Trump campaign pays Costa Mesa over $15,000 for costs of policing rally

Donald Trump's presidential campaign has cut a check to Costa Mesa for more than $15,000 to cover some of the costs the city racked up for policing an April 28 rally that sparked a massive protest.

Thousands of people flocked to the event at the OC Fair & Event Center, filling the 8,500-seat Pacific Amphitheatre. Hundreds were turned away.

After the rally, protesters flooded the streets, blocking traffic. Some police vehicles were damaged as demonstrators smashed their windows or jumped on top of them.

All told, the city incurred nearly $47,000 in costs related to the event, spokesman Tony Dodero said.

Costa Mesa "determined that the significant costs and challenges that resulted after the event and outside" the fairgrounds "were part of the protest and not part of the event itself," according to a statement from Dodero.

Therefore, "the city only requested that the campaign reimburse the city for ... $15,655.81" for the cost of additional officers and overtime that the event required, Dodero said.

The cost for Trump's campaign to use the Pacific Amphitheatre for the rally was $39,670, according to the rental agreement.

Members of the Orange County Fair Board later apologized to Costa Mesa residents who were adversely affected by the rally and its aftermath.