Man tries to fire gun in supermarket

A man who attempted to pass an apparently fraudulent check in a

grocery store also unsuccessfully tried to fire a gun at a manager

Thursday.

The man came into the Ralphs supermarket at 380 W. 17th St. at

4:20 p.m. Thursday, Costa Mesa police Lt. Dave Anderson said. He

tried to pay for some items with a check, but the clerk was not able

to scan it into the register.

The man produced a photo identification, but it also would not

scan. He offered to pay cash, but a manager offered to try processing

the check, Anderson said.

The man then ran for the front doors and the manager gave chase.

The man turned and fired a gun, which made a clicking noise but did

not discharge, Anderson said.

“We don’t know if it was a real gun or not, but we’re certainly

treating it like one,” he said.

The man fled the scene, and police were unable to find him. He is

described as white; 6 feet, 3 inches tall; 225 pounds; mid-30s; brown

eyes and brown hair in a crew cut.

Anyone with information is asked to call Costa Mesa police at

(714) 754-5280.

Cops serve chow for a good cause

Members of the Costa Mesa Police Department will wait tables for a

good cause at Claim Jumper restaurant on Thursday night.

Officers will donate their gratuities to Special Olympics Orange

County for the countywide Tip-a-Cop fundraiser. Proceeds will go to

pay for sports training and competitions for those with disabilities.

The fundraiser will take place from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the

Claim Jumper at South Coast Plaza. Other Claim Jumper locations also

plan to host Tip-a-Cop events with local law enforcement personnel.