Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

The SAPD will crack down on cruisers once more this Easter Sunday

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Easter Cruiser Enforcement Program

Each Easter holiday, the City of Santa Ana experiences a high volume of unsanctioned cruising activity on Bristol St. This unsanctioned activity produces public safety concerns, numerous calls for service and grid-lock.

As with past years, the Santa Ana Police Department is taking pro-active measures to deter cruising activity throughout the city on Easter evening. Unfortunately, several city neighborhoods will be affected by the various street closures that will be established as a part of the anti-cruising effort. Continue reading→

Brazen gangbangers shoot one and pistol whip two at Centennial Park in broad daylight

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana 1 Comment

One of our readers reported yesterday on our Facebook page that there was a shooting at Centennial Park. Today that was verified by the O.C. Register as they reported that one man was shot and two others pistol-whipped by gangbangers at Centennial park on Tuesday afternoon.

The suspects, as many as six males, approached three 19-year-old men at the park, which is located at 3000 Edinger Ave., yesterday at around 4 p.m.  Then, as usual, the suspects asked the victims where they were from and gunfire ensued, leaving one victim wounded in his lower torso. Continue reading→

Community Policing forum for northeast Santa Ana residents set for March 30

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 19, 2016

West End Community Oriented Policing to present third Community Policing Forum for Santa Ana residents in North East District

Santa Ana, CA, – West End Community Oriented Policing, along with Connect-to-Council, will present the third Community Policing forum for the residents of Santa Ana. This forum will offer residents the opportunity to provide their input and assist in creating a community policing plan for Santa Ana. At the previous forums in January and February, some participants suggested that SAPD should build stronger partnerships with the community and faith-based organizations. Other suggestions are being solicited and the public is invited to share input. There are two more forums scheduled for the remaining policing districts (North East, and South East) in Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The SAPD had to be called in on Saturday at Santa Ana College when campus security was MIA

Posted on by Posted in Claudia Alvarez, Crime, Education, Santa Ana 10 Comments

An unidentified suspect described as a 6-foot tall Caucasian male between 50-60 years old terrorized a classroom at Santa Ana College on Saturday and prompted a professor to call 911 after campus security failed to answer his calls, according to the campus newspaper, El Don.

Communication Studies Professor Vera Holder took action after the suspect entered the C-Building on the east side of SAC’s main campus. Holder was teaching a class and leading a Communications Club meeting at around 4 p.m., at the time. Holder did not recognize the suspect so she asked him if he needed help.  Continue reading→

Santa Ana man arrested in Costa Mesa after allegedly attacking a police officer

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Costa Mesa, Crime, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Yeison Alvarez-Perez, a 21-year old resident of Santa Ana, was arrested today on suspicion of being drunk and he was also accused of attacking a police officer, according to the O.C. Register.

The police were called to the Crown Plaza Hotel, located at 3131 Bristol St., at around 2:30 a.m. after two men and a woman were seen drinking alcohol nearby, according to the Costa Mesa Police. Continue reading→

Costa Mesa officer attacked and bitten by a suspect at a women’s addiction recovery home

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A Costa Mesa police officer was attacked and bitten by a suspect on Saturday night, at around 11 p.m., at The Lynn House, an addiction recovery home for women in the 2700 block of Cibola Avenue, according to the O.C. Register.

Police officers arrived at the recovery home to look into an alleged attack by a female on a staffer, with a fire poker.

Police at the scene found a 25-year-old woman named Kristen Scali, from Massachusetts, who appeared to be under the influence of a stimulant narcotic. Continue reading→

Stabbing attack confirmed at the parking lot of Big Saver Foods on Friday night

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana Leave a comment

As we reported last night on our Facebook page, a victim was stabbed at the parking lot of Big Saver Foods, at 420 W. 17th St., as corroborated by the O.C. Register today.

The victim had multiple stab wounds and was in critical condition this evening. Continue reading→

Investigators seek additional victims of sexual assault suspect from Orange

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange, Villa Park 1 Comment

Investigators Seek Additional Victims of Sexual Assault Suspect

VILLA PARK, Calif. (March 18, 2016) – On Friday, March 18, 2016, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victim’s Detail investigators arrested Jared Jonah Linares, 18, Orange, following allegations he sexually assaulted two female high school students at Villa Park High School. Linares is currently a student at Villa Park High School.

On Thursday, March 17, 2016, the Villa Park High School Resource Officer obtained information about the alleged sexual assaults. The Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Detail responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation. Based on information obtained during two days of investigation, investigators suspect Linares sexually assaulted two female high school students within the last year. Continue reading→

The SAPD identifies serial sexual battery suspect Carlos Olivares

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Identify Sexual Battery Suspect

On February 19, 2016, the Santa Ana Police Department released video of a subject wanted in connection with three sexual batteries. Each of the batteries involved a lone female walking during evening hours in Santa Ana. The male suspect engaged the women in conversation before assaulting them.

Based on tips from concerned community members who had seen the news broadcasts, Santa Ana Police Special Crimes Detectives were able to identify Carlos Olivares as the alleged perpetrator. Further corroboration was received on 3/8/16, when the Orange County Crime Lab reported DNA found on the clothing of one of the victims is consistent with that of Olivares. Continue reading→

Suspect in theft of Buddhist statues arrested on South Harbor Blvd.

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, Little Saigon, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: UPDATE – SAPD Detectives Request Assistance In Locating Suspect Wanted In Theft Of Buddhist Statues

On 03/18/16 detectives received information that suspect Trang Thu Pham was in the 900 block of South Harbor Blvd. Detectives contacted Pham and she was placed in custody for the no bail probation violation warrant.

Pham was transported to SAPD where she was interviewed by detectives reference the current allegations. Based on that interview she was booked into the SAPD Jail for two counts of Grand Theft and the no bail warrant. Continue reading→

SAUSD Trustee Valerie Amezcua flew to DC to learn about school governance

Posted on by Posted in Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD 4 Comments

SAUSD’s Valerie Amezcua Joined NALEO Educational Fund and Latino Policymakers in Nation’s Capital for Policy Institute on School Governance

Two-day event equipped Amezcua and more than 40 other Latino officials with the skills and information needed to advance student success in their communities

(Santa Ana, CA) – Santa Ana Unified School District’s Board of Education Clerk Valerie Amezcua joined the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, the nation’s preeminent Latino leadership organization, and more than 40 other Latino school board members and trustees from across the country for the group’s National Policy Institute on School Governance.

The two-day Institute, held from March 15-16, 2016 in Washington D.C., focused on providing Latino public servants with the enhanced capacity and governance skills needed to become effective advocates for their students, families and communities. During the event, Amezcua and other participants had the opportunity to engage with leading education experts from the public, private and non-profit sectors who tackled pressing education policy and governance topics. Continue reading→

Don’t drink and drive on St. Patrick’s Day

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Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving

Keep the streets safe this St. Patrick’s Day! Don’t drink and drive

SANTA ANA, Calif. (March 17, 2016) – As one of the country’s most popular holidays, St. Patrick’s Day has long celebrated the roots of 34.2 million Americans with Irish ancestry, and many more who just want to partake in the festivities. This year, if you’ll be drinking alcohol, remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

Tragically, March 17th has become one of the nation’s deadliest holidays. In fact, from 2010 to 2014, almost three-fourths of the drunk-driving fatalities during this holiday period involved drivers who were well above the .08 limit, with 266 drunk-driving fatalities nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s DUI Task Force will be deploying extra officers on overtime targeting problem areas with high numbers of DUI collisions and DUI arrests. These DUI patrols along with routine nightly patrols will be looking for the tell-tale signs of impaired driving. Continue reading→

Female suspect allegedly steals Buddhist statues from a temple she vandalized before

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Request Assistance In Locating Suspect Wanted In Theft Of Buddhist Statues

On February 26, 2016, the Chua Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhist Temple located at 1924 West 2nd street had two of its Buddhist statues stolen from their property. Surveillance video recorded a female removing two statues (each about 2 feet tall) from a shrine adjacent to the sidewalk in front of the temple. The same female suspect returned to the temple on March 6th, 2016 and stole a third statue. Each statue is valued at $1,000.

After viewing surveillance video, the victim recognized the suspect as the same suspect that was arrested in 2015 for vandalizing another temple. The victim remembered the media coverage from the previous incident and searched the Internet for the story. Continue reading→

25-year-old woman killed in a gang shooting near St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Vanessa Elizabeth Rodriguez, a 25-year-old woman, was killed late Wednesday night in a gang-related shooting inside a residential garage behind a Catholic church the west alley of the 700 block of North Lacy Street, according to the O.C. Register.

The SAPD said that two suspects entered an alley, pulled open a garage door and began shooting at the three people inside, hitting all of them, according to ABC News.

The victim was shot inside a single-car garage that had been converted into a living space , at around 11:30 p.m. Continue reading→

22nd annual SAUSD Parent Conference set for March 19

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Contact:

Deidra Powell Williams (714) 558-5555

SAUSD Parent Conference to Provide Valuable Resources for Student Success

(March 16, 2016) – Parents of the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) are invited to attend the 22nd Annual Parent Conference on Saturday, March 19, 2016, at Villa Fundamental Intermediate School, located at 1441 East Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701. This year’s theme is SAUSD – Investing in the Future because students are our future leaders and citizens of tomorrow.

The event will feature a host of workshops and seminars, and community resources that are specifically designed to aid parents in supporting their student’s success. This event is free, and transportation is being provided from each school in the district to the location. Please visit the Santa Ana Unified School District website at www.sausd.us for pick up times. Continue reading→