Nine arrested at checkpoint

Costa Mesa police conducted a sobriety checkpoint Saturday, arresting

nine drivers, including one that led them on a short pursuit.

The driver who started the pursuit made an illegal U-turn before

the checkpoint on 17th Street and Westminster Avenue, Lt. Ron Smith

said. A motorcycle officer attempted to pull him over, but the driver

continued for about a minute before stopping in a parking lot in the

100 block of East 17th Street, Smith said.

The driver, 29-year-old Sean Thomas Johnson of La Mirada, was

arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol,

evading a police officer, an outstanding DUI warrant, marijuana

possession and reckless driving that caused an injury. The motorcycle

officer was slightly injured during the pursuit, Smith said.

Thomas is being held in the Orange County Jail in lieu of $100,000

bail.

Costa Mesa officers arrested a total of nine people on suspicion

of driving under the influence of alcohol. They also wrote tickets to

seven people with open alcohol containers in their cars and towed

three cars driven by people with no license or suspended licenses.

The next Costa Mesa checkpoint is scheduled for Oct. 1 at Newport

Boulevard and Flower Street.