Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Alcohol

Mother’s Day weekend started with a gang shooting and a DUI crash into a cop car

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment
Brother of Santa Ana shooting victim

Brother of Santa Ana shooting victim

Santa Ana residents rang in Mother’s Day weekend with a gang-related shooting in front of a house and a DUI crash into an SAPD cop car.

Santa Ana police Cmdr. Jason Viramontes said the shooting happened in the 4700 block of West Oakfield Avenue about 11:45 a.m. after a man driving a gray, newer model pickup truck drove past three men standing in front of a home. After some looks were exchanged, the truck made a u-turn and pulled up in front of the house, he said. The driver asked the men where they were from and fired eight to nine shots with a handgun, hitting two of them several times in their lower bodies before speeding off, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

The OC DUI Task Force is cracking down on DUIs this Cinco de Mayo

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OC DUI Task Force

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Lt. Jeff Hallock (714) 904 7042

JHallock@ocsd.org

The “AVOID the 38” DUI Taskforce is Cracking Down on Drunk Driving this Cinco de Mayo

SANTA ANA, California (May 2, 2014) – Cinco de Mayo is a time for many Californians to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage by attending parties, barbecues and festivals with friends and family. With alcohol being such a big part of these festivities, it’s no surprise that drunk driving is especially high on May 5th. In an effort to prevent any roadway tragedies, the Orange County “Avoid the 38” DUI Task Force is joining with others across the state and nation to remind partygoers that drunk driving should never be part of your Cinco de Mayo plans.

Special DUI saturations patrols will be deployed this weekend in numerous cities within Orange County looking to identify and stop suspected drunk drivers. Additionally, every routine traffic and patrol officer assigned to duty will be on heightened alert to prevent another senseless tragedy. Continue reading→

Unlimited beer tastings at the Sabroso Craft Beer & Taco Festival on 5/3

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Sabroso Taco Fest

The Sabroso Craft Beer & Taco Festival will take over the picturesque Lake View Park in Silverado with a Cinco de Mayo celebration of tacos and beer tastings on Saturday, May 3 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The event comes courtesy of “OC’s Best Craft Beer Festival” producers – The OC Brew Ha Ha team. Sabroso will feature over 60 craft beers on tap from over 30 breweries, and food from TOP local vendors. Entertaining attractions, contests and festive live music will add to the atmosphere of Sabroso.  And all taco profits will be donated to the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation!

The combination of craft beer and tacos continues to increase in popularity, and Sabroso serves as an ideal platform for the perfect Cinco de Mayo pairing to shine. Local eateries and food trucks will be on hand to offer attendees the best in SoCal’s regional flavors. The 21 and over event will provide ample craft beer tastings to enhance Sabroso’s gastro delights. Breweries including Stone Brewing, Bootleggers, Bottle Logic and Saint Archer will present their finest brews for guests to enjoy. Hangar 24, Ballast Point Brewing, Noble, Oskar Blues and more add to the variety of breweries that will populate the festival. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for 4/11 at 1500 E. McFadden Ave.

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SAPD DUI Checkpoint

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Police Department conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Fri, April 11th, 9:00PM – 3:00AM, 1500 E. McFadden Ave.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, April 11th, 2014. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 3:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1500 E. McFadden Avenue, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The OC DUI Task Force will be looking for drunk drivers on St. Patrick’s Day

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OC DUI Task Force

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock (714) 904-7042, Gail Krause, (714) 623-8940

Designate a Sober Driver on St. Patrick’s Day

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (March 15, 2014) — With St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and the Orange County “Avoid the 38” DUI Task Force are reminding drivers not to get behind the wheel if they’ve been drinking. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that more than 269 people were senselessly killed nationwide in crashes involving drunk drivers during the St. Patrick’s Day holiday from 2007 to 2011. Those fatalities were preventable. Continue reading→

MADD honors 11 OCDA attorneys for doing a great job of busting drunk drivers

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MADD

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: March 13, 2014

MADD HONORS 11 OCDA ATTORNEYS FOR EXCEPTIONAL PROSECUTION OF DRUNKEN DRIVING CASES

SANTA ANA – The Orange County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) honored 11 Orange County deputy district attorneys today for their time and effort in prosecuting driving under the influence (DUI) cases in 2013. MADD hosted the 27th Annual Law Enforcement and Prosecutor Recognition Luncheon today, March 13, 2014, to honor Orange County prosecutors and police officers for their outstanding contributions to the prosecution of DUI cases. The luncheon was held at the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace in Yorba Linda. Continue reading→

Court rules that party hosts who require cover charge can be held liable

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drunk white guy

California Supreme Court Rules Party Hosts Who Require Payment of Cover Charge Can Be Liable if Underage Drinkers Harm Selves or Others

By: OC Supervisor Todd Spitzer

This week, the California Supreme Court ruled that party hosts who ask their guests to pay a cover charge to enter a gathering may be held legally responsible if an underage drinker then hurts himself or others. The ruling was unanimous, sending a clear message that underage drinking has led to many potentially dangerous and/or fatal situations. The court’s rationale was that a cover charge amounts to a sale of alcohol – and state law creates liability for the sale of alcohol to those that are underage.

Underage drinking and underage drinking and driving continue to be an epidemic here in Orange County. According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, there were nearly 1,000 underage drinkers who were convicted of misdemeanor DUIs in Orange County in 2010. The California Highway Patrol has found that there were 150 people underage drinkers who caused serious bodily injury or death in a DUI collision in Orange County in 2010. Continue reading→

DTSA’s Memphis closes with a scare as a guy pulls a knife

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20140206_204845

The Memphis at the Santora partied one last time last night, as they are closing down.  But the night ended ominously as a suspect pulled a knife on David Hastie, a partner at the Memphis, which is located in Downtown Santa Ana (DTSA).

David wrote about this on his Facebook page – see the comments in the pictures below.  Apparently David manned up and took the knife away from the suspect.  David called the SAPD and he is pressing charges against the miscreant.  And good news – David wasn’t hurt although I am sure his nerves were frazzled. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI Checkpoint set for Feb. 8 at 800 W. First St.

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SAPD DUI Checkpoint

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:  Police Department conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on February 8th, 7:30PM to 1:30AM in the area of 800 W. First

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, February 8th, 2014. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 800 W. First Street, Santa Ana, CA. Continue reading→

DUI Saturation Patrols planned for Super Bowl Sunday

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OC DUI Task Force

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock (714) 904-7042, Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

DUI Saturation Patrols Planned for Super Bowl Sunday

SANTA ANA, California (January 30, 2014) – As the Super Bowl approaches and football fans across the country prepare for the game, the National Football League (NFL) the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have joined forces with the Orange County “Avoid the 38” DUI Task Force to spread the message about designating a sober driver on Super Bowl Sunday, because – Fans Don’t Let Fans Drive Drunk. Continue reading→

DTSA imploding as restaurants close and artists are evicted

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Arts and Culture, Bars, Crime, Santa Ana 28 Comments
The party is over at The Crosby

The party is over at The Crosby

The hipsters and gentrifiers are trying to argue that all is well in Downtown Santa Ana, in the wake of the brutal murder of Kim Pham, who was literally kicked in the head until she went into a coma, in front of The Crosby, a bar/restaurant.  She later died in the hospital.

The Crosby is done.  According to the OC Weekly they are not going to reopen.  And the Memphis at the Santora is also done.  They will apparently be replaced by a “High End Mexican Restaurant,” whatever the heck that is.  Imagine the limo liberals from Irvine and Long Beach holding Drinking Liberally in a Mexican restaurant!  LOL!

And Jack Jakosky, the owner of the Santora building served eviction notices yesterday on the Studio del Sotano and the Green Door Gallery, weeks after whitewashing a mural at the Santora and painting over the Studio del Sotano’s marquee. Continue reading→

Liberals drink more alcohol, study finds

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Liberals 2 Comments

David Benavides at Alderete's Fundraiser

PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release: January 29, 2014
Location: New York, NY, USA

Liberals drink more alcohol, study finds

Could your political party predict your propensity for partying? A sobering study published by the Journal of Wine Economics finds that alcohol consumption in American states rises as the population’s political persuasion becomes more liberal.

Findings from the study into the relationship between drink and politics across 50 states in the US over the past 50 years suggest a direct correlation between political beliefs and the demand for alcohol. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for Jan. 17 at 400 N. Fairview St.

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

SAPD DUI Checkpoint

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Police Department conducting DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Jan 17th, 2014, 7:30PM -1:30AM area of 400 N. Fairview Street

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, January 17th, 2014. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 400 N. Fairview Street, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Rebranded Big Draw set for Jan. 8 at The Copper Door, in DTSA

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Arts and Culture, Bars, Entertainment, music, Santa Ana 1 Comment

The Big Draw

The Copper Door is hosting a rebranded Big Draw for the new year on Wednesday, January 8, 2014, at 8 pm.

They are inviting all of their 2013 artists back, and replacing the scribble slam with live jazz combo music. Beer, Art, and Music combine again as they start the New Year right. Here’s what you can see on January 8th at The Copper Door: Continue reading→

Winter Holiday DUI Campaign – final report

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OC DUI Task Force

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, (714) 904-7042/Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

Winter Holiday DUI Campaign – Final Report

SANTA ANA, California (January 2, 1014) – The Winter Holiday Anti-DUI crackdown on drinking or drugged drivers has ended and resulted in a significant number of DUI arrests from the sobriety checkpoints, special saturation patrols and routine patrols in the Orange County “Avoid the 38 ” DUI Campaign for the past 20 days.

From 12:01 AM Friday December 13, 2013 through midnight on Wednesday January 1, 2014 officers representing 38 county law enforcement agencies have arrested 862 individuals for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Last year, 971 DUI arrests occurred during the holiday campaign. Tragically, there was one death attributed to a drunk driver in our area. Last year, there were no DUI deaths reported. (NOTE: These numbers are only provisional with some agencies yet to report and/or Coroner reports pending). Continue reading→