrived in the 200 block of Lugonia only to learn that Woodward had

already fled the scene, Shulman said. Officers found him a few blocks

away in the 6700 block of Coast Highway not long after and arrested him

without incident, he said. The loaded .40-caliber, semiautomatic, Glock

handgun was found separate from Woodward, who was held at Newport Beach

city jail on $50,000 bail, Shulman said.

Apparently the confrontation began after fireworks were launched into

Woodward’s patio from somewhere across the street near Saylor’s

residence, he said. Woodward then ran over to Saylor’s house and the

confrontation began, he said. Details were sketchy but Saylor suffered a

fractured jaw during the fight while someone tried to hit Woodward with a

bottle, Shulman said.

During the fight, Woodward allegedly pulled out the concealed handgun,

which he and Saylor then fought over, causing it to discharge, Shulman

said. No one was shot, though the bullet was not found, he said.

After the incident, Saylor was taken to Western Medical Center in

Santa Ana, where he was treated for the fractured jaw and was listed in

stable condition.

Police are still trying to determine who ignited the fireworks that

set off the chain of events and will then consider whether charges will

ensue.