Domestic dispute ends with boat in flames, arrest

NEWPORT BEACH — An argument between a man and his girlfriend spiraled out of control Sunday afternoon, with the woman taking the dispute to a new level by allegedly setting the man’s boat on fire.

Nicole Ann Macdonald, 40, of Newport Beach, was taken into custody following the incident and faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon, arson, driving under the influence and child endangerment, according to police.

Around 2 p.m. police and firefighters arrived on the scene, at a boat dock in Newport Harbor, to find a sailboat engulfed in flames while tucked into its slip between two other boats.

The initial call to police was a report of disturbing the peace related to the domestic argument aboard the boat.

The boyfriend and boat’s owner, Ian Prider of Costa Mesa, was reportedly attacked by Macdonald with a knife during their quarrel. Prider was able to disarm her but when he went to call police, Macdonald is suspected of starting the fire, said authorities.

Macdonald left the scene but was pulled over and arrested a short time later, suspected of driving under the influence with her 10-year-old child in the car in addition to starting the blaze.

Several Harbor Patrol boats were required to put the fire down and two other boats, along with the dock, also sustained damage, said authorities.

The Orange County Register reports that Macdonald was being held on $250,000 bail and that her son had been placed in child protective services.