New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Public Safety

Update: Santa Ana Occupy’s camping bid is D.O.A.

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Crime, David Benavides, Drugs, Michele Martinez, Orange County, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 47 Comments

UPDATE: Barely over 20 Occupy protesters marched at the Santa Ana Art Walk on Saturday, according to the OC Weekly. Obviously this is a very small movement…no doubt our Santa Ana City Council will take that into account on Monday night.

“Santa Ana’s City Council on Monday will undertake a discussion of the city’s no-camping ordinances in response to the Occupy OC movement’s wish to establish a long-term presence in the Civic Center,” according to the O.C. Register.

Santa Ana Council Members David Benavides and Michele Martinez put the 85B item on the agenda – forcing the rest of the City Council to consider allowing the Occupy movement to camp out overnight in Downtown Santa Ana.

Is this a good idea? Well, consider what has happened in other communities that have allowed their city centers to be overrun at night by Occupy protesters: Continue reading→

43-year-old woman charged with unlawful sex with friend’s 12-year-old son

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Westminster 1 Comment

Fountain Valley Police Department & Orange County District Attorney Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 3, 2011

Case # 11WF2588: 43-YEAR-OLD WOMAN CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL SEX WITH SON’S 12-YEAR-OLD FRIEND

*Law enforcement is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims

WESTMINSTER – A 43-year-old woman has been charged with having sex with a 12-year-old boy who was friends with her son. Patricia Ann Serrano, 43, Fountain Valley, is charged with three felony counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 with the sentencing enhancement for substantial sexual conduct with a child. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in state prison. The court set bail in the amount of $100,000 today after denying the People’s request that Serrano be held on $250,000 bail. Serrano is currently in custody and is scheduled for a continued arraignment tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011, at 9:00 a.m. in Department W-15, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

O.C. D.A., SAUSD and Santa Ana P.D. join forces to keep kids in school

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Courts, Crime, Education, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Contact: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, OCDA, 714-347-8408, 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, OCDA, 714-347-8405, 714-323-4486
Cpl. Anthony Bertagna, Public Information Officer, SAPD, 714-245-8029 , 714-709-2043
David Valentin, Chief of Police, SAUSDPD, 714-558-5829,
Orange County District Attorney, Santa Ana Police Department, & Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2011

GRIP KICKS OFF SCHOOL YEAR WITH NEW CITY AND NEW PROGRAM TO KEEP KIDS IN SCHOOL AND OUT OF GANGS

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) Gang Prevention and Intervention Partnership
(GRIP) has kicked off the new school year by officially welcoming the City of Santa Ana to its law enforcement
partnership and launching a new GRIP II program to keep kids in school and out of gangs. Continue reading→

March to end police brutality, in Santa Ana, on Oct. 22, at 12 noon

Posted on October 21, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Costa Mesa, Entertainment, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 5 Comments

A National Day of Action against Police Brutality is set for this Saturday, Oct. 22, at 12 noon, in Santa Ana, at the corner of Bristol and McFadden. The event will include a march.

No more innocent lives stolen by the police
Stop police brutality
Stop stealing our cars
More funds for the community, not for the police Continue reading→

O.C. D.A. child abduction Facebook page is first created by prosecutors

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Lawyers, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 19, 2011
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

OCDA ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF FIRST CHILD ABDUCTION FACEBOOK PAGE CREATED BY A PROSECUTORIAL AGENCY IN THE UNITED STATES

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) announced today the launch of a Facebook page for children abducted from Orange County. This is the first social networking page of its kind to be developed and utilized by a prosecutorial agency in the United States. The Facebook page was developed by the OCDA Bureau of Investigation and will feature current cases being investigated by the OCDA Child Abduction Unit. Continue reading→

O.C. Deputy Sheriff charged with DUI, with .24 B.A., on wrong side of road

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Courts, Crime, Orange, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2011
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

OCSD DEPUTY CHARGED WITH DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE WITH .24 BLOOD ALCOHOL LEVEL ON WRONG SIDE OF ROAD

SANTA ANA – An off-duty Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy was charged today with driving under the influence of alcohol with a .24 blood alcohol level on the wrong side of the road toward an oncoming marked police vehicle. Mario Manuel Castro, 33, Orange, is charged with one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol with a prior, one misdemeanor count of driving with a blood alcohol .08 percent or more with a prior, and a sentencing enhancement allegation for having a blood alcohol level over .15 percent. Continue reading→

When will Santa Ana act to keep sex offenders out of our local parks?

Posted on October 18, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Youth Activities 9 Comments

Men lurking at dusk at Santa Ana’s Santiago Park

UPDATE: The City of Mission Viejo is also considering a new ordinance banning registered sex offenders from their parks, at their City Council meeting tonight. Click here to read the press release, from the O.C. District Attorney’s office.

The City of Los Alamitos enacted tonight a law to create child safety zones to protect children from registered sex offenders in city parks and playgrounds, according to an O.C. District Attorney press release. The O.C. Board of Supervisors passed a similar measure in April of this year. Click here to read about that.

When is the City of Santa Ana going to pass a similar motion? It is a well known fact that perverts congregate nightly at Santa Ana’s Santiago Park. Continue reading→

O.C. D.A. to pursue death penalty against Seal Beach salon shooter

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Lawyers, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney & Seal Beach Police Department Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 14, 2011

Contact:

Sgt. Steve Bowles, Public Information Officer, Seal Beach Police Department, 562-342-7391
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Orange County District Attorney, 714-347-8408, 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Orange County District Attorney, 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

Case # 11CF2781: DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO SEEK DEATH PENALTY AGAINST SEAL BEACH SALON SHOOTER FOR LARGEST MASS MURDER IN ORANGE COUNTY HISTORY

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney announced today that he will seek the death penalty against a man charged with committing the largest mass-murder in Orange County history. The Seal Beach Police Department (SBPD) investigated this case. Continue reading→

White transient charged with hate crime for attacking a Latina in H.B.

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Hate, homeless, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 16 Comments

Contact: Lt. Russ Reinhart, Public Information Officer, Huntington Beach Police Department, 714-536-5976
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Orange County District Attorney, 714-347-8408, 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Orange County District Attorney, 714-347-8405, 714-323-4486

Huntington Beach Police Department & Orange County District Attorney Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 6, 2011

CAUCASIAN TRANSIENT CHARGED WITH HATE CRIME FOR YELLING RACIAL SLURS AND SPITTING ON HISPANIC WOMAN BEFORE TRYING TO RUN HER OVER WITH BIKE

WESTMINSTER – A transient Caucasian man has been charged with a hate crime battery and assault for yelling racial slurs at a Hispanic woman, spitting on her, and trying to run her over with his bicycle. Jonathan Michael Schmidt, 31, transient, is charged with two felony counts of hate crime battery and one felony count of hate crime assault. Continue reading→

No parole for cannibal Omaima Aree Nelson

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 5, 2011
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

PAROLE DENIED FOR WOMAN WHO MURDERED HUSBAND OF THREE WEEKS BY DISMEMBERING, DECAPITATING, DISEMBOWELING, COOKING AND FREEZING BODY IN 1991

SANTA ANA – The Board of Parole Hearings (Board), California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, denied the parole today for a woman who killed her husband of three weeks over Thanksgiving weekend in 1991 by dismembering, disemboweling, cooking and freezing his body. Continue reading→

Councilwoman Martinez asks why not study outsourcing the SAPD?

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, california, Michele Martinez, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana 14 Comments

Santa Ana Council Member Michele Martinez did a very brave thing at tonight’s Santa Ana City Council meeting. At the end of the meeting, during public comments, she spoke up and asked the question that has been on everyone’s minds – why isn’t the City of Santa Ana looking at outsourcing the Santa Ana Police Department?

The City of Santa Ana is looking at a minimum $30 million dollar annual deficit. Of that, $25 million is paying for retirement funds for public employees. And about half of the city’s general fund is spent on our police department! Continue reading→

Could Tran defeat Supervisor Nguyen in 2012, if the County goes bankrupt?

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in 2012 Elections, Elections, Janet Nguyen, Loretta Sanchez, Orange County, Politics, Public Safety, Republican Party, Santa Ana 3 Comments

The honeymoon might be over between Van Tran and Janet Nguyen

If the County of Orange declares bankruptcy – again (due in part to Assemblyman Jose Solorio’s vote to take away $48 million in state funding, from the County), will that open the door for former Assemblyman Van Tran to challenge incumbent Supervisor Janet Nguyen, in the First District?

Tran has very high name I.D., due to his run for Congress last year. He did not beat the incumbent, Loretta Sanchez, but he garnered a lot of press, both negative and positive.

Nguyen, on the other hand, fumbled last year’s Black April event, in Little Saigon, angering her Vietnamese-American voter base, and then endorsed Meg Whitman, which turned out to be an epic fail with her Latino constituents. Continue reading→

O.C.D.A.: Ramos and Cicinelli arraignment update

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Fullerton, Public Safety 7 Comments

Officer Manuel Ramos & Officer Jay Cicinelli

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MEDIA ADVISORY, Case # 11CF2575

TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: September 21, 2011

WHO: Manuel Anthony Ramos, 37, and Jay Patrick Cicinelli, 39

WHAT: Appeared in court today for arraignment for their criminal participation in the beating-death of a homeless man, Kelly Thomas. Continue reading→

O.C. D.A. to hold a press conference about the cops who killed Kelly Thomas(UPDATED: COPS CHARGED)

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Fullerton, homeless, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 5 Comments

UPDATE: DA TONY RACKAUCKAS HAS CHARGED 2 FULLERTON POLICE OFFICERS IN CONNECTION WITH KELLY THOMAS’ DEATH

FPD officer Manuel Ramos will be charged with second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Ramos faces up to 15 years to life in prison.

Cpl. Jay Cicinelli will be charged with involuntary manslaughter and use of excessive force. He faces up to four years in prison.

They will be arraigned at 2PM this afternoon at the courthouse in downtown Santa Ana.

Read the Register article about this here

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY MEDIA ADVISORY
TONY RACKAUCKAS, District Attorney
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
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Date: September 20, 2011

WHO: Orange County District Attorney (OCDA) Tony Rackauckas

WHAT: Received today the Coroner’s Report from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department regarding the cause of death of Kelly Thomas. District Attorney Rackauckas will hold a press conference tomorrow to discuss his filing decision following the OCDA’s investigation of six Fullerton Police Department officers in the death of Thomas. Continue reading→

Santa Ana residents startled by 3.5 earthquake centered in Irvine area

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Art Pedroza Posted in Earthquakes, irvine, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana residents were startled by a 3.5 magnitude earthquake at 2:56 am today, September 15, which was based eight miles away, in the San Joaquin Hills (near UCI), according to the U.S. Geographical Survey USGS).

Here are the distances from the center of the quake to local areas: Continue reading→