Three arrested after Costa Mesa stabbing

Police said they arrested two possible gang members in Costa Mesa on Tuesday and a third man who tried to intimidate a stabbing victim while he and a relative were talking to an officer, police said.

The attack started around 8 p.m. when a 17-year-old and 23-year-old confronted a man at Shalimar Drive and Pomona Avenue, police said.

The man’s relative tried to intervene and was stabbed with a small knife, police said.

The two attackers fled but returned a short time later and started threatening the two men, according to authorities.

“The suspects claimed to be gang members and allegedly threatened both victims that they would be killed,” according to a statement from the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Police responded and found the alleged gang members nearby at Pomona Avenue and Plumer Street. After a short foot chase, officers apprehended them, police said.

Later, when the victims were talking with an officer, the third man approached, according to authorities.

He told the victims in Spanish that “they would see what happens” if they talk to police, according the department’s statement.

The officer understood and arrested the man for witness intimidation, police said.

They identified him as Raul Munoz of Costa Mesa. He is being held on $20,000 bail, authorities said.

Police identified the 23-year-old as Carlos Alfredo Ortega of Costa Mesa. He was booked on assault with a deadly weapon with a gang-crime enhancement and held on $25,000 bail.

The identity of the 17-year-old has not been released, but police said that he too is from Costa Mesa and was booked on the same charges. He is being held without bail in Orange County Juvenile Hall, according to authorities.

Police said the two victims have no gang affiliation and did not know their attackers.

The man who was stabbed suffered a superficial cut, according to police.