Dog in hot car leads to confrontation

Newport Beach police are investigating a confrontation involving two women and a man over a dog left inside a hot car Wednesday afternoon.

An Aliso Viejo woman called police around 4:30 p.m. to report that the dog was in a car parked at a shopping center in the 21100 block of Newport Coast Drive, Newport Beach police spokeswoman Jennifer Manzella said.

The windows were open a crack, but the dog was panting badly, according to another call to police around the same time, Manzella said. The outdoor temperature was about 80 degrees at the time, according to the National Weather Service.

When a Newport Beach woman returned to the car, the Aliso Viejo woman stood behind the vehicle, keeping it from leaving the parking space, Manzella said.

Soon after, a man pulled into the parking lot and tried to make the Aliso Viejo woman move out of the way, allegedly pushing her multiple times, police said.

Police said the man is a Newport Beach resident who has a close relationship with the woman in the car.

The motorist was able to drive off with the dog before officers arrived, and police have been unable to contact her, Manzella said.

Officers interviewed the man and the Aliso Viejo woman, Manzella said. Neither had visible injuries, but detectives will follow up on whether she was shoved, police said.