Two attempted murder charges filed Attempted murder...

Two attempted murder charges filed

Attempted murder charges were filed in two separate attacks

outside of Laguna Beach restaurants.

The first of the attacks was reported on June 17, outside of

Javier’s Cantina and Grill on South Coast Highway. Police said

Matthew Kenneth Kimball, 29, of Foothill Ranch got into an argument

with Valli Craig, 34, of Irvine. When Craig was distracted by an

onlooker to the dispute, Kimball allegedly punched Craig in the face,

knocking him to the ground. After the victim was down, Kimball

reportedly continued to attack Craig.

“When [Craig] goes down on the ground, he’s repeatedly kicked by

the suspect in the head and chest area,” Sgt. Darin Lenyi said.

Lenyi said Kimball continued to kick Craig even as a witness tried

to drag Craig to safety inside the restaurant. Kimball then got into

a BMW driven by Raymond Fraire, 52, of Aliso Viejo. Craig was

arrested at about 10:12 p.m. by officers who were already sent to

Javier’s to respond to the argument.

Kimball was booked on attempted murder and held on $1 million

bail. Fraire was arrested on suspicion of driving under the

influence.

Police did not reveal the nature of Craig’s injuries and said he

was taken by ambulance to Mission Hospital. The hospital did not have

information available on his condition.

The second attack, which was reported on Saturday, happened

outside the Royal Hawaiian restaurant on North Coast Highway. Police

said Benjamin Tomkinson, 18, of Laguna Beach suffered multiple brain

contusions and a broken jaw after he was attacked by two men. As of

Wednesday, he was listed in serious condition.

Tomkinson was assaulted after he came out of the Royal Hawaiian

with a group of women, police said. People in another group standing

by a limousine made rude comments to the women and people in both

groups began arguing with each other.

During the argument, Martin Jackson, 23, of Lake Forest, walked

behind Tomkinson and punched him in the back of the head, knocking

him down, Lenyi said. One of Jackson’s companions, Shawheen

Shafizadeh, 20, of Laguna Niguel, kicked Tomkinson in the head after

Jackson’s attack.

Jackson ran away, but Shafizadeh was arrested at about 11:56 p.m.

and booked on suspicion of attempted murder. An arrest warrant has

been issued for Jackson.

Jackson is described as 5-foot-10, weighing 150 pounds and having

brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone with information on Jackson’s

whereabouts is asked to call the Laguna Beach Police Department at

(949) 497-0701.

Man assaulted after night out

A man reported he was assaulted by a friend who pointed a handgun

at him. Police did not reveal the name of the victim for his

protection. The man who allegedly attacked the victim has not been

arrested and the case is still under investigation.

On Thursday, the man and three of his friends went out for dinner

and drinks at the Cabana Restaurant in South Laguna, after leaving

the restaurant, the four went to the victim’s home in the 31000 block

of South Coast Highway. While at the victim’s home, the attacker

allegedly started a fight after no apparent provocation, police said.

“[The] suspect walks up to the victim for no reason, and he knows

him and they’re friends, and assaults him,” Sgt. Darin Lenyi said.

The other two men broke up the fight, and the attacker left, Lenyi

said. Five minutes later, the attacker knocked on the door, and when

the victim answered, the attacker aimed a handgun at the victim’s

chest. The victim told the attacker to leave and shut the door.

The victim suffered abrasions, a bloody nose, a loose tooth and

extreme headaches that made it difficult to sleep. While receiving

treatment on Sunday, a nurse contacted police who were at the

hospital for an unrelated matter, Lenyi said.

Car strikes two, no serious injuries

Two men escaped with minor injuries after they were struck by a

car in Laguna Beach on Friday.

The accident was reported at 11:03 a.m. Friday at the intersection

of South Coast Highway and Cress Street. Police said Paige Vickery,

58, of Laguna Niguel, took her eyes off the road and drove her

Volkswagen Beetle over the curb, hitting a light pole and the two

men.

“She looked down instead of making that little curve on the

highway and she went up the sidewalk,” Sgt. Greg Bartz said.

Christopher Silver, 18, of Palm Desert and Ryan Abila, 26, of

Vallejo, were both knocked down but not seriously hurt. Police said

Silver received abrasions on his elbows and left shin and, and Abila

felt pain in his right shoulder. Both were treated and released at

South Coast Medical Plaza.

Vickery received a citation for failing to maintain her vehicle in

the lane, Bartz said.