Costa Mesa police arrest man after fight, chase

Costa Mesa police arrested a New York resident early Saturday morning after he allegedly fled following a fight at his cousin’s home on the Westside.

Police responded to a call around 3:30 a.m. from an apartment in the 1900 block of Pomona Avenue, according to Lt. Dale Birney. Two men got into a fistfight inside; one combatant, an apartment resident, sustained numerous injuries to his face and head. The victim’s cousin, Catalin Michael Popescu, 23, of New York City, was attempting to leave the scene in his car when police arrived.

Birney said Popescu ignored orders to remain on the property and instead took off in his car, nearly running down officers in the driveway. Police pursued him to a business complex at 18th Street and Monrovia Avenue, then stunned him with a Taser when he attempted to run away.

Popescu was arrested on suspicion of battery with great bodily injury, assault with a deadly weapon, obstructing a police officer and failure to yield. He was held at Costa Mesa Jail on $50,000 bail.

The victim was admitted to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, said Birney, who added that police did not know what the fight was about.

— Michael Miller