Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Crime

Why the SAPD shot Jason Hallstrom remains a real mystery

Posted on by Posted in Civil Rights, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 8 Comments
Jason Hallstrom at dinner with the Nunley family

Jason Hallstrom, pictured on the right

Many weeks have passed since Jason “Hoss” Hallstrom was shot dead by the SAPD, after he and his friend Travis Mock pulled into the parking lot at the Target on Grand and 17th, in Santa Ana.  We are still waiting for the report from the Orange County District Attorney, which has to investigate all police shootings in Orange County.  But some of the pieces of this sordid puzzle have been put together by Hallstrom’s friend, Tiffany Nunley.  Here is her story:

Travis Mock appeared in West Court, the morning of the shooting, for the case he was currently out on bail for. He never told this to anyone previously.  This appears to debunk the SAPD’s story about a car chase due to a stolen car. Continue reading→

SAPD seeks assistance in finding Home Depot and Radio Shack robber

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Home depot robber

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory:

Police request media and public assistance in identifying suspect involved in Home Depot and Radio Shack robberies

On 4/15/13 at approximately 0940 hours, the victim was manning the cash register in the gardening section of The Home Depot when the suspect approached. The suspect brandished what appeared to be a gun and demanded the victim surrender the money from the cash register. The victim complied and handed the suspect approximately $500 in cash from the register. The suspect demanded the victim to walk with him towards the exit of the store. Out of fear, the victim walked approximately 15’ with the suspect. The suspect told the victim he was sorry and that his wife was sick. The suspect walked out of the store and was last seen leaving on foot. Continue reading→

SAPD seeks commercial burglary suspects who broke into a church

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SAPD Robbery Suspect

SAPD Community Alert:

Police request media and public assistance identifying suspects involved in series of commercial burglaries in Santa Ana

LOCATION: Forty Martyrs Armenian Church 5315 W. McFadden Ave., Santa Ana

SUSPECT #1: Male, White, 30-35 yrs., short brown hair, clean shaven, thin build, wearing a black baseball cap with “Sox” logo, black jacket with orange liner, white/black striped polo shirt, blue shorts and white/black tennis shoes Continue reading→

Woman convicted for killing a man while pretending to sell fruit

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Alejandro Romero and Gladys Romero

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF2917: May 3, 2013

WOMAN CONVICTED OF ROBBERY-MURDER OF MAN AFTER PRETENDING WITH BROTHER TO BE DOOR-TO-DOOR FRUIT SALESMEN

SANTA ANA – A woman was convicted yesterday of the robbery and murder of a Santa Ana man with her brother by gaining entry into his home by pretending to be fruit salesmen. Gladys Romero, 35, 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. A sentencing date will be set May 10, 2013, at 1:30 p.m. in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The OC DUI Task Force will be on patrol this Cinco de Mayo

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Anaheim, Bars, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

 Orange County Sheriff's Badge

SHERIFF-CORONER DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

The Orange County DUI Task Force on Special Patrols for Cinco de Mayo

SANTA ANA, CA – (May 3, 2013) – As the community celebrates Cinco de Mayo, party-goers may indulge themselves with their favorite margarita or tequila and then, unfortunately, choose to get behind the wheel.

This year, the “Avoid the 38” Orange County DUI Task Force is joining with other law enforcement acrossthe nation to encourage everyone to plan ahead this Cinco de Mayo and to never drink and drive. Continue reading→

Former SAPD cop turned P.I. convicted for defrauding his clients

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Kevin Michael Sianez

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10CF1569: May 2, 2013

FORMER POLICE OFFICER CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR DEFRAUDING CLIENTS BY STEALING PAYMENT FOR UNPERFORMED, UNLICENSED PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR WORK

SANTA ANA – A former police officer working as an unlicensed private investigator was convicted and sentenced today for defrauding his clients. Kevin Michael Sianez, 56, Fountain Valley, pleaded guilty to a court offer to 17 felony counts of grand theft by false pretense, 11 felony counts of fraudulently using an access card, two felony counts of identity theft, four felony counts of possession of a firearm by a felon stemming from a 1998 conviction for stalking, six felony counts of obtaining services through false representation, and one felony count each of perjury by declaration, computer access and fraud, and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person. Sianez also pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count each of unlawful representation as a private investigator, engaging in the business of private investigation, and doing business without a valid license with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and property damage over $65,000. Sianez was sentenced to four years in state prison stayed and ordered to serve one year in jail and make monthly restitution payments of $5,000 until he fulfills the total losses of over $187,000. Continue reading→

Drunken Santa Ana driver convicted for accident that killed a 2-year old boy

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Courts, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 24, Santa Ana

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11CF3062: May 3, 2013

DRUNKEN DRIVER SENTENCED TO 16 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CRASHING INTO MOTHER CROSSING STREET WITH HER TWO CHILDREN AND KILLING HER 2-YEAR-OLD BOY

SANTA ANA – A drunken driver was sentenced today to 16 years in state prison for killing a 2-year-old boy by crashing into the toddler and his mother and baby sister as they crossed the street. Angel Alberto Cruz Perez, 24, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury March 28, 2013, of one felony count each of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing bodily injury, hit and run with permanent injury or death, and one misdemeanor count of driving a motor vehicle without a license, with sentencing enhancement allegations for causing great bodily injury to a child under 5 years old, fleeing the scene, and an additional injured person. Continue reading→

Correa’s drugged driving measure evolves into a working group

Posted on by Posted in california, Crime, Drugs, Lou Correa, Santa Ana Leave a comment

State Senator Lou Correa

DRUGGED DRIVING MEASURE EVOLVES INTO WORKING GROUP

May 01, 2013

Sacramento, CA – State Senator Lou Correa (D – Santa Ana), joined by state-wide law enforcement and victims’ rights groups, announced the establishment of a working group with the Chair of Senate Public Safety Committee, Senator Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), to amend Senate Bill 289, a measure that would equip law enforcement and district attorneys to arrest and prosecute drivers under the influence of drugs. Continue reading→

Garden Grove woman convicted of torturing her husband and severing his penis

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Catherine Kieu, 50, Garden Grove

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11ZF0127: April 29, 2013

WOMAN CONVICTED OF TORTURING MAN, WITH WHOM SHE HAD A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP, BY CUTTING OFF HIS PENIS AFTER TYING HIM TO BED

SANTA ANA – A woman was convicted today of torturing a man, with whom she had a romantic relationship, by cutting off his penis after tying him to his bed following an argument. Catherine Kieu, 50, Garden Grove, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of torture, one felony count of aggravated mayhem, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife. She faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison with the possibility of parole at her sentencing June 28, 2013, in Department C-30, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Retired cop whose son was involved in a pot dispensary is being investigated

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Drugs, Marijuana, Public Safety, Santa Ana 5 Comments

SA Superior Care

The Santa Ana City Attorney’s office has opened an investigation into Hank Cousine, a recently retired police sergeant who received a controversial payout for unused time off, according to the Voice of OC.

The Voice of OC reported that “For years, Couisine logged dozens of hours of overtime each month, records of overtime sheets obtained by Voice of OC show. And upon retirement he cashed out more than 3,000 hours in vacation, holiday, compensatory and sick time, equivalent to more than a year of eight-hour workdays.”

But there is more to this story that the Voice of OC is not reporting.  Cousine was supposedly an “outstanding narcotics officer,” according to one of his former colleagues in the SAPD.  In the 1980s he was shot in the neck during a standoff with a drug dealer. He not only recovered from the wound, which left him disfigured, but remained in top physical condition throughout his years on the force. Continue reading→

SAPD to crack down on Cinco de Mayo cruising

Posted on by Posted in Cars, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Santa Ana Police May 5th (Cinco de Mayo) Cruising Enforcement

Each May 5th (Cinco de Mayo), the City of Santa Ana experiences a high volume of unsanctioned cruising activity. This unsanctioned activity produces public safety concerns, numerous calls for service and grid-lock. In an effort to provide a safe environment and minimize the impact on our local neighborhoods, the Santa Ana Police Department will be deploying extra police personnel to deal with the influx of cruiser activity. Continue reading→

OCDA declares war on pimps and other human traffickers

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana, Women 2 Comments

Tony Rackauckas

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: April 26, 2013

OCDA TO PUT THEIR “HEAT” ON SLAVE-OWNER PERPS

*DA Rackauckas introduces new Unit to combat human exploitation and trafficking

SANTA ANA – Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas announced today at the Victims’ Rights March and Rally a new unit to prosecute Human Exploitation And Trafficking (HEAT) cases. Orange County is a diverse melting-pot with a large ethnic population, multiple tourist attractions, and is surrounded by large, urban counties, which has made it susceptible to human traffickers. Human trafficking cases have recently increased in Orange County, with many cases involving underage victims and/or brothels. The new Unit was created to deal with this increasing problem. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man gets 61 years to life for impregnating an 11-year old relative

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Mariano Antonio Castro

Orange County District Attorney, Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 11CF1301: April 26, 2013

MAN SENTENCED TO 61 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR IMPREGNATING 11-YEAR-OLD FEMALE RELATIVE AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING HER FOR NINE YEARS

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 61 years to life in state prison for sexually abusing a female relative for nine years and impregnating her at the age of 11. Mariano Antonio Castro, 58, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Feb. 13, 2013, of two felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, three felony counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14, one felony count of continuous sexual abuse of a child under 14, and sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and inflicting great bodily injury were found true. Continue reading→

Speakers announced for the 5th Annual Victims’ Rights March and Rally

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

RIP Kelly Thomas

Orange County District Attorney, Media Advisory
For Immediate Release: April 23, 2013

WHO: Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas

WHAT: Is pleased to announce the speakers for the 5th Annual Victims’ Rights March and Rally

WHEN: Friday, April 26, 2013, at 9:30 a.m. (Reception) and 11:00 a.m. (Rally) Continue reading→

Santa Ana parents arrested for allowing kids to skip school

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Education, Orange County, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: April 18, 2013

SIX PARENTS ARRESTED ON CRIMINAL CHARGES FOR PUTTING SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN AT RISK BY ALLOWING CHRONIC TRUANCY DESPITE SCHOOL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT WARNINGS

*Pool video is available to the media from ABC7 (English) and KMEX Univision 34 (Spanish) and pool still photographs are available from the Orange County Register

SANTA ANA – Law enforcement arrested six parents today for allowing their children to be chronically truant despite repeated warnings from the schools and police. California law requires school-aged children to be enrolled in and attend school and failure to comply with the law can result in juvenile court proceedings for the child or criminal prosecution of the parent(s). The defendants in this case are each charged with one misdemeanor count of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one misdemeanor count of failure to reasonably supervise or encourage school attendance. If convicted, each defendant faces a sentence ranging from probation up to one year in jail and $2,500 in fines. The defendants’ arraignment dates are to be determined. Continue reading→