Fight starts before festivity

Newport Beach police arrested two Valencia brothers New Year’s Eve after they allegedly beat up a Santa Ana man near Newport Pier, Sgt. Steve Burdette said Friday.

Darren Deldo, 25, and Daniel Deldo, 27, were waiting in line to enter the District Lounge, 121 McFadden St., shortly before midnight when some of their female friends began arguing with other women about cutting in line, Burdette said.

The two groups moved to the base of Newport Pier to continue the argument. The brothers got into a scuffle with a 25-year-old Santa Ana man who was part of the other group, Burdette said.

The Santa Ana man was knocked to the ground during the fight, and Darren and Daniel Deldo began kicking him while he was down, he said.

Newport Beach police responded to the scene and arrested the brothers on suspicion of battery with serious bodily injury.

Both brothers spent the night at the Newport Beach city jail before being taken to the Orange County men’s jail, according to arrest records. Both posted bond.

The Santa Ana man was “pretty beat up and bloody,” but refused medical treatment, Burdette said.

In Costa Mesa, two unknown men beat a 40-year-old on the head with a heavy object and chased him into a nearby apartment complex off Newport Boulevard in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

The victim had been drinking at Tony’s Place bar, 2052 Newport Blvd., when two men confronted him shortly before 2 a.m. and began beating him on the head with an unknown weapon, Costa Mesa Sgt. Bob Phillips said.

The two suspects then chased the victim into a nearby apartment complex, Phillips said.

The victim, who was intoxicated, was treated for cuts on his head at Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian, Phillips said.

Law enforcement officials in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa reported no other significant incidents Thursday night and Friday morning as revelers rang in the new year.

Costa Mesa police arrested five people for public drunkenness New Year’s Eve, according to arrest records.

Information on Costa Mesa arrests for driving under the influence was not immediately available Friday.

Newport Beach police arrested two or three people Thursday night for driving under the influence, Burdette estimated.

Three people in Newport Beach were arrested for public drunkenness, according to police records.