BRIEFLY IN THE NEWS Composite of assault...

BRIEFLY IN

THE NEWS

Composite of assault suspect released

Newport Beach Police have released a composite sketch of a man

they say assaulted a female janitor who was working in an office

building on Dove Street the night of Feb. 4.

Police say the man approached the victim from behind with a gun

and then sexually assaulted her.

The victim was not hospitalized, and no shots were fired during

the assault, officials said.

The man has reportedly been seen in the area before, but no

similar incidents have been reported, police said.

The attacker is described as a male about 32 years old, 5 feet 10

inches tall, weighing about 165 pounds, clean-shaven and with a fair

complexion and curly brown hair.

Police are also warning people working after hours to make sure

their buildings are secure and to be cautious while walking to their

cars. Those with information are asked to call Sgt. Bill Hartford at

(949) 644-3790.

Hearing delayed for threat suspect

A pretrial hearing was continued from Thursday to March 7 for a

former Newport Harbor High student arrested Feb. 2 on suspicion of

threatening to kill Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona and another

woman.

Daniel Townsend, 23, was 18 years old when a Chevy Blazer he and

nine other teens were in overturned on Irvine Avenue. Townsend and

17-year-old Amanda Arthur suffered brain injuries and were in

critical condition after the accident, which killed their friend

Donny Bridgman, 18.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested Townsend in his Costa Mesa home for

allegedly telling two of his friends that he was going to kill Carona

and for threatening to kill a friend’s mother.

Townsend’s family maintains that he has a mental illness and needs

care and treatment. He is being held without bail in Orange County

jail.

Man killed in freeway accident

A 22-year-old San Diego man died after he lost control of his

sports utility vehicle on the San Diego Freeway early Thursday

morning.

Osvaldo Carranza was driving southbound on the San Diego Freeway

at about 4:30 a.m. Thursday when his Ford Explorer swerved off the

road onto an embankment and hit a pillar on the Costa Mesa Freeway

overpass, California Highway Patrol Officer David Ferrer said. The

victim’s name was not released because family members had not been

informed, officials said.

No other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Man injured in Newport traffic crash

A man suffered minor injuries after he was in a traffic accident

at the corner of Coast Highway and Superior Avenue on Thursday,

officials said.

The incident happened at about 3:50 p.m. when one vehicle ran a

red light and broadsided the other, police said.

The man was initially transported to the hospital, but it was

later determined he had only minor injuries, officials said. No one

else was hurt in the incident.