BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Officer accused of sex assault on trial

A former Irvine police officer went on trial this week on suspicion of sexually assaulting a woman while in uniform and on duty, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

David Alex Park, 31, is accused of sexual penetration by foreign object by threatening to use the authority of a public official, sexual battery and sexual battery by restraint. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Opening statements began Tuesday in Department C-38, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

On Dec. 14, 2004, the victim left her job at an adult dance club to head home. Park is accused of following her while on duty in his marked police car and using his emergency lights to pull her over on a secluded stretch of road on Highway 133 in Laguna Beach.

Park is accused of requesting sex acts from the victim in exchange for allowing her to leave without a citation.

Deputy Distt. Atty. Shaddi Kamiabipour of the sexual assault unit is prosecuting this case.

Citations issued in drinking sting

Detectives from the Laguna Beach Police Department conducted an undercover Alcohol Decoy Buy Programoperation Jan. 20. The operation included the use of an 18-year-old person as a decoy.

The operation was conducted at 15 businesses within the city. Fourteen of the establishments did not sell alcohol to the decoy.

An employee at Thai Brothers Restaurant, 238 Laguna Ave., was cited for sales of alcohol to a minor.

In addition, citations were issued to a 33-year-old Lake Forest resident for interfering with a police operation; and an 18-year-old Laguna Beach resident for being a minor in possession of alcohol.

Also cited was a 16-year-old minor for possession of alcohol in a vehicle. In addition, two 16-year-old minors were detained on suspicion of being under the influence of alcohol and released to their parents.