Local News in Brief : Laguna Beach : Bottle-Throwing Crowd Broken Up by Police
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Two helicopters and police from four agencies were called in to disperse an angry crowd of 250 to 300 people who were drinking around a large bonfire Saturday night, police said Sunday.
Six Laguna Beach police officers went to Aliso Beach about 10:20 p.m. to check on reports of a loud party, and were greeted by a hostile, bottle-throwing crowd, Laguna Beach Police Sgt. Ray Lardie said.
The officers requested assistance and authorities from Newport Beach, Costa Mesa and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded. Costa Mesa and Newport Beach police helicopters also flew to the scene of the near-riot. The crowd dispersed after about 30 minutes, Lardie said.
Martin Paul Avila, 20, of Laguna Niguel, was arrested on charges of assaulting a police officer, resisting arrest and providing false information to police. He was released on his own recognizance. The officer was not injured.
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