New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Drugs

The SAPD will take back old and unused prescription drugs today

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Drugs, Entertainment, Environment, Health and Medical, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Join us for National Take Back Day on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015, at our Westend Substation!

On Saturday, September 26, 2015, the Santa Ana Police Department in collaboration with the Los Angeles Field Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is hosting a NATIONAL TAKE BACK DAY.

NATIONAL TAKE BACK DAY will provide a unified opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction. Continue reading→

The City of Santa Ana is prosecuting 13 individuals from a pot clinic raided by the SAPD

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Marijuana, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The City of Santa Ana is going to arraign thirteen people on Oct. 15 on charges in connection with a controversial raid at a medical marijuana dispensary where Santa Ana police were caught on hidden video purportedly snacking on pot edibles, according to the O.C. Register.

The defendants are all represented by Anthony L. Curiale, a Brea-based attorney. The defendants are going to plea not guilty at the Orange County Superior Court.

The defendants were cited for suspicion of unlawful operation of a medical marijuana collective. If convicted of the misdemeanor offense, they face up to 6 months in jail or $1,000 fine. However, the Santa Ana City Attorney’s Office can reduce the charges to an infraction that doesn’t carry any times behind bars. Continue reading→

Man stabbed with a box cutter by another man on drugs on S. Townsend Street

Posted on August 5, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A man in his 50s was on drugs when he stabbed a man in his mid-30s with a folding box cutter tool in the arm and hip on Monday at around 1:30 a.m. in the 500 block of South Townsend Street, according to the O.C. Register.

The attacker was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and for some outstanding arrest warrants but has not been identified by the SAPD. Continue reading→

Shirtless man on meth arrested after trying to break into the monkey pens at the Santa Ana Zoo

Posted on August 4, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, homeless, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 10 Comments

John William Rodenborn

If you need yet another reason to stay away from meth consider the fate of 37-year-old John William Rodenborn, a man who was arrested today at around 10:30 a.m., at the Santa Ana Zoo while he was shirtless and covered with mud, claiming to be Tarzan and was swinging from the trees and trying to break into a monkey pen, according to the O.C. Register.

Rodenborn, a local transient, was found to be under the influence of meth and in possession of meth as well. He apparently jumped over a safety fence that is supposed to keep the public out of the monkey exhibits. He tried to escape when the cops showed up but they were able to detain him. Continue reading→

Toxicology results show that Erica Alonso had a lethal dose of GHB and alcohol in her system

Posted on July 22, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Orange County 2 Comments

Erica Alonso pic

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Erica Alonso Death Investigation

UPDATE: Toxicology Results & Cause of Death

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (July 22, 2015) – On Tuesday, July 21, 2015, Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators obtained results of toxicology tests performed on Erica Alonso, 28, Laguna Hills. The results indicate Ms. Alonso had varying levels of alcohol and Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB) in her system at the time of her death.

Based on the Ms. Alonso’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .22 and the amount of GHB found in her system, the Coroner Division has determined the combination and amounts were lethal. The Coroner Division has determined the cause of death to be an overdose; however, the manner remains undetermined. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man who tried to steal a wallet but was stopped by a child is arrested

Posted on June 19, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Robbery Suspect Arrested After Anonymous Caller Sees Suspect Vehicle Shown In TV News story

Arrested: Heriberto Escalera Contreras (36) Santa Ana

Charges: Outstanding Warrant for Burglary, Possession of Narcotic (Methamphetamine), Bringing Narcotics into a Jail Facility and Robbery

Update/Arrest: On 6/18/15 at 4:50 P.M., officers responded to the Mobile Gas Station Edinger/Main after an anonymous citizen called to report that the suspect vehicle that was shown on TV news of the robbery that occurred in the 7-Eleven parking lot (2242 S. Grand) on 6/15/15, was currently parked in the lot. Continue reading→

Federal lawsuit alleges that Santa Ana officials have ties to medical pot dispensaries

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Editor Posted in Civic Affairs, Drugs, Elections, Marijuana, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Attorney Matthew Pappas has filed a federal lawsuit against the City of Santa Ana, on behalf of the Sky High Holistic marijuana collective and others, alleging in part that Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido and other city officials have financial ties to certain medical marijuana dispensaries in the city and have been directing police to shut down their competitors, according to the Voice of OC.

According to the lawsuit, Pulido conspired to derail a grassroots marijuana initiative in the city while soliciting cash from existing pot clubs who the Mayor allegedly promised winning slots in a Feb. 5 city-sponsored marijuana dispensary lottery. The lawsuit claims the payments were used to pay for gathering public support for the city’s favored pot initiative, according to the OC Weekly. Continue reading→

Press conference and rally against the SAPD’s marijuana dispensary raids set for 6/15

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Drugs, Entertainment, Long Beach, Marijuana, Police Brutality, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 16 Comments

A press conference regarding Santa Ana Police Department outrageous raids on medical marijuana dispensaries will be held this Monday, June 15, 2015, at 1:30 p.m., at the Westin Hotel located at 333 E. Ocean Blvd., in Long Beach.

The event organizers ask that you please dress as you would for court support. Continue reading→

Car chase leads police from Santa Ana to two other cities and back to Santa Ana

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Drugs, Garden Grove, Santa Ana Leave a comment

It turned out to be a wild afternoon in Santa Ana on Monday as police chased a man and a woman in a car from the intersection of Tustin and Franzen Avenues in Santa Ana through Garden Grove and Anaheim and then back to Santa Ana. The driver was finally arrested at the 2600 block of Greenbrier Street, at the corner of Bristol Street and Park Lane, in Santa Ana, where the driver was arrested, according to the O.C. Register.

The incident began about 1:30 p.m. when a witness reported hearing nine shots fired by the occupant of a gray Cadillac CTS at a Mazda SUV near North Tustin and Franzen avenues, a Santa Ana Police Department watch commander said, according to KTLA. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man reportedly high on drugs when he crashed into several businesses

Posted on May 27, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Crime, Drugs, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

A Santa Ana man identified as 48-year-old Tuan Anh Truong of Santa Ana was arrested Wednesday afternoon after police said he crashed a stolen vehicle into three Santa Ana businesses and a home before leading police on a 20-minute chase that ended in Westminster, according to the O.C. Register.

The SAPD started getting calls at around 1:30 pm in the afternoon that a man behind the wheel of a white GMC Sierra truck was driving unsafely and crashing into several businesses. Continue reading→

Santa Ana attorney charged with large scale diversion of prescription drugs

Posted on May 8, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, May 7, 2015

Three California Men and Minnesota Corporation Indicted in Nationwide Prescription Drug Diversion Scheme

Three California men and a Minnesota company were charged in an indictment today in the Southern District of Ohio for their roles in a massive prescription drug diversion scheme.

The indictment alleges that David Jess Miller, 50, of Santa Ana, California; Artur Stepanyan, 38, and Mihran Stepanyan, 29, both of Encino, California, and Minnesota Independent Cooperative Inc. (MIC) engaged in a conspiracy to sell prescription drugs from illegal, unlicensed sources to wholesalers and pharmacies throughout the United States. The 12-count indictment charges the defendants with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, multiple counts of mail fraud, and conspiracy to distribute prescription drugs without a license and to make false statements. Continue reading→

Needle exchange program proposed for the French Court Neighborhood

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Santa Ana 3 Comments

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: COMMUNITY INPUT: PROPOSED NEIGHBORHOOD NEEDLE EXCHANGE PROGRAM / COMENTARIO PÚBLICO: PROGRAMA PROPUESTO DE INTERCAMBIO DE AGUJAS

The City of Santa Ana has received notification that a group of UC Irvine medical students are seeking approval from the State of California to establish a “free needle exchange program” in the French Court Neighborhood for intravenous drug users.

The community is encouraged to submit public comments on the needle exchange as the proposed location at 1605 N. Spurgeon is not permitted under Santa Ana’s General Plan. Public comments are being accepted through May 14, 2015 via email to: Continue reading→

Driver on meth convicted of hit and run crash that killed a cyclist

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Orange County, Tustin Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 14CF1047

Date: April 21, 2015

DRIVER UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE SENTENCED TO 11 YEARS IN PRISON FOR KILLING CYCLIST IN HIT-AND-RUN CRASH

SANTA ANA – A driver was sentenced today to 11 years in state prison for driving under the influence of methamphetamine and killing a cyclist in a hit-and-run crash. Sommer Nicole Gonzales, 19, Tustin, pleaded guilty today to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated, one felony count of hit and run with death, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of use and under the influence of a controlled substance, one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for fleeing the scene of a vehicular manslaughter.

At approximately 6:55 a.m. on Feb. 2, 2014, Gonzales drove under the influence of methamphetamine in her Toyota Corolla sedan southbound on Santiago Canyon Road, in unincorporated Orange County near Loma Ridge Road, and veered into the bike lane. She struck 21-year-old Joseph Robinson, who was lawfully riding his bike within the marked bike lane. Gonzales fled the scene without stopping to render any assistance to the victim or reporting the accident. A witness, who was driving in the vicinity of the hit and run, saw substantial damage to Gonzales’ vehicle and called 911 to give a description of her car. Continue reading→

SAPD Detectives investigate marijuana grow

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Marijuana, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives investigate marijuana grow

Orange County Fire Authority responded at 7:00 AM this morning to a fire alarm coming from a commercial building in the 1100 block of East 17th Street.

When OCFA personnel arrived, five males fled the business in various vehicles. Continue reading→

Rapper B-Real a winner at Santa Ana’s medical marijuana dispensary lottery

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Drugs, Health and Medical, Marijuana, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Medical Marijuana Dispensary Lottery

Picture courtesy of Kandice Hawes

The medical marijuana dispensary lottery held in Santa Ana’s City Council Chambers yesterday felt like a cross between a horse race, with all the handicapping going on, and an expensive game of Bingo, according to NBC News.

Cypress Hill rapper Louis Freese, better known as B-Real, was one of the twenty lottery winners. He said that he plans to name his collective Dr. Greenthumb, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→