Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: May 2014

Santa Ana dedicates the Paul M. Walters Police Administration Building

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Paul Walters, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment
Walters plaque unveiled

Former Santa Ana Police Chief Paul M. Walters and his wife, Mary, unveil the plaque dedicating the Paul M. Walters Police Administration Building, as Mayor Miguel Pulido and current Chief Carlos Rojas applaud.

Santa Ana Dedicates Paul M. Walters Police Administration Building

By: OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer

Yesterday, Supervisor Todd Spitzer joined former Santa Ana Police Chief Paul Walters and the Walters family at the City of Santa Ana’s dedication of the Paul M. Walters Police Administration Building.

“Paul Walters is one of the longest-serving police chiefs of a major city in modern American history,” Supervisor Spitzer said. “I congratulate Chief Walters on this well-deserved honor.” Continue reading→

First Annual Santa Ana Chalk Walk set for June 7

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Santa Ana Chalk Walk

Itʼs Official, the First Annual Santa Ana Chalk Walk will be held on June 7th, 2014 from 12pm to 8pm in downtown Santa Ana. The iconic and colorful “Calle Cuatro” was chosen as the events theme by the Santa Ana Business Council and MC Gallery – producers and organizers of the event.

A Chalk Art Contest will be in full swing as attendees stroll along Sycamore Street between 4th & 5th Street listening to a diverse selection of live music acts. Along with the contest and live entertainment, onlookers can shop at the various retail and art booths or grab a tasty treat at the food vender and food truck of their choice! Continue reading→

OCTA Annual Youth Buss Pass now available – ride for 65 cents a day!

Posted on by Posted in OCTA, Santa Ana, Transportation, Youth Activities Leave a comment

OCTA Santa Ana bus

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 30, 2014

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Joel Zlotnik (714) 560-5713; Eric Carpenter (714) 560-5697

OCTA Says ‘Hello, Summer’ With Return of Annual Youth Buss Pass

Pass holders can enjoy endless summer fun for just 65 cents per day

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority is ready to get summer started with the return of the perfect ride for youth 18 and under.

The $60 Summer Bus Pass provides residents with the opportunity to experience unlimited countywide bus riding on OCTA transit for a reduced rate from June 1 to Aug. 31.

In addition to unlimited service on fixed-route buses, pass holders will also enjoy discounts on more than 20 entertainment destinations throughout the county, including Boomers, Medieval Times and the Discovery Science Center. Continue reading→

Man convicted of pimping a young woman in Santa Ana

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

Raphael Jared Scally

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF1958: May 30, 2014

MAN SENTENCED FOR PIMPING AND PANDERING WOMAN FOLLOWING TRAFFIC STOP BY UNDERCOVER OFFICERS

*One co-defendant faces trial at a later date. A third co-defendant in the vehicle was sentenced

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to six years in state prison for pimping and pandering a woman after being stopped by undercover Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers. Raphael Jared Scally, 28, Hesperia, was found guilty by a jury March 13, 2014, of one felony count each of pimping and pandering. Scally was also charged with a crime-bail-crime sentencing enhancement for a 2010 residential burglary case, for which the defendant was out of custody on bail at the time of this crime. That sentencing enhancement was found true today by the Court. He was sentenced to four years in state prison plus an additional two years stayed pending resolution of the 2010 residential burglary case.

Co-defendant Darryl Da Keis Gillard, 27, Hemet, is charged with two felony counts each of pimping and pandering with a sentencing enhancement for crime-bail-crime, indicating that the defendant was out of custody on bail for another felony (2010 residential burglary case) at the time of the crime. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of nine years and four months in state prison and is scheduled for jury trial June 17, 2014, at 8:45 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center. Continue reading→

Man who kidnapped and raped a woman in 2001 finally convicted

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange Leave a comment

Raul Moreno-Perez

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12CF1024: May 29, 2014

MAN LINKED THROUGH DNA TO 2001 COLD-CASE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF WOMAN HE KIDNAPPED FROM BUS STOP CONVICTED

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today for kidnapping a woman from a bus stop and forcibly sexually assaulting her in his car in a 2001 cold-case after being linked to the crime through DNA using the Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) local DNA database. Raul Moreno-Perez, 34, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of kidnapping to commit a sexual offense, forcible oral copulation, and sentencing enhancement allegations for increasing the risk of harm by kidnapping and kidnapping to commit a sexual offense were found true. He faces a maximum sentence of 34 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at his sentencing June 18, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-36, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Circumstances of the Sexual Assault

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2001, 19-year-old Jane Doe was waiting at a bus stop on Main Street in Orange. Moreno-Perez drove up in his vehicle and stopped his car near Jane Doe. He asked the victim if she wanted a ride and then drove away when she declined. Continue reading→

JSerra Catholic H.S. teacher convicted of having sex with a 14-year old student

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Orange County Leave a comment

Ricardo Aldana

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 12HF0258: May 29, 2014

FORMER TEACHER CONVICTED OF UNLAWFUL SEX ACTS WITH 14-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AFTER SNEAKING HER PAST ROOMMATES

SANTA ANA – A former JSerra Catholic High School (JSerra) teacher was convicted by a jury today of engaging in unlawful sex acts with a 14-year-old girl he met at the school. Ricardo Aldana, 40, was found guilty by a jury of three felony counts of lewd acts on a child. He faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at his sentencing on July 11, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-34, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Aldana was a Spanish teacher and boys’ soccer coach at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano. He met 13-year-old Jane Doe while she was a student at the school. He befriended the victim and gained her trust. Continue reading→

57-year old man convicted of having sex with a boy he met on Craigslist

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, OCDA, Orange County, Stanton Leave a comment

Mark Aime Brosseau

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10WF2381: May 30, 2014

57-YEAR-OLD MAN SENTENCED TO THREE YEARS IN PRISON FOR ENGAGING IN SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH 14-YEAR-OLD BOY HE MET ON CRAIGSLIST

FULLERTON – A 57-year-old man was sentenced today to three years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for engaging in illegal sexual conduct with a 14-year-old boy he met on Craigslist. Mark Aime Brosseau, Stanton, was found guilty by a jury Oct. 30, 2013, of one felony count each of lewd acts upon a child, contacting a child with the intent to commit lewd acts, and meeting a child with the intent to engage in lewd conduct.

On the night of Sept. 25, 2010, Brosseau parked his Ford pick-up truck in a parking structure at Bella Terra Mall in Huntington Beach and engaged in sexual conduct with 14-year-old John Doe in the vehicle. The defendant had previously met the victim on Craigslist in late June 2010. Continue reading→

Another drive by shooting results in the arrest of two gang members

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Dog Drive By

Two gang members were arrested Friday after reports of someone in an SUV firing gunshots at a passer-by in a Santa Ana neighborhood, police said, according to the OC Register.

Officers shortly after 9:30 a.m. responded to reports of a passenger in an SUV firing a handgun at a pedestrian or pedestrians near Daisy Avenue and Myrtle Street, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. He also said police were unable to locate any victims. Continue reading→

Who will run for Santa Ana Mayor if Pulido opts to retire in November?

Posted on by Posted in 2014 Elections, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Claudia Alvarez in action

I am hearing from several sources that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is quite serious about defending himself as he is investigated for various issues stemming from campaign finances and real estate shenanigans.  He is telling friends that his priority is his legal defense – so what if he ends up retiring from politics and not running again in November?  Who will run?

First term Santa Ana Councilman Roman Reyna is in but no one is taking him very seriously.  If Pulido pulls out you can expect much bigger names to jump in.

I am told that former Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, an Assistant Orange County District Attorney who currently serves on the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees, is already planning to run. Continue reading→

Santa Ana apartment murder victim identified as Victorino Cruz, 58

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Victorino Cruz

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Homicide Detectives identify victim in 5-28-2014 murder investigation – 1300 Block North Harbor Blvd

Victim: Victorino Cruz (58) Santa Ana

Detail: On 5-28-2014 at approximately 1:20 AM, patrol officers responded to the apartment complex located in the 1300 block of North Harbor Blvd. Residents of an apartment at that complex found their roommate deceased inside their apartment. Based on the suspicious circumstances of the death Homicide Detectives were called to the scene. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for May 30 at 1100 W. First St.

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime 1 Comment

SAPD DUI Checkpoint

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Police Department conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Fri, May 30th, 9:00PM to 3:00AM, 1100 W. First Street

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, May 30th, 2014. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 3:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1100 W. First 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→

SAUSD seniors got to showcase and sell their art at the Bowers Museum

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Students get rare opportunity to showcase their original art pieces at the Bowers Museum and sell their work like professional artists –

Foundation presents college scholarships to high school seniors

May 29, 2014 – When Santa Ana High School student Antonio Calderon learned that his drawing had received top honors – Best in Show – among all of the submitted art pieces by students throughout the Santa Ana Unified School District, his reaction was summed up in one word, “Incredible!” Antonio was among dozens of artists in grades K-12 who participated in the 2nd Annual Artspiration and Scholarship Awards Ceremony sponsored by the Santa Ana Public Schools Foundation (SAPSF) in partnership with the Santa Ana Unified School District. The event, held Wednesday, May 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. at the beautiful Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, provided students with an opportunity to showcase their talents to their family, friends, teachers, and the broader community. “It says a lot about the talents of our young people to have their artwork on display at the Bowers Museum,” said Rob Richardson, President of SAPSF and member of the Santa Ana Unified School District Board of Education. Continue reading→

The SAPD arrests a man suspected in an apartment complex murder

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment
Salvador Barragan

Salvador Barragan

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Homicide Detectives arrest suspect in murder investigation – 1300 Block North Harbor Blvd

Detail: On 5-28-2014 at approximately 1:20 AM, patrol officers responded to the apartment complex located in the 1300 block of North Harbor Blvd. Residents of an apartment at that complex found their roommate deceased inside their apartment. Based on the suspicious circumstances of the death Homicide Detectives were called to the scene.

As part of their ongoing investigation Homicide Detectives contacted and interviewed an acquaintance of the victim, Salvador Barragan (37) Anaheim. Continue reading→

Pulido lawyers up – should the Council Members do so as well?

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, David Benavides, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 9 Comments
Mayor Miguel Pulido

Mayor Miguel Pulido

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido has received at least $25,000 in contributions toward a legal defense fund that he established in January as he is being investigated by the state’s political watchdog agency, according to the OC Register.

The “Miguel Pulido Legal Defense Fund” was set up in January, shortly after City Attorney Sonia Carvalho began investigating a real estate swap involving Pulido that ethics experts say looks like a bribe and could have violated state conflict of interest laws, according to the Voice of OC.

My sources tell he that a few of the Santa Ana Council Members may want to set up legal defense funds of their own.  One pajarito in particular told me last week that the FBI is looking at conflict of interest by the Council Members with regard to real estate development on Bristol and Seventeenth and at the property formerly known as the Honer Plaza which is now called the Bristol Marketplace. Continue reading→