New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Crime

A woman was found this afternoon tied up and gagged in a vacant home owned by the City of Santa Ana

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

The heavy SAPD presence on E. Warner Ave. this afternoon turned out to be a horrifying tale.

An unidentified woman was found tied up and gagged inside a vacant home owned by the City of Santa Ana, according to KTLA.

A woman was found bound and gagged inside a vacant city-owned home in Santa Ana Tuesday, authorities said.

The woman was saved when a property manager noticed that the garage door at a vacant home located at 314 E. Warner Ave. was open and a padlock had been placed on the back door, according to the SAPD.

The property manager called the SAPD and the police officers who responded heard a person moaning from inside the vacant home.

The police officers found a woman who was tied up and gagged, inside the home. When they untied her she told them that she had been kidnapped by force and taken to that location, according to Fox News.

The police determined that the victim has not been sexually assaulted and was not physically harmed.

The police did not identify the woman. Nor did they release any information about the suspect or suspects or their motive.

Wanted child abuser rearrested in Santa Ana after returning from Mexico

Posted on May 3, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, mexico, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

In 2016, Santa Ana Police Department Special Crimes Detectives investigated allegations of child abuse made against 45-year old Jose Frias. The 11 year-old victim was a close family friend and claimed Frias sexually assaulted her on several occasions. On one occasion, Frias drove the victim to a hotel where he intended on sexually assaulting her.

In May 2016, Jose Frias was arrested and booked at the Orange County Jail and his bail was set at $100,000.00. The Orange County District Attorney’s office filed felony child abuse charges against Frias who bailed out of jail and fled to Mexico just days after his arrest. Frias remained in Mexico for some time then returned to the United States. He evaded prosecution for three years.

Detectives received information that Frias returned to the United States and made several attempts to locate and arrest him. Frias had surveillance cameras and utilized counter surveillance measures to avoid arrest. On April 17, 2019, Jose Frias was featured as a wanted person on the Santa Ana Police Department’s “Most Wanted Wednesday” social media post. Detectives received numerous tips from the public regarding Frias’ whereabouts.

On May 2, 2019, Santa Ana Police Special Crimes Detectives conducted surveillance and arrested Frias as he left his home. Frias pulled into a shopping center in the 1000 block of South Fairview; detectives were right behind him. Frias saw the police vehicle and accelerated through the parking lot but had nowhere to run. He was taken into custody without incident.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE –
Suspect: Jose Frias (48)

Vehicle Description: White Ford Ranger, License Plate # 25189L1

Last known address: 1100 Block of South Golden West Avenue, Santa Ana.

On 05-4-2016, SAPD Special Victims Detectives arrested Jose Frias for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old victim. Frias was a family friend of the victim, and molested her for over the course of one year. This criminal case was filed by the Orange County District Attorney’s office on 5-5-2016. On 05-10-2016, Frias bailed out of jail and ordered back to court on 5-27-2016 for his arraignment. Suspect Frias never returned to court and the judge issued a $100,000 warrant for his arrest.

Police have not located suspect Frias since bailing out of jail, and remains wanted for the outstanding warrant. According to the victim’s family, Frias has been seen recently driving in the area of McFadden and Raitt. Anyone with information on Frias’s whereabouts is asked to please contact Detective Cpl. Perez at (714) 245-8351.

The SAPD has arrested vandalism suspect Nick Covarrubias

Posted on May 2, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Update: Wanted suspect Covarrubias is now in custody thanks to tips submitted by community members.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE –

Wanted Suspect: Nick Bueno Covarrubias (41)

Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’11”, 200 lbs., Black Hair and Brown Eyes.

On 01/31/2019, Nick Bueno Covarrubias returned to an ex-girlfriend’s residence and shattered multiple windows at the residence. Then, shattered multiple windows at a vehicle parked in the driveway. Covarrubias has an outstanding warrant for felony Vandalism. Covarrubias has prior convictions for weapon violations and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Covarrubias’s whereabouts is asked to contact PIS R. Kallio at RKallio@santa-ana.org

An Anaheim man with an AR-15 was arrested after fleeing from a traffic stop in Costa Mesa

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Crime, Guns, Santa Ana 4 Comments

At approximately 2:13 a.m. today, May, 1 , 2019, an officer conducted a traffic stop on someone for a for a vehicle code violation. Arthur Barajas Jr., 24, Anaheim, refused to stop and attempted to evade officers at a slow speed while he handled an item in the vehicle that was hidden from officers’ view. The item, later determined to be a fully loaded AR-15, was abandoned in the front seat of the vehicle after the suspect crashed into a phone pole on Fairview and Wilson and fled on foot, according to the Costa Mesa police.

A perimeter was established and with the assistance from OC Sheriff Department’s helicopter and a Huntington Beach PD K-9, Barajas was located hiding in an apartment patio at the 200 block of Avocado Avenue. Barajas would not surrender and tried to conceal himself under a cover. The K-9 was deployed and remained on the bite while the suspect continued to fight. Officers then took Barajas into custody, and he was treated by Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue medics and then transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of bite marks and a broken arm.

Barajas was booked on evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, carrying a stolen firearm, carrying a loaded firearm with a prior felony conviction, probation violation, hit and run by a runaway vehicle with property damage, failure to stop, revocation of PRCS, and obstructing a peace officer.

The SAPD is searching for a felony vandalism suspect

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Domestic Violence, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Wanted Suspect: Nick Bueno Covarrubias (41)

Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’11”, 200 lbs., Black Hair and Brown Eyes.

On 01/31/2019, Nick Bueno Covarrubias returned to an ex-girlfriend’s residence and shattered multiple windows at the residence. Then, shattered multiple windows at a vehicle parked in the driveway.

Covarrubias has an outstanding warrant for felony Vandalism.

Covarrubias has prior convictions for weapon violations and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Covarrubias’s whereabouts is asked to contact PIS R. Kallio at RKallio@santa-ana.org

A homeless man was arrested for sexual battery of a woman in the Cabrillo Park neighborhood

Posted on May 1, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, homeless, Santa Ana, SAPD 2 Comments

Suspect Arrested: Shon Michael Sharp (32) Transient

On 4-30-2019, at 9:40 pm, officers responded to an “unknown trouble” call for service in the 1300 Block of North Cabrillo Park where a male subject was following the calling party.

Before the calling party could enter her residence, the male unknown to the female grabbed her vaginal area (over clothing). The victim then ran into her neighbor’s home and sought assistance.

Moments later, SAPD received an additional call for service in the 1300 N. Cabrillo Park reference a male following two other females. Officers responded to the area where they located and contacted the suspect.

The suspect identified as Shon Michael Sharp was taken into custody; the victim positively identified the suspect during an in-field show up. Suspect Sharp was booked into the SAPD Jail Sexual Battery

A well known mountain biker’s valuable equipment was stolen in Santa Ana last week

Posted on April 29, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Bicycles, Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

Famous mountain biker Jeff Lenosky is asking for the public’s help after someone broke into his van in Santa Ana and stole more than $30,000 worth of equipment, according to ABC News.

Lenosky’s vehicle was parked at the time at the Holiday Inn near the Orange County Airport.

The thief was caught on surveillance video as he was rummaging through Lenosky’s white van on Wednesday night, last week.

The suspect stole camera gear, a computer, two hard drives and a pair of custom bikes worth more than $10,000 each.

REEB Cycles has offered a free REEB bicycle to anyone who returns Lenosky’s stolen bikes and his video equipment.

Lenosky had this to say about the incident on his Facebook page: if you have any info email me. Jeff@reebcycles.com or contact the Santa Ana PD. I’m also putting $500 of my own cash on top. It’s basically a really big Easter Egg Hunt!

Lenosky said that both bikes have unique markings that make them easily identifiable. That means whoever stole them will have a tough time reselling them.

OCDA Spitzer launches an investigation into the Rackauckas jailhouse snitch scandal

Posted on April 26, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer, Tony Rackauckas 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – District Attorney Todd Spitzer today announced he is launching an internal investigation into the use of jailhouse informants during the previous administration.

Since taking office on January 7, 2019, Spitzer has launched six critical initiatives designed to prevent misconduct from occurring in the future, including adopting a revised jailhouse informant policy modeled after the most comprehensive protocols from District Attorneys across California.

In 2015, then Attorney General Kamala Harris announced that she had launched a criminal probe into the use of jailhouse informants by then District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Since assuming office, Spitzer has not received any requests from the state Attorney General for information related to the informant issue.

On April 19, 2019, Deputy Attorney General Darren Schaffer announced to Orange County Superior Court Judge James Rogan that the Attorney General’s perjury investigation of three Orange County deputy sheriffs associated with the jailhouse informant issue had ended. Shaffer did not clarify whether the Attorney General’s probe into the use of jailhouse informants by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office had concluded.

The District Attorney’s Office today released a letter Spitzer sent to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra inquiring about the status of the criminal probe into the use of jailhouse informants by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Read the letter here.

“I have repeatedly relied on the California Attorney General – who has supervisorial authority over all 58 elected District Attorneys – to get to the bottom of the Rackauckas scandal in Orange County,” said Spitzer. “While seeking clarification from the Attorney General, I am now moving forward on Phase Two of my reform efforts. I refuse to wait for the Attorney General to make any conclusions given this lack of communication on inquiries. It is my responsibility as the recently elected District Attorney of Orange County to move forward with my own investigation into what occurred and what, if any remaining personnel, are responsible.”

Irvine burglary suspect now arrested for a double slaying in Newport Beach

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, irvine, Newport Beach, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Press Release – Double Homicide Suspect Arrested

On April 25, 2019, the Newport Beach Police Department arrested Jamon Rayon Buggs, a 44 year old resident of Huntington Beach, for the murder of Darren Donald Partch, a 38 year old resident of Newport Beach, and Wendi Sue Miller, a 48 year old resident of Costa Mesa.

The victims were found deceased inside a residence in the 2100 Block of East 15th Street in Newport Beach on the evening of April 21, 2019. At the time of his arrest, Jamon Rayon Buggs was in custody at the Orange County Jail in connection with unrelated charges stemming from an arrest by the Irvine Police Department. Jamon Rayon Buggs is currently being held on a $1,000,000 bail pending double murder charges.

This is an open and ongoing investigation and no additional details are available at this time. Please see the attached booking photo of Jamon Rayon Buggs from the Irvine Police Department. Anyone with information regarding this case or with information on the recent activities and whereabouts of Jamon Rayon Buggs prior to his arrest should contact Detective Rick Henry at 949-644-3797.

The Newport Beach Police Department would like to thank our law enforcement partners, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Crime Lab, Irvine Police Department, Laguna Beach Police Department, Costa Mesa Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, and Anaheim Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.

Santa Ana check forgery suspect is now in custody

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Banking, Crime, SAPD, Tustin Leave a comment

Update: Wanted suspect is now in custody thanks to the help of our partners at the Tustin Police Department.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE – Wanted Suspect: Tawnya Nicole Little (37)

On 04/06/2018, Tawnya Nicole Little entered the Wells Fargo Bank branch at 3764 W. McFadden Ave, Santa Ana. Little presented a stolen personal check that had been washed and forged. Little has an outstanding felony warrant for Forgery and Possession of Fictitious Instruments. Anyone with information on the suspects whereabouts is asked to contact PIS F. Munoz at FMunoz@santa-ana.org

The SAPD is looking for a woman who cashed a stolen and forged check

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Banking, Crime, Fraud, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Wanted Suspect: Tawnya Nicole Little (37)

On 04/06/2018, Tawnya Nicole Little entered the Wells Fargo Bank branch at 3764 W. McFadden Ave, Santa Ana. Little presented a stolen personal check that had been washed and forged.

Little has an outstanding felony warrant for Forgery and Possession of Fictitious Instruments.

Anyone with information on the suspects whereabouts is asked to contact PIS F. Munoz at FMunoz@santa-ana.org.

Man who admitted to killing two Santa Ana Wienerschniztel employees heading to prison

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Alejandro Galindo Dominguez, a 45-year-old man, pleaded guilty Tuesday, April 23, and was immediately sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for shooting and killing two Wienerschnitzel employees in Santa Ana during a robbery in 1991, according to the O.C. Register.

Dominguez shot Wienerschniztel employees Andres Bello, 28-years-old, and Juan Cabral, 18-years-old, on July 23, 1991, during a robbery of the restaurant, according to the OCDA. He then put the victims’ dead bodies in a freezer at the restaurant and escaped from the scene.

He would have gotten away with it but Dominguez ended up turning himself in to border patrol agents on Feb. 23 of last year. His last known residence was in Ensenada, Mexico. He was charged with the two murders in December of last year.

Dominguez accepted several felony charges including two counts of murder and admitted sentencing enhancements for the use of a firearm, multiple murders and a special circumstance allegation of killing during a robbery.

Suspect arrested after a DUI crash by Madison Park injured a pedestrian

Posted on April 24, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Suspect: Albert Solano Diaz (38) Santa Ana

On Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at approximately 12:01 AM, a Santa Ana Police Officer was traveling south on S. Standard Avenue when he came across a female lying in the roadway just north of E. Edinger Avenue.

Upon contacting the female, the officer found her to be unconscious and not breathing. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and attended to the victim before she was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries.

Officers conducted an area check and found an unoccupied vehicle with major front end damage in the immediate area and observed a male walking away from the general area. The male was detained and found to be intoxicated. Video surveillance footage showed the male getting out of the vehicle and walking away just before officers locate it.

The male observed walking away from the vehicle was identified as Alberto Solano Diaz. Diaz was ultimately arrested for investigation of DUI. He was booked into the Santa Ana City Jail for (felony) DUI causing injury and (felony) Hit & Run. The female pedestrian remains unidentified and in extremely critical condition. The collision continues to be investigated and alcohol is believed to have played a role.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) responded to the collision and handled the investigation. Anyone having possible information about this collision is asked to contact the Santa Ana Police Corporal Brett Nelson at (714) 245-8208.

A man was carjacked and shot on Monday night in Santa Ana

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in automobiles, Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

A carjacking was reported on Monday night in Santa Ana and a man who was shot and wounded ended up in the hospital, according to KTLA.

The incident went down at the 500 block of East Central Ave., which is just south of Delhi Park, Monroe Elementary and the Santa Ana Armory.

The SAPD police officers who responded to the scene found the victim, who was not identified, with a gunshot wound to his upper body and arm.

The victim is now in stable condition at a local hospital. Unfortunately the carjacked vehicle, a 2004 Ford F-150, is still missing.

The victim told the police that he had picked up a woman in the area of South Bristol Street and Central Avenue, which is located just north of the South Coast Global Medical Center.

The woman who was given a ride then apparently asked the victim to give her two male friends a ride to a different location.

That subsequent ride did not work out as the men eventually carjacked the victim, shot him and left him just south of Delhi Park.

The SAPD police investigators have not provided a description of ths suspects. They did however indicate that the Ford F-0150 that was carjacked had dark gray stock rims.

Victims of suspected Santa Ana street racing crash identified

Posted on April 23, 2019 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, automobiles, Crime, Public Safety, SAPD 20 Comments

On Saturday, April 20th, 2019 at approximately 9:18 pm the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) Dispatch began receiving numerous calls reporting a traffic collision with a vehicle on fire in the 3200 block of S. Bear Street.

As the first officers arrived on-scene, they found the vehicle to be fully engulfed in flames. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded to the collision scene and extinguished the flames. Inside the vehicle, police and fire personnel located two deceased occupants –
Jerman Marquez, 39, and Richard Inda, 29.

The preliminary investigation of this collision has revealed the unidentified vehicle was headed north on Bear Street from MacArthur Boulevard possibly involved in a street race with another vehicle. As the two involved vehicles passed through Alton Avenue, one of them lost control before striking a tree in the center median of Bear north of Alton. The other vehicle involved in this possible street race and its driver are outstanding and unidentified. The cause of this collision remains under investigation, according to the SAPD.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) responded to the collision and handled the investigation. Anyone having possible information about this collision is asked to contact the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.

The family and friends of Marquez have launched a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for his funeral.