Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Crime

Liberals drink more alcohol, study finds

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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→

“Snakeman” William Buchman booked into SAPD jail for animal cruelty

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Pets, Santa Ana Leave a comment

William Buchman

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: William Buchman (53) booked into SAPD Jail for Animal Cruelty after PD serves search warrant on home with several hundred snakes

SANTA ANA, CA (January 29, 2014) – SAPD Animal Services and police officers serve search warrant on residence that reportedly contains several hundred snakes. Continue reading→

SAPD searching a home with hundreds of snakes after neighbors complain

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Nature, Pets, Santa Ana 5 Comments

snakes in santa ana

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:  SAPD serving search warrant on home with several hundred snakes after neighbors complain of deplorable conditions

SANTA ANA, CA (January 29, 2014) – SAPD Animal Services and police officers serve search warrant on residence that reportedly contains several hundred snakes.

Animal Services began their investigation upon receiving complaints from neighbors about the foul odor emitting from the home. Continue reading→

Garden Grove man faces death penalty trial for Stanton double murder

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA, Stanton Leave a comment

Hibert Pinell Thomas

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10ZF0087: January 28, 2014

MAN FACES DEATH PENALTY TRIAL FOR EXECUTION-STYLE DOUBLE MURDER OF STANTON SALES ASSOCIATE AND SECRETARY

SANTA ANA – A man faces a death penalty jury trial tomorrow for the double-murder of a Stanton sales associate and his longtime secretary. Hilbert Pineil Thomas, 42, Garden Grove, is charged with two felony counts of special circumstances murder for multiple murders, murder during the commission of robbery, and murder during the commission of burglary. He is also charged with one felony count each of second degree robbery, second degree commercial burglary, and the unlawful taking of a vehicle. Opening statements are expected to begin tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Victim of shooting on South Standard played football at Godinez High School

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Football, Santa Ana, SAUSD 14 Comments

Jeffrey Enriquez

The victim of the shooting death in the 1400 block of South Standard on January 24, 2014 has been identified as Jeffrey “Jay Jay” Enriquez (18) of Santa Ana, a former football player at Godinez Fundamental High School. He leaves behind his mom, Maria, and seven brothers and sisters.

On 1-24-14, at approximately 1:10 AM, Santa Ana patrol officers responded to a report of a person who was observed lying on the ground in the 1400 block South Standard Street. Upon their arrival, officers found a male adult who was shot and in need of medical assistance. The Orange County Fire Authority and paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced the subject, who was later identified as Enriquez, deceased, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

Candace Marie Brito charged with Kim Pham’s murder at The Crosby

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Candace Marie Brito

A second Santa Ana woman, Candace Marie Brito, 27, has been charged with murder in the beating death of 23-year-old Annie Kim Pham outside the Crosby nightclub, and is scheduled to be arraigned at 10 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s office., as reported by the O.C. Register.

Brito’s arrest was announced Friday by Santa Ana police, who did not identify her citing the ongoing investigation.  Continue reading→

Does another club fight signal the start of a race war in Orange County?

Posted on by Posted in Bars, Costa Mesa, Crime, Santa Ana 51 Comments

Partying at Sutra

Police are searching for up to six suspects who attacked a group inside Sutra nightclub in Costa Mesa, this past Friday morning, and beat two victims so severely they required hospitalization. Three men were at a VIP table inside the club on Harbor Boulevard when the attackers jumped them about 12:30 a.m. Friday, Costa Mesa police Sgt. Stephanie Selinske said, according to the Daily Pilot.

This began around 3 a.m. Friday at the club in the Triangle at 1870 Harbor Blvd., when the trio was attacked by what police Sgt. S. Selinske only described as “male Asians who appeared to be in their early twenties,” according to the OC Weekly.

I was afraid this might happen.  There has been no justice in the recent killing of Kim Pham outside of The Crosby, a Santa Ana hipster bar/restaurant.  Two women have been arrested but there are several suspects still on the loose and Pham’s friends are afraid to talk to the cops.  But Asians have gotten the message – and they appear to be ready to fight back. Continue reading→

Pham’s Vietnamese friends are afraid to talk to SAPD investigators

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, Vietnamese 9 Comments

As Santa Ana police detectives try to make sense of the melee that led to Kim Pham’s death, the investigation is running into a wall of silence. Pham’s friends have failed to come forward. One flatly refused to meet with law enforcement, despite pleas from the police, according to the L.A. Times.

Police Commander Tim Vu, the highest-ranking Vietnamese-American law enforcement officer in Orange County, says distrust of the government is still common among refugees who arrived in the area after the Vietnam War, according to CBS.

Nevertheless additional facts are beginning to trickle out: Continue reading→

Santa Ana woman who killed a man while pretending to sell fruit sentenced

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Alejandro Romero and Gladys Romero

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF2917: January 24, 2014

WOMAN SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE FOR ROBBERY-MURDER OF MAN AFTER PRETENDING TO SELL FRUIT DOOR-TO-DOOR

*Co-defendant brother has been convicted and is pending sentencing in this case

SANTA ANA – A woman was sentenced today to 25 years to life in state prison for the robbery and murder of a Santa Ana man by gaining entry into his home by pretending to sell fruit. The defendant’s brother has been convicted as a co-defendant in this case. Gladys Romero, 36, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury May 2, 2013, of one felony count of special circumstances murder during the commission of robbery and burglary with an additional sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury and death.

Co-defendant Alejandro Romero, 34, Santa Ana, pleaded guilty Dec. 12, 2013, to one felony count of murder and is expected to be sentenced to 25 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Jan. 31, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The SAPD arrests another woman in the hate crime killing of Kim Pham

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 46 Comments

A 27-year-old woman was arrested Friday morning and a third woman was being sought in connection with a violent beating outside a Santa Ana nightclub that left Kim Pham, a 23-year-old Westminister woman dead, authorities announced during a news conference Friday afternoon, according to KTLA.

Carlos Rojas, Santa Ana’s interim police chief, declined to release the name of the most recent arrestee, citing the ongoing investigation. Police did, however, release a photo of the third woman being sought, according to the L.A. Times. (The photo is below). Continue reading→

The SAPD says that Kim Pham’s murder was just part of an altercation

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 37 Comments

Annie Hung Kim Pham was murdered in Santa Ana

The Santa Ana Police Department is going to hold a press conference this Friday, January 24, 2014, at 1 pm, at the Community Room at their headquarters, regarding their investigation into the brutal murder of Annie Hung Kim Pham, by bar patrons, last Friday night, while she waited to get into The Crosby, a hipster bar/restaurant in Downtown Santa Ana.

A defense lawyer hired by one of the murderers is now blaming Pham for the attack saying that the Chapman graduate, who was a writer and who worked with several charities, threw the first punch.  She was a petite young lady and we’re supposed to believe she attacked her killers? Continue reading→

The Coroner says Crosby victim was killed by blunt force trauma to her head

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Kim Pham

The Santa Ana Police Department announced today that the Coroner completed autopsy today of the Annie Kim Pham (23) Westminster, who was beat to death by bar patrons outside of The Crosby, a hipster bar/restaurant in Downtown Santa Ana.

The Coronoer determined that the cause of death was “complications from blunt force trauma to head.” Continue reading→

Business owner charged with embezzling over $950K

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster 2 Comments

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13WF2843: January 22, 2014

BUSINESS OWNER SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS AND EIGHTS MONTHS IN PRISON FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $950,000 FROM CLIENT/EMPLOYER

SANTA ANA – A business owner was sentenced to nine years and eight months in state prison for defrauding over $950,000 from his client/employer. Carino Torres, 45, Westminster, pleaded guilty yesterday, Jan. 21, 2014, to three felony counts of forgery, one felony count of grand theft, and one felony count of writing non-sufficient fund checks with sentencing enhancements for committing an aggravated white collar crime over $500,000 and property loss over $200,000. Continue reading→

Man charged for intent to commit a lewd act on a 13-year-old girl

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Jordon Bresyn

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # TBA: January 22, 2014

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR CONTACTING 13-YEAR-OLD FEMALE TO COMMIT SEXUAL OFFENSE

SANTA ANA – A man is to be arraigned today for contacting a minor female he met online to commit a sexual offense. Jordon Michael Bresyn, 22, Buena Park, is charged with one felony count each of arranging to meet a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense, contacting a minor with the intent to commit a lewd act, and sending harmful matter to a minor. If convicted on all counts, he faces a maximum sentence of five years and eight months in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. The defendant is being held on $200,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned today, Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

In late December 2013, Bresyn is accused of finding 13-year-old Jane Doe on a dating website and contacting her. Continue reading→