BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Man stabbed in the back; attackers flee

A man was taken to Western Medical Center on Friday night around 7 p.m. after he was stabbed three times in the back, Costa Mesa police said.

The man was in the 2200 block of Miner Street walking from his home to his brother’s house when he passed three men engaged in conversation, Lt. Dale Birney said. There was an argument, Birney said, and when the first man turned to walk away, one of the men in the group stabbed the first man in the back three times.

At first the stabbed man told police he thought he had been punched or hit in the back but realized he had been stabbed and collapsed, Birney said. A friend came to his aid as the attackers and two other men fled on foot.

The first man’s injuries did not appear to be life threatening, Birney said.

The attacker was described as 17 or 18 years old, 5 feet tall, weighing 130 pounds and wearing a long-sleeve black shirt.

Birney said the stabbing’s circumstances are similar to street robberies that have been reported in the city recently.

Fountain Valley man chased away from party

A Fountain Valley man was arrested around 2 a.m. Saturday after he was chased by Costa Mesa partygoers when he allegedly sexually assaulted a woman at the party, according to police.

Henry Ramirez, 21, was arrested on suspicion of sexual battery early Saturday in the 2800 block of Pinecreek Drive, Lt. Dale Birney said.

A woman who had been drinking at the party lay down in a bedroom and awoke to find a man with his hands on her. She screamed, and the man ran out of the room and was chased by other people at the party, Birney said.

Ramirez was being held on $25,000 bail at Costa Mesa jail Saturday evening, Sgt. Mark Manley said.

Police arrest Anaheim residents in burglary

A man and woman from Anaheim were arrested early Saturday on suspicion of burglary and possession of narcotics.

Police went to the Ana Mesa Inn in the 3500 block of Harbor Boulevard because the change machines in the laundry room had reportedly been broken into, Lt. Dale Birney said.

Further investigation led police to Room 210 where Traci Reynolds, 33, and Michael Dyer, 39, were staying. At about 2:45 a.m., police arrested the pair on suspicion of burglary, and upon searching the room, they found heroin, methamphetamines and marijuana.

Reynolds and Dyer were in custody Saturday evening on $20,000 bail, although Dyer had a no-bail parole hold in his file, Sgt. Mark Manley said.

Woman, pants down, found in parking lot

Costa Mesa police found a woman lying in the middle of a parking lot with her pants pulled partly down her legs around 2:50 a.m. Saturday.

Police went to the 1800 block of Harbor Boulevard, near Triangle Square, and began investigating whether a sexual crime had occurred, Lt. Dale Birney said. The woman told police that she had been drinking at the Sutra Lounge and that she didn’t think any crime was committed against her, Birney said.

Irvine man arrested in peeping Tom case

An Irvine man was arrested on suspicion of stalking, loitering and trespassing after he was found peeking into the window of an ex-girlfriend in the 2800 block of Pinecreek Drive, according to police.

The woman called police and told them that her ex-boyfriend, Joel Rutz, 35, was looking in her window.

Upon their arrival, police saw a man peeking into the woman’s window, and he was arrested.

Rutz was being held at Costa Mesa jail on $20,000 bail Saturday evening.