Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Monthly Archives: December 2017

OC Sheriff’s Department investigators looking to ID home burglary crew

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https://www.facebook.com/OCSheriff/videos/10155578891389678/

OCSD Investigators looking to ID home burglary crew

ROSSMOOR, Ca. (Dec. 28, 2017) – Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department are looking to identify a three-man crew suspected of burglarizing multiple homes in recent weeks.

Three suspects caught on video Dec. 26 attempting to enter a home in the 2800 block of Tigertail Drive are believed to be connected to at least five burglaries in the unincorporated community of Rossmoor. Continue reading→

The OCDA used DNA evidence to stop a serial thief who left blood at a crime scene

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 17WF2856

Date: December 29, 2017

OCDA’S RAPID DNA PROGRAM STOPS SERIAL THIEF AFTER BLOOD FOUND AT CRIME SCENE CONNECTED DEFENDANT TO HIS PROFILE IN LOCAL DNA DATABASE

*Defendant is also charged with multiple Crime-Bail-Crime enhancements for thefts committed while out of custody

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) Rapid DNA program stopped a serial thief after blood found at a crime scene connected the defendant to his profile in the Local DNA Database. The defendant is also charged with multiple Crime-Bail-Crime enhancements for thefts committed while out of custody for other felony 2017 cases.

Defendant: David Navor Andrade, 26, Garden Grove

Charged today with the following: Continue reading→

Former Santa Ana postal worker gets 6 years in prison for selling stolen credit cards

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Former Postal Employee Sentenced to over 6 Years in Federal Prison for Selling at Least 6,240 Credit Cards Stolen from the U.S. Mail

SANTA ANA, California – A Garden Grove man who worked for the United States Postal Service for more than two decades was sentenced today to 75 months in federal prison for stealing thousands of credit cards from the U.S. Mail and selling the credit cards on the black market.

Chinh Vuong, 49, was sentenced by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney, who also ordered the defendant to pay $325,085 in restitution to Chase Bank USA and American Express. Continue reading→

Where you can legally buy recreational marijuana in Santa Ana on Jan. 1

Posted on by Posted in Drugs, Marijuana, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Santa Ana dispensaries will be able to sell marijuana to adults 21 and older with just an ID starting at 7 a.m. on New Year’s Day after the state issued last-minute licenses to shops on Saturday, Dec. 30, according to the O.C. Register.

While the State of California will legalize recreational cannabis sales on Jan. 1, because the voters approved this when they voted for Prop. 64 in 2016, only a few cities, including San Diego and the Coachella Valley, have passed local ordinances allowing for legal marijuana sales. The City of Los Angeles is still weeks away from getting local permits approved. The City of West Hollywood won’t let its local pot shops start selling marijuana until Jan. 2. Continue reading→

Update from the OC Treasurer/Tax Collector regarding the Federal Tax Changes

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Important Federal Tax Changes Relating to Property Taxes!

The new federal legislation relating to the deductibility of State and Local Taxes (SALT) greatly scales back how much state and local taxes can be deducted on federal income taxes in 2018. Under the 2017 federal law, the SALT deduction is unlimited. In the new legislation, taxpayers can only deduct up to $10,000, any combination of property, income or sales taxes. As the average secured property tax bill in fiscal year 2017-2018 is approximately $7,100, and California has both an income tax and sales tax, it is likely that many taxpayers would pay more than $10,000 in SALT next year.

Orange County Treasurer-Tax Collector Shari Freidenrich is encouraging taxpayers to check with their CPAs or financial advisors to see if paying the second installment of the fiscal year 2017-18 property taxes or any outstanding supplemental property taxes prior to December 31, 2017, makes financial sense. The second installment of secured property taxes is due on February 1 and late after April 10, 2018. Every year, we have many taxpayers that make both installment payments prior to the end of the calendar year. Continue reading→

Learn about the best education choices for your kids at the O.C. School Choice Fair on Jan. 27

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Learn about the many free Public School options available to Orange County Families at the upcoming 3rd Annual Orange County School Choice Fair, on Saturday, January 27, 2018, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at the MainPlace Mall, located at 2800 N Main St., in Santa Ana.

Meet educators from local District Public Schools, Public Charter Schools and Home Schools. And meet business partners that support public school choice options too. Continue reading→

Two L.A. men charged with pimping and pandering a teenager in Santa Ana

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 17CF3297

Date: December 29, 2017

TWO LOS ANGELES MEN CHARGED WITH PIMPING AND PANDERING 15-YEAR-OLD RUNAWAY GIRL IN ORANGE COUNTY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Two men from Los Angeles County were charged today with pimping and pandering a 15-year-old runaway girl in Orange County.

Defendant: Brandon Lamar Aaron, 29, Hawthorne

Felony Charges: Continue reading→

Three men led police on a pursuit from Fullerton and were arrested in Santa Ana last night

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You might have heard a commotion last night, Dec. 28, with police helicopters and lots of sirens, at the 5 Freeway. Turns out it was a police pursuit that led to the arrest of three men, according to the O.C. Register.

The incident began at around 8:20 p.m. when Fullerton police officers tried to pull over the suspects as they were driving a Dodge Ram truck, for a vehicle registration violation. This prompted the suspects to flee – and one of them three a handgun out of the window of the vehicle. Continue reading→

OC free tax prep event set for Feb. 3 at the Delhi Center

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City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: OC Free Tax Prep Event – Preparacion de Impuestos Sin Costo en OC

The City of Santa Ana in partnership with Orange County United Way and Citi Community Development invites you to participate in the Let’s Talk Taxes event on Saturday, February 3, 2018 from 10 am-1 pm at the Delhi Center, 505 E. Central Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92707. Get the help and information you need to keep more of your hard-earned money and build a strong financial future for your family. Continue reading→

The OC Streetcar project is now accepting construction bids to connect DTSA to Garden Grove

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OC Streetcar Rolls On with Invitation for Construction Bids

Invitation for pre-qualified firms to submit bids to build the OC Streetcar system in Santa Ana and Garden Grove moves project closer to breaking ground next year

ORANGE – Plans for Orange County’s first modern streetcar took another major step forward this month when the Orange County Transportation Authority board of directors approved the release of an invitation for bids to build the OC Streetcar.

The invitation for bids from contractors marks a significant milestone for the project as it begins the process to select a qualified contractor to build the 4.1-mile streetcar that will run through the heart of Orange County, in Santa Ana and Garden Grove. Continue reading→

The OC Sheriff is now complying with California’s new Sanctuary State law

Posted on by Posted in Crime, immigration, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Changes to OCSD custody procedures due to SB54 to take effect today

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Dec. 27, 2017) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is making several changes to its custody operations in light of recent legislation expected to take effect Jan. 1.

The most notable changes, which will be implemented starting today, Dec. 27, are expected in the department’s 287(g) program. They will be as follows: Continue reading→

The SAPD shot at a suspect they arrested at a traffic stop on Christmas Day

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While most of us were celebrating Christmas Day on Monday, SAPD police officers had to shoot at a suspect who they had stopped for a vehicle violation at about 1:43 p.m., at 11521 Salinaz Drive, in the area of Newhope St., south of Trask Ave., in Garden Grove, according to the O.C. Register.

No one was injured in the shooting.

The police were able to recover a firearm at the scene, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

Why is the City of Santa Ana misleading us about Hepatitis A cases in Orange County?

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Disease, Drugs, homeless, OC Health Care, Orange County, Robert Cortez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Is the city of Santa Ana telling us the truth about Hepatitis A?

A recent article on the homeless encampments in the Civic Center quotes Robert Cortez from the City Manager’s office:

“Cortez said city leaders are concerned about disease as a statewide outbreak of hepatitis that started in a San Diego homeless encampment and spread to Los Angeles and beyond. So far 672 have been reported statewide, but none in Orange County.” Continue reading→

OCTA to use $75,000 grant for bicyclist and pedestrian safety

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation 1 Comment

OCTA to Use $75,000 Grant for Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety

California Office of Traffic Safety grant will help fund safety training and materials

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for a year-long community program dedicated to bicycle-skills training and distribution of safety equipment for people walking and biking.

The aim of the program is to increase safety and reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. OCTA will use the funding as part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to deliver transportation solutions, including for active transportation – biking, walking and skating. Continue reading→

SAUSD police dept. swears in former student and presents a life saving award

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Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department Swears in Alumni Recruit, Also Presents Officer with Life Saving Award

Felix Rivera, a 2006 graduate of SAUSD’s Saddleback High School, was sworn in as an officer today, and Officer Brian Singer received the Life Saving Award

(Dec. 19, 2017) – The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Police Department today honored two of its own during a special recognition ceremony at the district office that was attended by Board of Education members, Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips, district leaders, police department staff, and other supporters. Continue reading→