Officer charged in off-duty assault

An Irvine police detective is facing assault and battery charges over a tussle with a security guard during a concert at the Orange County Fair, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department said Friday.

Sean Crawford was arrested on suspicion of attacking private security guard Peggie Sue Walden while off-duty at a July 20 concert at Pacific Amphitheatre, authorities said.

Crawford pleaded not guilty last week, court records show.

He was one of several audience members who tried to rush the stage after the group the Dropkick Murphys finished playing about 10:30 p.m. Crawford jumped over the railing and when Walden tried to stop him, he struck her on the neck, under the chin and in the chest, knocking her down, according to the Sheriff’s Department

Irvine Police Chief David Maggard said in a written statement that the department had launched an administrative investigation into the allegations and placed Crawford on administrative leave.