Art Pedroza

Mother’s Market to celebrate their 37th anniversary at their Santa Ana store on 10/17

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Entertainment, Family, Food, music, Santa Ana Leave a comment

For Immediate Release

MOTHER’S MARKET & KITCHEN CELEBRATES 37TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL PUBLIC EVENT SATURDAY, OCT. 17

Public Invited to Join Free Event with Drawings, Samples, Music, Face Painters and More

COSTA MESA and SANTA ANA, Calif., Oct. 7, 2015 – Mother’s Market & Kitchen, a natural and organic foods retailer with seven Orange County locations, will celebrate its 37th anniversary on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015 at the company’s Santa Ana store located at 151 E Memory Ln. The special event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

At the event, Mother’s Market will offer many free samples from various store categories, including supplements, body care, grocery, and produce, as well as from their own Mother’s Kitchen & Juice Bar. Continue reading→

Man convicted of having sex with underage Santa Ana girls and giving them meth

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, OCDA, Santa Ana 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14NF2910

Date: October 8, 2015

MAN CONVICTED OF HAVING UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH FOUR UNDERAGE GIRLS, PROVIDING THEM WITH DRUGS, AND TRAFFICKING THREE OF THE VICTIMS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted yesterday of having unlawful sexual intercourse with four underage girls, providing them with drugs and trafficking three of the victims. Daryl Anthony Hicks, 57, Midway City, was convicted by a jury yesterday Oct. 7, 2015, of three felony counts of human trafficking of a minor, four felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon, three felony counts of furnishing a controlled substance to a minor, and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. He faces a maximum sentence of 26 years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sexual registration at his sentencing Oct. 30, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Circumstances of the Case

Between February 2014 and July 2014, Hicks met 16-year-old Jane Doe 1 and 17-year-old Jane Doe 2 in Santa Ana. Hicks knew the victims were minors and gave them methamphetamine on multiple occasions, paid Jane Doe 2 to undress and took illegal nude photographs of her, and paid the victims for sex on multiple occasions. Continue reading→

Former Mrs. Orange County arrested on child porn charges

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Military, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org

ICE Public Affairs, 949.360.3096, Virginia.C.Kice@ice.dhs.gov

Investigators Seeking Additional Victims of Child Pornography Suspect

SANTA ANA, Calif. (October 8, 2015) – Special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested an Irvine woman Wednesday who formerly held the title of “Mrs. Orange County” on state charges for producing and distributing child pornography. The investigation was initiated following information obtained from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).

Meghan Breanna Alt, 25, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon in San Diego County by investigators assigned to the multi-agency Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF). Alt is suspected of using a 4-year-old family member to manufacture child pornography and electronically distribute it for financial gain and/or gifts. Continue reading→

Low income kids have a chance to audition at the Wooden Floor on Oct. 17

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Dance, Entertainment, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Wooden Floor’s 2014 Auditions

The Wooden Floor, an arts-based youth development nonprofit, is hoping for a large turnout of low-income, primarily Latino families, on Saturday, October 17, 2015, as it opens its doors for its Annual Auditions Day. In order to reach the students who need The Wooden Floor’s services the most, word is spread throughout the community about the opportunity to join The Wooden Floor.

A privately-funded nonprofit organization, The Wooden Floor uses a successful model of strategically-integrating intensive dance education with academic programs, college and career readiness programs, and family support services to help students change the way they think about themselves and aspire beyond the grip of the poverty cycle. Since 2005, 100 percent of The Wooden Floor’s graduates have finished high school on time and immediately enrolled in college-something done by only about 45 percent of their socioeconomic peers. Continue reading→

Man kidnapped by two suspects and forced to withdraw cash from a bank

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A 65-year-old man was walking in the 100 block of South Clara Street at 11:45 a.m. today when another man approached him and somehow convinced him to get into a waiting vehicle, where a second man was waiting, according to the O.C. Register.

The two men drove their victim to a bank where one of the suspects walked inside, pretending to hold a handgun to the victim’s back. The suspect then compelled the victim to withdraw cash from the bank. Continue reading→

The SAPD SWAT team and the OCFA to train together at 4 Hutton Center Dr. on 10/9

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCFA, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Training Advisory: Santa Ana Police Department and Orange County Fire Authority Will Be Conducting Joint Training Exercise

On Friday, October 9, 2015 at about 1430 hrs. the Santa Ana Police Department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) will be conducting a training exercise at #4 Hutton Center Dr., a 10-story high rise office building. The property’s management team and security officers will interact with the SWAT Team throughout the exercise. Orange County Fire Authority will also be present and will take part in the exercise. The training is expected to last 6 to 7 hours. Continue reading→

Man attacked by four men who tried rob him a few blocks from the SAUSD’s HQ

Posted on October 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

A man was attacked and beaten up by four men during an attempted robbery at the 1600 block of East 4th Street at 8:50 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.

The man was walking home when he was surrounded by the four men, who demanded cash. The victim told them he had no money and they reacted by striking him from behind with what might have been a baseball bat. Then they set upon him, punching him repeatedly before they ran off west on 4th St. Continue reading→

The teachers’ union declares war on SAUSD Trustee Cecilia Iglesias

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Cecilia Iglesias, Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Susan Mercer 10 Comments

The Santa Ana Educators’ Association (SAEA) has declared war on SAUSD Trustee Cecilia Iglesias after she posted a comment on Facebook back in September.

Here is the comment Iglesias posted – that riled up the teachers’ union:

I disagree with the notion of a huge pay increase for teachers. In Santa Ana teachers with 10 years plus seniority are receiving an average of $95k / year + benefits for 180 days of instruction days. And a day is only 6 hours of work including lunch and nutrition.. which will only be 5 hours of instruction total. If you divide $95, 000 by 180 days = $527/ day and divide by 5 hours= $105 an hour. With that type of investment for our teachers I believe our students should be receiving high quality instruction and excelling academically.

Entry level for a teacher is $55k a year plus benefits for 6 months of instruction. If they teach summer school or tutor after school that is additional pay. So can you justify a huge salary increase????

Continue reading→

Man on Santa Ana’s Most Wanted list arrested in Tijuana

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, mexico, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Orange County Cold Case Homicide Task Force Arrests Fugitive On Santa Ana Police Department’s Most Wanted List

Suspect: BRAVO, Dennis (34)

Case #: SAPD # 01-17469, OC Court Case # 01CF1639

On April 21, 2001, Santa Ana Police officers responded to Plumbers Hall, 3904 West 1st Street, regarding a “shots fired” call. The officers located a victim who had been shot, in the abdomen, and critically injured. The victim was transported to the hospital. Continue reading→

Poll – Should City Manager David Cavazos be allowed to date his employees?

Posted on October 7, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Angelica Amezcua, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, David Cavazos, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Santa Ana City Manager David Cavazos in a letter released Tuesday night acknowledged having a romantic relationship with a city employee, according to the Voice of OC.

The whole mess came to the surface when Mayor Miguel Pulido “harshly criticized Cavazos for carrying on the relationship during a meeting with union leaders. The mayor went so far as to as to name the city employee in the meeting.” Continue reading→

Man stabbed while arguing with another man a half mile from the SAPD’s HQ

Posted on October 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Two men were arguing at the 1200 block of West Second Street, in Santa Ana, this evening at around 6:55 p.m., when one of them stabbed the other multiple times, according to the O.C. Register.

The stabbing victim was taken to the UCI Medical Center in Orange. While he was in serious condition he is expected to survive. Continue reading→

Walk-to-School Day set for Oct. 7 at Romero-Cruz Elementary School

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Education, Entertainment, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Fitness and Safety Promoted at Walk-to-School Day – October 7, 2015

Romero Cruz Elementary School in Santa Ana

Join the Santa Ana Unified School District, the Orange County Health Care Agency, the Santa Ana School Police and Santa Ana Police Department as they participate in the Annual International Walk to School Day. Students, parents, and community members will take part in this global event to bring awareness to the importance of practicing safe walking, biking, and traffic skills. In addition, participants will review ways to maintain secure routes before, during and after school hours throughout the city of Santa Ana, while promoting physical activity.

Walk to School day will be held throughout the city of Santa Ana; however, a program acknowledging participation throughout the school district will be held at Romero Cruz Elementary School at 8:15 a.m. Students, parents, staff, and friends will walk from surrounding neighborhoods between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 7:55 a.m. which is a perfect opportunity to capture video, photographs and interviews. Continue reading→

Former claims adjuster sentenced to 5 years in prison after defrauding two insurance companies

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Insurance, Orange County 2 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF4001

Date: October 5, 2015

FORMER INSURANCE CLAIMS ADJUSTER SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR DEFRAUDING OVER $400,000 FROM TWO INSURANCE COMPANIES

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former insurance claims adjuster was sentenced today to five years in state prison for defrauding over $418,000 from two insurance companies. Santos Aristires Rodriguez, 40, Monterey Park, pleaded guilty to a court offer today to 111 felony counts of insurance fraud written claim, two felony counts of grand theft, and sentencing enhancements for a pattern of related fraudulent felony conduct involving the taking of more than $100,000 but less than $500,000 and a taking exceeding $200,000. He is also expected to pay over $418,000 restitution in an upcoming court hearing. Continue reading→

Two teens shot in gang shooting just west of Santa Ana, in Garden Grove

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Garden Grove 2 Comments

A gang-related shooting took place on Friday afternoon at about 2:18 p.m. just a few blocks west of Santa Ana, at the 12600 block of Keel Avenue, in Garden Grove, according to the O.C. Register.

The Garden Grove Police Department responded to the shooting, at an apartment complex after a caller told them that two people had been shot. The police officers found the victims in the complex, near the playground. Continue reading→

Another senseless gang shooting kills a man near El Salvador Park

Posted on October 4, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Santa Ana 1 Comment

A man was shot and killed near El Salvador Park last night at the 700 block of North Western Ave., in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

The shooting was preceded by a question that often leads to violence – “where you from?”

The SAPD showed up at the scene and came across two unidentified males. One of them, whose age has not been revealed, had gunshot wounds in his abdomen and lower leg. He died at the scene. Continue reading→

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