BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS Son of...

BRIEFLY IN

THE NEWS

Son of British leader arrested in Costa Mesa, held in jail

The 25-year-old son of a British Cabinet minister was arrested in

late June on suspicion of vandalizing, stalking and brandishing a

weapon, Costa Mesa police said Thursday.

Costa Mesa police detectives arrested Alastair Irvine, 25, in late

June at his Newport Beach home in connection with two incidents --

one relating to a June 7 vandalism and another regarding a June 18

stalking, said Costa Mesa Police Lt. Dale Birney.

Irvine’s father is the Right Honorable the Lord Irvine of Lairg

and holds the position of the Lord Chancellor, which means he is a

member of the legislature -- where he is speaker of the House of

Lords.

Alastair Irvine is being held in connection with two Costa Mesa

incidents. On June 7, he allegedly vandalized a vehicle. On June 18,

he allegedly stalked a victim and displayed a weapon, Birney said.

Birney said he has been besieged with media requests from the

British press regarding Irvine’s arrest.

Irvine will be arraigned in Newport Beach on Tuesday. He is being

held on $100,000 bail at Orange County Jail.

-- Deirdre Newman

Two water warnings posted in Newport Harbor on Thursday

Orange County water-quality regulators posted health warning signs

in two sections of Newport Harbor on Thursday after bacteria levels

spiked.

The Orange County Health Care Agency installed the red-flag

warning signs at the northeastern edge of the swimming lagoon at

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and nearby Bayshore Beach, near Bay

Shore Drive.

The signs warn swimmers to stay out of the water at those

locations until bacteria levels return to an acceptable level. Agency

officials announced the postings at 4 p.m. Thursday.

The advisories went into effect after routine water-quality

monitoring revealed the bacteria outbreaks. The postings are expected

to stay in effect for about 72 hours, Health Care Agency spokesman

Larry Honeybourne said.

-- Paul Clinton