New Santa Ana

Car chase leads police from Santa Ana to two other cities and back to Santa Ana

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Drugs, Garden Grove, Santa Ana Leave a comment

It turned out to be a wild afternoon in Santa Ana on Monday as police chased a man and a woman in a car from the intersection of Tustin and Franzen Avenues in Santa Ana through Garden Grove and Anaheim and then back to Santa Ana. The driver was finally arrested at the 2600 block of Greenbrier Street, at the corner of Bristol Street and Park Lane, in Santa Ana, where the driver was arrested, according to the O.C. Register.

The incident began about 1:30 p.m. when a witness reported hearing nine shots fired by the occupant of a gray Cadillac CTS at a Mazda SUV near North Tustin and Franzen avenues, a Santa Ana Police Department watch commander said, according to KTLA. Continue reading→

County approves purchase of a proposed homeless shelter site in Anaheim

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, homeless, Orange County, Politics, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

County Approves Purchase & Sale Agreement for 1000 N. Kraemer Place Property

By: Todd Spitzer, Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors

This week the Board of Supervisors approved a purchase and sale agreement for the purchase of property at 1000 N. Kraemer Place in Anaheim with a 5-0 vote. Community Forums and meetings will be structured to give residents, businesses and other interested stakeholders the opportunity to discuss potential uses for the site, including a year-round emergency shelter and multi-service center.

The property consists of a 24,384 square foot industrial warehouse building and approximately 13,824 square foot of office space that is situated on an approximate 1.87 acre parcel with 68 parking spaces. The building is currently occupied by a commercial air condition repair shop. Continue reading→

Woman convicted of running over and killing a man for his casino winnings, in Santa Ana

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 10CF2478

Date: June 5, 2015

WOMAN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE FOR SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER DURING ROBBERY BY DRIVING OVER MAN’S HEAD AFTER FOLLOWING HIM HOME FROM HAWAIIAN GARDENS CASINO

SANTA ANA – A woman was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for the special circumstances murder of a man by driving over his head after following him home from a Hawaiian Gardens Casino to rob him of $10,000 in gambling winnings. Barbara Ann Hamel, 51, Long Beach, was found guilty by a jury March 30, 2015, of one felony count of special circumstances murder for committing a murder during a robbery, two felony counts of second degree robbery, and one felony count of attempted second degree robbery.

Hamel previously pleaded guilty in this case on Dec. 13, 2013, and was expected to be sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison on Feb. 21, 2014. During the sentencing the court allowed Hamel to withdraw her guilty plea based on the defendant’s request to have evidence in this case further analyzed. Continue reading→

Parole denied for gang banger who murdered a man to improve his gang status

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # C-94882

Date: June 4, 2015

PAROLE DENIED FOR THREE YEARS FOR GANG MEMBER CONVICTED OF 1993 SHOOTING-MURDER OF MAN AND CAUSING PERMANENT INJURY TO THREE OTHERS TO ENHANCE HIS GANG STATUS

*Victims were innocent men playing basketball at Santa Ana High School

SANTA ANA – The Board of Parole Hearings (Panel), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation denied parole for three years June 2, 2015, for a criminal street gang member convicted of the shooting murder of one man and causing the permanent injury of three other men in a van to enhance his gang status. Uciel Murgo, 42, is currently being held at Chuckawalla State Prison in Blythe. Murgo pleaded guilty June 7, 1993, to one felony count of second degree murder and eight felony counts of attempted murder with sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury during the commission of a crime and the personal use of a firearm. On July 30, 1993, Murgo was sentenced to 20 years to life in state prison. This case was originally prosecuted by Senior Deputy District Attorney Mark Sevigny.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jim Mendelson and the victim’s next of kin attended the hearing at the prison to oppose Murgo’s parole. Continue reading→

Teachers convicted of having sex and drinks with students on an O.C. beach

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15HF0219

Date: June 5, 2015

TWO FORMER FEMALE TEACHERS SENTENCED FOR UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH AN UNDERAGE MALE STUDENT DURING BEACH CAMPING TRIP

*Ghirelli was also convicted of furnishing a controlled substance

NEWPORT BEACH – Two former female high school teachers were convicted and sentenced today for unlawful sexual intercourse with an underage male student during an alcohol and drug fueled camping trip at San Clemente State Beach. Melody Suzanne Lippert, 38, Covina, pleaded guilty to one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse. She was sentenced to three years formal probation and three months in jail stayed pending completion of 15 days of CalTrans.

Co-defendant Michelle Louise Ghirelli, 30, West Covina, pleaded guilty to one felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse and one felony count of furnishing a controlled substance. She was sentenced to three years formal probation and 180 days in jail stayed pending completion of 180 days in a lock-down rehabilitation facility. The defendants’ conviction in this case qualifies them, under the California Education Code, to have their teaching credentials revoked for life in the State of California. Continue reading→

Irvine homicide victim identified as Octavio Jesus Alcala of Santa Ana

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, irvine, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Irvine Police Department Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PRESS RELEASE: 06-06-2015

Subject: Homicide Victim Identified

Contact : Farrah Emami, Public Information Officer, Irvine Police Department, 949-724-7112, femami@cityofirvine.org

Irvine, CA – The victim in a homicide case being investigated by the Irvine Police Department (IPD) has been identified as 19-year-old Octavio Jesus Alcala of Santa Ana.

On the morning of June 5, 2015, employees arriving to work at a construction site in the area of Wolf Trail and Orchard Hills located a deceased adult male, later identified as Alcala. The victim was located face-down in a remote, graded construction area that does not have any buildings. The construction workers called 911 and IPD responded to the scene. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez and Roadtrip Nation to host Career Awareness event at Valley High on Monday

Posted on June 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Entertainment, Loretta Sanchez, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

AT&T Aspire collaborates with Roadtrip Nation to bring Career Awareness to students at Valley High School with Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez

AT&T Aspire-funded expansion of Roadtrip Nation curriculum and events empower 15,000+ students at-risk of not graduating, with culminating presentation in Santa Ana, California

What: On June 8, 2015, from 8:30 – 10:30 am at Valley High School, Roadtrip Nation, an organization that helps students connect the dots between their personal interests, education, and real world career opportunities, will bring its iconic Green RV for a live event in Santa Ana, California, accompanied by Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, who will be speak about her personal experiences growing up in the area and achieving a career in public service. Continue reading→

Rep. Sanchez questions the FBI’s aircraft surveillance program

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Loretta Sanchez, Orange County, Politics 3 Comments

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Representing California’s 46th Congressional District

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 5, 2015

MEDIA CONTACT: Eduardo Lerma, 202-225-2965; eduardo.lerma@mail.house.gov

REP SANCHEZ QUESTIONS FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION ON AIRCRAFT SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-46), senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, wrote a letter to James B. Comey, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, requesting further information on their aircraft surveillance program revealed by the Associated Press:

“As a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I was shocked to learn the FBI used fake companies for aerial surveillance throughout regions of the United States,” said Rep. Sanchez. “Even more troubling is the revelation that my home town of Anaheim, California was part of that aerial surveillance.” Continue reading→

Delhi Center builds connections between police officers and residents

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Delhi Neighborhood Community Building Initiative builds community connections with Officers

By: Alicia Rodriguez, Delhi Center

(Santa Ana, CA)- Over 70 Santa Ana residents gathered at the Delhi Center on May 7, 2015 to engage in conversation with Santa Ana Police Officers about crime and safety in the Delhi Neighborhood. Amidst the civil unrest in Baltimore and nationwide protests, the SAPD police officers and local residents took active steps towards building and strengthening relationships.

The event went over background on the Delhi Neighborhood as it is one of the most densely populated residential developments in Santa Ana. The Delhi Center is located in the center of the Delhi Neighborhood, an area with 10,643 in total population and comprised 95.1% Hispanic/Latino. Continue reading→

The SAUSD is seeking community enrichment providers for after school programs

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Deidra Powell (714) 558-5555

Press Release: SAUSD SEEKS COMMUNITY ENRICHMENT PROVIDERS FOR AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS

Founded in 1888, The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) is the 6th largest school district in California, and the largest in Orange County, California. Santa Ana Unified educates approximately 54,000 students and is composed of sixty-one (61) schools: thirty-six (36) elementary schools, nine (9) intermediate schools, six (6) high schools, three (3) alternative high schools, five (5) charter schools, and one (1) special school. Approximately 60% of SAUSD students are English learners. Spanish, Vietnamese, and Khmer are the most common languages spoken at home. Continue reading→

Santa Ana gang banger shot in the hand but he isn’t talking of course

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Orange County, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Apparently a local gang banger tried to block a bullet with his hand! Or perhaps he was not quick enough to dodge the bullets fired at him by an unknown assailant.

SAPD police officers drove to the 100 block of South Broadway Street, in Santa Ana’s Ward 2, which is represented by Council Member Michele Martinez, on Thursday night at around 10:30 p.m., after reports of shots fired, according to the O.C. Register.

The police arrested a man who was seen running east on East Walnut Street. The man was shot in the right hand and the police also found a handgun under a nearby parked car. Continue reading→

Help replace 1,500 pounds of food for needy children that was stolen

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Churches and Religion, Entertainment, Food, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Grandma’s House of Hope , a Santa Ana-based nonprofit that provides basic needs and enrichment services to women, children, and families living in extreme poverty needs our help. Their food shed at St. Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church in Garden Grove was broken into on Wednesday 1,500 pounds of food they use to provide meals to kids enrolled in school lunch programs who can’t afford to eat on weekends and after school was stolen. They were hoping to pack the food into bags this Saturday.

If you would like to donate food to replace what was stolen you can drop off non-perishable items between 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at Grandma’s House of Hope, located at 1505 E. 17th St. in Santa Ana. Monetary donations can also be made online here. Continue reading→

The Rancho Santiago Community College District’s leadership needs a reboot

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Politics, Raúl Rodríguez, Ryan Ahari, Santa Ana, Women 13 Comments

RSCC District Chancellor Raul Rodriguez. Picture courtesy of El Don.

Opinion Editorial: The Rancho Santiago Community College District’s leadership needs a reboot By Ryan Ahari Saudi Arabia’s government is notorious for its horrendous track record on human rights. The Gulf nation severely punishes its LGBT community, prohibits women from driving, and refuses entry to anyone whose passport indicates previous entry into Israel. Keeping this in mind, why would any reasonable person, let alone a local community-based public entity, conduct business with such a repressive government? Two government-run technical schools in Saudi Arabia awarded the Rancho Santiago Community College District Foundation with a $105 million contract. The contract stipulates that the Foundation will improve and strengthen the schools’ infrastructures. Raúl Rodríguez, the District’s Chancellor, rationalized the contract by announcing the Foundation could receive up to an 8% return. An 8% return on a gross contract of $105 million is a pitiful profit margin and proves that Rodríguez is an educator and not a businessman. The contract further requires the Foundation to enter into a partnership with a corporation formed under Saudi Arabian laws. Continue reading→

Three O.C. kids sickened by raw goat milk infected with bacteria

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County Leave a comment

For Immediate Release: June 4, 2015

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

CAMPYLOBACTER CASES ASSOCIATED WITH CONSUMPTION OF RAW GOAT MILK

Orange County has confirmed three cases of campylobacteriosis infection associated with consumption of raw goat milk distributed by Claravale Farm of San Benito County, California. All three patients are young children less than 5 years of age. One patient was hospitalized, and all of them are expected to recover.

The raw goat milk was distributed throughout the state, and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is leading an investigation to determine if there are additional cases. While the CDPH investigation is ongoing the Health Care Agency advises against consuming Claravale Farm raw goat milk. Continue reading→

The SAPD is conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, June 5

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Fri, June 5th, 2015 9:00PM – 3:00AM in the area of 3300 W. 5th Street

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, June 5th, 2015 It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 3:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 3300 W. Fifth Street, in the City of Santa Ana.

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→

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Car chase leads police from Santa Ana to two other cities and back to Santa Ana

County approves purchase of a proposed homeless shelter site in Anaheim

Woman convicted of running over and killing a man for his casino winnings, in Santa Ana

Parole denied for gang banger who murdered a man to improve his gang status

Teachers convicted of having sex and drinks with students on an O.C. beach

Irvine homicide victim identified as Octavio Jesus Alcala of Santa Ana

Rep. Sanchez and Roadtrip Nation to host Career Awareness event at Valley High on Monday

Rep. Sanchez questions the FBI’s aircraft surveillance program

Delhi Center builds connections between police officers and residents

The SAUSD is seeking community enrichment providers for after school programs

Santa Ana gang banger shot in the hand but he isn’t talking of course

Help replace 1,500 pounds of food for needy children that was stolen

The Rancho Santiago Community College District’s leadership needs a reboot

Three O.C. kids sickened by raw goat milk infected with bacteria

The SAPD is conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, June 5