New Santa Ana | Monthly Archives: February 2019

The SAPD is still looking for an armed robbery suspect from 2017

Posted on February 20, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

Advisory: Santa Ana PD is bringing back our #MostWantedWednesday series!

On October 18, 2017 Santa Ana PD detectives released pictures and video surveillance footage of an armed robbery that occurred at 617 E. 17th Street – Santiago Food Mart-76 Gas Station. This armed robbery suspect remains unidentified and we are requesting media and public assistance to get suspect identified.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE –

Location: 617 East 17th Street. Santiago Food Mart-76 Gas Station

Suspect: Male White, 40-45, 5’7” to 5’9” tall, 170-190 lbs., was wearing a black hoodie with “CALIFORNIA” on the front, blue jeans, beige baseball cap and a blue/white bandana around his neck.

On 10/17/17, at 9:50pm, the suspect entered the store and approached the two cashiers. The suspect quickly pulled out a silver and gray semi-auto handgun and a pink tote bag. The suspect pointed the firearm at the female cashier and ordered her to put the money from the registers into the bag. The cashiers complied with the suspects demands. The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction with the bag containing the money.

Surveillance Video:

Anyone with information identifying the suspect in this case is asked to contact Detective Greaver at (714) 245-8362 or DGreaver@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

The SAPD is searching for a vehicle used in a carjacking

Posted on February 19, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Request Assistance In Locating Vehicle Used In Carjacking

On 1-27-2019, SAPD officers handled a carjacking incident that occurred at Windsor Park, 2915 W. La Verne Ave. Two male suspects and a female suspect who was armed with a handgun took the victim’s vehicle at gunpoint.

On 1-28-2019, a male later identified as Alberto Beltran (30) was captured on camera dropping the victim’s vehicle off in the 300 block of S. Sullivan. He was then observed getting into the pictured gold Acura and fleeing the scene. On 2-14-19, Suspect Beltran who had been identified as one of the three suspects involved in the 1-27-2019 carjacking was arrested by SAPD Patrol Officers.

Video Surveillance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQaPascxLdA

SAPD Robbery Detectives are releasing pictures and video of the gold colored Acura, which was observed in the video picking up suspect Beltran as he dropped off the victim’s vehicle in the 300 block of S. Sullivan. Detectives believe the same vehicle may have been involved in the original carjacking and was possibly driven by one of the outstanding suspects.

The outstanding female suspect is described a Hispanic, 20’s, heavyset, dark-skinned, possibly multiple tattoos on her left arm and wearing glasses. She was armed with an unknown type of handgun, which is still outstanding. The additional male suspect is only describes as a male Hispanic in his 20’s.

Detectives are looking for assistance in locating the gold colored Acura and information on its owner. Anyone with information is asked to contact Robbery Detective Prewett at DPrewett@santa-ana.org or 714-245-8323.

The Santa Ana City Council will finally vote on the proposed luxury apartment development at 2525 Main St. on Tuesday night

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Editor Posted in Development, Housing, Planning, Santa Ana 8 Comments

The status of the proposed luxury apartment complex at 2525 Main St., in Santa Ana, will finally be resolved on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at this week’s Santa Ana City Council meeting, which will start at 5:45 p.m. This meeting will include a continuance of the public hearing that was held at the last City Council meeting, on Feb. 5. Click here to read the meeting agenda.

Those opposing this apartment development have devolved into an angry mob. They keep insisting that the project is too big and too dense however those arguments are not based in facts as the project’s Environmental Impact Report was very positive and the City of Santa Ana Planning Agency has recommended approval of this development.

What the NIMBYs are forgetting is that the project involves LUXURY APARTMENTS, not affordable housing. This is a great project that would fit right in down in Irvine or in Mission Viejo. We are very fortunate the developer is not pushing to put affordable housing on this site! He is however contributing to the city’s affordable housing fund.

The developer has already made a ton of concessions. If the City Council reduces the density of this project any further they will only be hurting their own tax revenues.

There is the rub – the City of Santa Ana absolutely needs the millions of dollars in development fees and taxes that this project will generate. Every single Councilman who voted for the new MOU with the SAPD better vote to approve this project.

Rejecting this project will send a terrible message to developers, who will in the future steer clear of our city altogether.

As for the naysayers who insist we don’t need luxury apartments, the fact is a major tech company is in negotiations to move into the One Broadway Plaza tower – which will allow the developer of that project to finally break ground. That means there will indeed be a vast demand for upscale apartments for the flock of millennials who will move here to work for that company.

Santa Ana needs more educated millennials. Remember that our local voters just voted to increase our sales and property taxes last November. Educated voters won’t do that!

As our kids finish school they will surely take their talents elsewhere if we don’t provide them with the type of apartments millennials are looking for.

As for the NIMBY’s traffic concerns I have to wonder why so many retired people are freaking out over traffic when they are retired – most of them barely drive any more.

What I expect is that the traffic and parking concerns, as reflected in the EIR, will not be an issue. The developer has already agreed to provide two parking spaces per unit plus extra guest parking. And the project won’t have an entrance on Edgewood, so the apartment residents will only enter and exit the project from Main St.

The trends here work in our favor. More and more millennials are working from home and are opting to walk, bike and use public transit.

Remember that this project will also be a boon to local businesses, such as the MainPlace Mall and the CityPlace Shopping Center. The money they spend will also contribute sales taxes to the City’s coffers.

And this project will at last settle the real problem in the Santiago Park neighborhood – the homeless riffraff that live in Santiago Creek and in Santiago Park. The developer has agreed to provide around the clock security to keep the park, the neighborhood and the apartments safe.

I cannot understand at this point why anyone would oppose this project. Finally, tomorrow night, we will find out if the City Council has the common sense to do the right thing and approve it.

The four victim’s of Sunday’s fatal DUI crash in Santa Ana have been identified

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Advisory: Update- Victims Identified – Quadruple Fatality – 4th Street & Tustin Ave

Driver: Jose Alberto Avila-Rosas (31 years of age)- Santa Ana

Passengers:

Ziomara Zaragoza (23) – Garden Grove
Antonio Alonso Santibanez (23) – Orange
Prisma Yuliana Montoya (34) – Santa Ana

Details:On Sunday February 17th, 2019 at 0229 hours, SAPD Officers were dispatched Code 3 (lights and sirens) to the area of ‪4th Street‬ and Tustin Avenue for a reported two vehicle traffic collision with both vehicles being overturned. The vehicles were found in the eastbound lanes of 4th west of Tustin. A calling party reported the occupants in a white Chevy Silverado were trapped and the vehicle was catching fire. An off-duty firefighter and his wife, an off-duty nurse, were passing by and stopped to render aid. Officers arrived on scene and found the occupants of the white truck unresponsive and trapped inside the vehicle. The driver of the black Jeep Wrangler was found lying in the roadway adjacent to the vehicle and was able speak to officers.

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and determined all four occupants of the white truck were deceased as a result of the collision. The 28-year-old driver of the black Jeep, identified as Vincent Michael Calvo of Buena Park, appeared to be extremely impaired at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries before being later released and arrested for suspicion of DUI. He faces four counts of murder as well as felony DUI.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) responded to the collision and handled the investigation. Investigators have secured surveillance video, which shows the black Jeep traveling westbound on ‪4th Street‬ and the white Chevrolet pickup truck traveling southbound on Tustin when the Jeep fails to stop for the red signal light before entering the intersection and broadsiding the truck. The investigation is on-going and anyone possibly having any information regarding this collision is asked to contact Collision Investigator – Corporal ‪Brett Nelson‬ at ‪(714) 245-8208‬.

The SAUSD will conduct a special school board election on Nov. 5

Posted on February 18, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2019 Elections, Angie Rosario Cano, Bruce T. Bauer, Carolyn Torres, Education, Elections, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

After two regular board meetings and four special board meetings, the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) was unable to fill the vacancy on their School Board that resulted from the election of SAUSD School Board Member Ceci Iglesias (R) to the Santa Ana City Council. As such, they did not meet the February 9 deadline under state law to fill the vacancy by appointment, and the County Superintendent of Schools must call a special election for SAUSD, according to the OC Political Blog.

The special election won’t happen any time soon. It has been set for Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The regular election for the next term for the same School Board seat will be less than a year later on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

On December 11, the SAUSD School Board voted to hold an appointment process. Applications were due January 3. As we previously disclosed a few individuals asked for applications but there were no replies from the SAUSD.

The School Board held a special meeting on January 8 to interview the 10 applicants. During that meeting, 2 applicants were ruled ineligible because they did not live in the School District boundaries, and 3 finalists were picked from the 8 eligible applicants, including Carolyn Torres, a very liberal public school teacher, and Bruce Bauer, an attorney who previously ran for the SAUSD School Board then announced after he lost that race that he was now identifying as a homosexual.

At three special SAUSD School Board meetings in January, the SAUSD School Board Board deadlocked 2-2 on the appointee for the vacancy, with Board Members Rigo Rodriguez and Alfonso Alvarez voting to appoint Torres and Board Members John Palacio and Valerie Amezcua voting to appoint Bauer. Because the SAUSD School Board Members were unable to pick a replacement for Iglesias in time the voters will now choose that candidate.

It should be noted that all of the current SAUSD School Board Members are liberal Democrats, as are Torres and Bauer. And all of these individuals are known shills for the public school teachers’ union. However about 40% of the local voters are registered as Decline to State voters and about 25-30% are Republicans. These voters have no representation on the SAUSD School Board.

Other local candidates who turned in applications to repace Iglesias included:

Shaulyn Barban (NPP), an 18-year-old high school senior
Irma Macias (D), a Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commissioner, who came in 6th in the 2018 election for City Council, Ward 2
Mark McLoughlin (D), a Santa Ana Planning Commissioner and former Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee, who came in 5th in the 2016 election for SAUSD
Jesus Montoya (D), a community college counselor
Gisela Contreras (R), an insurance brokerage account manager

It is very likely that Angie Cano, a Santa Ana Planning Commissioner who has run for the SAUSD School Board three times and came close to winning in 2016, according to Ballotpedia, will run again this November. She will likely be the only pro school choice candidate on the ballot. She would be our pick to replace Iglesias.

Interestingly if the Santa Ana City Council cannot figure out by March 31 who to appoint to replace Roman Reyna, who is resigning from the City Council effective March 1, then they too will have to put a Special Election to the voters. That election will be held concurrently with the SAUSD School Board Special Election, on Nov. 3.

The SAUSD School Board is seeking applicants for the Measure I Bond Oversight Committee

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana, SAUSD, Taxes Leave a comment

The SAUSD Board of Education seeks applications to fill 7 spots on the Bond Oversight Committee, which oversees the expenditure of Measure I funds and communicates its findings to the Board and the public. Deadline to apply is Feb. 19, 2019. Click here for more information.

ABOUT THE CITIZENS BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

State Law requires the appointment of a local Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee for Measure “I”. The purpose of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee is to:

Actively review and report on the expenditure of voter-approved bonds
Receive and review copies of annual performance and financial audits
Present an annual written report to the Board of Trustees
Education Code Section 15278 requires that the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee inform the public concerning the expenditure of revenues received from bond sales pursuant to Measure “I”. The Oversight Committee is comprised of individuals from local businesses, senior citizen organizations, organizations involved with schools, a bona fide tax payers’ organization, as well as involved parents of children residing in the Santa Ana School District.

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Education for the Santa Ana Unified School District seeks applications to fill a total of seven seats on the Bond Oversight Committee.

The purpose of the Bond Oversight Committee is to oversee the expenditure of Measure I funds and to communicate its findings to the Board and the public in order to promote the proper expenditure of school bond funds as voters intended and the efficient completion of projects.

One applicant will be chosen from each the following representative groups to serve a two-year term. Appointment to the Committee will require attendance at quarterly Committee meetings.

SAUSD parent
SAUSD parent: Active in PTA or in school site council
Active in a senior citizen organization
Active in the business community within the District
Active in a taxpayer’s organization
General member
General member

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of California, and reside within the district’s geographic boundaries. Applicants may not be an employee or official of the district, nor a vendor, contractor, or consultant of the District.

The Communications Office will be accepting the applications.

Applications may be accessed via this link or requested from the Communications office at (714)558-5555, or obtained at the Santa Ana School District office located at 1601 E Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

Please submit your application no later than 4:30 p.m. on February 19, 2019

A man was arrested after four people were killed in a suspected DUI crash in Santa Ana early this morning

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, OCFA, Santa Ana, SAPD 3 Comments

Four people died in a horrific traffic accident early this morning in Santa Ana when Vincent Michael Calvo, a 28-year-old Buena Park man, allegdly sped through a red light and struck another vehicle, in what police suspect was a DUI crash.

On Sunday February 17th, 2019 at 0229 hours, SAPD Officers were dispatched Code 3 (lights and sirens) to the area of ‪4th Street‬ and Tustin Avenue for a reported two vehicle traffic collision with both vehicles being overturned. The vehicles were found in the eastbound lanes of 4th west of Tustin.

A calling party reported the occupants in a white Chevy Silverado were trapped and the vehicle was catching fire. An off-duty firefighter and his wife, an off-duty nurse, were passing by and stopped to render aid. Officers arrived on scene and found the occupants of the white truck unresponsive and trapped inside the vehicle. The driver of the black Jeep Wrangler was found lying in the roadway adjacent to the vehicle and was able speak to officers, according to the SAPD.

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and determined all four occupants of the white truck were deceased as a result of the collision. The 28-year-old driver of the black Jeep, identified as Vincent Michael Calvo of Buena Park, appeared to be extremely impaired at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries before being later released and arrested for suspicion of DUI. He faces four counts of murder as well as felony DUI.

A 13-year-old boy put out a house fire with a garden hose early this morning in Santa Ana

Posted on February 16, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Fires, OCDA, Santa Ana 1 Comment

A 13-year-old boy saved the day early this morning when he grabbed a garden hose and extinguished a fire at a home located at the 4100 block of W. 5th St., in Santa Ana, according to the OCFA.

The boy took action after a smoke alarm sounded. Firefighters showed up at the scene at 6:06 a.m. and the fire was completely out by 6:14 a.m. The firefighters commended the boy for his quick action. They also credited two housemates for getting the victims out of the burning house.

One adult male in his 40s suffered critical burns and ad adult female in her 40s suffered moderate burns. They were taken to the UCI Burn Center.

Five people were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross stepped in to help them to relocate.

Details were not available regarding the cause of the fire.

This week’s Cochino List includes El Pollo Loco, Popeyes and Inka Grill

Posted on February 15, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Insects, OC Health Care, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of Feb. 7 to Feb. 14, 2019 . Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

Nam Giao Restaurant, 10145 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Cockroach infestation
Citrus Cafe, 1481 Edinger Ave., Tustin, Closed: Feb. 13, Reason: Cockroach infestation
Pho Quang Trung, 10072 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, Closed: Feb. 11, Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Feb. 12
Popeyes, 6948 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, Closed: Feb. 7, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 8
Inka Grill, 260 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, Closed: Feb. 8, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 8
El Pollo Loco, 88 Corporate Park, Irvine, Closed: Feb. 13, Reason: Ongoing foodborne illness investigation
The Cherry Pit, 749 W. Katella Ave., Orange, Closed: Feb. 7, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 8
Carl’s Jr., 701 S. Beach Blvd., La Habra, Closed: Feb. 13, Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Feb. 13
Sweet Elle Cafe, 7251 Warner Ave., Suite L, Huntington Beach, Closed: Feb. 13, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 14
Costless, 1403 E. Lambert Road, Suite F, La Habra, Closed: Feb. 11, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 13
Mini market at USA Gasoline, 4601 Campus Drive, Irvine, Closed: Feb. 11, Reason: Operating without a valid health permit
Orange Tei at Anaheim Packing House, 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 202-203, Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 7, Reason: Cockroach infestation. Reopened: Feb. 8
Oh Those Donuts, 1734 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, Closed: Feb. 7, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 9
Update: La Langosta at 13571 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, closed Feb. 6 because of a cockroach infestation, reopened Feb. 7.
Update: Tacos y Platillos de Mi Pueblo at 7032 Hazard St., Suite 2, Westminster, closed Feb. 5 for operating without a valid health permit, reopened Feb. 8
Update: A kitchen at Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, closed Feb. 5 because of a rodent infestation, reopened Feb. 14.

A man in his 20’s was found dead near the train tracks by W. Segerstrom this afternoon

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Santa Ana, SAPD 7 Comments

Advisory: Death Investigation – 3400 W. Segerstrom Ave. – Train Tracks

Today 2-14-2019 at 1:30 pm, SAPD Officers responded to 3400 block of W. Segerstrom Ave. regarding a possible deceased male located near the railroad tracks.

Officers located a deceased male Hispanic in his 20’s. Based on the suspicious circumstances Homicide Detectives have responded and have assumed investigation, which is ongoing.

Detectives are requesting anyone that saw any suspicious activity in the area of the 3400 block of W. Segerstrom today between the hours of 4:0 0am – 1:00 pm please call SAPD Homicide Section at (714)-245-8390.

Armory Shelters in Santa Ana and Fullerton Extend Hours Due to Rain

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Fullerton, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 14, 2019) – With coordination and support from the California Military Department, the Orange County Armory Emergency Shelter Program in Santa Ana and Fullerton is operating on a 24-hour basis beginning today through Saturday morning to provide shelter and protection to the homeless community during the current and predicted rain.

Due to the severe weather event in Orange County and the region, the County of Orange, in conjunction with Mercy House Living Centers Inc., is providing shelter services all day at the Santa Ana and Fullerton armories from Thursday, February 14 through Saturday morning, February 16 at 6 a.m. The armories are scheduled to resume regular operations the evening of Saturday, February 16 with operating hours from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Santa Ana and Fullerton armories provide a total of up to 400 beds per night. Individuals experiencing homelessness will receive a nutritious meal, a warm shower and a safe place to sleep.

In addition to the seasonal armories, the County operates the Courtyard Transitional Center in Santa Ana and Bridges at Kraemer Place in Anaheim. For additional information about the County’s shelters, visit the OC Housing & Community Development webpage.

Man who embezzled millions for a Santa Ana school facing felony charges

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Fraud, OCDA, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

MAN EXTRADITED FROM SPAIN TO FACE FRAUD CHARGES FOR EMBEZZLEMENT OF $3.2 MILLION FROM CHARTER SCHOOL IN SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was extradited from Spain to face fraud charges for embezzlement of $3.2 million in public funds from a charter school in Santa Ana. Emilio Vazquez, 61, Irvine, was charged on March 3, 2009, with one felony count of misappropriation of public funds, one felony count of forgery, seven felony counts of conflict of interest in a contract, two felony counts of grand theft, and sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $500,000 and fraud or embezzlement over $500,000. Vazquez faces a maximum sentence of 19 years and eight months in state prison. He is in custody on $3.12 million bail and must prove the money came from a legal source before posting bail. Vazquez is scheduled for a continued arraignment on Feb. 22, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

From 2002 to 2006, Vazquez was the executive director of Albor Charter School in Santa Ana. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and Franchise Tax Board investigated this case following an audit in 2007. Charges were filed in 2009 and an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Vazquez in the amount of $2 million dollars by the Orange County Superior Court on March 30, 2009.

Vazquez was located in Spain, and in September 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice submitted a request to Spain for his extradition. In April 2010, his extradition was approved for the above listed charges. While Vazquez was released on bail in Spain, he fled to China and was not surrendered to the United States.

Vazquez was deported from China to Spain in 2019 and surrendered to the United States Marshals pursuant to his extradition order. Vazquez arrived in Orange County on Feb. 8, 2019, and was booked into the Orange County Jail.

Deputy District Attorney Nick Miller of the Major Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.

Santa Ana man arrested on domestic violence and robbery charges

Posted on February 13, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Arrest Suspect For Domestic Violence and Attempted Robbery Case

On February 11, 2019, Santa Ana Police responded to a domestic violence call involving a 26 year-old woman and her 1 year-old son. The victim was attempting to take her child to the doctor when her boyfriend, 28 year-old Fernando Becerra, became upset and threatened to kill her and their son, then commit suicide. Becerra threatened the victim by brandishing a switchblade. Becerra had also repeatedly threatened to kill her while brandishing a handgun. The victim feared for her life and the life of her child and was placed in a shelter for her safety.

On February 12, 2019, at approximately 11:30 AM, Officer’s responded to a call of an armed robbery at 1801 S. Main Street (Mariscos Hector’s restaurant). The suspect, a male Hispanic adult, attempted to rob the business while brandishing a handgun. The suspect fled prior to officer’s arrival in a white Lexus sedan. While officers were viewing surveillance video of the crime, an employee at the restaurant recognized the suspect to be Becerra, the boyfriend of a co-worker. Becerra was also described as driving a white Lexus.

During the officer’s investigation, SAPD Communications Center received a call from Becerra claiming that his wife and child were abducted. Officers responded to the suspect’s residence located in the 2200 block of S. Broadway Street and detained Becerra for Robbery detectives.

SAPD Robbery Detectives responded and took over the investigation. Based on the information and evidence gathered, the Robbery detectives served a search warrant at Becerra’s residence. Detectives located a loaded handgun, a BB gun, and clothing used by the suspect during the attempted robbery.

Becerra was booked at the Orange County Jail for Domestic Violence and Criminal Threats and his bail has been set at $1,000,000.00. SAPD Robbery detectives have also submitted the Attempt Robbery case to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for filing.

The robbery suspect who was shot and killed at a Santa Ana tire shop was a gangbanger

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana, SAPD 8 Comments

Natanael Perez, a 17-year-old, has been identified as the suspect who was killed during a robbery attempt at a Santa Ana automotive business in which two of his alleged accomplices were also shot, according to the O.C. Register.

Perez was fatally shot just before 3:45 p.m. Sunday at Pro Audio Wheels and Tires at 2015 W. 17th St., according to the SAPD.

Our sources tell us that the shooter was the owner of the tire shop. The SAPD has not clarified or verified this. But they did say that they questioned the shooter.

Besides Perez two other robber suspects were shot and wounded. One of them is reportedly in grave condition while the other is expected to survive. The SAPD has not revealed their names or ages.

The SAPD indicated that Perez and his fellow suspected robbers were members of a street-gang. The SAPD is looking for additional suspects.

My sources also tell me that supporters of the suspects showed up at the tire store the day after the shooting and were looting the store until the police showed up and they took off.

A man was arrested after ramming an SAPD police vehicle with a stolen car

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in automobiles, Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

A man driving a stolen vehicle allegedly rammed a police vehicle while attempting to evade arrest in Santa Ana on Tuesday, Feb. 12, according to the O.C. Register.

The suspect was spotted in the stolen vehicle near the 2700 block of West McFadden Ave. at 2:23 p.m., according to the SAPD. The suspect sped off and the chase was on.

During the police pursuit the suspect, at one point, rammed his vehicle into a police vehicle.

The suspect was finally arrested at about 4 p.m., on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle and assaulting an officer.

The SAPD did not reveal the name of the suspect.

Fortunately no police officers were injured during the pursuit.