A horrific car crash occurred today on McFadden between Jackson and Harbor at 12:34 p.m., according to the OCFA.
A white sedan struck a large truck head on. Two male adult passengers were transported to UCI in critical condition.
The Santa Ana PD is investigating. They have reportedly closed McFadden from Mohawk to Harbor.
SANTA ANA, Calif. – Two men have been charged with murder in the dragging death of a 32-year-old Santa Ana woman while attempting to steal her purse. A third suspect has been charged with robbery, according to the OCDA.
Gregory Anthony Walker, 19, of Los Angeles, and Giovanni Solomon Guy, 20, of Los Angeles, have been charged with one count each of murder with a special circumstance of murder in the commission of a robbery. Brad Maurice Brown, Jr., 19, of Hawthorne, has been charged with one felony count of robbery.
Walker and Guy face a minimum sentence of life without the possibility of parole. They are eligible for the death penalty. Brown faces a minimum sentence of two years if convicted of robbery.
At the time of the murder, Walker was out on bail on two felony counts of robbery, one felony count of receiving stolen property, and one felony count of burglary. Guy was out on bail on one felony count of robbery and one count of carrying a concealed firearm.
On May 8, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives were conducting surveillance on vehicle used in a robbery. While under surveillance, Walker, Guy, and Brown drove in a SUV to the Garden Grove Plaza near the intersection of Brookhurst Street and Westminster Boulevard in Garden Grove.
At approximately 9:45 a.m., Guy and Walker exited their vehicle and confronted Nga Ngoc Nguyen, 32, of Santa Ana and attempted to steal her purse. Walker is accused of grabbing Nguyen from behind and throwing her to the ground and grabbing her wristlet. The purse was wrapped around Nguyen’s wrist while Walker continued to drag Nguyen as he ran back to the SUV. Guy returned to the driver’s seat and ran over Nguyen, resulting in traumatic injuries.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives asked for assistance from the Garden Grove Police Department. Nguyen was transported to a local trauma center, where she was pronounced dead.
The suspects were arrested near the area of the 110 freeway and Century Boulevard in Los Angeles County after they abandoned their vehicle.
The investigation is on-going and anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Garden Grove Police Department Crimes Against Persons unit at 714-741-5839.
“The Orange County District Attorney is taken aback by the brutal and callous acts of the defendants which resulted in the death of Nga Nguyen,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office would like to extend its sincerest condolences to the loved ones of Nga Nguyen.”
Southern California Gas Company Pipeline Inspection Project – May Trigger Gas Smell Next Week
Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas®) will be performing an In-Line Inspection (ILI) on a segment of one of our natural gas transmission pipelines. This work is part of our system-wide plan to further enhance the safety of the pipelines.
Below is important information regarding the ILI work that will take place:
Anticipated start date: May 13, 2019
Work hours: Monday – Friday: 6:00am – 6:00pm (Weather and other factors permitting)
Work area: Intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Grand Avenue
Duration of work: Approximately 5 days to complete (Weather and other factors permitting)
What to expect:
This test involves performing an inline assessment of a high-pressure line, using an inspection tool. This survey is federally mandated per the Pipeline Safety Act of 2002.
At times, you may smell the odor of natural gas; although this is normal when crews are working, we encourage anyone who has concerns about the smell of gas to call SoCalGas from a safe location at 1-800-427-2200. This line is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
For more details, please visit: https://www.santa-ana.org/socalgas-pipeline-modernization-project-grand-avenue-chestnut-avenue
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 May 2 to May 10. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:
In a hearing yesterday at the Orange County Superior Court, Judge David Hoffer ruled in favor of Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), granting a temporary restraining order to stop the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) from withholding essential monthly state funding over a controversial dispute regarding back payments for special education services. This result is in compliance with the terms of the legally binding charter agreement.
“We are very pleased with the court ruling today. Now, the legal counsel of both parties can focus on finding a solution to the original disagreement, allowing OCSA to remain focused on providing exceptional educational programming for our students, without any immediate threat of losing funds,” stated Ralph Opacic, Ed.D, founder and executive director of OCSA.
The Orange County School of the Arts (“OCSA”) filed the complaint with the Orange County Superior Court against the Santa Ana Unified School District (“SAUSD”) in order to prevent the SAUSD from withholding state funding from OCSA.
Four additional charter schools in Santa Ana: Nova Academy, El Sol Science and Arts Academy of Santa Ana, Orange County Elementary Educational Arts Academy and Edward B. Cole, Sr. Academy have also been similarly threatened by the SAUSD.
In March of this year, the SAUSD informed the schools that in their opinion, the schools, from 2002 to the present, failed to contribute an “equitable share” for district-wide special education costs (under the Special Education Local Plan Areas or “SELPA”). The SAUSD sent invoices to each school, purportedly representing their shortfalls in contributions from 2002-2019.
OCSA’s invoice was for $19,493,329! (The cumulative total invoices for the other schools combined is approximately $15 million.)
This issue has never been raised before by the SAUSD, including each year when the SAUSD reviews OCSA’s budgets and financial statements, nor each of the three times that OCSA’s charter was reauthorized. No documentation was provided and at no time in the last 19 years has the SAUSD indicated in any way that OCSA owed any amount in addition to the millions of dollars already received by the SAUSD as a result of OCSA’s participation in the SELPA.
Last month, the SAUSD alerted OCSA that they would start withholding funding to OCSA as of May 15, 2019 to offset what they think is owed (the $19,493,329). If this threat is followed through, it will cause OCSA and the other charter schools in the district significant financial distress that could impact programming to all students.
“We categorically think the SAUSD is wrong and their opinion is contrary to law and the terms of our charter agreement,” states Ralph Opacic, Ed.D., founder and executive director of OCSA. “We hope that the filing of this litigation will result in the SAUSD Board reconsidering the SAUSD staff’s position for the good of all concerned.”
“As Santa Ana’s largest charter school, we have always supported – financially, academically and emotionally, the needs of our special education students,” states Steven Wagner, OCSA’s chief operating officer. “We are proud of the contributions we have made to the SELPA over the years and have had every intention to continue doing so. However, should the SAUSD fail to reconsider their actions, we will have no choice but to leave this district’s SELPA and join another.”
OCSA has been a part of the SAUSD SELPA since it joined the district in 2000. The SAUSD receives dedicated state funding on OCSA’s behalf, which it uses to reimburse the costs of OCSA’s special education program, including personnel. The SAUSD retains any remaining funds, which can be used to support special education services for non-OCSA students in the district.
Over the past 19 years, under this agreement between the SAUSD and OCSA, SAUSD received and retained in excess of $11 million of state special education funding provided on OCSA’s behalf – above and beyond what was reimbursed to OCSA. The other charter schools are in similar situations, but at different amounts and percentages.
California’s Charter School Act declares that charter schools “are part of the Public School System” and, as such, entitled to full and fair funding “equal to the total funding that would be available to a similar school district serving a similar pupil population.” The bulk of Santa Ana’s charter school funding comes from a combination of grant ADA funding directly from the state in lieu of property tax payments.
About Orange County School of the Arts
Established in 1987, the nationally recognized Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) provides an unparalleled arts and academic education in a creative, challenging and nurturing environment to a diverse student body passionate about the arts, preparing them to reach their highest potential. As a tuition-free, donation-dependent public charter school, OCSA serves nearly 2,200 students in grades seven through 12, providing college-preparatory academics and pre-professional arts training through 15 different conservatory programs.
The U.S. Department of Education and National Endowment for the Arts have recognized OCSA as a model arts education program. OCSA has been recognized as an “Exceptional Charter School in Special Education” by the National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) in 2017 and 2018. OCSA’s Counseling Program is the first 7th-12th grade program in California to be named as a nationally Recognized American School Counselor Association Model Program (RAMP).
OCSA has been named as one of California’s Gold Ribbon Schools for 2017 and is an Arts Schools Network 2017-2022 Exemplary School. OCSA is consistently named one of America’s Best High Schools by U.S. News & World Report and ranked as one of the Best Charter High Schools in California by Niche. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). For additional information, visit www.ocsarts.net.
SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT
The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday May 10th, 2019. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2000 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 / 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 is.
The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.
All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
At Tuesday’s Board meeting, the Orange County Board of Supervisors declared May as Foster Care Month and highlighted the significant need for the community to get involved in order to provide loving homes for foster youth. Members of the Board presented a resolution to leaders of the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) for the Agency’s efforts to recruit qualified foster families, also known as resource families. The Board also honored local resource parents Melissa and Andrew Ferguson at the meeting.
In Orange County, there are more than 2,000 children and youth in foster care.
“Brighter outcomes are achieved when children have opportunities to grow and develop in a family setting,” said Fifth District Supervisor Lisa A. Bartlett, Chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. She continued, “We are committed to ensuring children are placed in family-based care whenever possible.”
Second District Supervisor Michelle Steel, Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, stated, “As a community, we share the responsibility to look after the safety, health and well-being of our children. We applaud those families who see the need and respond by selflessly opening up their homes and hearts to ensure children thrive.”
SSA is in the midst of implementing California’s Child Welfare Continuum of Care Reform (CCR), with the goal of improving the child welfare system by limiting group home placements and increasing utilization of home-based care for foster youth. Through CCR, increased emphasis is placed on locating resource families for foster youth.
“Resource parents are vital to children’s success because of their efforts to maintain strong connections with foster youth and their families,” said First District Supervisor Andrew Do. He continued, “As a community, we are grateful for the love and compassion our resource families, like the Fergusons, give generously to Orange County’s foster youth. Their positive impact cannot be understated.”
“While all children need safe, stable and nurturing family homes to thrive, our foster youth depend on the community for additional support. We are beyond grateful to the families who step up and provide this care for Orange County’s most vulnerable children,” said Third District Supervisor Donald P. Wagner.
Foster children range in age from infancy to late teens. Their backgrounds cross all ethnic and economic lines. Resource family homes are especially needed for teenagers, sibling sets and children with special medical, educational, behavioral or emotional challenges.
Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee remarked, “This month offers a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness of the needs that are faced by foster youth in our community year round.” He continued, “What these children need is a safe, stable and loving home.”
Fostering a child can be a challenging yet rewarding journey for families. Orange County resource families continue to express the value they find in providing safe homes for children. For more information on becoming a resource family, or other ways you can help our foster youth, please call (888) 871-KIDS or visit www.oc4kids.com.
The OC Fair & Event Center needs 1,300 seasonal workers to help people make memories at the 2019 OC Fair.
Jobs include everything from building exhibits to working as a costumed character, farm attendant or food safety inspector.
There are also a handful of year-round civil service jobs available, including an accounting officer and traffic and safety manager. Most positions that are currently open fall into the seasonal part-time category with numerous opportunities available in departments such as parking, security and admissions. There are jobs available for those who are interested in being a video editor, marketing coordinator, sign language interpreter or customer service representative.
With only about 150 year-round employees, the OC Fair & Event Center staff works hard to gear up for the busy summer season. Most seasonal jobs have been posted at ocfair.com/jobs and positions are available for people 16 and older. Hiring has begun for key jobs, with other start dates staggered toward the OC Fair, July 12-Aug. 11.
Perks include free admission to the OC Fair, the option to purchase up to 20 Fair tickets for $1 each for friends and family and the opportunity to win a Fair employee scholarship.
For more information, visit ocfair.com/jobs or contact the human resources department at 714-708-1563, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
About the OC Fair & Event Center
OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa is home to the annual OC Fair. Year-round attractions include Centennial Farm, Table of Dignity, Heroes Hall and Pacific Amphitheatre. Throughout the year events ranging from recreation shows to cultural festivals are held at the fairgrounds. More at ocfair.com.
Media Statement from SAUSD
Earlier this year, the Santa Ana Unified School District discovered that several charters under its authorization, including the Orange County School for the Arts, had not been making required contributions from their general fund revenue to support special education services for students with disabilities residing in Santa Ana, including those attending schools operated by the District and charter schools. California law and each of the charter school’s charters requires them to contribute a fair share of their general fund revenue to provide special education and related services needed by Santa Ana residents in excess of funding provided for those services from the state and federal government.
The Santa Ana Unified School District informed each charter school it has authorized that participates in its special education local plan area (SELPA) of this required contribution and sought to meet and work collaboratively with them to make the contribution required by law and their charters to students with disabilities residing in Santa Ana. The District expressed its goal to work collaboratively with our charter schools to ensure that the needs of all of our special education students are being met in accordance with existing laws and authorized charters. Contrary to OCSA’s statement, the District has not “threatened” all of its charters with withholding of property tax payments. When informed of its delinquency in making contribution to district wide special education cost that exceed funding, only OCSA responded by steadfastly refusing to make any contribution and confirming they never intended to make any contribution to special education costs in the past, the present or the future. OCSA took the position as they have in the current statement, that it should be able to make its contribution from special education funds instead of the general education revenue that must, by law and charter, be used to contribute. Despite the District’s willingness to work towards resolution without litigation, including a delay of withholding of property tax transfer authorized by their charter, OCSA chose instead to rush into court in pursuit of legal action against the District. It is for these reasons alone that OCSA has forced the invocation of terms referenced in its own charter requiring the withholding of payments.
The Santa Ana Unified School District continues to work collaboratively and amicably with the other charters who have not chosen to turn their backs on the needs of special education students in the Santa Ana Unified SELPA, as OCSA has decided to do. Although OCSA has the ability to make the contribution, with a fund balance in excess of $25 million in March, they refuse to make any contribution as required by law and their charter. After receiving notice from the District, OCSA transferred the funding out of the charter school’s balance, and are now claiming an inability to pay their obligation.
Simply put, OCSA has deliberately and systematically sought to avoid its legal obligation as a public charter school to contribute to excess costs all public schools bear in meeting the educational needs of special needs students. When approached in good faith to work out a fair settlement, they chose instead to expend their funds on court battles and not the needs of special education students. We believe that the children of Santa Ana deserve better.
Wanted Suspect: Rogelio Arteaga (49)
Suspect Rogelio Arteaga rented a vehicle from AVIS in 2016 and a vehicle from HERTZ in 2018, and failed to return both vehicles to the rental companies. Both vehicles have already been recovered. Arteaga has an outstanding $15,000 traffic bench warrant out of Orange County as of July 1, 2011.
Anyone with information on Arteaga’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective B. Romero at (714) 245-8529.
A woman found bound and gagged inside a vacant Santa Ana home on Tuesday afternoon lied about being kidnapped, officials said, but detectives were investigating whether she was a victim of false imprisonment, according to the O.C. Register.
The woman, who is homeless, told authorities earlier in the day that she was abducted hours earlier close to the bike trail near Rousselle Street.
But as detectives interviewed the woman, they began to find inconsistencies in her story, according to the L.A. Times.
The woman received medical attention after officers cut her loose. However, by Tuesday night, police had confirmed the woman had made up the kidnapping story and, in fact, she was a squatter. It’s unclear how the woman became bound and gag. Police say the woman, who was not immediately identified, could face criminal charges, according to Fox News.
Yesterday, May 7, 2019, a detective at the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) observed a suspicious man that appeared to be bleeding while holding a knife, walking toward the front doors of the PD. The detective walked over to make contact but the man fled on a bicycle eastbound toward Newport Boulevard. At about 1:37 p.m, officers nearby approached the area and the suspect ran into the Regency Inn lobby. It was reported that the man was bleeding from the arm, had made suicide threats, and was armed with a knife and a gun.
The suspect, later identified as David Abraham Deleal, 38, Costa Mesa, barricaded himself inside a room close to the lobby on the first floor. During that time, CMPD’s SWAT and its Crisis Negotiations Team, and Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue responded to the scene. Deleal caused a fire and smoke was seen coming from the room but Deleal extinguished the fire shortly thereafter.
CMPD evacuated the motel and set up a perimeter blocking Newport Boulevard northbound. Officers on the Crisis Negotiations Team made contact with Deleal and kept an open line of communication with him to resolve the incident safely and without harm to anyone. During the incident, Deleal broadcasted publicly for a short period of time on social media while holding what appeared to be a firearm.
At 6:57 p.m., Deleal came out of the Regency Inn and officers took him into custody. He was found to be in possession of a knife and a firearm, which was later confirmed to be an imitation firearm. Deleal was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated for self-inflicted wounds. He was subsequently released and booked on arson in an inhabited structure, battery against an officer, vandalism causing damage to property, exhibiting an imitation firearm in the presence of a peace officer, trespassing for refusal to leave the motel, and obstruction.
Suspect: Cornelio Chairez-Velasquez (37)
DNA evidence has identified the suspect in a brutal sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl. The assault occurred on November 24, 2018, as the victim sat on a park bench. Santa Ana Police responded to Cabrillo Park after midnight and found the victim beaten and sexually assaulted. Santa Ana Police Special Crimes detectives released a sketch of the suspect and sought help from the public. The case remained open as detectives followed up on several leads, but the suspect was never captured. Cornelio Chairez-Velasquez was recently identified as the suspect though DNA evidence.
Chairez-Velasquez has been in custody since he attacked a woman at a Santa Ana motel in January of 2019. In this case, Chairez-Velasquez attempted to sexually assault a woman before strangling her. Santa Ana Police were called to the scene and arrested Chairez-Velasquez. He was booked for attempt-murder and multiple sexual assault charges.
Chairez-Velasquez was still in custody at the Orange County Jail when he was identified as the suspect in the Cabrillo Park case. Rape and child molest charges have been added and he is currently held without bail.
Santa Ana Police Department Detectives believe there could be additional victims and ask anyone with information to contact Detective Corporal Maria Lopez at 714-245-8542, mlopez15@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
The heavy SAPD presence on E. Warner Ave. this afternoon turned out to be a horrifying tale.
An unidentified woman was found tied up and gagged inside a vacant home owned by the City of Santa Ana, according to KTLA.
A woman was found bound and gagged inside a vacant city-owned home in Santa Ana Tuesday, authorities said.
The woman was saved when a property manager noticed that the garage door at a vacant home located at 314 E. Warner Ave. was open and a padlock had been placed on the back door, according to the SAPD.
The property manager called the SAPD and the police officers who responded heard a person moaning from inside the vacant home.
The police officers found a woman who was tied up and gagged, inside the home. When they untied her she told them that she had been kidnapped by force and taken to that location, according to Fox News.
The police determined that the victim has not been sexually assaulted and was not physically harmed.
The police did not identify the woman. Nor did they release any information about the suspect or suspects or their motive.
Missing Person: Danielle Bechtloff (25) Transient
Description: Female, White, 5’4”, 147 lbs, Red Hair, Brown Eyes, last seen wearing black top with a gold zipper, black leggings, black shoes.
Location: Last seen on 5/1/19 at 1200 hours at 1030 W. Warner Avenue Santa Ana
Danielle Bechtloff was on a conservatorship and placed at Royal TRC where she was being treated for mental health disorders. Bechtloff has a long history of methamphetamine abuse.
Bechtloff was allowed to leave the facility on a 2-hour “buddy-pass” on 05/01/19. Bechtloff went AWOL and never returned.
Bechtloff is possibly with a male identified as Jesse Warren Sprague (37) Transient. Bechtloff and Sprague frequent Huntington Beach and live a transient lifestyle.
Please contact Detective Corporal Mike Judson with any information (714) 245-8331 or mjudson@santa-ana.org.