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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Public Safety

SAPD arrests suspects in murder of Irvine resident in the Artists Village

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

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE- HOMICIDE DETECTIVES ARREST TWO FOR THE 2010 MURDER OF JEFFREY LEE CHUNG

SANTA ANA POLICE- HOMICIDE DETECTIVES ARREST TWO FOR THE 2010 MURDER OF JEFFREY LEE CHUNG

On 10-2-2010, a robber shot and killed a 23-year-old man in a Santa Ana parking garage. Irvine resident Jeffrey Lee Chung was at a bar with some friends in downtown Santa Ana and walking to a parking garage, when he and a friend were confronted by two suspects, one of them armed with a handgun.

Chung was shot when he refused the suspects’ demand for money. Chung’s friend was unharmed. The suspects, described as male Hispanics, fled the scene on foot. Officers responding to a “shots fired, man down” call about 1:30 a.m., at 201 W. Third Street, found Chung shot in the upper torso. He was taken to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted of breaking, entering and masturbating

Posted on by Posted in Courts, Crime, Garden Grove, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 5 Comments

MAN CONVICTED OF BREAKING INTO HOME AND MASTURBATING IN FRONT OF GRANDMOTHER AND TWO YOUNG GRANDDAUGHTERS

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of breaking into the home of a grandmother and her two grandchildren, masturbating in front of the three victims. Ozro Robert Lee, 46, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count each of first degree residential burglary of an inhabited dwelling, indecent exposure after unlawful entry, and two felony counts of child annoyance after trespass, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for non-accomplice present during a residential burglary was found true. He faces a maximum sentence of eight years in state prison at his sentencing April 6, 2012, at 8:30 a.m.in Department C-37, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on April 15, 2011, Lee broke into a Garden Grove home by prying at the front door using a screw driver or tool. Two little girls, ages 6 and 8 years old, were inside the home with their 59-year-old grandmother, Jane Doe. Continue reading→

O.C.D.A. gang prevention program will give away Chivas USA soccer tickets

Posted on by Posted in Gangs, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities 1 Comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: February 9, 2012

1,200 STUDENTS SCORE CHANCE TO EARN CHIVAS USA SOCCER TICKETS IN KICKOFF OF GANG PREVENTION INCENTIVE PROGRAM

*800 students were surprised at school assemblies today; 400 others were hand-picked from 38 schools

ORANGE COUNTY – Chivas USA will sponsor more than 1,200 elementary and middle school students with an incentive to earn free tickets to a Chivas USA game in an ongoing effort to keep kids in school and out of gangs.

Chivas USA has teamed up with Orange County law enforcement in the Orange County Gang Reduction and Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP), which aims to prevent juveniles from being victims of or participants in gang crimes by identifying at-risk youth, increasing school attendance, and decreasing gang activity. Continue reading→

SAPD to conduct a DUI checkpoint at Fairview and 5th St. on Saturday night

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Site of SAPD DUI checkpoint, to be held on 2/11

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, February 11th, 2012. It will begin at 7:

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, February 11th, 2012. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 400 N. Fairview Street, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana teen on bike struck in hit and run accident, on Monday night

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 8 Comments

 

Approximate area of the hit and run accident

SAPD Advisory: 13 Year old female riding bike in crosswalk is struck by unknown vehicle. Suspect flees the scene, victim in ctitical condition.

On Monday evening (2-06-12), at approximately 7:00 PM, a 13 year old girl riding her bicycle north on Greenville across Warner was hit by an unknown vehicle driving west on Warner Avenue. The girl was knocked to the ground and sustained severe injuries. The unknown driver fled, making no attempt to stop or check on the condition of the injured girl. Passing motorists stopped to render aid to the girl lying in the roadway. The cause of this collision has not yet been determined and is under investigation. The victim remains in critical condition at a local hospital. Continue reading→

O.C.D.A. to file additional murder charges against former Marine Ocampo

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

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office will file two additional counts of murder Monday against a former Marine for the stabbing-murder of a mother and her son in Yorba Linda. The defendant is also charged with murdering four homeless men in a serial thrill-kill spree. Itzcoatl Ocampo, 23, Yorba Linda, is charged with six felony counts of murder with special circumstances for multiple murders and lying in wait and sentencing enhancements for personal use of a deadly weapon, a knife, during the commission of a crime. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. The special circumstances in this case make Ocampo eligible for the death penalty, and the District Attorney will make this determination at a later date. Ocampo is being held without bail and will be arraigned on the new charges Monday, Feb. 6, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

SAPD arrests Muniz brothers for possessing high powered guns/ammo

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Gangs, Guns, Public Safety, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Advisory: Santa Ana Police Arrest two Brothers possessing High Powered Assault Rifles, ammunition, and heavy body armor.

Santa Ana Police Arrest two Brothers possessing High Powered Assault Rifles, ammunition, and heavy body armor.

Arrested:

Muniz, Esteban 32, from Anaheim
Muniz, Jose 24, from Anaheim

On Tuesday January 31, 2012 Santa Ana Police Gang investigators arrested two brothers suspected of keeping high-powered weaponry and ammunition, including a loaded assault rifle, in their Anaheim home also inhabited by juveniles ranging from ages 10 to16. Continue reading→

SAPD to conduct a DUI checkpoint on Saturday, near 17th & Tustin

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 4 Comments

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, January 28th, 2012

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, January 28th, 2012. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2000 E. 17th Street, in the City of Santa Ana (Editor’s Note: this is not too far from The Quill Lounge). Continue reading→

SAPD seeks public assistance in finding more victims of alleged rapist

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Request Media and publice assistance an identifying additinal victims in serial rape case. Suspect in custody.

Arrestee: Jose Luis Capacete, Age 39, 5’7”, 145, thin build, blk/brn, short hair
Vehicle(s): Chrysler, Town and Country, 2001, dark green mini van, license plate #5KSM113. Honda Accord, black, 4-Door, 1997, license plate #6GMX802

SYNOPSIS: On 12-24-11, Capacete picked up a female on Harbor Blvd, in the City of Santa Ana. Once the victim was inside Capacete’s vehicle, Capacete produced a handgun and a taser. The victim’s hands were tied behind her back and she was sexually assaulted in the van. Evidence left at the scene led detectives to investigate suspect Capacete. A search warrant was performed at the suspects residence in the city of Baldwin Park where items were recovered as evidence leading detectives to believe that there are additional victims. To date two of the additional victims have been identified and detectives are following up. Continue reading→

Itzcoatl Ocampo charges and O.C. District Attorney’s remarks

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

Contacts: Laura Eimiller, Spokesperson, FBI, LA Office, Office:310-996-3343
Susan Schroeder, Chief of Staff, OCDA, 714-347-8408, Cell:714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, OCDA, 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 17, 2012

OCDA FILES MULTIPLE MURDER CHARGES AGAINST FORMER MARINEFOR SERIAL THRILL-KILL SPREE OF FOUR HOMELESS MEN IN ONE MONTH

*Defendant was apprehended after mass multi-agency manhunt

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office has filed charges against a former Marine for murdering four homeless men in a serial thrill-kill spree. Itzcoatl Ocampo, 23, Yorba Linda, is charged with four felony counts of murderwith special circumstances for multiple murders and lying in wait and sentencing enhancements for personal use of a deadlyweapon, a knife, during commission of a crime. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison without thepossibility of parole. The special circumstances in this case make Ocampo eligible for the death penalty, and the DistrictAttorney will make this determination at a later date as is customary. Ocampo is being held without bail and is expected to bearraigned tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Press conference regarding alleged homeless killer, Itzcoatl Ocampo, on 1/17

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: January 16, 2012
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY TONY RACKAUCKAS: MEDIA ADVISORY

WHO: Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas, and representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Anaheim Police Department, Placentia Police Department, and Brea/Yorba Linda Police Department.

Continue reading→

SAPD DUI/License checkpoint this Friday at 1500 E. McFadden

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Entertainment, Public Safety, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Thursday January 12, 2012, 10:55 AM
Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, January 13th, 2011. It will begin at 7:30P

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, January 13th, 2011. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1500 E. McFadden Avenue, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

SAPD to be featured in Friday night’s episode of “America’s Most Wanted”

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Entertainment, Paul Walters, Public Safety 1 Comment

The Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) will be featured in this Friday night’s episode of “America’s Most Wanted,” hosted by John Walsh, on the Lifetime Network.

SAPD Chief Paul Walters said in an email that there will be two separate incidents involving the SAPD, in episode 6 of America’s Most Wanted. Continue reading→

Homicides decreased in Santa Ana 59% over the past year!

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Miguel Pulido, Paul Walters, Public Safety, Santa Ana 17 Comments

According to Santa Ana’s Chief of Police and Acting City Manager, Paul Walters, the overall homicide totals from January 1st through December 31 decreased 59% from last year.  There were 29 homicides in 2010 and 12 in 2011.

In 2011, the number of gang related homicides decreased by 45%.   There were 11 gang-related homicides in 2010 and 6 in 2011.

In 2011, the number of non-specific homicides decreased by 66%.   There were 18 non-specific homicides in 2010 and 6 in 2011, during the same time period. Continue reading→

Happy New Year Santa Ana – no SAPD DUI checkpoints this weekend

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Paul Walters, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana 23 Comments

The Santa Ana Police Department’s (SAPD) Public Information Officer, Anthony Bertagna, and Santa Ana Chief of Police Paul Walters both confirmed today, via email, that the SAPD is not going to be conducting any DUI checkpoints this weekend.

Now that doesn’t mean that our residents and out of town visitors should get drunk and drive on New Year’s Eve, but it does mean that our residents who don’t have documents can feel free to drive without having to worry about their cars being impounded.

If you do get wasted this New Year’s Eve there is good news.  The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is providing free bus rides between 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31 and 2:30 a.m. on New Year’s Day, Jan. 1. Continue reading→