Holiday celebrations mostly quiet

Despite a strong showing of St. Patrick’s Day revelers at Newport-Mesa bars Friday, local police reported a much calmer ? and safer ? night than expected on one of the year’s biggest drinking holidays.

“It was quieter than normal; the weather had a lot to do with that,” said Costa Mesa Lt. Dale Birney.

Friday’s wet and cold weather likely kept the huge crowds of partyers from hitting the streets, agreed Newport Beach Sgt. Bill Hartford.

Costa Mesa police reported seven drunk driving arrests and one drunk in public arrest.

In Newport Beach, there were 14 people arrested on suspicion of public drunkenness and one person arrested on suspicion of drunk driving.

Neither Costa Mesa nor Newport Beach police had extra officers patrolling to watch for drunk drivers, officials said.

In Costa Mesa, alcohol was allegedly a factor in a hit and run traffic accident and a sexual battery report.

At Costa Mesa’s Sutra Lounge, police arrested a man on suspicion of sexually battering an unconscious woman, Birney said.

The woman was with a group of friends at 12:30 a.m. Saturday at the night club at Triangle Square. She reportedly passed out on a couch after having too much to drink. A man was seen fondling her breasts while she was unconscious, Birney said.

Loni Chodhury, 30, of Canyon Country, Calif., was arrested on suspicion of sexual battery, Birney said.

An allegedly drunk driver hit a car that was backing out of a driveway in the 2000 block of Wallace Avenue at 1 a.m. Saturday, Birney said.

The victim followed the driver who hit him and called police. Costa Mesa resident Javier Mellado-Ramos, 35, was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving when he pulled into an apartment complex in the 500 block of Hamilton Avenue, Birney said.

To help keep the drinkers off the streets in Newport Beach, one Newport-based company swooped in with a safe alternative. The Hopper, a $2 shuttle bus open to the public on St. Patrick’s Day, planned to transport partyers back and forth between Newport bars until the wee morning hours Saturday.

“We’re trying to keep it safe for people so they’re not getting DUIs,” said Mike Levesque, with the Hopper.

The Hopper’s no ordinary bus; the limousine-style ride comes equipped with flat screen televisions and a mini-dance floor in the center aisle, Levesque said.

“A lot more fun than a taxi cab is, and it’s a lot cheaper,” Levesque said.