New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Gangs

25-year-old woman killed in a gang shooting near St. Joseph Church in Santa Ana

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Michele Martinez, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Vanessa Elizabeth Rodriguez, a 25-year-old woman, was killed late Wednesday night in a gang-related shooting inside a residential garage behind a Catholic church the west alley of the 700 block of North Lacy Street, according to the O.C. Register.

The SAPD said that two suspects entered an alley, pulled open a garage door and began shooting at the three people inside, hitting all of them, according to ABC News.

The victim was shot inside a single-car garage that had been converted into a living space , at around 11:30 p.m. Continue reading→

The SAPD is continuing to try to suppress gang operations in Santa Ana

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, FBI, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Continues It’s Criminal Street Gang Suppression Operations

In an effort to address the surge in gang-related violence, the Santa Ana Police Department has developed a strategy, which incorporates continuous criminal street gang suppression enforcement operations.

On Sunday, March 13, 2016 the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) – Santa Ana Gang Task Force, which consists of personnel from the Santa Ana Police Department, FBI, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives along with Santa Ana Police Department’s Gang Unit, Field Operations Bureau, and Orange County Probation Department conducted a citywide gang suppression enforcement operation. The enforcement operation resulted in a total of 13 gang-related arrests. Continue reading→

Man shot a day after church leaders rallied against violence in Santa Ana

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Julian Barragan, 21, has been identified as the man who was shot several times the day after a number of local church groups and community leaders held a rally to denounce the growing violence in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

Barragan was walking near West Kent Avenue and Newhope Street at around 4:30 a.m. today when he was attacked. The victim did not have any known gang affiliations.

Barragan ended up dying due to his injuries.
Continue reading→

O.C. Gangbanger who snitched on the Mexican Mafia gets a lighter sentence

Posted on March 6, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 07WF0153

Date: March 4, 2016

GANG MEMBER WHO WORKED AS FEDERAL INFORMANT SENTENCED TO 21 YEARS IN PRISON FOR BEING PAROLEE IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A gang member who worked as a federal informant was sentenced today to 21 years in state prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm in public. Fernando Jose Perez, also known as Inmate F, 34, Theo Lacy Jail, was found guilty by a jury on March 9, 2009, of one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon with sentencing enhancements for crime-bail-crime, criminal street gang activity, and three prior strike convictions for possession of a firearm while on probation and street terrorism in 2000, being an active gang participant having a concealed firearm in a vehicle, gang member carrying a loaded firearm in public, possession of a firearm while on probation and street terrorism in 2001, and receiving and possessing stolen property and street terrorism in 2002, all in Orange County. He faced a maximum of 42 years to life in state prison.

On Aug. 3, 2015, the defense field a “Romero” motion, in which the judge can dismiss past strike allegations set forth in the complaint in order to sentence the defendant to less time in prison, in furtherance of justice. Continue reading→

The arrest of 113 Santa Ana gangbangers has reduced shootings by 29%

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Rojas, Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana Experiences 29% Decrease in Shootings

In response to an increase in gang-related shootings during the month of January, 2016, the Santa Ana Police Department has deployed additional police oﬃcers and detectives to conduct proactive crime enforcement. This directed enforcement was purposefully concentrated in areas of our community most impacted by gang activity. The results thus far include 23 guns seized and 113 gang members arrested by SAPD gang detectives, and a 29% decrease in shootings during the month of February alone. Continue reading→

Santa Ana gangbanger captured after a police pursuit

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Suspect Wanted In Pursuit and Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer Captured

Arrested: Jesse Angel Ramos (20) Santa Ana

Booking Charges: Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer, Felony Evading and Hit and Run Collision

Summary: Thursday, 2-25-16, at approximately 3:07PM, a SAPD motor officer attempted to stop a black Ford Mustang for traffic violations in the area of 5th and Jackson when the driver accelerated and failed to yield.

A pursuit ensued during which the suspect vehicle collided with a civilian’s vehicle and continued to flee. At one point, the suspect stopped and began backing directly at the motor officer, using the suspect vehicle as a weapon. The motor officer was able to avoid the suspect vehicle. Continue reading→

Three Santa Ana gangbangers arrested for 2014 muder

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Arrest Three Suspects In 2014 Gang Related Homicide

Arrested: Jesus Manuel Nevarez Jr., (18), Santa Ana

Suspects 2 and 3 Male Juveniles

On September 7, 2014, a gang-related murder occurred in the 1400 block of South Center in the city of Santa Ana.

The victim, Edgar Antonio Ojeda 24 year-old, was fatally shot during a gang-related confrontation. Continue reading→

Santa Ana gangbanger speeds through a neighborhood then escapes after a police pursuit

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

A 20-year-old Santa Ana gangbanger was driving 69 mph in a 30 mph zone today, at 3:07 p.m., at 5th and North Jackson Streets, when an SAPD motorcyle officer tried to pull him over, according to the O.C. Register.

Most folks would pull over – but not this gangbanger. He sped off and led the police on a short car chase.

The suspect eventually became trapped in a neighborhood, so of course he put the car in reverse and tried to run over the motorcycle officer. Continue reading→

Gangbanger with past felony convictions pleads guilty to causing a police pursuit in Santa Ana

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Manuel Burciaga, a 42-year-old man sentenced last month to 31 years to life in prison for a gang-related fatal shooting in Santa Ana two decades ago pleaded guilty this Tuesday to triggering the police chase that led him to face justice for the 1993 murder, according to the O.C. Register.

Burciaga admitted to numerous felony charges including evading police, possession of a firearm by a felon, participating in gang activity and possession of a gun in a school zone. His sentence will also be enhanced as he also admitted to allegations of gang activities. he is set to be sentenced on Aug. 18. Continue reading→

Juvenile gangbangers arrested after shooting at another gang while kids played nearby

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Members of two opposing gangs opened fire on each other on Tuesday at around 2:43 p.m., at South Raitt Street and West Monte Vista Avenue, in Santa Ana, where kids were playing at the time, according to the O.C. Register.

Two SAPD motorcycle officers showed up at the scene after they received reports of shots fired at the 1900 block of West McFadden Avenue. The police officers arrested two of the juvenile suspects – one of them had a firearm.

Two other suspects took off on a bicycle, headed toward South Townsend St. Continue reading→

31 gangbangers arrested as the SAPD finally strikes back

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Arrests 31 Gang Members And Recovers 7 Weapons In Three Day “Operation Impact”

In the first seven weeks of 2016, the Santa Ana Police Department reported increased levels of violent crime involving numerous gangs from throughout the city. Between February 16th and 18th, the Department responded to one homicide and two officer involved-shootings involving gang members. A Gang Unit detective was wounded by gunfire during one event. In an effort to stem the tide of increasing violence, a three-day enforcement operation was assembled. The Field Operations Bureau partnered with Detectives from the Career Criminal Unit and Gangs to provide high visibility enforcement in areas negatively impacted by gang activity. Continue reading→

Drug-dealing gangbangers have allegedly taken over a vacant house in Santa Ana’s Ward 6

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

One of our readers reports that there is a vacant house in her neighborhood that has become a problem with the local gang members squatting and dealing drugs from it, at 4917 W. Kent Ave., in Santa Ana.

Our reader said that the problem was resolved – at a very basic level – in August 2014; however, recently gangbangers have again been again eyeing the house. Apparently this past Saturday, the front door of the house was found by neighbors to be wide open.

To make matters worse, the gangbangers have allegedly been bothering the neighbors and scaring the local children. Continue reading→

A bicyclist was shot on Monday morning next to Fitz Intermediate School

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Rojas, Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

An unidentified man was shot while riding a bicycle in Santa Ana early Monday morning, at 2:45 a.m., at the 4800 block of McFadden Avenue, according to the O.C. Register.

The victim was traveling west on McFadden Ave. when a green SUV heading in the same direction pulled up next to him and an unidentified assailant opened fire, shooting four or five times at him with a gun, according to the SAPD.

The victim was hit twice in his upper body. The attackers sped off and the man was taken to a local hospital with what was described as non-life-threatening injuries. Continue reading→

Santa Ana gangbanger charged with multiple felonies after a shootout with the SAPD

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 16CF0455

Date: February 19, 2016

MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO: Carlos Michael Rodriguez, 30, Santa Ana

WHAT: Was charged today with one felony count of attempted murder of a peace officer, one felony count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm on a peace officer, one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon, and two felony counts of possession for sale of a controlled substance, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm. Rodriguez also has prison priors including a 2005 conviction for the unlawful taking of a vehicle, a 2006 conviction for possession of a controlled substance and violation of a protective order, and a 2008 strike conviction for assault with a semiautomatic rifle on a peace officer and resisting an executive officer. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 42 years to life in state prison. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail. Continue reading→

Another possible gang-related shooting at McFadden and South Sullivan

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

A day after an SAPD gang unit got into a shootout with suspects at McFadden and South Sullivan, there was another possible gang-related shooting, not far from the site of yesterday’s police officer-involved shooting, according to the O.C. Register.

A man showed up at a local hospital today at around 4:15 p.m. with what looked like a gunshot wound, according to the SAPD. The man’s exact condition was not revealed. Continue reading→