Costa Mesa : Man Burned by Liquid From Neighbor’s Attack

A Costa Mesa man suffered second-degree burns on his hands, legs and chest Wednesday when a neighbor allegedly threw a caustic liquid at him after an argument, police said.

Booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon was James Rossel Tanferno, 32, Police Lt. Leslie Harrison said.

Tanferno’s neighbor, Steven Beatty, 29, was listed in fair condition Wednesday at UCI Medical Center with second-degree burns over 50% of his chest, hands and legs, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Harrison said Beatty and his roommate Margaret Karch, 27, had argued with Tanferno Tuesday night at their apartment complex in the 2500 block of Orange Avenue. Karch was assaulted by Tanferno about 5 a.m. Wednesday as she went to her parked car, Harrison said.

“He used some kind of stick or something on the woman,” Harrison said. “He hit her with something.”

When Beatty responded to the disturbance, Tanferno threw an unknown type of caustic liquid at him, Harrison said.

Beatty and Karch were transported to UCI Medical Center, but Karch was treated and released from the hospital’s emergency room for injuries she suffered in the attack, police and hospital spokesmen said.

Tanferno was arrested in a neighboring apartment complex, Harrison said. He was being held on $25,000 bail.