Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana’s playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts to close
March 31, 2020 - Civic Affairs, Disease, Emergencies, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana is closing its playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts beginning Wednesday, April 1, in order to prevent gatherings and protect the public from COVID-19. The City has already shuttered its enclosed parks, recreation and other facilities and canceled all programs and classes except the take-out senior meals program. Those include:…

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The County of Orange has launched an Economic & Business Recovery Call Center
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Orange County, Santa Ana - No Comments

Effective March 30, Orange County Community Services has implemented a call center to meet the needs of businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Economic & Business Recovery Call Center will offer information and resources to help Orange County businesses navigate the current economic climate. These resources will support businesses with challenges such…

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Santa Ana businesses can get help from a Small Business Incentive Grant
March 31, 2020 - Business, Civic Affairs, Emergencies, Santa Ana - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana is offering a grant of $2,500 to $5,000 for Santa Ana-based microenterprises through the Santa Ana Small Business Incentive Program. Applicants must qualify for the Small Business Incentive Grant. Details are available at www.santa-ana.org/SBIP. Eligibility Qualifications The program provides a reimbursement grant for eligible businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. Grant…

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Understanding Santa Ana’s moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Housing, Real Estate, Santa Ana - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana has created webpages in English, Spanish and Vietnamese to help residential and commercial tenants understand the City and State moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webpages include frequently asked questions, a sample letter that renters can use to advise their landlord of their inability to pay…

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Thai Viet Phan for the Santa Ana City Council

Help stop COVID-19!

Santa Ana High School teacher arrested for unlawful sex with a minor student

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD 39 Comments
Alvar Albert Gonzalez

Alvar Albert Gonzalez

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD & SA School Police Arrest Teacher For Unlawful Sex With A Minor Student

On 9/4/15, after a joint investigation between the Santa Ana Police Department and the Santa Ana Unified School District Police, detectives arrested Alvar Albert Gonzalez, 45, of Santa Ana, for possessing/producing obscene matter and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

The female victim first met the suspect when she was in his class her freshman year at Santa Ana High School. In 2013, Gonzalez arranged to meet the 16-year- old victim in his classroom during school lunch breaks. There, Gonzalez allegedly engaged in consensual sexual intercourse with the victim on over 9 occasions. This activity was initially not reported. Continue reading→

Grand opening of Santa Ana’s Rockin’ Jump ultimate trampoline park set for Sep. 17

Posted on by Posted in Deals, Entertainment, Family, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Rockin Jump Santa Ana Grand Opening

Rockin’ Jump(R) Opens in Santa Ana With a Month of Great Giveaways

Four Weeks of Freebies Welcome Kids & Adults to “The Ultimate Trampoline Park”

SANTA ANA, CA — (Marketwired) — 09/03/15 — Rockin’ Jump, headquartered in Pleasanton, CA, is celebrating the Grand Opening of its Santa Ana location by giving away 100 pairs of socks daily from Sept. 17th through Sept. 25th, 100 chair massages daily from Sept. 26th through Oct. 2nd, 100 Rockin’ T-Shirts daily from Oct. 3rd through Oct. 9th, and 100 slices of pizza daily from Oct. 10th through Oct. 16th. Rockin’ Jump’s Grand Opening Kick-off Event will take place on Sept. 17, 2015 at 1411 S. Village Way in Santa Ana at 3:00 pm.

Rockin’ Jump features activities for all ages, including a massive open jump arena, trampoline dodge ball courts, basketball slam/dunk zone, soft landing stunt bag arena, climbing wall, and a popular jousting challenge. Tailored programs include: Rockin’ Tots, dedicated play time for moms and toddlers; Rockin Wednesdays, which feature free jump time; and Rockin’ Fridays, exclusively for teens. Rockin’ Jump also offers birthday, bar/bat mitzvah parties, special events planning, massage lounge chairs, free WiFi, high def TVs, climate control, and the Rockin’ Café. Continue reading→

Man arrested for molesting children whose families attend a Jehovah’s Witness church in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

Jose Aguilera

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana & Tustin Police Departments Arrested Suspect For Multiple Counts Of Sexual Assaults Against Children.

On 9/4/15, after a joint investigation between the Santa Ana Police Department and the Tustin Police Department, detectives arrested Jose Aguilera, 41, of Santa Ana, for multiple counts of sexual assaults against children.

Aguilera met, and befriended, the four families of his victims at the Kingdom Hall Jehovah’s Witness church in Santa Ana where they worship. Aguilera is not an employee of the church. Aguilera created situations where he was allowed to visit the victims’ homes or transport victims in his car. The alleged assaults occurred when Aguilera was alone with the children. Continue reading→

Homeowner took a gun away from a burglary suspect and shot him

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana shooting

A Santa Ana homeowner, Erickson Dumaual, defended himself early today when a man tried to break into his home, at the 2500 block of West Manly Ave., in Santa Ana’s Ward 6, which is represented by Councilman Sal Tinajero.

The homeowner shot the suspected burglar and held him at gunpoint.  The shots were fired before 4:30 a.m., according to the O.C. Register.

Dumaual saw two suspects in his backyard and he told the police that one of the suspects appeared to be brandishing a gun.  Somehow Dumaual was able to wrestle the gun away from the suspect, who has been identified as 19-year-old gang member Bryan Bravo. Dumaual shot Bravo while the other suspect ran off. Continue reading→

Congresswoman Linda Sanchez endorses Lou Correa for Congress

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Lou Correa, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Lou Correa

For Immediate Release: September 3, 2015

Contact: Dave Jacobson, (818) 943-2348, Shallman Communications

CONGRESSWOMAN LINDA SÁNCHEZ ENDORSES FORMER SENATOR LOU CORREA FOR CONGRESS

SANTA ANA, CA – In an early and significant development, Congresswoman Linda Sánchez (CA-37) has officially endorsed former State Senator Lou Correa to replace Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez in the 46th Congressional District.

“I have known and worked with Lou for more than 20 years. He has spent the majority of his life in Orange County and he has served almost three quarters of the 46th Congressional District since 1998 — as an Assemblyman, a Supervisor, and a State Senator. I have followed him over the years as he made decisions based on the best interests of those he represented,” said Congresswoman Linda Sánchez. Continue reading→

The O.C. Vector Control District will spray mosquito poison over our homes on Sep. 9-10

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Environment, Health and Medical, homeless, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 26 Comments

Aerial mosquito poison spraying in Orange County

Here we go again.  The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District has announced that they are going to be conducting aerial spraying of a chemical poison over the cities of Orange, Tustin, Villa Park and portions of Anaheim, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Stanton between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Wednesday, September 9, and Thursday, September 10, 2015 (weather permitting).

The chemical is called Duet.  This is a mosquito control product registered for use by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  That said it is a terrible idea to spray this product. Duet is highly toxic to other insects, such as bees.  It is also deadly to fish. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for Sep. 4 at 500 W. 1st St.

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

DUI Accident in Santa Ana

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Friday, Sept 4th, 2015, 9:00PM – 3:00AM, 500 W. First Street

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, September 4th, 2015. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 3:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 500 W. First Street, Santa Ana, CA.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI/Drivers License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver. Continue reading→

Law enforcement is looking for more victims of suspected molester barber in DTSA

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment
Ruben Olguin

Ruben Olguin

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: REQUESTING PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF BARBER CHARGED WITH MOLESTING TEEN BOY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a barber who is charged with molesting a teen boy during a haircut. Ruben Olguin, 51, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of lewd act upon a child. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for continued arraignment tomorrow Sept. 4, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Department
CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana City Council is considering a moratorium on short-term party house rentals

Posted on by Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, Michele Martinez, Planning, Real Estate, Santa Ana Leave a comment
Picture courtesy of Homeaway.com

Picture courtesy of Homeaway.com

Five days after a hearing on the first reported short-term rental in Santa Ana drew dozens of outraged West Floral Park neighbors, City Council members unanimously directed city staff to come back with options on imposing a moratorium on such rentals citywide, according to the O.C. Register.

The West Floral Park neighbors asked the City Council to do something about short term rentals of homes after a Los Angeles based realtor, Sarah Greenberg, bought a home in their neighborhood, at 2239 N. Rosewood Ave., and turned it into a rental party house.

Ward 2 Councilwoman Michele Martinez, who does not represent Ward 3, took action on the neighbor’s request.  The Councilwoman in Ward 3, Angie Amezcua, was accidentally elected a few years ago after not running a campaign and continues to be a mostly absent Council member. Continue reading→

Undercover SAPD sting nabs a man suspected of stealing over $400k worth of computer parts

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Walter Levar Mallet

A Riverside man, Walter Levar Mallet, 37,  was arrested by Santa Ana police in an undercover sting Wednesday over the theft, on May 22, of high-end computer parts from a computer manufacturer located at the 1300 block of East Edinger Avenue, according to the O.C. Register.

Mallet is thought to be one of three hooded men who smashed a glass door to get into the computer business, where over the course of several hours they made off with around $400K worth of computer components that are used in aircraft and medical equipment, according to the SADP.

The SAPD investigators are not sure how the burglars were able to disable the computer manufacturer’s security system for three hours. Continue reading→

Free job fair at the Mexican Consul’s office in Santa Ana on 9/3

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Jobs, Mario Cuevas, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Miguel Pulido and the new Mexican Consul

The Consulate of Mexico in Santa Ana invites the community to participate in a “Job Fair” which will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2015 from 8:30 am to 12:00 pm at their office, located at 2100 E. 4th Street, in Downtown Santa Ana.

  • Employers will accept job applications
  • Admission is free.
  • For more information: (714) 581-4952.

Continue reading→

U.S. Border Patrol stops convicted Santa Ana sex offender at the Mexican border

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Federal Government, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Sex Crime News

Border Patrol Stops Sex Offender at the Border

CALEXICO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Station arrested a previously deported convicted sex offender in the desert area approximately 13 miles west of the Calexico port of entry today.

The 34-year-old man was apprehended by Border Patrol agents when illegally entered into the United States. Agents later identified the man as Jesus Bermudez-Alvear, a citizen of Mexico.

Criminal record checks revealed that Bermudez is a convicted sex offender, convicted of sexual intercourse with a minor out of Santa Ana. Bermudez was previously removed from the United States and served a 60 day prison term and a three year supervised release on Mar.30, 2000. Continue reading→

Elderly woman crashes into the Wells Fargo bank across from the F&M bank that was robbed

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana, Seniors Leave a comment
Elderly woman crashes into the Wells Fargo bank at 1801 E. 17th St.

Picture courtesy of the SAPD

The banks at 17th Street and Cabrillo Park Drive, in north Santa Ana, are having a real tough time this week.  We previously reported about the Farmers & Merchants Bank that was robbed on Monday.  Now comes news that an 82-year-old woman crashed into the Wells Fargo Bank located across the street from the F&M Bank, at 1801 East 17th St., in Santa Ana, on Tuesday at about 2:50 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.

I actually stop by that Wells Fargo branch to use their ATM machines, on occasion.  The SAPD released a picture of the crash and it sure looks like perhaps the driver may have gone forward when she meant to go in reverse.  Then she likely stomped on the gas pedal when the car got stuck on the curb.  This can cause a vehicle to hop the curb and then crash into whatever is in front of it. Continue reading→

Third-striker charged with stabbing Robert Carranza to death at Frontier Park in Tustin

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Tustin Leave a comment
Robert Daniel Carranza

Robert Daniel Carranza

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF1967

Date: September 1, 2015

THIRD-STRIKER CHARGED FOR STABBING-MURDER OF MAN IN TUSTIN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A third-striker was charged today for stabbing and murdering a man at a park in Tustin. Robert Jesus Wilson, 51, is charged with one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon and prior strike convictions for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer in 1998 and making criminal threats in 2014. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 85 years to life in state prison. He is being held on $1 million bail. The scheduled arraignment was continued in court today to Sept. 18, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Bandit who likes to wear hats strikes again at a bank in north Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Banking, Crime, FBI, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Pre Season Bandit

A bank robber who liked to wear hats when he commits crimes has struck again – this time he robbed the Farmers & Merchants Bank at 1750 E. Seventeenth St., in Santa Ana, on Monday at around 4:15 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.  This bank is located in the parking lot of a Superior Grocers and is across the street from a Wells Fargo Bank.

The FBI believes this is the same guy who previously robbed a Farmers & Merchants in Orange on Tuesday and a Bank of the West in Santa Ana on Thursday.

The FBI has dubbed the suspect the “pre-season bandit” because he likes to wear sports caps while he robs banks. Continue reading→