Gang suspect arrested after battery, assault

A Costa Mesa man is scheduled to be in court today after he was arrested on suspicion of punching one man in the face, pulling out a replica gun and then running away, police said.

Jose Luis Quijano, 18, was arrested on suspicion of battery and assault with a firearm linked to gang activity early Sunday. At about 1:45 a.m., Quijano walked up to two men in a parking lot at Placentia Avenue and 19th Street and started talking to them, Lt. Paul Dondero said.

“It was something to the effect that he told them he was in a gang, and they became fearful,” Dondero said. Quijano punched one of the men in the face, then pulled out a handgun — which turned out to be a replica — on the other man, authorities said. Quijano then ran away and tossed the gun during his escape, police said. The two men flagged down a nearby officer who eventually found Quijano, Dondero said. Other officers later found the gun, Dondero said.

Quijano is in custody at Orange County Jail.

— Joseph Serna