New Santa Ana

The SAPD has seized over 3,000 pounds of illegal fireworks

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Special Enforcement Team conducted several investigations regarding illegal fireworks sales – 3,000+ lbs. seized

On Thursday June 25, 2015 the SAPD Special Enforcement Team-conducted several follow-up investigations regarding illegal fireworks sales throughout the city. The investigations discovered the storage of in excess of 3,000+lbs of illegal fireworks at three different locations. The fireworks were seized and will be transported to the OCSD Bomb Detectives for proper disposal at a later time. There were three suspects arrested, issued citations and released at the scenes. The suspects were charged with violating SAMC 14-53 Dangerous Fireworks Prohibited. Continue reading→

Man found dead in the lake at Centennial Park identified as Modesto Tapia-Clara

Posted on June 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 14 Comments

Picture c/o Isabel Quiroz

The dead man whose body was found floating in the lake at Santa Ana’s Centennial Park has been identified as 31-year-old Modesto Tapia-Clara of Huntington Beach, according to the O.C. Register.

Tapia-Clara’s body was found floating in the lake on Wednesday morning, by a city worker. SAPD detectives still don’t know how he met his end or why his body was in the water. Apparently there are no signs of foul play or trauma on the body.

The Orange County Coroner’s office will be performing an autopsy on the body this Friday to try to determine the official cause of death. Continue reading→

Five pro immigrant LGBT protestors to be charged for blocking DTSA streets

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, immigration, LGBT, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Photo Courtesy of the Not1More Facebook Page

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CM07231

Date: June 25, 2015

FIVE PROTESTORS TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR DELAYING POLICE OFFICERS AND OBSTRUCTING SANTA ANA STREET BY CHAINING THEMSELVES TOGETHER

SANTA ANA – Five protesters are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for delaying police officers and obstructing a Santa Ana street by chaining themselves together. Mariela Martinez, 23, Los Angeles, Jorge Hernandez, 25, Oakland, Sandra Paola Jara Riveros, 33, Pasadena, Isaia Celestino Noyola, 36, Vellejo, and Jeffrey Christopher Neel, 43, Anaheim, are charged with one misdemeanor count each of obstructing or delaying a peace officer, obstructing passage on a public street, and unlawfully loitering or sitting on a public street. If convicted, each of the defendants face a maximum sentence of one year in jail and $1,000 fine. The defendants are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Friday, June 26, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-54, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 8:30 a.m. on May 28, 2015, the five defendants were part of a group of approximately 50 individuals participating in a protest regarding the detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants who are part of the LGBT community. The protestors gathered at the intersection of Civic Center Drive and Flower Street in Santa Ana, near the Central Justice Center to begin their demonstration. The protest was not pre-planned with the City of Santa Ana, and no permits had been issued allowing blockage of the intersection as required by law. Continue reading→

Public Law Center raises a record $725K at 2015 Volunteers for Justice Dinner

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Lawyers, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Photo: (L to R) Jerry Flannery of Hyundai Motor America, Anna Davis of UC Irvine School of Law, PLC Executive Director and General Counsel Ken Babcock, Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, and Jeff Reeves of Gibson Dunn.

PRESS RELEASE

June 25, 2015

CONTACT: George C. Wu, gwu@veng-group.com, (202) 306-0898

PLC Raises Record Total at 2015 Volunteers for Justice Dinner

Orange County legal community raises $725,000 for civil legal aid

Santa Ana, CA – Joined by 900 leaders of the Orange County legal community, the Public Law Center highlighted the transformative impact of its pro bono programs on the county’s poorest and most vulnerable residents at the Hotel Irvine Monday night. Guests at the 2015 Volunteers for Justice Dinner helped to raise a record $725,000 and were treated to a keynote address by California Supreme Court Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, a special musical prelude by Mariachi for All (a PLC non-profit organization client), and the premier silent auction in Orange County.

“Once again, our generous sponsors, committed pro bono attorneys, and silent auction winners raised the bar on supporting PLC and our clients,” said PLC Executive Director and General Counsel Ken Babcock. “For every dollar raised at the Volunteers for Justice Dinner, PLC and our pro bono attorneys will provide eight dollars worth of free legal services to Orange County’s low-income veterans, seniors, domestic violence survivors, children and their families,” added Babcock. Continue reading→

Owner of a Santa Ana payment processing company charged with multi-million dollar fraud

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, FBI, Federal Government, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Department of Justice

Office of Public Affairs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, June 25, 2015

Owner of California Payment Processing Company Charged with Fraud

The Justice Department announced today that the owner and operator of a payment processing company that was involved in the unauthorized withdrawal of millions of dollars from consumers’ bank accounts was charged with fraud.

The criminal information, filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, charged Neil Godfrey, 76, of Santa Ana, California, with one count of wire fraud. Godfrey owned and operated Check Site Inc., based in Santa Ana, which from 2006 to 2010 enabled fraudulent merchants to withdraw money from consumers’ bank accounts without the consumers’ knowledge or consent. If convicted, Godfrey faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Continue reading→

Santa Ana woman arrested as an accessory to the murder of a Costa Mesa man

Posted on June 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Maricella Raye Gomez-Lee, 50, a resident of Santa Ana, was arrested on Wednesday this week on suspicion of being an accesory to murder in the May 30 stabbing death of Floriberto Villasenor Cortes, a resident of Costa Mesa, who was found bleeding at the 2900 block of Peppertree Lane in Costa Mesa, at around 4:30 p.m. according to the O.C. Register.

Gomez-Lee was arrested at a home in Lake Elsinore. Continue reading→

John Wayne Airport provides Fourth of July holiday travel tips

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in John Wayne Airport, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 24, 2015
Contact: Jenny Wedge, (949) 252-5182, jwedge@ocair.com

JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT PROVIDES FOURTH OF JULY HOLIDAY TRAVEL TIPS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Summer travel is underway at John Wayne Airport (JWA) and with the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, JWA anticipates a busy travel period from Friday, June 26 through Sunday, July 5. Passengers and visitors are encouraged to check construction alerts at ocair.com and plan ahead if visiting JWA during this time. Passengers are also reminded that fireworks are prohibited in or around the Airport.

“Independence Day is a time to celebrate our country’s independence and many travelers take to the skies during this holiday weekend,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Todd Spitzer. “Our goal is to ensure you have a safe, secure and enjoyable holiday travel experience.” Continue reading→

The Discovery Cube’s Inventors Week will feature 3D printers by Purple Platypus

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana, Science, Technology, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Purple Platypus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Zody Huynh, zody.huynh@purpleplatypus.com, (949) 474-9222 x 106

Purple Platypus Gears Up For Inventors Week at Discovery Cube

IRVINE, California (June 22, 2015) – Purple Platypus, Inc., the only certified Stratasys 3D printer reseller servicing the entire Southwest region (Arizona, Nevada and Southern California), will be participating in Discovery Cube’s Inventors Week from June 27, 2015 to July 12, 2015.

This is Discovery Cube’s 3rd annual Inventors Week celebrating tinkerers, builders, and explorers of all ages. These future business leaders and engineers will be showcasing their inventions while learning about various electronic and robotic principles that are fundamental for every future engineer to know. Continue reading→

Santa Ana resident charged with importing and transporting illegal ferrets

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OC Animal Care, Pets, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Sebastian Alexander-Bly Swisher and his ferret

From Sebastian Alexander-Bly Swisher’s Instagram account

Santa Ana Police Department police officers arrested Santa Ana resident Sebastian Alexander Swisher (23) today and charged him with CCR 671K (Importation and transportation of live restricted animals). He was reportedly buying the Ferrets in the State of Nevada and transporting them to California where it is illegal, according to an SAPD press release.

Swisher was raising the ferrets and then selling them for up to $400 on Craigslist, according to Santa Ana Animal Services supervisor Sondra Berg, as reported by the O.C. Register. If he didn’t report that income then Swisher might be guilty of tax evasion too.

Santa Ana Police Department Animal Control Officers received information that the suspect was in possession of illegal Ferrets.

He really did not hide his hobby as there are many pictures of Swisher on his Instagram page. Continue reading→

Dead body found floating in the lake at Centennial Regional Park in Santa Ana

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Parks and Recreation, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A worker found the body of a man floating in the lake at Centennial Regional Park on Wednesday morning at around 9:45 a.m., in Santa Ana, police said, according to the O.C. Register. The park is located at 3000 W. Edinger Ave.

The SAPD’s homicide detectives and the O.C. Coroner indicated that the body did not show any obvious signs of trauma. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Councilwoman elected President of NALEO

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 3 Comments

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Councilwoman Martinez Elected NALEO President

The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) elected Santa Ana Councilmember Michele Martinez as its new President following the 32nd NALEO Annual Conference which took place this past weekend in Las Vegas. NALEO is the non-partisan leadership organization of the nation’s more than 6,000 Latino elected and appointed officials.

Elected to serve a one-year term, Martinez commented, “I am humbled and honored that my colleagues have chosen me to lead this organization during such an exciting and historic time for our community. I am ready to do my part to continue to help our nation’s Latino elected officials develop the leadership and governance skills they need to be effective advocates for their communities.” Continue reading→

The O.C. Supervisors approve a balanced FY 2015-16 $5.8 billion budget

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Orange County, Politics Leave a comment

Supervisors Approve Balanced FY 2015-16 Budget

The Orange County Board of Supervisors approved a $5.8 billion spending plan for the coming fiscal year—July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2016—including $723 million in General Purpose revenue, of which $687 million is available for discretionary programs.

Among the actions taken Tuesday, the Board approved continued funding for the Office of Independent Review, which investigates allegations of misconduct within the Sheriff and Probation departments. However, the Board will consider a different model for the office’s oversight functions over the next 30 days. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Black Historical Society will co-host a Juneteenth celebration on 6/27 in Huntington Beach

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in African Americans, Huntington Beach, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: June 22, 2015

Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday June 27, 2015 at Huntington Beach Central Park

Huntington Beach – The inaugural Juneteenth Celebration in Huntington Beach will be held Saturday, June 27, 2015 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at Huntington Beach Central Park. The event commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States. The day will be filled with learning and fun for the whole family and will be enjoyed by people of all ethnicities.

Juneteenth started on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas by African Americans to celebrate the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is now celebrated throughout the USA. This year marks the 150th Anniversary Celebration. Continue reading→

SAPD officer and a police dog help to catch Anaheim murder suspect in Fountain Valley

Posted on June 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana Leave a comment

By: Fountain Valley Police Department

On Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at approximately 3:30 AM, a security guard working at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital observed a suspect and vehicle answering the description of Kwame Carpenter, wanted in the city of Anaheim in connection with the deaths of two people.

The security guard alerted a Santa Ana police officer, who was at the hospital on an unrelated matter.

The Santa Ana officer, in conjunction with Fountain Valley officers, went to the location in the southeast portion of the hospital campus and contacted Carpenter, who was inside his parked 2001 Lincoln Town Car. When officers attempted to take Carpenter into custody, he refused to surrender and drove his car into a Santa Ana police car, damaging it. Carpenter then drove into an unrelated parked vehicle in an attempt to escape; that vehicle suffered significant damage as well. At that point a Fountain Valley officer fired two rounds at Carpenter as he fled the scene in his car. No one was injured as a result of the shooting. Continue reading→

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