UPDATED

Costa Mesa man arrested for 2004 carjacking attempt

A Costa Mesa man is in jail today in connection with a 2004 attempted carjacking in the parking lot of the Newport Beach Tennis Club.

A replica handgun and the suspect’s hat led police to Joshua Muniz, 20, who was arrested Wednesday at his home in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach police Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

On Jan. 28, 2004, Muniz allegedly pointed the replica gun at a man in the parking lot of the tennis club as the victim walked to the trunk to get his tennis racket. After demanding the victim hand over his keys, Muniz reportedly got into a fight with the victim and subsequently fled the scene, according to police.

DNA from the replica handgun and hat were entered into a computer database, which recently identified Muniz. He was arrested by two Newport Beach Police detectives on suspicion of attempted carjacking.

Muniz is being held on $100,000 bail at Newport Beach Jail and will be transferred to Orange County Jail Friday, Sailor said.

Rain cuts short DUI, driver’s license checks

Costa Mesa police conducted a driver’s license and sobriety checkpoint Wednesday, but rain cut it short after a half an hour.

From noon until 12:30, 231 cars passed through the checkpoint on Victoria Street west of Harbor Boulevard, according to a police news release.

Four people were cited for vehicle code violations, and three were cited and had their cars towed for driving without a valid license.

At the checkpoint, Lt. Dave Andersen said the screenings were part of an initiative to bring down hit-and-run accidents, which showed a 40% increase in 2006 over the year before.

“The statistics show the majority of hit-and-run accidents are committed by unlicensed drivers,” he said.

He said the department intended to hold a few such checkpoints each year. The next checkpoint will be on March 16 at northbound Newport Boulevard at Flower Street, and Costa Mesa police will team up with the Highway Patrol and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, according to a news release.

Newport police warn of Canadian-lottery scam

Police issued a warning Wednesday that scam artists are working the phones in Newport Beach.

In the past few days at least three Newport Beach residents received calls from people telling them they had won the Canadian lottery, Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

Potential victims were told that for a “processing fee” of $2,400, they could receive the $2.4-million jackpot. Of course, there is no jackpot, Sailor said.

Callers also falsely identified themselves as Newport Beach police, he said. The Newport Beach police are associated with no lottery, he added.

Police are concerned because several years ago some people were fooled by a similar scam, Sailor said. No one who notified police has paid money, and he said he hopes the warning will prevent them from doing so.

Costa Mesa man arrested for 2004 carjacking attempt

A Costa Mesa man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a 2004 attempted carjacking in the parking lot of the Newport Beach Tennis Club.

A replica handgun and the suspect’s hat led police to Joshua Muniz, 20, who was arrested at his home in Costa Mesa, Newport Beach police Sgt. Evan Sailor said.

On Jan. 28, 2004, Muniz allegedly pointed the replica gun at a man in the parking lot of the tennis club as the victim walked to the trunk to get his tennis racket. After demanding the victim hand over his keys, Muniz reportedly got into a fight with the victim and subsequently fled the scene, according to police.

DNA from the replica handgun and hat were entered into a computer database, which recently identified Muniz. He was arrested by two Newport Beach Police detectives on suspicion of attempted carjacking.

Muniz is being held on $100,000 bail at Newport Beach Jail and will be transferred to Orange County Jail Friday, Sailor said.

Freeway ramp closed till 2:30 p.m. today

CalTrans will be sealing cracks on the freeway today, which means the southbound 73-freeway connector to the southbound 55-freeway will be closed until 2:30 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.

The closure is also affecting the number three lane on the southbound 73-freeway from Bear Street.