BRIEFLY IN PUBLIC SAFETY

Off-duty officer thwarts burglary attempt

An off-duty Los Angeles Police Department officer was able to fend off a would-be burglar early Friday after the officer saw a man trying to break into his car in Costa Mesa, according to police.

James Bogert, 21, of Santa Ana was arrested around 2:30 a.m. Friday in the 2300 block of Orange Avenue on suspicion of vehicle burglary. A Costa Mesa resident, who works for the LAPD, detained Bogert until local police could arrive, Lt. Dale Birney said.

The homeowner reportedly heard dogs barking in the early hours of the morning and saw a man standing in front of his house. Upon checking outside again, the resident saw a man attempting to break into his BMW, Birney said.

The off-duty police officer confronted the man, sprayed pepper spray at him and handcuffed him, Birney said.

Fight breaks out at Costa Mesa Denny’s

One man was cited and another man was arrested after the two fought each other at Denny’s on 17th Street in Costa Mesa early Friday, Lt. Dale Birney said.

Around 2:15 a.m. Friday, Tustin resident Akil D. Carter, 26, reportedly confronted Sunset Beach resident David Maxwell, 24, and two women Maxwell was sitting with at the restaurant.

According to police, after Carter told the women he wanted to have sex with them, Maxwell confronted him and a fight broke out.

When police arrived, each man put the other under citizen’s arrest and police obliged, Birney said.

Maxwell was cited and released at the scene, but Carter refused to sign the citation that promised he would appear in court and was taken to Newport Beach Jail, Birney said.