Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Santa Ana

Two pedestrians were hit by a juvenile DUI driver near several Santa Ana schools

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Five juveniles were injured after an underage, unlicensed driver suspected of driving under the influence struck two pedestrians in Santa Ana on Thursday, according to ABC News.

The driver, who was not licensed, was speeding along the 1600 block of South Greenville Street at about 11 a.m. when he lost control of the silver Honda Accord, striking two juvenile pedestrians then crashing into a pole, according to the OC Register.

The crash occurred nearby several schools including Godinez High School, Carl Harvey Elementary School, and Carr Intermediate School. Continue reading→

New acting SAPD Police chief Valentin announces a plan to crack down on the gangs

Posted on by Posted in Crime, David Valentin, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE IMPLEMENTS PLAN FOR INCREASED 7-DAY A WEEK GANG SUPPRESSION STRATEGY

Santa Ana, CA – JULY 13, 2017. Working to combat gang violence in Santa Ana, today Acting Chief David Valentin released a gang suppression plan. This plan is a coordinated suppression strategy in response to the City’s seven gang-related homicides and other documented gang related crimes, thus far in 2017, that targets gang related offenders and the most violent gangs. The core of the Department’s strategy will include the redeployment of officers from throughout the department to field gang activity suppression. Officers deployed to the department’s anti-gang units, will provide seven day a week coverage, enhancing the current strategy of four days a week coverage. Continue reading→

A fire damaged a landscaping business in Santa Ana last night

Posted on by Posted in Fires, OCFA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Picture courtesy of the OCFA

A total of 44 firefighters from the OCFA and the Fountain Valley and Costa Mesa fire departments battled a fire last night outside a landscaping business, Wm. Vandergeest Landscape Care, at the 1900 block of South Yale St., in Santa Ana, not far from Centennial Park, according to the O.C. Register.

The fire began as several vehicles parked outside of the landscaping business caught fire. Then the fire spread to the building, according to the OCFA. Continue reading→

The SAUSD’s statement on the arrest of Segerstrom H.S. coach Tracey Steven Fulford

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

Contact: Deidra Powell, Chief Communications Officer, (714) 558-5555 Office, (714) 673-4995 Mobile

Santa Ana Unified School District’s Statement on the Arrest of Tracey Steven Fulford

SANTA ANA, CA (July 10, 2017) – Santa Ana Unified School District was notified, July 9, 2017 that Tracy Steven Fulford, a walk-on Basketball Coach at Segerstrom High School, was arrested and booked for allegations of sexual misconduct with a former student. These allegations are being taken seriously and are in direct conflict of the District’s zero-tolerance policy relating to staff misconduct, in which all district employees are held at the highest ethical standards. This includes reporting any suspicious activity involving abuse or neglect of a child directly to authorities, as mandated by law. Failure to do so is a criminal violation of the law. Continue reading→

The OCDA strongly opposes three CA State Senate bills that increase crime in California

Posted on by Posted in california, Crime, OCDA, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 10, 2017

SB-10, SB-421, SB-620

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY STRONGLY OPPOSES STATE SENATE PROPOSED BILLS THAT CHANGE FIREARM ENHANCEMENTS, PRETRIAL RELEASE, AND SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) strongly opposes three California State Senate bills that change firearm sentencing enhancement requirements, bail and pretrial release, and sex offender registration. Crime victims’ rights leaders Dr. Henry T. Nicholas III (Marsy’s Law) and Erin Runnion (The Joyful Child Foundation) joined the OCDA at the news conference to voice their opinions. Continue reading→

The SAPD is looking for an overweight suspect who has robbed two Arco gas stations

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Asking For Media & Publics Assistance In Identifying Armed Robbery Suspect

Crime Type: PC 211—Armed Robbery (Black Handgun)

Synopsis: On 7/6/2017 at approximately 11:30 p.m., the suspect committed an armed robbery at the Arco Gas Station located in the 1700 block of East Dyer Road. Approximately an hour and a half later, the same suspect committed another armed robbery at the Arco located in the 3400 block of South Main Street. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Parent Union’s next Movie Night will feature Waiting for Superman, on 7/27

Posted on by Posted in Education, Family, Movies, Politics, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Parent Union is hosting their next free Movie Night on Thursday, July 27, 2017, at 6:30 p.m., at El Zocalo Restaurant, located at 301 N. Tustin Ave., in Santa Ana. The featured movie will be “Waiting for Superman.”

Waiting for ‘Superman’ is the highly acclaimed documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim and produced by Participant Media about the serious challenges facing the American education system. Despite increased spending and politicians’ promises, our public-education system, once the best in the world, routinely forsakes the education of millions of children and is buckling. Continue reading→

Two Santa Ana gang members were arrested after a police pursuit on Sunday night

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Santa Ana police tried to stop a vehicle for various violations including no license plate and no seatbelts, according to NBC News.

The driver, a documented gang member who was later identified as Jesus Arturo Martinez, refused to pull over so the police began to pursue his vehicle on local streets at speeds that topped 90 mph. At one point the suspect even drove the wrong way on the street, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

Segerstrom High School coach arrested for an alleged inappropriate sexual relationship with a student

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Sports 8 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Arrests Segerstrom High School Coach For Inappropriate Sexual Relationship With Student/Athlete

Arrested: Tracey Stephan Fulford, (52) Santa Ana

On 7/08/17, at about 10:30pm, a 19-year old female victim came to the Santa Ana Police Department accompanied by her parents. She reported to officers that while she was 16 years old and a student at Segerstrom High School, she became involved in an inappropriate relationship with her male basketball coach, who she identified as 52-year old Tracey Stephan Fulford of Santa Ana. The victim reported that during private basketball lessons she willingly followed Fulford into a storage room and other locations in the school gymnasium and they would engage in inappropriate sexual acts. The relationship continued past her 18th birthday at which time they engaged in consensual sex away from the school. Continue reading→

Job Fair set for July 12 at the Santa Ana WORK Center

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Jobs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Work Center’s next job fair will take place this week on Wednesday, July 12th from 2-4 p.m. at 1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 220, in Santa Ana.

Employers that will be participating at this job fair include the Westin South Coast Plaza, Nelson Staffing Services, Durham School Services, Empower Culinary Staffing and Rapid Manufacturing. Continue reading→

Get paid while you learn a trade at Santa Ana’s Taller San Jose Hope Builders program

Posted on by Posted in Education, Jobs, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Santa Ana’s Taller San Jose Hope Builders has training spots open now! They pay youth $1,600 ($100 per week) to train in either Business Applications, Construction, Healthcare or Information Technology.

In addition to 16 weeks of hard skills training, Hope Builders provides:

  • 28 months of life skills and mentoring
  • Help to resolve criminal or legal issues
  • Childcare and transportation assistance, if eligible
  • On-going job coaching & placement assistance
  • Links to ongoing education and training
  • Various life skills and career building workshops

Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted of a hit and run crash that killed a 12-year old girl in Westminster

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster Leave a comment

Aleksandar Apostolovic, 29, of Santa Ana, a convicted felon who fled from police in an SUV and then crashed into another vehicle, killing a 12-year-old Westminster girl, has been sentenced to 23 years to life in prison, according to the O.C. Register.

Apostolovic’s accepted charges of second-degree murder and evading a police officer causing death in his plea deal on June 30. Continue reading→

Full Spectrum to play at the Santa Ana Zoo’s After Hours Summer Concert Series tonight

Posted on by Posted in Charities, music, Nature, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Zoo “After Hours” Summer Concert Series

Sundays, July 9, and July 23 at 5:30 – 7:30 pm

  • Summer, Outdoor Concert Series featuring popular local bands.
  • Zoo After Hours… visit the animals in this rare after-hours experience as they prepare for their nighttime activities.
  • Members save close to 50% on after-hours admission & close to 20% on rides!
  • Pack your own picnic dinner OR purchase BBQ & dessert.
  • Cool decorations by RWB Party Props, animal encounters, kids crafts, train & carousel rides, and a silent auction. Bring your camera for some great photo opportunities!
  • Local craft breweries “beer tasting” for an additional $15 donation for adults 21 and over raising funds to help the Zoo!

Continue reading→

Free outdoor screening of The Sandlot at Fairhaven Memorial Park set for July 15

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, Movies, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Enjoy a free screening of “The Sandlot” on Saturday, July 15 at 8:00 p.m. at Fairhaven Memorial Park & Mortuary Santa Ana, located at 1702 E Fairhaven Ave., in Santa Ana.

Whether it’s your first time seeing this classic, or your tenth, pack a picnic, a blanket, and enjoy a movie under the stars in front of our Historic Mausoleum. The event area will open at 7:30 p.m. Continue reading→

Former SAUSD Trustee Nadia Davis Lockyer arrested for battering her 76-year old husband

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

The Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office Thursday arrested Nadia Davis Lockyer, 46, of Long Beach, a former SAUSD School Board Member and a former Alameda County supervisor, who is the wife of Bill Lockyer, a 76-year old former California attorney general, at a Twain Harte vacation home on suspicion of battery on a spouse, according to the Union Democrat.

The Sheriff’s Office received a call from inside a home on Fireside Drive near Twain Harte Lake at about 10:55 a.m. The caller said an intoxicated woman was yelling and throwing things. That woman turned out to be Nadia. Continue reading→