Police: Couple’s loud post-party argument leads to arrest when man pulls gun on neighbors
A Costa Mesa man was arrested on suspicion of drunkenly pointing a loaded handgun at his neighbors early Monday, police said.
The man and his girlfriend were returning to his apartment from a Christmas party about 12:35 a.m. when they began arguing, Costa Mesa police Sgt. Dan Miles said.
Multiple neighbors heard the couple loudly arguing outside one of the buildings at a large apartment complex at 2775 Mesa Verde Drive East, according to police.
The argument got so loud that some neighbors yelled at the couple to quiet down, and two neighbors went outside to check on what was happening, according to police.
Those two neighbors began following the man and his girlfriend, worried that their argument would escalate, Miles said.
That’s when the man grabbed a black handgun from the rear of his waistband, pulled back the slide to eject a round and pointed the weapon at the two neighbors, who were about 10 to 15 feet away, according to police.
The neighbors fled and called police, who took the man into custody, Miles said.
Jason Richard Lothspeich, 28, was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, police said.
Both Lothspeich and his girlfriend were intoxicated, Miles said.
Authorities could not immediately provide information on Lothspeich’s bail.