Newport Beach Woman Admits to Trying to Run Down a Sheriff's Officer at John Wayne

A 49-year-old Newport Beach woman pleaded guilty today to trying to run down a sheriff's officer at John Wayne Airport.

A sheriff's special officer, who was on bicycle patrol, heard what sounded like a collision in a parking garage on July 16, 2013 and was directed by a witness toward a dark-colored SUV driven by Rebecca Lee McLaughlin, said sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock.

McLaughlin suddenly backed up the Toyota Sequoia and then drove toward the officer, who ended up on the hood of the vehicle, according to Hallock.

The officer managed to get McLaughlin out of the vehicle and arrest her, Hallock said. The officer was taken to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries, Hallock said.

The officer was thrown about 20 feet and his bicycle was destroyed, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office,

The SUV came to a stop when it jumped a curb and slammed into a parking pole, according to prosecutors.

McLaughlin pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon or force likely to produce great bodily injury, according to Orange County Superior Court records. She is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 12.

McLaughlin was initially charged with attempted murder with a sentencing enhancement for attempted premeditated murder.

Sheriff's special officers are uniformed civilians, who have been given the authority to make misdemeanor arrests. They also have the authority to detain felony suspects and may carry a weapon.

--City News Service