New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: January 2015

Santa Ana police investigate KKK propaganda left in neighborhood

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in African Americans, Civil Rights, Crime, Racism, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Police investigate KKK propaganda left in neighborhood

Santa Ana police officers respond to a resident who reported he found a small zip-loc baggy containing a rock, a candy, a flyer, and a KKK business card on his driveway this morning in the 2600 block of N Linwood St in Santa Ana.

The flyer contains anti-MLK propaganda. Approximately 40 similar bags were distributed sometime during the evening to various residences within a four block radius. No specific threat was noted on the business card and no crime can be established at this point. Continue reading→

Charges against Carlos Bustamante reduced again by a second Judge

Posted on January 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Bustamante, Crime, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Judge John D. Conley on Friday dismissed several sex-related felony charges against Carlos Bustamante, a former Santa Ana City Councilman and Orange County Public Works administrator, who still faces felony counts of false imprisonment, stalking, attempted sexual battery and grand theft, plus four misdemeanors, according to the O.C. Register.

Conley’s ruling mirrors a previous ruling from Judge Kazuharu Makino, who oversaw Bustamante’s preliminary hearing in May 2014. Makino tossed out multiple felony charges for lack of evidence. Continue reading→

OC Parks introduces new parking passes

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Orange County, Parks and Recreation Leave a comment

Exploring Orange County: OC Parks Introduces New Parking Passes

OC Parks is pleased to introduce new parking passes that will allow visitors to use a single card to park at all County regional and wilderness parks and/or beaches.

The new “smart cards” replace the entry cards and stickers that were previously used for annual parking. Unlike the previous OC Parks passes, which were fixed to a calendar year (January through December), these smart cards are valid for 12 months from issue date and can be renewed annually. Moreover, for wilderness and beach locations which previously required a sticker affixed to a visitor’s windshield, these passes can be used with any vehicle. The price for the new cards remains the same as 2014. Continue reading→

Deadline to apply for Grand Jury service extended to January 30

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, OC Grand Jury, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

Orange County Grand Jury

Deadline to Apply for Grand Jury Service Extended to January 30, 2015

By OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Portions courtesy of Superior Court of California

Assistant Presiding Judge Charles Margines of the Superior Court of Orange County and chair of Grand Jury Recruitment/Selection Committee has extended the deadline to apply for Grand Jury service to January 30, 2015.

The Grand Jury performs civil oversight of local government by reviewing and evaluating county and city agencies, jails, schools, and special districts within Orange County and writes a final report with its findings and recommendations. The Grand Jury also considers evidence for possible indictment of individuals in felony cases and reviews complaints submitted by citizens. Continue reading→

Third striker on parole to face charges of murdering a woman in his RV

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, Orange County Leave a comment

Ean Keith Brown, Picture Courtesy of the Huntington Beach Police Department

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 12CF0072

Date: January 16, 2015

THIRD-STRIKER PAROLEE TO FACE TRIAL FOR STRANGLING-MURDER OF WOMAN IN RV

SANTA ANA – A third-striker parolee will face trial Tuesday for murdering a 21-year-old woman by strangling her to death in his recreational vehicle (RV). Ean Keith Brown, 41, is charged with one felony count of murder and sentencing enhancements for two prior strike convictions and serious felony priors for second degree robbery in 1995 and burglary in 2008. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 85 years to life in state prison. Opening statements are scheduled to begin Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, at 9:15 a.m., in Department C-41, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Brown was released from state prison in 2010 and was on parole for burglary. After his release from prison and at the time of the murder, the defendant is accused of living in an RV in the driveway of his parent’s Huntington Beach home. Continue reading→

Teachers arrested following allegation of sexual relationship with students

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Beaches, Crime, Orange County 1 Comment

Michelle Ghirelli

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Teachers Arrested Following Allegation of Sexual Relationship with Students

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. – (January 18, 2014) – On Saturday, January 17, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Unit investigators arrested South Hills High School teacher, Melody Lippert, 38, Covina and district teacher Michelle Ghirelli, 30, Covina; following allegations they engaged in sexual relations with students who attend the school. On the evening of Friday, January 16, 2015, the West Covina Police Department contacted the Orange County Sheriff’s Department after obtaining information about the inappropriate relationships and the alleged sexual relations that occurred in our jurisdiction.

In November 2014, Lippert is alleged to have met a group of male South Hills High School students at San Clemente State Beach. During the meeting at San Clemente State Beach, Lippert provided alcohol to the students and engaged in a sexual relationship with one of them. Several weeks later, Lippert orchestrated an overnight camping trip to the same location with Ghirelli and several of the same high school students. During the camping trip Lippert and Ghirelli are suspected of engaging in sexual relations with two students. The camping trip was not a school or district sponsored event. Continue reading→

OCTA delivers their end-of-year report highlighting initiatives and an action plan

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer, Transportation Leave a comment

OCTA Delivers the End-of-Year Report Highlighting Initiatives and Action Plan

By: OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer, Portions courtesy of the Orange County Transportation Authority

At the Orange County Transportation Authority’s meeting this week, Chief Executive Officer Darrell Johnson summarized the activities and accomplishments from the 2014 Chief Executive Officer’s Initiatives and Action Plan for calendar year 2014. The Chief Executive Officer’s Initiatives and Action Plan supports the values, vision, mission, and goals of the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA).

Supervisor Spitzer, who serves as a Director on the Board commended OCTA for the great work that they have done in delivering projects in the Third District and the County. “Transportation is a vital part of the County’s infrastructure, I’m committed to supporting OCTA’s mission to enhance the quality of life and keep Orange County moving.” Continue reading→

Residential No-burn Alert declared for Central Orange County today

Posted on January 18, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Air Quality, Environment, Fires, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A Residential No-Burn Alert has been declared for Central Orange-2, CA, on Sunday, Jan 18

The South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) has declared a Residential No-Burn Day in your area.

Residents in your area are prohibited from burning wood or manufactured fire logs in indoor and outdoor residential wood burning fireplaces and stoves due to elevated fine particulate levels forecast by the SCAQMD.

Continue reading→

Suspected molester released due to lack of evidence

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Hai Truong Vo, 39, of Garden Grove, was released by the Santa Ana Police Department without bail last night, due to “insufficient evidence,” according to an email we received this afternoon from “Xuanxanh Laurie.”

The O.C Register confirmed this in an article posted today. They reported that “Prosecutors apparently have sent the criminal case against Hai Truong Vo, 39, of Garden Grove back to detectives for further investigation, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said.” Continue reading→

Judge approves a new gang injunction in Santa Ana

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Gangs, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Date: January 16, 2015

JUDGE ENJOINS 13TH ORANGE COUNTY VIOLENT STREET GANG FROM TERRORIZING NEIGHBORHOOD IN SANTA ANA

*This is the second gang injunction in the City of Santa Ana

SANTA ANA – A violent Santa Ana criminal street gang has been permanently enjoined from terrorizing the community and acting as a public nuisance, marking the 13th injunction to be brought against Orange County gangs and the second in the City of Santa Ana. This injunction is in response to decades of violent crimes committed by this gang and numerous residents pleading with law enforcement to eliminate the gang presence so that they no longer have to live in fear.

During the litigation on this case, a minor who was an active participant in the gang was murdered, a witness suffered a brutal assault, a woman was shot while waiting for a bus, a loaded sawed-off shotgun was discovered concealed in bushes in the gang’s claimed territory, and the gang’s graffiti vandalism has continued to plague the area. Ten individuals still contesting the injunction will be given a court hearing to contest their gang involvement. Continue reading→

Measles continues to spread in Orange County

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: January 16, 2015

Contact: Deanne Thompson, dthompson@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

Measles Continues to Spread in Orange County

(Santa Ana) – Orange County now has sixteen confirmed cases of measles. Ten of the reported measles cases in Orange County, along with others throughout California and in other states, are connected to visiting Disneyland or Disneyland California Adventure Park in December. The source of the infection for the four most recent cases is not known; they were not exposed at Disneyland and had no known contact to any of the confirmed Disney-associated cases.

The identification of four measles cases with acquisition from unknown community contacts indicates exposure to measles is more widespread throughout the county. The Health Care Agency expects that the measles outbreak will continue to spread, so all should be aware of the signs and symptoms of measles. Health officials remind the public that the best way to prevent the measles is by getting vaccinated. Continue reading→

Orange County reports first influenza related death

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: January 16, 2015

Contact: Deanne Thompson, dthompson@ochca.com, 714-834-2178

Orange County Reports First Influenza Related Death

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency has confirmed our county’s first influenza related death in a person under 65 this year. The Public Health laboratory confirmed that the 48 year-old woman, who had preexisting health conditions, was infected with the influenza A virus.

“This is a sad and somber reminder of the serious threat posed by influenza,” County Health Officer Dr. Eric Handler said. “It is important for everyone to continue practicing good respiratory and hand hygiene to limit the transmission of influenza germs from person to person, and to get vaccinated.” Continue reading→

Local Santa Ana brewery crafts the official “Anteater Ale”

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Bars, irvine, Planning, Santa Ana, Sean Mill Leave a comment

Brandon Fender, owner of the Good Beer Company

When Sean Mill heard that the UCI Alumni Association was trying to find a local craft brewery to develop an “Anteater Ale” he immediately thought of a new business that had been approved by the Santa Ana Planning Commission he serves on.

Mill is himself an anteater and as it turns out so is Brandon Fender, the owner and founder of the Good Beer Company – a craft brewery that has opened in Downtown Santa Ana.

Fender started brewing his own beer, at home, as a hobby but he grew to love the process so much that he opened The Good Beer Company, in Downtown Santa Ana, on September 2014. He has a degree in Sociology from UCI but taught himself how to make great beer. Continue reading→

More new restaurants opening up in Santa Ana

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Food, Restaurants, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Blackmarket Bakery’s Apple cobbler with vanilla ice cream and caramel

There are several new restaurants opening up in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

One new restaurant is already open – Panini Cafe, at the MainPlace Mall. They sell healthy Mediterranean food. I have visited the Irvine location several times. Their chicken kabob lunch is the bomb! But their panini sandwiches are also very good and I love their lentil soup!

El Mercado Modern Cuisine: The operators behind the two Anepalco’s restaurants in Orange are opening a new fine dining concept in downtown Santa Ana. Executive Chef Daniel Godinez, who blends Mexican and French cuisine at Anepalco’s, is developing the El Mercado menu. El Mercado will be a full service restaurant, with a modern approach. Scheduled to open by the end of March. Will be located at 301 N. Spurgeon St. Continue reading→

Three O.C. men to be charged with selling counterfeit Apple products

Posted on January 15, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, irvine, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14WF4259

January 15, 2015

TWO MEN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR MONEY LAUNDERING AND CONSPIRING TO SELL COUNTERFEIT ELECTRONIC MERCHANDISE VALUED AT NEARLY $3 MILLION

*Items included Apple iPhones, iPads, smartphones, and cameras. Third co-defendant in this case is a fugitive.

WESTMINSTER – Two men are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow on money laundering and conspiracy charges for selling counterfeit electronic goods valued at nearly $3 million, including counterfeit iPhones and iPads, following an investigation by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Fountain Valley Police Department (FVPD).

Rateb Said Najjar, 60, and his son, Eyad Rateb Najjar, 36, both of Westminster, are each charged with 134 felony counts of money laundering, six felony counts of manufacturing and sale of a counterfeit mark, two felony counts of conspiracy to commit a crime with sentencing enhancements for property damage over $1.3 million, and money laundering in excess of $2.5 million. If convicted, the defendants face a maximum sentence of 104 years in jail. Continue reading→