A quiet Fourth of July in Newport-Mesa

Paul Clinton

NEWPORT-MESA -- Fourth of July revelers flocked to Balboa Peninsula

Wednesday, enjoying the holiday without causing too much trouble.

Crowds of bikini-clad woman and bare-chested men filled the dozen or

so blocks crossing Seashore Drive from about 32nd Street to 49th Street.

“So far, everybody is complying,” Det. Shentel Sherwood said as she

walked the 46th Street monitoring the situation. “Everybody is playing by

the rules.”

The quiet mood was punctuated by the atmosphere surrounding the

beachfront house of the neighborhood’s most famous resident. All locked

up and dark, Dennis Rodman’s house was silent. The neon “OPEN” sign on

his balcony was turned off.

There were some arrests made in Newport Beach. As of 9 p.m., police

had detained 39 adults, four for felony crimes. Seven juveniles were

arrested, four of which were also on felony counts.

“Most of them are alcohol related,” Newport Beach Sgt. Dale Johnson

said.

Costa Mesa saw less activity on the holiday. Police reported no

alcohol-related arrests.

“People leave Costa Mesa [on the holiday],” Costa Mesa Lt. Tom Winter

said. “It’s been pretty mellow here.”

No major incidents were caused by fireworks, Winter said. Only “safe

and sane fireworks” are permitted in the city, Winter said. Officers are

trained to confiscate M-80s and other more dangerous explosives.

“People are more educated and more careful now then in previous years

with fireworks,” Winter said.

The fact that the Fourth of July fell in the middle of the week, on a

Wednesday, had a lot of do with the relative peace and quiet on the

holiday.

In past years, West Newport has been a thorn in the side of the

police. Dubbed the “War Zone,” the area has had much worse eruptions of

over-the-line partying in the past.

“Last year was crazy,” said 23-year-old Victoria Smith, who peddled

her bike down 47th Street Wednesday afternoon. “So far, [this year] is

tame.”