New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Santa Ana

Injured man claims he was stabbed at Original Mike’s restaurant

Posted on July 31, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

A man who was bleeding from a stab wound to the chest who was found by the SAPD while he was walking near the Center Justice Center courthouse on West Civic Center Drive and North Flower Street, early this morning at around 1:20 a.m. claimed that he was stabbed at at Original Mike’s Restaurant, located at 100 S. Main St., in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

The victim was located nearly a mile away from Original Mike’s when he was found by the police. The SAPD was not able to find any evidence at Original Mike’s restaurant showing anyone was stabbed in the area. Continue reading→

Parolee sex offender being monitored by GPS convicted of pimping in Santa Ana

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF0630

Date: July 30, 2015

PAROLEE SEX OFFENDER ON GPS MONITORING DEVICE CONVICTED OF PANDERING AND ATTEMPTED PIMPING OF 18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A parolee sex offender on a GPS monitoring device was convicted yesterday of pandering and attempted pimping of an 18-year-old woman. Eddie Bridges III, 36, Compton, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of attempted pimping and one felony count of pandering by procuring. The defendant’s sentencing enhancements for prior prison convictions in 1996 and 1998 in King County, Washington, for possession with the intent to sell a controlled substance, a prior prison conviction for possession of marijuana in Maricopa County, Arizona, a prior prison conviction in Los Angeles County in 2007 for the pimping and pandering of a minor, and pimping and pandering of an adult, a prior prison conviction in Los Angeles County in 2011 for attempted pandering, and serving separate prison terms but not remaining free for five years were also found to be true. Bridges faces a maximum sentence of 11 years in state prison at his sentencing on Sept. 11, 2015, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Bowers Museum to hold a once-in-a-decade super sale from July 31 – Aug 2

Posted on July 30, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Arts and Culture, Charities, Entertainment, Historical, Santa Ana Leave a comment

MEDIA ADVISORY: 7/29/15

MEDIA CONTACT: Victor Payan, Latino Audience Engagement Specialist, Vpayan@bowers.org, 714.567.3645

Bowers Museum Holds Once-In-Decade Super Sale July 31-Aug 2

Unique Non-Collection Items and Antiques from Around the Globe On Sale to Public

Support the Bowers Museum by shopping for non-collection items on July 31st – August 2nd 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. during our
Once-In-A-Decade Super Sale.

Find unique works of art, antiques and cultural objects from every inhabited continent in the world and all under one roof! Oil paintings, antiques from early Orange County, jewelry from Oceania, African sculptures, dolls and miniatures, Chinese cloisonné, rare art books, and hundreds of other decorative objects that are interesting conversation pieces you won’t find anywhere else. None of the items being sold are from the museum’s permanent collection, most were taken on donation by the Bowers as items of interest that could be sold in the future. And your purchase is critical to generating proceeds that will support new acquisitions of art for the Bowers’ permanent collection and the fun at Bowers’ Kidseum. Continue reading→

Three men charged with underpaying construction workers at Harvey Street Elementary School

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Crime, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF1672

Date: July 29, 2015

THREE DEFENDANTS CHARGED WITH CONSPIRING TO UNDERPAY EMPLOYEES ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Three defendants have been charged for underpaying employees on public works projects. No Sung Pak, 74, Hollywood, and Michael John Ferrin, 40, San Pedro, and Scott Sung Yang, 44, Los Angeles, are each charged with five felony counts of taking and receiving a portion of a worker’s wage on public works and one felony count of recording a false forged instrument. Pak is additionally charged with 29 felony counts of willful failure to pay tax, two felony counts of misrepresenting facts to State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF), two felony counts of misrepresenting facts to workers’ compensation insurance company. If convicted, Pak faces a maximum sentence of 27 years and four months in state prison, and Ferrin and Yang each face a maximum sentence of five years and four months in state prison. The defendants are out of custody on $50,000 bail and were arraigned today. They are scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 1, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

In 2005, Yang owned and operated Mackone Development. Yang is accused of working with Ferrin as his project superintendent to oversee his projects. Pak, who owns the business Pak’s Cabinets, is accused of working for Mackone Development as a subcontractor on several public works projects. Continue reading→

Man charged with trafficking a 16-year-old girl in Garden Grove, Santa Ana and Oakland

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Date: July 28, 2015

Case # 15WF1641

MAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR TRAFFICKING 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL TO ENGAGE IN COMMERCIAL SEX ACTS THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man is expected to be arraigned today for trafficking a 16-year-old girl to engage in commercial sex acts throughout California. James Justin Williams, 31, Oakland, is charged with one felony count each of human trafficking of a minor, pimping a minor, and pandering with a minor over 16 years old by procuring with a sentencing enhancement for human trafficking by force or fear. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 15 years to life in state prison. The People will request he be held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. The time is to be determined.

Circumstances of the Case

Williams is accused of being a human trafficker/pimp who exploits women and/or children for financial gain. Pimps often establish rigid rules that their victims are expected to follow including setting daily quotas that the victims are expected to fulfill. The victims are required to turn over all payment they receive for sex acts from sex purchasers to their pimp. Failure to follow these rules can result in physical and/or emotional abuse. Continue reading→

Gang member Alberto Licona facing felony charges after fleeing police and crashing

Posted on July 29, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 4 Comments

Alberto Licona, Picture Courtesy of Facebook

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF1658

Date: July 28, 2015

GANG MEMBER CHARGED WITH DRIVING RECKLESSLY TO AVOID PEACE OFFICERS AND CAUSING CRASH THAT INJURED PASSENGERS

*Firearm tossed from vehicle still not recovered

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A criminal street gang member was arraigned today on charges of driving recklessly to avoid peace officers and causing a crash that injured his passengers. Alberto Licona, 18, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of evading a peace officer and driving against traffic, one felony count of evading while driving recklessly and causing serious bodily injury or death, and sentencing enhancement allegations for criminal street gang activity. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 11 years in state prison. Licona is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing, Aug. 5, 2015, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Licona is accused of being an active member of a criminal street gang. Continue reading→

At-risk youth recognized for creativity at first-ever ARTS showcase in Fountain Valley

Posted on July 28, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Fountain Valley, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Marcelo Carvalho, founder, co-owner and professor of Fountain Valley-based Global Jiu Jitsu, Andrew Kuiland, co-owner and professor of Fountain Valley-based Global Jiu Jitsu, Mara Hernandez, Wellness and Recovery coordinator of Community Service Programs Collaborative Courts Full Service Partnership, Sandra Duarte, Wellness and Recovery clinician of Community Service Programs Collaborative Courts Full Service Partnership, and Community Service Programs Collaborative Courts Full Service Partnership client Daisy Lazo, age 19, pose for a photo between Jiu Jitsu demonstrations during the inaugural Community Service Programs (CSP) Achieving Resiliency through Strengths (ARTS) Showcase on Thursday, July 16, 2015 in Fountain Valley.

Marcelo Carvalho, founder, co-owner of Global Jiu Jitsu, Andrew Kuiland, co-owner and professor of Fountain Valley-based Global Jiu Jitsu, Mara Hernandez, Wellness and Recovery coordinator of CPS’s Collaborative Courts Full Service Partnership, Sandra Duarte, Wellness and Recovery clinician of CSP’s Collaborative Courts Full Service Partnership, and CSP client Daisy Lazo.

COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS RECOGNIZED CREATIVITY OF YOUTH AT FIRST-EVER ARTS (ACHIEVING RESILIENCY THROUGH STRENGTHS) SHOWCASE

Nonprofit CSP Honored Youth Who Demonstrate Inspiring Ability to Recover From Difficulties and Become Strong, Healthy and Successful

Fountain Valley, Calif. (July 20, 2015) – Community Service Programs (CSP), a nonprofit organization committed to providing high-quality counseling and support services to struggling Orange County children and families at their greatest time of need, honored participants in its Youthful Offender Wraparound Full Service Partnership (YOW) and Collaborative Courts Full Service Partnership (CCFSP) at the inaugural Achieving Resiliency through Strengths (ARTS) Showcase on Thursday, July 16 at CSP’s YOW and CCFSP Guidance Center in Fountain Valley. The event featured live performances and creative work from at-risk youth who participate in YOW and CCFSP programming to bounce back from difficulties, including those caught up in the child welfare, juvenile justice, probation and children’s mental-health systems in Orange County, Calif. Continue reading→

Komen OC raises breast care awareness for African American women, launches COP Day

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in African Americans, Costa Mesa, Disease, Health and Medical, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Susan G. Komen® Orange County to Activate Circle of Promise Day on Aug. 1 Inaugural event will take place during MasCUREade Survivor Celebration and Awards Luncheon

COSTA MESA, Calif., July 27, 2015 – Susan G. Komen® Orange County will hold its inaugural Circle of Promise Day event on Saturday, Aug. 1, during its annual Survivor Celebration and Awards Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Oasis Senior Center in Corona Del Mar. At noon, community members will be encouraged to pledge their commitment to eliminate barriers to breast health services for women of color and affirm that all women, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status be granted access to treatment in order to live long, healthy lives. Four Orange County residents will be recognized for their impact on the breast cancer community and support for the Komen mission of saving lives. Continue reading→

Why have taggers in Orange County become so violent and dangerous?

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Gangs, Graffiti, Santa Ana 10 Comments

Photo Courtesy of the OC Weekly

A man was beaten and stabbed on Sunday night after confronting a group of taggers who were defacing a vacant house near Lincoln Avenue and Stinson Street, in Anaheim, according to the L.A. Times.

He was stabbed once in the lower back near South Stinson Street before another man “saw the incident, retrieved a handgun and shot four to five rounds into the air to stop the assault,” police Lt. Eric Trapp said, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

SAPD police pursuit ends with a suspect crashing his car into a pole

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Pursuit

SAPD gang detectives were apparently working on gang suppression in Santa Ana on Sunday night, in an area where there have been several shootings recently, when a vehicle they deemed to be of interest suddenly sped off.

There was a brief police pursuit of less than a minute when the suspect’s vehicle crashed into a pole, at about 9:22 p.m. in the 1300 block of South Flower Street, in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Another 6-year-old boy hit by a vehicle, just south of Madison Park

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Pedestrian Accident

This has already been one of the bloodiest summers in Santa Ana with regard to pedestrian versus car accidents. A week after a 6-year-old boy on a skateboard was killed by a car in the parking lot of the Villa Del Sol apartment complex another 6-year-old boy was injured by a minivan on Sunday night, at around 9:40 p.m., in the 1800 block of South Evergreen Street, in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

The victim in this latest accident allegedly ran between two parked cars into the street when he was hit by the minivan. He suffered facial injuries and was taken to a local hospital but he did not suffer any major injuries, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

One fatality as two pedestrians are struck by a car near Jerome Park

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Pedestrian Accident

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Traffic Unit Investigate Fatal Collision-Vehicle vs Pedestrians

Deceased Pedestrian – Margarita Hernandez (85) of Madera, California

SAPD was informed by the Orange County Coroners Office that 85 year old Margarita Hernandez of Madera, California was removed from life support and died earlier today

On Saturday, July 25th, 2015 at 12:18 p.m., patrol officers along with the Orange County Fire Authority responded to a traffic collision at Center St. and McFadden Ave. (southwest corner of Jerome Park). Initial reports indicated that the vehicle struck two pedestrians. Continue reading→

Why Supervisor Do has doubled down against restaurant letter health grades

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Andrew Do, Disease, Food, Health and Medical, Orange County, Restaurants, Santa Ana, Vietnamese Leave a comment

Andrew Do

Why has Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do, who represents the First District (which includes much of Little Saigon and Santa Ana) refused to promote the new app that allows his constituents to review restaurant health inspection records on their smart phones? Look for yourself. There is no mention of the app on Do’s official website.

Today the O.C. Register published an editorial column by Do where he once again argues against letter grade health ratings and he dredges up a bunch of lame excuses against letter grades. Continue reading→

You can look up OC restaurant health records on your smart phone now

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Orange County, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC Restaurant Food Safety App

NEW ‘OC FOOD INSPECTIONS’ APPLICATION PROVIDES ACCESS TO RESTAURANT INFORMATION ON MOBILE PHONES

(Santa Ana) – The Orange County Health Care Agency Environmental Health Food Program has introduced the OC Food Inspections application. Available for Android and iPhone, this easy to use application gives the public instant access to food safety and sanitation information for Orange County’s restaurants and markets.

“We are very pleased to offer this improved level of transparency,” said Mark Refowitz, Health Care Agency Director. “While restaurant inspection information has always been available on our ocfoodinfo.com web site, the OC Food Inspections app puts all of the available information for a restaurant or market right in the palm of your hand.” Continue reading→

Three men were shot on South Minnie Street early on Saturday morning

Posted on July 25, 2015 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana shooting

It was another bloody Saturday in Santa Ana as three men were shot in the early morning, at around 4 a.m., near the 800 block of South Minnie Street, a few blocks from Villa Fundamental Intermediate School, according to the O.C. Register.

When SAPD officers arrived, they found two adult men struck by gunfire, both hit in the upper torso area. The victims were taken to a local hospital. A third victim, age 16, later came into the hospital with a gunshot wound in one of his legs. All of the victims are expected to survive. The teenager was treated and released to his parents. Continue reading→