The city of Santa Ana has provided an update regarding the roadway work going on at Bristol Street in north Santa Ana:
The construction of the new asphalt roadway on Bristol Street between 17th Street and Santa Clara Avenue produced granular materials and cleanup will be ongoing all week.
Please pardon the dust and we apologize for any inconvenience.
On Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at 12:48 AM, SAPD Officers responded to reports of a man down in a parking lot located at 1535 South Standard Avenue. Officers located an adult male down in the parking lot suffering possible gunshot wounds. No known witnesses have come forward to provide details of the shooting.
Orange County Fire Authority paramedics responded and attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. Paramedics declared the man deceased at 1:00 AM. The Orange County Coroner’s Office is working to identify the man and determine the manner and cause of death.
Detectives encourage anyone with information about this shooting to contact the SAPD Homicide Section at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers https://occrimestoppers.org/
Santa Ana, CA – The Santa Ana Family Justice Center opens today at the Santa Ana Police Department to provide a one-stop resource for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking and elder abuse.
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, Mayor Pro Tem Juan Villegas, Police Chief David Valentin, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer and other officials and partner organizations attending the grand opening and ribbon cutting.
The Santa Ana Police Department has collaborated with an array of social service agencies and nonprofits to form a multidisciplinary team of professionals all working under one roof to offer support and services in a safe setting. The Family Justice Center includes a private interview room, office space for use by social service providers and a children’s play area.
The rooms are adorned with decorative murals created by three local artists to help foster a welcoming environment.
The Santa Ana City Council appropriated funding for the center last June as part of the fiscal year 2019-20 budget. The facility is believed to be the only Family Justice Center located within a police department in the country.
The following agencies are partnering with the Police Department to provide services and resources:
• 4GIRLS
• Casa De La Familia
• Orange County Department of Child Support Services
• County of Orange Social Services Agency (Adult Protective Services, Children and Family Services, CalWORKS)
• Crime Survivors
• Eli Home for Abused Children
• Get Safe
• Human Options
• Mexican Consulate
• New Star FJC
• Community Legal Aid Society
• Project Youth
• Waymakers
• Women’s Transitional Living Center Inc.
• Youth Shelter
The Family Justice Center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza. For more information, call (714) 245-8278 or visit https://www.santa-ana.org/family-justice-center.
Anyone who believes they or someone they know is a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, human trafficking or elder abuse is encouraged to visit or call the Family Justice Center.
Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant tragic death in a helicopter crash was a huge shock to everyone in Southern California – including his many fans in the City of Santa Ana.
The City of Santa Ana recognized his passing last night by lighting up its famed water tower in purple and gold, in remembrance of Bryant.
“The City of Santa Ana joins Lakers fans and the rest of the world in mourning the tragic deaths of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the seven other victims of Sunday’s helicopter crash,” Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido said. “Our hearts go out to their families and their communities, for whom we know these wounds will never truly heal.”
The 1928 water tower is owned by the City of Santa Ana and has become an iconic landmark of the city. It is located off the Santa Ana (5) Freeway on Penn Way.
Santa Ana’s new Raising Cane’s restaurant is finally going to open up this Wednesday, Jan. 29. Doors open at 9:00 AM. They are located at 2250 E. 17th, where Claim Jumper used to be, at the corner of E. 17th and Tustin Ave.
As you might expect they have announced a fun grand opening including:
For official rules, please visit https://www.raisingcanes.com/lucky20rules.
Raising Cane’s serves only high quality chicken finger meals. Check out their full menu here. They always use fresh, never frozen, premium chicken breast tenderloins to make the most tender chicken fingers possible. Their special marinade tenderizes the chicken, locks in moisture and adds flavor. Cane’s certified “Bird Specialists” hand-dip and bread chicken fresh for every order. The tenders are fried in a premium quality Canola Oil blend to enhance the flavor. They don’t use heat lamps because they only cook to order.
Todd Graves, the founder of Raising Cane’s, path to success was one filled with challenge, hard work and determination. In 1994, as a new college graduate, Graves sought out funding for his restaurant venture. Undeterred by bankers who found his idea laughable, he decided to take matters into his own hands and raise his money the old fashioned way – hard work. After working in oil refineries in California and salmon fishing off the coast of Alaska, Graves returned to Baton Rouge and opened his first restaurant in 1996 near the gates of LSU. He named the restaurant after his yellow lab, Raising Cane.
(Santa Ana, CA) – The OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA) Communicable Disease Control Division received confirmation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this evening that an Orange County, California case has tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
The case, a traveler from Wuhan, China, has been in contact with the HCA and was provided guidance in order to reduce exposure to the public while awaiting laboratory confirmation from the CDC. The individual has now been transported to a local hospital and is in isolation in good condition.
Members of the media, please know that Dr. Nichole Quick, County Health Officer will be available tomorrow, January 26th for interviews after 11 a.m. Please email JGood@ochca.com with your preferred time, and indicate if you are requesting a telephone or in-person interview.
Human coronaviruses are common throughout the world. Seven different coronaviruses, that scientists know of, can infect people and make them sick. Some human coronaviruses were identified many years ago and some have been identified recently. Human coronaviruses commonly cause mild to moderate illness in people worldwide. Two newer human coronaviruses, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, have been known to frequently cause severe illness.
For general information about novel coronavirus, please visit www.cdc.gov or www.ochealthinfo.com/novelcoronavirus.
The O.C. Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of Jan. 16 to Jan. 24. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved.
The cities of Dana Point, San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano have assured the City of Santa Ana in writing that they have not transported homeless individuals from their cities to Santa Ana and have no plans to do so.
In response to these assurances, the City of Santa Ana today dismissed its federal lawsuit against the three South County cities. The case was dismissed without prejudice, which means that should these cities again propose to transport homeless to Santa Ana, the City of Santa Ana could take legal action.
The County of Orange remains a defendant in the case filed on Jan. 13 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Southern Division.
The complaint alleges that the County of Orange has established homeless services almost exclusively in Santa Ana, resulting in the City shouldering a greater and inequitable share of the burden of a countywide problem. In addition to the 200-bed Armory winter shelter, the County operates a 450-bed year-round shelter in downtown Santa Ana with plans to replace it with a similar sized shelter also in Santa Ana.
In recent years, the city of Santa Ana has been compelled to spend millions of dollars from its general fund to address health and safety concerns attributable to the homeless population now living here, the complaint states. The City of Santa Ana also operates its own 200-bed shelter for Santa Ana homeless.
Today’s dismissal does not affect a second lawsuit filed Jan. 13 in Orange County Superior Court against Orange County Association for Mental Health, doing business as Mental Health Association of Orange County, and BT Investment Properties, LLC.
In that case, the City of Santa Ana alleges that the operation of the Homeless Multi-Service Center by the Mental Health Association in Santa Ana has resulted in negative impacts to public health, safety and welfare. The City further alleges that the multi-service center is not in compliance with the City’s zoning code.
BT Investment Properties is the owner of the property where the Multi-Service Center is located.
A man who had doused himself and his car with gasoline on Standard Ave., in Santa Ana, on Wednesday was hosed down by OCFA firefighters during a tense standoff that was caught on video, according to KTLA.
The SAPD got a call from the man’s mother after he began to act suicidal. The situation then escalated when the man doused himself with gasoline and then got into his car, according to the SAPD.
Both the SAPD and the OCFA responded to the scene. While a hostage negotiator spoke with the man it became apparent that he had a lighter in his hand.
During the incident the police officers felt that attempts to deescalate the situation were not working. Then one of the firefighters approached the man and began to hose him down with water.
The man was eventually taken safely from the car and he was taken to a hospital for a mental evaluation.
The police did not reveal the man’s name.
The Orange County Crisis Prevention Hotline provides toll-free, 24-hour, immediate, confidential, culturally and linguistically appropriate, over-the-phone suicide prevention services to anyone, who is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Call (877) 7-CRISIS or (877) 727-4747.
Los Angeles, CA (November 6, 2019)— SoCal Museums announces the 15th Annual Museums Free-for-All on Saturday, January 25, 2020. Over 40 museums—presenting art, cultural heritage, natural history, and science—will open their doors and invite visitors to attend free of charge.
“We’re proud to celebrate 15 years of Free-for-All, welcoming visitors across Southern California to enjoy a wide variety of museums. It’s a great chance to revisit old favorites or discover something new,” said Jennifer Caballero, SoCal Museums President and Marketing Director at the Skirball Cultural Center. “I’m always impressed by the range of cultural offerings. From cars to Cold War artifacts to modern art, there’s something for everyone.”
Museums Free-for-All also serves as a reminder that free visitor days are available year-round at museums across Southern California. A calendar of free days can be found at socalmuseums.org/free.
This offer is for general museum admission only and does not apply to specially ticketed exhibitions. Regular parking fees apply at each museum.
Consult individual museum websites for hours, directions, and other visitor information.
Participating Museums
SoCal Museums (SCM) is a group of marketing and communications professionals from museums all over Southern California. The mission of the organization is to foster dialogue between marketing and communications museum professionals in Southern California in order to learn from each other, network, conceptualize and execute ways to increase visitation to and awareness of museums in Southern California, and develop collaborative opportunities between museums.
SANTA ANA, Calif. — A joint effort by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Insurance has shut down an alleged $3.2 million healthcare fraud ring which preyed on vulnerable substance abuse patients in order to bilk an insurance company out of millions.
Steven Lomonaco, 61, of Laguna Beach, Mahyar “Christian” Mohases, 37, of Santa Ana, Robert Williams, 41, of Murrieta, Nicholas Reeves, 42, of Aliso Viejo, and James Frageau, 29, of Temecula have been charged with multiple felony counts including insurance fraud and money laundering in connection with the scheme.
Mohases, Williams, Reeves, and Frageau have each been charged with two counts of committing medical insurance fraud, one count of fraudulent written claim to an insurance company, two counts of money laundering in excess of $150,000, four counts of money laundering, and one enhancement for aggravated white collar crime over $200,000. They each face a maximum sentence of 14 years if convicted on all charges.
Lomonaco has been charged with two counts of committing medical insurance fraud, one count of fraudulent written claim to an insurance company, one count of medical insurance fraud, and one enhancement for aggravated white collar crime over $200,000. He faces a maximum sentence of 8 years 4 months if convicted on all charges.
“Th heartless nature of these crimes are appaling,” said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara. “These suspects trafficked vulnerable substance abuse patients to California just to make a quick buck from the insurance company, with no regard for their lives, health or recovery. Thanks to the efforts of Department of Insurance investigators, and our close work with District Attorney Todd Spitzer’s office, there is one less fraud ring preying on unsuspecting patients.”
Mohases, Frageau, Williams and Reeves are accused of finding patients across the country who were seeking help for substance use recovery and flying them to California to enter treatment at Casa Bella International Inc., which was owned and operated by Lomonaco. In order to obtain payment from the insurance company for these patients, Mohases, Frageau, Williams and Reeves directed employees to fill out policies for the patients using false information.
They are accused of lying on the insurance applications, stating that patients lived in California, when in actuality the addresses were for employees or businesses related to the co-conspirators. Lomonaco paid the other co-conspirators upwards of $10,000 per patient who stayed enrolled in treatment for more than 30 days.
“Sober living homes are valuable resources designed to facilitate recovery and healing for patients battling potentially life-threating addiction issues,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Instead of helping these patients, these individuals preyed on extremely susceptible people and exploited their addictions for profit. Working closely with the California Department of Insurance, we are cracking down on these criminals and their predatory operations in order to protect substance abuse patients from unknowingly being trafficked, as protect their loved ones and insurance companies from these unscrupulous operators.”
In order to pay the insurance premiums, the defendants are accused of developing a massive money laundering scheme in which they filtered money through non-profit, StopB4UStart, by providing “donations” from Mohases, Frageau, Williams and Reeves under their corporation, Nationwide Recovery. These “donations” would be cashed out, and the owner of StopB4UStart would receive cashier’s checks in specified amounts based on the information he received from one of the other co-conspirators. More than 800 checks in total were used to pay the insurance premiums on the fraudulent policies.
Mohases was arrested on January 13, 2020 and arraigned on January 14, 2020, he has pled not guilty. He is out on $250,000 bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial on February 5, 2020 in Department C-57.
Reeves was arrested on January 14, 2020 and arraigned on January 15, 2020, he has pled not guilty. He is out on $100,000 bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial on January 22, 2020 in Department C-55. A preliminary hearing for this suspect is scheduled for February 13, 2020 in Department C-55.
Frageau appeared in Court on warrant on January 15, 2020, he was arraigned on January 15, 2020. He is out on $250,000 bail and is scheduled for a continued arraignment on February 7, 2020.
Williams turned himself into Huntington Beach Police Department on January 15, 2020. No arraignment date has been scheduled for him yet.
Lomonaco was arrested on January 16, 2020. He is scheduled to be arraigned January 17, 2020.
Deputy District Attorney James Bilek of the Insurance Fraud Unit at The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting this case.
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A serial bank robber who disguised himself like a mummy to hold up a Newport Beach Wells Fargo at gunpoint was sentenced January 16, 2020 to 19 years in state prison.
Jaime Reyes Torres, 58, of Santa Ana, dubbed the “Mummy Bandit,” was convicted of five felony counts of robbery and one felony count of a felon in possession of a firearm. Torres had been previously convicted of six other bank robberies between 1991 and 1992 using a similar disguise of a baseball cap and cloth wrapped around his face like a mummy. He was sentenced to 135 months in state prison.
On May 24, 2008, Torres walked into a Newport Beach Wells Fargo wearing a baseball cap and cloth wrapped around his face like a mummy. He used a handgun to rob four bank tellers and a bank manager of more than $50,000 in cash. As he fled the bank, his baseball cap fell off. DNA evidence from the cap was subsequently linked to Torres.
Prosecutors had asked for a 45 years to life sentence under California’s Three Strikes law. Torres had been convicted of six prior strikes resulting in a potential of 25 years to life, plus an additional 10 years for each of his two five year priors on his record. He also used a firearm during the commission of the crime that could potentially add an additional ten more years to his sentence. Orange County Superior Court Judge James E. Rogan struck Torres’ prior strikes over the objection of prosecutors.
“This serial bank robber is once again behind bars as a result of DNA and he will stay there for a significant amount of time,” said District Attorney Todd Spitzer.
Assistant Deputy District Attorney Christopher Duff prosecuted this case.
Construction crews will be working day and night shifts to replace waterlines in preparation for the OC Streetcar. To accommodate this work, a closure of W. Santa Ana Boulevard and N. Flower Street intersection will be in effect starting, Friday, 1/24/20 at 8:00 p.m. and continuing through Monday, 1/27/20 to 5:00 a.m. in the morning.
Right-hand turns at the intersection will be permitted, and access to businesses and residences will be maintained at all times. For any questions about the OC Streetcar project, please contact OCstreetcar@octa.net or (844) 746-6272. Download the new OC Streetcar app available in the App Store and Google Play to get updates on traffic closures and detours.
Please note construction schedules are subject to change.
Thank you for your patience during the OC Streetcar construction!
For current, OC Streetcar project status and updates please visit:
http://www.octa.net/Projects-and-Programs/All-Projects/Rail-Projects/OC-Streetcar/?frm=7683
To receive OC Streetcar construction notices visit:
http://www.octa.net/Projects-and-Programs/All-Projects/Rail-Projects/OC-Streetcar/?frm=7683#!Construction
The City of Santa Ana and Neighborhood Initiatives is pleased to announce our 2020 Resident Leadership Speaker Series. Be prepared for insightful presentations that will leave you inspired and energized starting Wednesday, February 12th at 7 pm at The Frida Cinema in Downtown.
Our series continues on the Wednesday evenings of March 11th, April 8th and concludes on May 13th.
Mark your calendar, make dinner plans that evening at nearby restaurants, enjoy the free parking and participate in our Speaker Series which will include generous amounts of time for Q and A focused on your experiences building Santa Ana’s wonderful and diverse neighborhoods.
Our speakers for the 2020 series include: Dr. Rigo Rodriguez – President of the SAUSD School Board, Joanna Peterson McCall of the Casa de Santiago Neighborhood, Jose Rea of the Madison Park Neighborhood and Santa Ana Planning Commission Vice-Chair Cynthia Contreras-Leo.
We look forward to introducing our 2020 Resident Leadership Speaker Series to the Santa Ana Community and welcome your participation. Spanish interpretation will be available at each Speaker Series.
For further questions, please contact Santa Ana Neighborhood Initiatives at (714) 667-2260.
The Communication Linkage Forum will have a general meeting tonight, Jan. 23, to discuss upcoming changes to water rates.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Community Room of the Santa Ana Police Department, 60 Civic Center Plaza.
There will be a Q&A for members of the public about the rate change.
Background – The water rate adjustments ensure the City is recovering the costs of providing service, using industry best practices and meeting legal requirements. The City of Santa Ana maintains a complex system of pipelines and facilities to provide water and sewer service to residents. As the system ages, additional resources are needed to keep these assets in good working condition and benefits rate payers by making timely re-investments in the infrastructure.
The five-year schedule for water rate adjustments will be effective starting January 1, 2020. As a public agency, the City cannot earn a profit from the services it provides and must charge no more than the actual costs associated with providing services to its customers. We recommend your neighborhood association send a representative to attend the meeting to learn more about the schedule of water adjustments. That way info can be brought back and shared with your neighbors.
More information about the meeting is available here.
Learn about the water rate adjustment here:
https://santaanautilityrates.com/
Learn more about the Communication Linkage Forum here:
https://www.santa-ana.org/neighborhood-initiatives/com-link