BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS Irvine man...

BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS

Irvine man convicted of assaulting Newport officer

A 34-year-old Irvine man who fled the United States and eluded

police for two years after being arrested on suspicion of drunk

driving and assaulting a Newport Beach Police officer was found

guilty in Orange County Superior Court on Wednesday of assault with a

deadly weapon on a police officer.

Jeffrey Minor fled to Italy in February 1999 after failing to

appear at Harbor Justice Center. He was extradited from Italy and

escorted back to the United States by federal marshals in November

2001.

Minor was arrested Dec. 21, 1998, after he dragged a police

officer 77 feet with his car through a crowded parking lot in Fashion

Island. Newport Beach Police Officer Kristen O’Donnell stopped Minor

on suspicion of drunk driving, but he tried to escape in his red 1987

Porsche. O’Donnell, who clung to his vehicle while he drove away,

escaped with cuts and bruises.

Authorities arrested Minor in Italy in March 1999, but he fought

extradition. Officials said he entered Italy using his brother’s

passport. Minor had also been charged with felony drunk driving in

Irvine and was on probation for a 1993 conviction of drunk driving

and manslaughter in Riverside.

Minor, who faces 10 years in prison, is scheduled to be sentenced

Dec. 6.