New Santa Ana

Another gang shooting in Ward 1, in South Santa Ana

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 11 Comments

Gang shootings are on the rise again in Santa Ana! The latest shooting occurred today when a gunman approached a group of up to five men outside a business on the 1700 block of South Main Street at around 1 am before opening fire, Santa Ana Police Department said, according to NBC News.

Officials said a light-colored compact car drove up to the group and a man got out of the passenger side to ask the men about their gang affiliation. He then pulled out a shotgun and fired a single round, which injured three of the men and damaged the business behind them, police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Councilwoman Martinez speaks out about the KKK attack on MLK Day

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in African Americans, Civic Affairs, Michele Martinez, Racism, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: STATEMENT BY CITY COUNCILWOMAN MICHELE MARTINEZ

SANTA ANA (January 20, 2015) – “The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday has long been a symbol of peace for the civil rights movement and equality. As a Council Member of one of Orange County’s largest and most diverse cities, I was deeply disturbed to learn that early yesterday morning, on the day this holiday is observed, small bags filled with racist paraphernalia were distributed to around 40 homes in the City of Santa Ana.” Continue reading→

Consul of Mexico to be honored by the Santa Ana City Council tonight

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alejandra Garcia-Williams, Entertainment, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: MAYOR & COUNCIL TO HONOR CITIZENS FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY AT TONIGHT’S CITY COUNCIL MEETING

SANTA ANA, CA (January 20, 2015) – The public is invited to attend the City Council Meeting as members of the City Council will recognize community members for their outstanding service to the City of Santa Ana.

The Mayor will recognize Alejandra Garcia-Williams, Consul of Mexico, with the Exceptional Service Award for her outstanding service to the Santa Ana community. Continue reading→

Santa Ana College to offer an Occupational Therapy four year degree

Posted on January 20, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Santa Ana 1 Comment

PRESS RELEASE: January 20, 2015
Contact: Paige Marlatt Dorr, 916.327.5356, Cell: 916.601.8005, Office email: pdorr@cccco.edu

First California Community College Bachelor’s Degree Programs Receive Initial Approval from Board of Governors

Pilot program is historic leap forward for college system; final approval in March

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Community Colleges Board of Governors, in a landmark move for public higher education, today gave initial approval to 15 colleges to develop bachelor’s degree programs in fields such as respiratory therapy, dental hygiene, automotive technology and aerospace manufacturing technology as part of a pilot program approved by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown.

“These colleges are embarking on a new mission for the California Community Colleges that will expand opportunities in public higher education,” said California Community Colleges Chancellor Brice W. Harris. “Students will have a range of programs from which to choose to earn high quality, affordable and in-demand degrees. California employers win too, as they will have improved access to highly qualified candidates in these fields.” Continue reading→

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→

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