Crime & Safety

Jack In The Penalty Box: Hockey Players Arrested for Fighting in Laguna

Former pro iceman Richard Anthony Costello of Dana Point was one of two arrested Dec. 21 on suspicion of committing battery, assault and vandalism in the parking lot of the Laguna Beach Jack In The Box.

Two former National Hockey League players were arrested in the early morning hours of Friday, Dec. 21, on suspicion of battery, assault and vandalism involving an incident that took place in the drive-thru line of the Coast Highway Jack In The Box in Laguna Beach.

Jean Francois Jomphe, a 39-year-old Aliso Viejo resident who skated three seasons for the then-Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the mid-'90s, and Richard Anthony Costello, a 49-year-old Dana Point resident who suited up for the Toronto Maple Leafs for a scant 12 games, were arrested after the two, who were apparently passengers in a taxi cab, cut off a Volkswagen Jetta in the drive-thru line.

Seriously? Those Jumbo Jacks aren't that great, really they're not ...

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Any way, according to Laguna Beach Police Department Lt. Jason Kravetz, one of the passengers inside the Jetta made an offending hand gesture in response, which set off Jomphe.

Jomphe then got out of the car and went after the offending hand-gesturer, shattering the Jetta's rear window in the process, which sent glass pieces flying into the face of one of the passengers inside, who sustained a cut.

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By this time, a 44-year-old man on the scene tried to diffuse the situation, but Costello, who had also become involved in the scrum, allegedly threw a punch at him, which missed.

Both Jomphe and Costello were booked, released, and ordered to appear at a future court date.


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