Costa Mesa resident arrested for allegedly punching, then striking man in face with plywood

A Costa Mesa man was arrested early Monday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly attacked another man in an early morning incident, police reported.

Costa Mesa Police Department spokeswoman Roxi Fyad said the incident took place shortly before 12:30 a.m. Monday near the intersection of Baker Street and Mendoza Drive.

Daniel Gallegos Bernal, 31, allegedly walked up to the victim, unprovoked, and punched him repeatedly in the face before picking up a large piece of plywood that was sitting nearby and striking the victim across the face, causing him to bleed.

Officers responding to a report of battery arrived on scene as Bernal was chasing his victim. When the suspect saw the police officers, he attempted to flee but was soon apprehended by officers without incident and booked on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, according to Fyad.

It is unclear from police incident report whether the two individuals knew each other before Monday’s incident or what may have transpired before the attack.

An online prison inmate locator maintained by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office indicated Bernal, whose occupation was listed as landscaper, was being held in custody on $25,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.

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