D.A. issues arrest warrant for Soffer

-- Andrew Glazer

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office on Monday issued an

arrest warrant for Sid Soffer, owner of Sid’s Steakhouse, for alleged

health code violations at his popular Newport Beach restaurant.

County health officials in April cited Soffer for 27 violations after

finding rotting food, rodent droppings, dead cockroaches and egg sacs at

the restaurant.

But Soffer refused to close the restaurant’s doors until the end of

May, and then only for reasons he said had nothing to do with the

violations. He said he was fed up with a staff he described as

unmanageable.

Soffer, who is no stranger to arrest warrants, could not be reached

for comment Thursday.

Five years ago, he became a fugitive when he failed to appear in

Orange County Superior Court -- the same that issued the latest warrant

for his arrest -- to face charges of violating building codes at several

of his properties.

Judge Susanne Shaw issued a no-bail warrant for the misdemeanor

offense and Soffer fled to Las Vegas. He has remained there ever since,

but periodically promised a return visit to Newport Beach.

The D.A.’s office sent warrant notices to Soffer’s Costa Mesa and Las

Vegas addresses, Deputy Dist. Atty. Byron Nelson said.