New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: April 2015

Another bloody Sunday in Santa Ana as a man is found slain by El Salvador Park

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 12 Comments

It was another bloody Sunday in Santa Ana today as SAPD officers found a dead middle-aged man, who is thought to have been murdered, just before 2 p.m. in a home in Santa Ana, at the 600 block of North Daisy Avenue, according to the O.C. Register.

The incident happened just south of El Salvador Park, in the Artesia-Pilar Neighborhood Association, in Santa Ana’s Ward 5, which is represented on the City Council by Councilman Roman Reyna. The SAPD headquarters is less than a mile away from where the dead man was found. Continue reading→

2015 O.C. May Day March set for May 1 at Sasscer Park in Santa Ana

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Entertainment, Santa Ana 2 Comments

The annual 2015 Santa Ana May Day march will take place on May 1, 2015, from 2 to 5 pm, at Sasscer Park, which is named after former SAPD police officer Nelson K. Sasscer, who was ambushed, shot and killed by a member of the Black Panthers way back in 1969.

Sasscer Park is located at Ross and 5th St., in Santa Ana.

The event is organized by the OC Mayday Coalition. Continue reading→

What the politicians had to say at the 2015 O.C. Victims’ Rights March & Rally

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Janet Nguyen, Michelle Steel, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Remarks for Orange County Victims’ Rights March & Rally

April 24, 2015

Tony Rackauckas:

Good Morning!

Every year we’ve had this event it’s been too hot. This year I prayed for cooler weather… I must have prayed just a little too hard.

Come rain or shine:

Remembering those we have lost, honoring those who have survived, and celebrating the tenacity and strength of the people who carry on the fight for justice – Welcome to the 7th Annual Orange County Victims’ Rights March & Rally. Continue reading→

Family of missing woman offers $5K reward

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Family of Missing Woman Offers $5K Reward

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (April 22, 2015) – The family of Erica Alonso, missing since February 15, 2015, has offered a $5K reward for information leading to her whereabouts. Alonso went missing early on the morning of Sunday, February 15, 2015, after leaving her boyfriend’s house in the city of Irvine. She is believed to have driven away in her 2014 Honda Civic, which has since been located in the city of Aliso Viejo, approximately one mile from her residence.

Alonso’s family has remained hopeful and active in support of investigators’ efforts to distribute information about the missing person case. Over the course of the last several weeks the family has raised funds to be able to offer a reward. After raising approximately $3K, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department reserve deputy donated the final $2K in order to reach the $5K goal. Continue reading→

Bicyclists are invited to participate in the OCTA’s Bike Month events

Posted on April 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Bicycles, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 22, 2015

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

Get Rolling for Bike Month

Bicyclists are invited to participate in OCTA’s Bike Month events

ORANGE – Bicyclists of all ages can improve their health, help the environment and cut the cost of driving by celebrating Bike Month with the Orange County Transportation Authority.

Bike Month was established nearly 60 years ago to showcase the benefits of bicycling and to encourage more people to try it. Those who pledge to participate in Bike Month in May at www.OCBikeMonth.com will be entered for a chance to win a free bike. Continue reading→

Santa Ana healthy eating event set for April 29 in DTSA

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Family, Food, Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Career College of California (CCC) is hosting a Family Healthy Eating Event in Santa Ana on Wednesday, April 29th, 2015, from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM.

Learn how to eat right, cook healthy, and get your whole family in shape! Continue reading→

O.C. Clerk Recorder special Saturday hours planned for this Saturday

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in OC Clerk-Recorder, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Clerk Recorder Special Saturday Hours Planned for April 25th

By OC Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

Plan now to take advantage of special Saturday hours available at the Orange County Clerk Recorder Department on Saturday, April 25th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old County Courthouse in Santa Ana and the department’s branch offices in Fullerton and Laguna Hills. Appointments are filling fast.

The Old County Courthouse will be offering marriage licenses, civil wedding ceremonies and passport application services only. Copies of property records and birth, death and marriage certificates will be available at the Laguna Hills and Fullerton branch offices, as well as obtaining marriage licenses and civil wedding ceremonies. Please note that the department’s South County branch office in Laguna Hills is now offering passport services. Free parking will be available at all three locations. Continue reading→

Yet another gang related shooting happened last night, near Willard Intermediate School

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Is Santa Ana on the verge of a gang war? Yet another shooting took place last night, on Thursday, when a man was shot in the legs by a rival gang member, according to the O.C. Register.

SAPD officers responded at around 7:30 pm, to the corner of North Durant and 15th Streets, where the man had been injured while he was riding a bicycle.

Apparently the man looked at another fellow, who was across the street. That other man turned out to be a member of some other gang. He pulled out a gun and shot several times at the man on the bike, who tried to get away. Continue reading→

Comedy show to benefit German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County on 5/16

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Comedy, Garden Grove, Orange County, Pets Leave a comment

German Shepherd Rescue of Orange County is hosting a Comedy Night on Saturday, May 16, 2015, at 6:30 pm, at the Elks Club in Garden Grove, located at 11551 Trask Ave, in Garden Grove.

The headliner will be Jodi Miller, of America’s Got Talent, Comedy Unleashed, Comedy Central and TRU TV. Also appearing will be Sean Williams, Mike Cano, Laniea D. and Paula Faust. Continue reading→

Santa Ana 2015 Pitch, Hit & Run Competition set for April 25

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Baseball, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: 2015 Pitch, Hit & Run Competition – Saturday, April 25th at Jerome Park / Competencia de Lanzar, Batear y Correr

The City of Santa Ana’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Agency Youth Sports Program is proud to be a host site for the 2015 Pitch, Hit & Run competition. The Pitch, Hit & Run is the official skills competition of Major League Baseball. This grassroots program is designed to provide youngsters with an opportunity to participate – free of charge – in a competition that recognizes individual excellence in core baseball/softball skills.

The competition will take place on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Jerome Park between 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Boys and girls ages 7 – 14 can compete and will be divided into four age divisions: 7/8, 9/10, 11/12 and 13/14. All necessary equipment will be provided.

Participants will compete in three areas: Continue reading→

Santa Ana announces an artist grant opportunity

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Civic Affairs, Entertainment, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: INVESTING IN THE ARTIST GRANT OPPORTUNITY

The City of Santa Ana announces the “Investing in the Artist,” an exciting grant opportunity that serves as a catalyst to enhance Santa Ana’s vibrant local art scene. Grants will be awarded to artists living or creating in Santa Ana and organizations with an arts and culture focus serving Santa Ana communities. Awards will be funded in $5,000 or $10,000 increments with approximately $85,000 available for distribution.

“It’s exciting to launch this program designed for talented artists and organizations dedicated to furthering the vibrant arts movement in Santa Ana,” says Mayor Miguel Pulido. “This program provides resources for visionary work being created by our community and for our community,” he adds. Continue reading→

DUI driver charged with vehicular manslaughter after teenager killed in accident

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, OCDA, Orange County 2 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF0864

Date: April 23, 2015

DRUNKEN DRIVER CHARGED FOR ROLLING VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF 16-YEAR-OLD PASSENGER

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was charged today for crashing and rolling vehicle several times ejecting his 16-year-old passenger who died at the scene. Antonio Jesus Escamilla, 21, was charged today with one felony count of vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated without gross negligence, one felony count of driving under the influence causing bodily injury, one felony count of driving with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 percent or more causing bodily injury, and a sentencing enhancement for causing great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of six years in state prison. The defendant is scheduled for pre-trial on May 28, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 1:40 a.m. on Sept. 9, 2013, Escamilla is accused of driving a Honda Civic while under the influence of alcohol, traveling southbound on Santiago Canyon Road, north of Silverado Canyon Road in unincorporated Orange County. The defendant is accused of having three other passengers in his vehicle at the time, including 16-year-old Marie Johnson who was sitting in the right rear passenger seat. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for Saturday, April 25, at 500 W. Warner Ave.

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Sat., April 25th, 2015, 9PM – 3AM, area of 500 W. Warner Ave.

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Saturday, April 25th, 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. Warner Avenue, 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/Driver’s 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→

Man shot twice in drive by shooting near 2700 West California Street

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The increase in gang violence in Santa Ana hit a new high with what looked like another gang-related drive by shooting, this time on a street of mostly single-family homes on Wednesday night, according to the O.C. Register.

A guy was riding a bike near the 2700 block of West California Street in the evening, at around 8:15 pm, when someone in a dark-colored vehicle, going in the opposite direction, fired on him.

The man tried to get away by making a u-turn on his bike, but as you can imagine that didn’t work. He was shot at four or five times. Two of the bullets landed in his upper body. Continue reading→

Driver on meth convicted of hit and run crash that killed a cyclist

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Orange County, Tustin Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF1047

Date: April 21, 2015

DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING CYCLIST IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH

SANTA ANA – A driver was sentenced today to 11 years in state prison for driving under the influence of methamphetamine and killing a cyclist in a hit-and-run crash. Sommer Nicole Gonzales, 19, Tustin, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of hit and run with death, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of use and under the influence of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter.

At approximately 6:55 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2014, Gonzales drove under the influence of methamphetamine in her Toyota Corolla sedan southbound on Santiago Canyon Road, in unincorporated Orange County near Loma Ridge Road, and veered into the bike lane. She struck 21-year-old Joseph Robinson, who was lawfully riding his bike within the marked bike lane. Gonzales fled the scene without stopping to render any assistance to the victim or reporting the accident. A witness, who was driving in the vicinity of the hit and run, saw substantial damage to Gonzales’ vehicle and called 911 to give a description of her car. Continue reading→