Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

Santa Ana Youth Talent Show set for August 11 at the Salgado Center

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City of Santa Ana

Community: Join Us As We Celebrate Our Talented Santa Ana Youth / Acompáñanos Para Celebrar Los Jóvenes Talentosos de Santa Ana

Join Us Under the Summer Sky As We Celebrate Our Talented Santa Ana Youth!

Join us for the 19th Annual Youth Talent Show taking place on Saturday, August 11, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Salgado Community Center. This annual tradition invites young participants from the City’s Summer Camp program to perform and share their creative talents with the community. This year’s theme is “Under the Summer Sky” and participants from Memorial, Santa Anita, Logan, Garfield, El Salvador, Salgado, and the Jerome recreational facilities have been working tirelessly throughout the summer to perfect their performances and are now ready to showcase them in this friendly citywide competition. Continue reading→

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint this Friday night

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, August 10th, in the area of 500 W. Warner St.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, August 10th, 2018. It will begin at 8:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 500 W. Warner Street, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Two local men on trial for the hit and run killing of a 9-year-old boy in Orange

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Crime, OCDA, Orange 2 Comments

Roderick Kent Jerro

Case # 15CF1773

Date: August 7, 2018

TWO MEN TO FACE TRIAL FOR FATAL HIT-AND-RUN AFTER SPEEDING THROUGH RED LIGHT AND KILLING 9-YEAR-OLD BOY IN CROSSWALK

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Two men are scheduled to face trial tomorrow for a fatal hit-and-run crash after speeding through a red light and killing a 9-year-old boy in a crosswalk.

Defendant: Roderick Kent Jerro, 53, Orange

Charged on Aug. 10, 2015, with the following felony counts: Continue reading→

Century H.S. volleyball coach facing 11 years in prison for alleged sex with three students

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, SAPD, SAUSD Leave a comment

Omar Rojas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 18CF2213

Date: Aug. 7, 2018

LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL COACH CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL SEXUAL INTERCOURSE WITH THREE MINOR STUDENTS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Law enforcement is seeking potential additional victims of a high school volleyball coach charged today with unlawful sexual intercourse with three minor students.

Defendant: Omar Rojas, 28, Santa Ana

Charged today with the following felony counts: Continue reading→

The SAPD is looking for a critical missing adult who needs his medication

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Victor De Jesus Munoz

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Currently Looking For a Critical Missing Male Adult – Requesting Public’s Assistance

Missing Person: Victor De Jesus Munoz (44) Santa Ana

Last seen wearing: Blue baseball cap, blue shirt, gray shorts, gray tennis shoes.

Location: last seen in the area of 1200 block of East Fairhaven Avenue

Munoz was last seen at his residence on 7/25/2018 by his caretaker. He suffers from Schizophrenia, is bipolar and takes daily medication for them. Munoz has not taken his medication since the day he went missing. He is known to frequent the 7-11 on Fairhaven and Grand Ave in Santa Ana. Munoz has been reported missing in the past and has a history of frequenting the following areas: Garden Grove Blvd and Euclid St (near commercial storefronts), Hart Park (city of Orange) and the Ralphs grocery store on Main Street and Chapman Avenue (Orange). Continue reading→

Santa Ana Unified School District’s statement on the arrest of Omar Rojas

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAPD, SAUSD Leave a comment

Omar Rojas

NEWS RELEASE

Santa Ana Unified School District’s Statement on the Arrest of Omar Rojas

SANTA ANA, CA (August 7, 2018) – Santa Ana Unified School District was notified, August 3, 2018 that Omar Rojas, a volleyball coach at Century High School and District Safety Officer at Sierra Preparatory Academy was arrested and booked for allegations of sexual misconduct with a former student of Century. These allegations are being taken seriously and are in direct conflict of the District’s zero-tolerance policy relating to staff misconduct, in which all district employees are held at the highest ethical standards. This includes reporting any suspicious activity involving abuse or neglect of a child directly to authorities, as mandated by law. Failure to do so is a criminal violation of the law. Continue reading→

Century High School volleyball coach and safety officer arrested on multiple sexual assault charges

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Omar Rojas

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: DETECTIVES ARREST HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL COACH & SAFETY OFFICER FOR MULTIPLE SEXUAL ASSAULT CHARGES

Arrestee: Omar Rojas (28) Santa Ana

Synopsis: A 28-year-old volleyball coach at Century High School was arrested for having sex with several minor students. Omar Rojas is also currently employed as a District Safety Officer for the Santa Ana Unified School District. Santa Ana Unified School District Police contacted the Santa Ana Police Department to report allegations that Rojas had sexual intercourse with several students.

Santa Ana Police Department Special Crimes Section Detectives commenced the investigation and concluded that the incidents occurred in 2015. Rojas was not a District Safety Officer when these crimes were committed. On numerous occasions, Rojas would have the victims excused from class in order to meet them for the purposes of engaging in sexual activity on campus. The victims were 17-years-old at the time and no longer students at Century High School. Continue reading→

Needle giveaway postponed after Orange County files lawsuit

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Needle Giveaway Postponed After Orange County Files Lawsuit

Santa Ana, CA – The Orange County Needle Exchange Program (OCNEP) has postponed its planned mobile needle giveaway program until September. This comes after the County of Orange filed a lawsuit on Friday and is planning to seek a temporary restraining order in court to block the program from beginning operation on Monday, August 6th.

In an interview with the Associated Press, OCNEP officials announced “they won’t start until September to have time to collaborate with local officials.” Continue reading→

UCI doctor charged with secretly filming guests who were using his home bathroom

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Health and Medical, irvine, OCDA, Orange Leave a comment

Duc Minh Vu, from Yelp

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 18CM06901

Date: Aug. 3, 2018

MEDICAL DOCTOR ARRAIGNED FOR SECRETLY FILMING GUESTS IN HIS BATHROOM

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A medical doctor was arraigned today after being charged with disorderly conduct for secretly filming guests in the bathroom at his home.

Defendant: Duc Minh Vu, 33, Orange

Charged with the following misdemeanor counts: Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes Lola Gaspar and El Tapatio

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, OC Health Care, 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 July 27 to Aug. 3, 2018. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Lola Gaspar, 211 W. Second St., Santa Ana, Closed: Aug. 2, Reason: Cockroach infestation
  • El Tapatio, 1214 E. Pomona St., Santa Ana, Closed: July 30, Reason: Rodent infestation
  • Phat Ky Mi Gia, 14140 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove, Closed: Aug. 1, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Aug. 2
  • Sichuan Impression, 13816 Red Hill Ave., Tustin, Closed: July 30, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: July 31

Continue reading→

A missing Santa Ana senior was found deceased in the Cleveland National Forest

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David James Wood

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: UPDATE – Critical Missing Adult Male Has Been Located

On 8-2-2018, at approximately 4:00 pm, SAPD Missing Persons Detectives were contacted by Orange County Sheriff’s Department personnel regarding the discovery of a deceased elderly male believed to be the Missing Person from our city. The decedent, David James Wood, was reported missing on 7/31/2018 at approximately 6:00 pm.

On 8-2-2018 at approximately 02:27 pm, OCSD communications received a call from a citizen who was off-roading in the Cleveland National Forest and informed them he had located the deceased male. Personnel from the Orange County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Office responded to the scene to handle the investigation, there is no indication of foul play. Continue reading→

Orange County Health Plan approves $10 million for homeless recuperative beds

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Homelessness: Orange County Health Plan Approves $10 Million for Homeless Recuperative Beds

Alleviates Burden on Emergency Rooms, Speeds up Recovery for Homeless Patients

Orange, California (August 2, 2018) – Orange County will soon get a much-needed boost in the number of recuperative medical beds for the homeless.

Under a plan, authored by Supervisor Andrew Do, Orange County’s health plan for low-income residents will dedicate $10 million towards additional recuperative care beds that help sick or injured homeless patients recover. Continue reading→

Orange County to file a lawsuit to stop the drug needle giveaway

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Orange County to File Lawsuit to Stop Drug Needle Giveaway

Santa Ana, California – Orange County has approved filing a lawsuit to stop a state-approved drug needle giveaway in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Orange and Santa Ana.

In an emergency meeting on Friday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved Board of Supervisors Chairman Andrew Do’s proposal to seek a legal injunction to stop the dangerous mobile needle giveaway, which is set to begin on Monday, August 6. Continue reading→

The SAPD is seeking public input as they craft a new policing philosophy

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, David Valentin, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: INVITATION BY POLICE CHIEF DAVID VALENTIN FOR COMMUNITY INPUT FOR DEPARTMENTS NEW POLICING PHILOSOPHY

Santa Ana Police Chief David Valentin invites you to a unique opportunity to provide input on establishing the Department’s Policing Philosophy. This invitation is centered on his open servant leadership approach to proving the best policing services possible for everyone in Santa Ana.

The Orange County Human Relations Commission will conduct four public meetings aimed at engaging residents and police officers in a joint effort to improve relationships and learn from each other about how to keep our families, friends and neighbors safe. Continue reading→