New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Crime

Arizona man to be charged with attempted murder after shooting on 91 Fwy.

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fullerton, OCDA Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 6, 2014

Case # TBA

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR ATTEMPTED MURDER AFTER DRIVE-BY SHOOTING ON 91 FREEWAY

SANTA ANA – A man is scheduled to be arraigned today for attempted murder after a drive-by shooting on the 91 Freeway. Jerry Valentin, 32, Scottsdale, Ariz., was charged today with one felony count each of attempted murder, shooting at an occupied vehicle, aggravated assault, unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm inside a vehicle, with sentencing enhancements for personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, personal use of a firearm, and great bodily injury. If convicted, Valentin faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting he be held on $1 million bail at his arraignment today in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

At approximately 4:20 p.m. on Aug. 4, 2014, Valentin is accused of driving eastbound on the 91 Freeway near the Interstate 5 interchange in Fullerton. The defendant is accused of swerving his vehicle toward a sports utility vehicle (SUV) being driven by Kenneth Baker. Continue reading→

Two gang members arrested for attempted murder by the SAPD

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Homicide and Gang Detectives arrest two Gang Members for Attempt Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder Arrested:

• Joel Aguilar (26), Santa Ana
• Alberto Santana (22) Santa Ana

Charges: Attempt Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder

Summary: On Wednesday, 7/23/14 at 1130 PM Officers responded to a shooting call in the 1900 block of West Myrtle Street and found a 19 year old male who had been shot four times in the upper torso. The Victim is an identified gang member who was uncooperative and told officers he was shot as he was walking westbound on the north sidewalk of 1900 block of West Myrtle Street. The victim was transported to UCI Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.

SAPD Homicide detectives were assigned the case. Based on information obtained during their investigations detectives identified two suspects, both identified gang members believed to be involved in the 7/23/14 shooting. Detectives secured search warrants for two separate residences in the 800 block of South Townsend Street. Continue reading→

Victims of SAPD attack on marijuana colectives to speak out at the City Council meeting tonight

Posted on August 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Entertainment, Police Brutality, Politics 1 Comment

OC NORML is asking their supporters to attend tonight’s Santa Ana City Council meeting so that they may speak out against the “outrageous treatment that the medicinal marijuana collective operators, volunteers and patients endured during the most recent series of raids.”

Over 75 people associated with local medicinal marijuana collectives were arrested by the SAPD on July 31, as we previously reported.

Those arrested were locked up in a paddy wagon for hours and were not allowed to use the restroom, get anything to drink, and one patient was even denied the right to take his heart medication. All of them were eventually booked and released with a code enforcement ticket for $500 each. Continue reading→

Man suspected of murdering a man on the 91 Freeway arrested

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime Leave a comment

Anaheim Police Department

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2014

Released by: Lt. Bob Dunn, (714) 497-6330

Subject: **UPDATE 91 Freeway Homicide – ARREST OF SUSPECT**

Initial Information

On July 14, 2014 at 8:09 PM, Anaheim Police, the California Highway Patrol, and Anaheim Fire & Rescue were called to investigate a possible shooting westbound the 91 freeway east of the 57 freeway. When emergency service personnel arrived, they found four (4) people in a white Ford F-150 in the gore point of the westbound 91 freeway at the 57 freeway interchange. Two of the people in the Ford were found to have suffered injuries consistent with a gunshot. Agustin Villegas, 32, of Anaheim was the front passenger in the Ford and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The driver of the Ford, a 42 year-old male, was taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive. In the backseat of the Ford were two males, 13 and 15 years-old. These young men were uninjured and were taken to the Anaheim Police Department for interviews. Continue reading→

Former U.S. soldier convicted of murder and attempted murder in Cypress Lodge shooting

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 1, 2014

Case #11ZF0126

ARMY SOLDIER CONVICTED OF MURDERING FRIEND AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF FATHER AND ANOTHER MAN IN HOTEL SHOOTING

SANTA ANA – An Army Specialist was convicted today of murdering a friend and attempting to murder his father and another man in an unprovoked shooting at a Cypress hotel. Steven Matthew LeClaire Jr., 26, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of second degree murder, two felony counts of attempted murder, and sentencing enhancements for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death and the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury. He faces a sentence of 90 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Oct. 10, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

In February 2011, LeClaire Jr. was absent without leave from his duty station in Texas. Continue reading→

Seventeen men convicted of trying to hook up with prostitutes in and around Santa Ana

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: August 1, 2014

17 MEN CONVICTED OF LOITERING WITH THE INTENT TO COMMIT PROSTITUTION AND/OR AGREEING TO ENGAGE IN PROSTITUTION

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) convicted 17 men in July 2014 of loitering with the intent to commit prostitution and/or agreeing to engage in prostitution. The defendants in these cases approached a woman, whom they believed to be a prostitute, in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County or loitered in areas known for prostitution and human trafficking in Orange County. Some agreed to engage in commercial sex with a woman and were subsequently arrested by law enforcement.

The Santa Ana Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated these cases. Deputy District Attorny Tina Patel of the HEAT Unit prosecuted these cases. Continue reading→

Forty more arrested at Santa Ana medical marijuana dispensaries

Posted on August 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Health and Medical, Marijuana, Santa Ana 10 Comments

The Santa Ana Police Department once again raided many of Santa Ana’s medical marijuana dispensaries, arresting over 40 people, last night according to OC-NORML’s Facebook page.

The SAPD made 42 arrests after similar raids in mid-July this year, according to the O.C. Register.

The City of Santa Ana banned medical marijuana dispensaries in 2007, but that was ridiculous given that the people of California approved the use of medical marijuana via a statewide ballot measure, Prop. 15, back in 1996.

The only reason our city is having these problems is that the city leaders opted to resist medical marijuana instead of working to find a way to make this work for everyone. What they should have done years ago was develop a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) protocol for medical marijuana dispensaries. Continue reading→

O.C. agencies unite to combat human trafficking

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Entertainment, OCDA, Orange, Orange County Leave a comment

O.C. Agencies Unite to Combat Human Trafficking

WHAT: Orange County law enforcement, transportation officials and the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force will hold a joint news conference to discuss the growing problem of human trafficking and efforts to put an end to the crime through strict enforcement and community partnerships.

The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, which was founded and is currently administrated by nonprofit organization Community Service Programs, will release its 2014 Human Trafficking Victim Report. A key finding is that the number of perpetrators of human trafficking crimes in Orange County doubled between 2011 and 2013. On average, eight new human trafficking victims are identified each month in Orange County and nearly half of all victims are minors. Continue reading→

SAPD looking for more victims of man who masturbated outside schools

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD SEEKING PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF MAN CHARGED WITH MASTURBATING INSIDE VAN OUTSIDE SCHOOL

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) are seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a man charged with masturbating inside a van while parked outside school parking lots. Carlos Sanchez Hernandez, 42, Santa Ana, is charged with two misdemeanor counts each of indecent exposure and child annoyance. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of two years in jail and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is being held on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Three convicted of human trafficking, kidnapping and torture

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: July 30, 2014

Case # 14WF2844

THREE DEFENDANTS SCHEDULED TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING, KIDNAPPING, AND TORTURING WOMAN

SANTA ANA – Three defendants are scheduled to be arraigned today for human trafficking, kidnapping, and torturing a woman. Renice Stevenson Flores-Davis, 26, Costa Mesa, is charged with two felony counts each of torture, kidnapping, mayhem, and one felony count each of human trafficking, aggravated assault, pimping, and pandering, with sentencing enhancement and allegations for personal infliction of great bodily injury and great bodily injury. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 56 years to life in state prison.

Oscar Gonzalez-Salinas, 33, Costa Mesa, and Cierra Rose Thompson, 27, Silverton, OR, are both charged with two felony counts of kidnapping, one felony count each of torture, human trafficking, mayhem, aggravated assault, pimping, and pandering, with sentencing enhancement and allegations for personal infliction of great bodily injury and great bodily injury. If convicted, Gonzalez-Salinas and Thompson each face a maximum sentence of 39 years to life in state prison. The People will be requesting the three defendants be held on $1 million bail at their arraignment this afternoon in Department CJ-1, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for August 1 at 500 W. First St.

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Police Department conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Friday, August 1st, 2014, 9:00PM – 3:00AM, 500 W. First Street

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, August 1st, 2014. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 3:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 500 W. First Street, Santa Ana, CA.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI/Drivers License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver. Continue reading→

Man convicted of killing CSUF student Maribel Ramos who was from Santa Ana

Posted on July 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fullerton, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: July 29, 2014

Case # 13CF1632

MAN CONVICTED OF MURDERING ARMY VETERAN ROOMMATE AND DISPOSING HER BODY IN CANYON

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of murdering his roommate and disposing of her body in a canyon. Kwang Chol Joy, 55, Orange, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of second degree murder. He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Sept. 12, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Joy lived at a home in Orange with 36-year-old roommate Maribel Ramos. The victim was an Army veteran who had served two combat tours in Iraq and was also a student at California State University, Fullerton. Continue reading→

OCDA and SAPD to talk about their latest gang injunction today

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Rojas, Crime, Entertainment, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: (07/29/2014) Morning press conference on the OCDA’s lawsuit against a dangerous, criminal, turf-oriented street gang.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Santa Ana Police Department Chief Carlos Rojas will hold a press conference today immediately following the 9:30 a.m. hearing in Department C-14. Continue reading→

Why is the SAPD ticketing bicycle riders?

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Bicycles, Crime, Santa Ana 18 Comments

Is Council Member Michele Martinez’ bike registered?

Igmar Rodas, an outspoken activist on homeless and police issues, was cited by Santa Ana Police Officer S. Lopez on May 20 for riding an unlicensed bicycle and cycling on a sidewalk in the city’s Civic Center, according to the Voice of OC.

Rodas runs the SAPD – Stop Abusing People’s Derechos Facebook page. He is going to go to court this week on Wednesday to fight the bike ticket he received from the SAPD.

The city of Long Beach, which many biking advocates consider a regional leader on bike-friendliness, eliminated its bike license requirement in 2011. Los Angeles suspended its licensing program in 2009. Continue reading→

Teen calls 911 while hiding from burglars in her home

Posted on July 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840
EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Deputies Arrest Two Suspects in Residential Burglary Following 911 Call

ROSSMOOR, Calif. – (July 28, 2014) – On Monday, July 21, 2014, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a residential burglary in-progress in the Rossmoor community. As deputies arrived, two male subjects fled on foot from the rear of the residence, jumping over fences onto the property of adjacent homes in the neighborhood. After coordination of responding deputies, two male juveniles were detained and taken into custody for residential burglary.

The informant to the Sheriff’s Department was a 14 year-old female who was inside the residence when the two male juveniles attempted to make entry through several doors and windows. The 14 year-old hid inside a bedroom closet and called 911, providing dispatchers with information about what was occurring, ultimately leading to arrests of the two suspects. The quick actions and calm demeanor demonstrated by the young informant led to an immediate response and arrest of the suspects. Continue reading→