New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Crime

Robbers crash on the 5 Freeway and one of them runs to the MainPlace Mall

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Robbers crash in north Santa Ana

Three men and a woman suspected in connection with at least one Laguna Hills burglary were chased from South County by deputies Wednesday morning on the northbound I-5 freeway until the fleeing driver crashed near the Westfield MainPlace mall, according to the OC Register.

The driver refused to stop and led authorities on a pursuit that lasted about 30 minutes before crashing into a white Chevy Volt on the 5 Freeway near the Westfield MainPlace mall in Santa Ana, according to KTLA News. Continue reading→

ODCA fundraising online to end modern day slavery

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Women 2 Comments

Beat the Heat

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2014

THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, ORANGE COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, AND CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY LAUNCH ONLINE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO END MODERN DAY SLAVERY

*Please consider contributing on Indiegogo

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF), and Chapman University are pleased to announce the launch of their online fundraising campaign with the world’s most established crowdfunding platform, Indiegogo, for the 2nd Annual “Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Rocking & Rally” on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, at Chapman University.

The event will increase community awareness of human exploitation and trafficking, the second largest criminal enterprise in the nation, behind narcotics trafficking, that nets approximately $32 billion a year. A free rock concert will immediately follow with Stan Frazier and Murphy Karges of Sugar Ray. Elected officials, law enforcement, non-profits, private law firms, businesses, and private citizens have all donated to this cause and support is growing. To make a donation of any amount and to join the cause, please visit http://igg.me/at/beatheat. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Graffiti Paint Out and Beautification Day set for 10/18

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Entertainment, Graffiti, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Graffiti Paint Out Day

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: PUBLIC INVITED TO GRAFFITI PAINT OUT AND BEAUTIFICATION DAY ON SATURDAY, OCT. 18

Join the City of Santa Ana, Public Works Agency for their Community Graffiti Paint-out and Beautification Day. This is a combined effort by City-contracted graffiti removal crews and volunteers from the community. Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 18, 2014 from 9am to noon. Water and a healthy snack will be provided along with T-Shirts for the first 50 volunteers to pre-register. We’ll provide the tools, gloves, paint and training. All you need to do is join us to help beautify our community.

The graffiti clean-up day will begin at Sasscer Park and will proceed throughout the park and various surrounding neighborhoods. Parking will be provided at the 3rd and Birch Parking Structure (310 N. Birch). Continue reading→

School bus driver sentenced for molesting a minor girl in his apartment

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2014

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR MOLESTING MINOR GIRL UNDER THE AGE OF 14 IN HIS APARTMENT

SANTA ANA – A school bus driver was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for molesting a minor girl under the age of 14 in his Laguna Hills home. Shane Norman Crawford, 39, Laguna Hills, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, to two felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14.

Crawford gained access to the children by befriending their parents. Continue reading→

Two Anaheim men charged with murder, kidnapping and rape of four women

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Women 1 Comment

Steven Dean Gordon and Franc Cano

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: TWO MEN TO BE ARRAIGNED ON INDICTMENT FOR SPECIAL-CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER IN COMMISSION OF KIDNAPPING AND RAPE OF FOUR WOMEN

SANTA ANA – Two men are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow on an indictment for the special-circumstances murder in the commission of a kidnapping and rape of four women. Steven Dean Gordon, 45, and Franc Cano, 28, both of Anaheim, were indicted by the grand jury today Oct. 2, 2014.

They are each charged with four felony counts of special circumstances murder during the commission of rape, kidnapping, lying in wait, and multiple murders. They are also each charged with four felony counts of forcible rape. If convicted, they face a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole and are eligible for the death penalty. The defendants are both scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment tomorrow, Oct. 3, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted of sex crimes against girls he met at church

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Churches and Religion, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

David Elifar Verduzco

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 1, 2014

Case # 11CF3067

MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO GIRLS BETWEEN AGES 9 AND 12 AFTER MEETING THEM AT CHURCH AND BEFRIENDING THEIR FAMILIES

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of sexually assaulting two girls between ages 9 and 12 after meeting them through church and befriending their families. David Elifar Verduzco, 35, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of sexual penetration with a child 10 years or younger, one misdemeanor count each of child annoyance and disorderly conduct. The sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on multiple children were found true. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at his sentencing on Oct. 17, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-43, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Verduzco was a parishioner of Agape House of Prayer in Anaheim, where he was a worship team leader and gave electronic keyboard lessons. The defendant met both of the victims and their families at the church and befriended them. Continue reading→

Guatemalan dignitaries to hear about strategies to help at-risk youth, on 10/1

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, immigration, Latinos, OCDA, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

grip

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: OC GRIP TO HOST PRESENTATION TO DIGNITARIES FROM GUATEMALA TO OFFER STRATEGIES TO HELP AT-RISK YOUTH

SANTA ANA – The Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP), local law enforcement, and community organizations will host a presentation tomorrow to dignitaries from Guatemala offering strategies and prevention techniques to help at-risk youth. The presentation will cover components of the OC GRIP program, OC GRIP’S partnership with small businesses and corporations, community involvement through mentorship, and incentive outreach programs to award at-risk teens who stay away from gang activity and do well in school. The presentation will take place tomorrow, Oct. 1, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at the Santa Ana Police Department.

Since 2012, the City of Santa Ana has participated in a series of exchanges and trainings with municipalities in Guatemala, under the International City/County Management Association, to help develop innovative violence and prevention programs. Part of its goal is to provide training and technical assistance to local governments and community groups in coordination with police and other local-level programs. Continue reading→

How many Santa Ana residents will be ticketed at the upcoming Ciclovia?

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Bicycles, Civic Affairs, Crime, Gerardo Mouet, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Santa Ana bicycle registrations

Gerardo Mouet, executive director of the City of Santa Ana’s parks, recreation and community services agency, told the OC Register this week that “Santa Ana is the county seat and the most urban section in the county. Biking and walking in an urban setting is of growing interest, and Santa Ana is a great place to illustrate this trend to the entire county.”

Mouet is very proud of the fact that Santa Ana will be hosting Orange County’s first ever Ciclovia – an open streets event where the streets will be closed to cars and opened to bikers, walkers and runners. SOMOS or “Sunday On Main Open Streets” is scheduled for Sunday, October 5, 2014 from 9 am to 4 pm.

But here is the problem – the City of Santa Ana has a mandatory bike registration program in place that is run by the Santa Ana Police Department. If your bike is not registered with the police they can stop you and actually give you a pricey ticket! Hardly any of our residents know about this program. How many people are they going to ticket at the Ciclovia? Continue reading→

Former CEO of Santa Ana-based company indicted for insider trading with former Angel DeCinces

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Baseball, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Doug DeCinces

Former CEO Of Orange County Medical Device Firm Indicted For Providing Inside Information To Former Professional Baseball Player

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 24, 2014

SANTA ANA, California – A federal grand jury today indicted the former chief executive officer of an Orange County medical device and eye care company on insider trading charges.

James V. Mazzo, who was the CEO of the Santa Ana-based Advanced Medical Optics, Inc., which was traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol EYE, was added to an indictment that had previously named former professional baseball player Douglas DeCinces and two of his associates.

The case, which was initially filed in 2012, alleges that Mazzo was the source of non-public information that DeCinces and his associates used to trade EYE stock in the midst of a takeover bid by Abbot Laboratories. Continue reading→

The Food 4 Less robbery suspect has been arrested

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Robbery Detectives Identify Suspect in Food 4 Less after community members sees suspect during TV News story.

Arrested: Antonio Delgado Juarez (35) Santa Ana

Details: On 9/25/14, SAPD Robbery Detectives requested the media and community’s assistance in identifying a suspect involved in the 9/18/14 robbery of a Food 4 Less grocery store. After the story aired on television (unknown which Station), detectives received a tip from a community member who advised that they had watched the story and believed they knew who the suspect was. Detectives were provided information that led them to suspect Antonio Delgado Juarez. The Detectives found that suspect Juarez was already in SAPD custody on an unrelated incident. On 9/22/2014, Juarez was taken into custody by SAPD for Burglary, Battery and Possession of Burglary Tools. Continue reading→

Do two weird stripping incidents mean bath salts have arrived in Santa Ana?

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Santa Ana 3 Comments

A woman stripped off her clothes inside a Santa Ana market yesterday and died shortly after she was subdued by store employees, according to the Fountain Valley Patch.

Shortly before 9 a.m., a woman in her 40s began yelling and screaming in the liquor section of the El Toro Market in the 1300 block of West First Street, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said, according to the O.C. Register.

Two store employees, a security guard and the store’s manager subdued her and called authorities, but the woman died while paramedics and police were en route to the scene. Continue reading→

The SAPD needs help tracking down a man who robbed a Food 4 Less on S. Bristol

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Robbery Detectives Request Media and Public Assistance In Identifying Robbery Suspect

SYNOPSIS: On 09/18/14 at about 0957 hours, the above depicted suspect entered the Food 4 Less grocery store. After entering the store, the suspect used a handicap motorized scooter to ride around the store. The suspect dismounted the scooter, approached the store manager from behind and placed him in a headlock. The suspect forced the manager to the front office. Inside of the office, the suspect ordered the manager and bookkeeper to fill his backpack with cash. The manager and bookkeeper complied. The suspect also ordered the manager to handover his vehicle keys. The manager complied and gave the suspect his vehicle keys. The suspect then grabbed the manager by the arm and walked him to his vehicle.

After reaching the manager’s vehicle, the manager fled as the suspect entered the vehicle. As of 09/24/14, the manager’s vehicle is still outstanding. Continue reading→

Man who is alleged to have knifed his wife and shot her with a pellet gun is arrested

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Homicide Detectives locate suspect wanted in Attempt Murder Case

Arrested: Juan Carlos Guadarrama (42) Santa Ana

Details: On 09/20/14, Juan Carlos Guadarrama arranged to meet his estranged wife at a location in the 1200 block of East Dyer Road in Santa Ana. During their encounter the suspect assaulted his estranged wife with a knife, stabbing her multiple times; the suspect also shot the victim with a pellet gun, causing great bodily injury. The victim was transported to a local trauma center in critical condition. Continue reading→

Have Council Members Martinez and Reyna really left their pasts behind?

Posted on September 23, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2014 Elections, Crime, David Benavides, Gangs, Michele Martinez, Mirna Velasquez, Politics, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana 23 Comments

Roman Reyna and Michele Martinez may tell you that they have left their criminal pasts and gang lives behind but we don’t think this is true. Don’t be fooled for even a second by the self-proclaimed “reformed” drug dealer and tough guy.

Reyna allegedly verbally threatened Martinez’ top opponent, Mirna Velasquez, warning her that something may physically happen to her if she ran for the City Council against Martinez. Luckily, that did not deter Velasquez from running; she filed her papers in spite of these threats. Reyna even tried to talk Velasquez into moving and running against Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinjero, telling her that he is the weakest link on the city council and that she could easily beat him. Continue reading→

Estranged husband stabbed his wife and shot her with a pellet gun

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana police officers were called to the 1200 block of East Dyer Road about 9 p.m. Saturday after reports of a woman screaming and a man running from a parking lot, Santa Ana police Cmdr. Jason Viramontes said, according to the O.C. Register.

The police reported that the woman was stabbed multiple times and was also apparently shot with a pellet gun. They found a knife and a pellet gun at the scene. Continue reading→