Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

A Santa Ana man was fatally shot while driving his SUV this morning

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Investigating Homicide – 3000 Block of West Fifth

Victim/Deceased: Erik Montes (27) Santa Ana

On Thursday, July 5, 2018, at 5:18 AM, police officers from the Santa Ana Police Department responded to reports of a traffic collision at 5th Street and the riverbed overpass.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a sports utility vehicle on 5th Street west of the riverbed where it came to rest following a collision. Officers found the unidentified driver, a Hispanic male in his late 20’s, unresponsive behind the wheel. Continue reading→

Family pleads for help to find the killer of a young man in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

The SAPD has released a video taken from social media showing a fight among several people and what they believe is a shot going off in the crowd at a party last month where Robert Silva, 18-years-old, was killed, according to the O.C. Register.

More than 100 people were thought to be at the party in question — mostly teenagers and young adults — but to date the SAPD has no witnesses and no description of the killer. Continue reading→

RSCCD Chancellor Raúl Rodriguez created a culture of racism at Santa Ana College

Posted on by Posted in Education, Politics, Raúl Rodríguez, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Exiting RSCC District Chancellor Raul Rodriguez

Santa Ana College: A Culture of Racism

By: Renee Miller

A recent article in the Harvard Business Review titled, “Leaders Can Shape Company Culture Through Their Behaviors” provides insight into a significant problem at Santa Ana College. It’s a problem that has no place in our society today, let alone an institution that serves our future generations.

The author, Jim Whitehurst, CEO of software company Red Hat, writes that culture is created by the actions of an organization’s leader. No better example is the embarrassing behavior of exiting RSCCD Chancellor Raul Rodriguez and how he enabled a culture of racism to envelop Santa Ana College. Continue reading→

Air quality will be very unhealthy today due to fireworks particulates

Posted on by Posted in Air Quality, Disease, Environment, Fires, Health and Medical, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SOUTH COAST AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT

PARTICULATE ADVISORY – Fireworks

Valid: Wednesday, July 4 through Thursday, July 5, 2018

Air quality is likely to reach unhealthful levels in areas throughout the South Coast Air Basin and in the Coachella Valley at times through July 5. Emissions from fireworks are expected to contribute to elevated levels of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), which can reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups air quality category, or higher, during and after the evening fireworks displays related to Independence Day celebrations. The firework emissions are expected to begin in the evening of Wednesday, July 4th with particulate levels expected to remain elevated through the morning of Thursday, July 5th.

The smoke and combustion products from fireworks add to the fine particles already present in the Basin that are primarily caused by motor vehicles, as well as fugitive dust and industrial emissions. Ozone concentrations are also expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups category or higher, in the afternoons and evenings through the holiday into the upcoming weekend in many inland areas.

SCAQMD Advisory updates can be found at the following link: Continue reading→

Santa Ana psychiatrist arrested for alleged illegal opioid prescriptions

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Federal Government, Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

Dr. Robert Perez’ office in Santa Ana

Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

O.C. Psychiatrist Arrested on Federal Charges Alleging Illegal Prescriptions for Opioids Without Medical Need

SANTA ANA, California – A psychiatrist who practices at a Santa Ana clinic has been arrested on federal charges that allege he issued prescriptions for dangerous and addictive narcotics, such as the opioid oxycodone, without a medical purpose.

Dr. Robert Tinoco Perez, 56, of Westminster, was arrested Friday by special agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana releases its 2018 holiday street sweeping and trash collection schedule

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Santa Ana, Street Sweeping, Waste Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: City of Santa Ana Holiday Street Sweeping and Trash Collection Schedule for 2018

As a reminder, please be aware that the City of Santa Ana does not provide street sweeping on City observed Holidays. The 2018 holiday street sweeping schedule is provided below for your information and includes the trash collection holiday schedule, which indicates the days where there will be a one-day collection delay.

To maximize street sweeping quality, please locate your trash cart on your curb, parkway or driveway when street sweeping and trash collection fall on the same day due to the holiday schedule.

2018 Calendar: Continue reading→

Where you can buy safe and sane fireworks in Santa Ana this year

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Santa Ana is one of a very few cities in Orange County where safe and sane fireworks are permitted on the 4th of July, which is coming up this week on Wednesday. Fireworks are on sale now! The City of Santa Ana has provided us with a list of the non-profit organizations that are selling fireworks this year in Santa Ana and their fireworks booth locations: Continue reading→

Former SAUSD School Board Trustee Nadia Lockyer was apparently arrested again last night

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, Nadia Lockyer, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD 1 Comment

Former SAUSD School Board Trustee Nadia Maria Davis Lockyer, who went on to marry former CA State Treasurer Bill Lockyer (who was old enough to be her grandfather) and got elected to a County Board of Supervisors in the Bay Area is in trouble yet again. She was apparently arrested last night in Huntington Beach, according to the Huntington Beach Police arrest log.

The HB Police arrest log indicates that Davis Lockyer allegedly “Obstructed/Resisted” an Executive Officer. A second charge of “cruelty to child with possible injury or death” is also noted in the arrest log. Continue reading→

An auto burglary suspect was shot by the police near the SAPD’s HQ

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Officer Involved Shooting Investigation – 1000 Block of West Civic Center

Suspect- Unknown Male – Pending Identification & Notification To Next Of Kin

On Sunday, July 1, 2018, at 11:31 PM, Santa Ana Police officers responded to 1020 W. Civic Center Drive to investigate a suspicious person. The calling party stated the suspicious person was checking car doors and was holding a large piece of metal and a wire.

During the contact with the suspicious person, an officer involved shooting (OIS) occurred. Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes Hector’s on Broadway and Big K’s Burger

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Health and Medical, 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 June 22, 2018 – June 29, 2018. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Hectors, 409 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, Closed: June 26, Reason: Rodent infestation
  • Food Mart at Libra One Gasoline, 1131 S. Main St., Santa Ana, Closed: June 28, Reason: Cockroach infestation
  • Paqueteria Tzicatian, 1329 S. Main St., Suite B, Santa Ana, Closed: June 27, Reason: Rodent infestation
  • Happy’s Liquor, 2002 S. Flower St., Santa Ana, Closed: June 27, Reason: Rodent infestation

Continue reading→

OC Animal Care will waive fees to encourage pet adoptions through July 4

Posted on by Posted in OC Animal Care, Pets, Tustin Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2018

OC Animal Care will Waive Fees to Encourage Adoptions

(Tustin, Calif.) – Due to an abundance of dogs, cats and other animals, OC Animal Care will begin waiving fees for pets adopted by residents across Orange County.

The waiver includes all regular adoption fees with the exception of a $27 charge for rabies licensing and will begin on June 29. The waiver will remain in effect until the capacity at the shelter drops below 60 percent. Continue reading→

Will the SAPD finally crack down on illegal fireworks this year?

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fires, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAPD 8 Comments

In the last two weeks, the Costa Mesa Police Department has seized 1,300 pounds of illegal fireworks. The City of Costa Mesa is a zero-tolerance city. Selling illegal fireworks is a felony, and possession/use of illegal fireworks is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $1000 fine and/or jail time.

Selling illegal fireworks in Santa Ana also can result in a minimum fine of $1,000 and even up to one year in jail. However will the SAPD actually get serious about illegal fireworks this year?  Continue reading→

A man somehow survived after being hit by two cars on Thursday night in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

An unidentified man has been hospitalized after he was hit by two cars while crossing a Santa Ana street Thursday, June 28, according to the O.C. Register.

The victim was crossing she street at the 1300 block of West First St., just west of S. Bristol Street, at around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday night when he was hit by one car and then by another car. Both drivers sped off and did not check on the man or call the police, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

H.B. woman gets five years in prison for pimping women at O.C. massage parlors

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

Quynh Thuy Nguyen

Hien Thi Nguyen of Huntington Beach, a 29-year-old woman, pleaded guilty Wednesday and was immediately sentenced to more than five years in prison for her part in pimping several women out of three brothels in Orange County, according to the O.C. Register.

Nguyen pleaded guilty to four felony counts of pimping but three felony counts of pimping and seven felony counts of pandering were dismissed as part of a plea deal. Continue reading→