Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Costa Mesa nightclub fight turns brutal
Man booted from Costa Mesa bar attacks guard with knife and chain, police say; he faces deportation.
By KIMBERLY EDDS
The Orange County Register

COSTA MESA – A man was arrested outside a 19th Street bar after, police say, he tried to kill a security guard with a butcher knife and a metal chain Friday night.

Pedro Mendoza, 23, of Costa Mesa was kicked out of Garibaldi de Noche in the 800 block of West 19th Street, but came back about 11:30 p.m. armed with the knife and chain, Costa Mesa police Sgt. Matt Grimmond said.

Mendoza tried to stab the guard, but the guard fought back and sprayed Mendoza in the face with pepper spray, Grimmond said. Security guards at the bar do not carry weapons.

Mendoza is being held on suspicion of attempted murder. A federal agent stationed at Costa Mesa's jail said Mendoza may be in the United States illegally. Mendoza will be sent to see an immigration judge after his criminal case works its way through the system, Grimmond said.

Contact the writer: 714-796-7829 or kedds@ocregister.com

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