Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana’s playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts to close
March 31, 2020 - Civic Affairs, Disease, Emergencies, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana is closing its playgrounds, volleyball courts and tennis courts beginning Wednesday, April 1, in order to prevent gatherings and protect the public from COVID-19. The City has already shuttered its enclosed parks, recreation and other facilities and canceled all programs and classes except the take-out senior meals program. Those include:…

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The County of Orange has launched an Economic & Business Recovery Call Center
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Orange County, Santa Ana - No Comments

Effective March 30, Orange County Community Services has implemented a call center to meet the needs of businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Economic & Business Recovery Call Center will offer information and resources to help Orange County businesses navigate the current economic climate. These resources will support businesses with challenges such…

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Santa Ana businesses can get help from a Small Business Incentive Grant
March 31, 2020 - Business, Civic Affairs, Emergencies, Santa Ana - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana is offering a grant of $2,500 to $5,000 for Santa Ana-based microenterprises through the Santa Ana Small Business Incentive Program. Applicants must qualify for the Small Business Incentive Grant. Details are available at www.santa-ana.org/SBIP. Eligibility Qualifications The program provides a reimbursement grant for eligible businesses on a first-come, first-served basis. Grant…

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Understanding Santa Ana’s moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures
March 31, 2020 - Business, Disease, Emergencies, Housing, Real Estate, Santa Ana - No Comments

The City of Santa Ana has created webpages in English, Spanish and Vietnamese to help residential and commercial tenants understand the City and State moratoriums on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webpages include frequently asked questions, a sample letter that renters can use to advise their landlord of their inability to pay…

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OCTA to use $75,000 grant for bicyclist and pedestrian safety

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, OCTA, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation 1 Comment

OCTA to Use $75,000 Grant for Bicyclist and Pedestrian Safety

California Office of Traffic Safety grant will help fund safety training and materials

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety for a year-long community program dedicated to bicycle-skills training and distribution of safety equipment for people walking and biking.

The aim of the program is to increase safety and reduce traffic-related injuries and fatalities. OCTA will use the funding as part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to deliver transportation solutions, including for active transportation – biking, walking and skating. Continue reading→

SAUSD police dept. swears in former student and presents a life saving award

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

Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department Swears in Alumni Recruit, Also Presents Officer with Life Saving Award

Felix Rivera, a 2006 graduate of SAUSD’s Saddleback High School, was sworn in as an officer today, and Officer Brian Singer received the Life Saving Award

(Dec. 19, 2017) – The Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) Police Department today honored two of its own during a special recognition ceremony at the district office that was attended by Board of Education members, Superintendent Dr. Stefanie Phillips, district leaders, police department staff, and other supporters. Continue reading→

Free sandbags now available at the Santa Ana City Yard

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Public Safety, public works, Santa Ana, Water, Weather Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community: SANDBAGS AVAILABLE AT CITY YARD – SACOS DE ARENA DISPONIBLES EN LA YARDA CORPORATIVA

The City of Santa Ana has made sandbags available to City residents and businesses during winter storms. Ten (10) sandbags are available per Santa Ana residence location or Santa Ana business location.

The self-service sandbag station is available at: Continue reading→

Pimp gets 34 years to life in prison for trafficking a teenager in Orange County

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

December 21, 2017

Case # 16NF1774

MAN SENTENCED TO 34 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR FORCIBLY RAPING AND TRAFFICKING 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL, PIMPING AND PANDERING WOMAN

FULLERTON, Calif. – A man was sentenced to 34 years to life in state prison for forcibly raping and trafficking a 15-year-old girl, then pimping and pandering a woman.

Defendant: Raymond Lee Gibson, 29, Colton

Found guilty by a jury on Oct. 12, 2017, of one felony count each of: Continue reading→

Santa Ana man who informed on the Mexican Mafia gets a reduced prison sentence

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 05CF3926

Date: December 22, 2017

GANG INFORMANT SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR 2005 ATTEMPTED MURDER OF RIVAL GANG MEMBER

*Sentence reduced based on testimony that led to federal and state convictions of 79 gang members affiliated with the Mexican Mafia; FBI in collaboration with U.S. Attorneys’ Office request leniency in detailed letter

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Oscar Daniel Moriel, a gang informant, was sentenced today to 17 years in state prison for the attempted murder of a rival gang member in 2005. The defendant’s informant work and testimony led to the federal and state convictions of 79 criminal street gang members affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, a notorious Hispanic prison gang infamous for their violence and criminal enterprise, and resulted in dozens of prison sentences totaling 293 years. Continue reading→

Female gangbanger gets 45 years in prison for dragging a woman to death in Little Saigon

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Gangs, Garden Grove, Little Saigon, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 10WF0524

Date: December 22, 2017

FEMALE GANG ASSOCIATE SENTENCED TO 45 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR MURDERING WOMAN BY DRAGGING HER WITH CAR

*Co-defendant in this case was previously convicted and sentenced

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A female associate of a criminal street gang was sentenced to 45 years to life in state prison today for murdering a woman by dragging her several blocks on the outside of her car.

Defendant: Lynn Ai Quach, 27, Garden Grove

Found guilty by a jury on Sept. 4, 2014, of: Continue reading→

Three burglary suspects who targeted O.C. real estate open houses arrested

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

OCSD arrests three in open house burglary scheme

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Dec. 21, 2017) – Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department South Directed Enforcement Team (DET) have arrested three suspects accused of burglarizing multiple homes using a distraction scheme during real estate open houses.

Investigators believe the suspects started running the scheme in October 2017. A male suspect would distract the real estate agent, while two female suspects would search other areas of the home and steal items. Continue reading→

A Good Samaritan saved a Santa Ana woman who was being sexually assaulted in a vehicle

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Costa Mesa, Crime, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Arrest Suspect In Attempted Rape Case, Believe There May Be Additional Unreported Victims

Jorge Cruz De Armas (27) Tustin, suspected of kidnapping and attempting to sexually assault a 28-year-old woman, was arrested in Costa Mesa last night. Santa Ana Police detectives arrested 27-year-old Jorge Cruz De Armas at his workplace after evidence at the crime scene led police to his identity.

On Monday at about 4:30 p.m., De Armas contacted the victim and offered her a ride. The victim accepted the offer and willingly entered his vehicle. Moments later, De Armas asked the victim if she wanted to have sex with him and she refused. De Armas drove the victim to an alley in the 1600 block of East Palm Street in Santa Ana where he attacked the victim. Continue reading→

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, Dec. 22

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

Santa Ana Police Department

AdvisorySAPD conducting DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint Fri, December 22th, 2017, 9:30PM – 2:30AM, 500 W. 1st Street

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday December 22nd, 2017. It will begin at 9:30 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30 AM. It will be conducted in the area of 500 W First Street, in the City of Santa Ana.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver. Continue reading→

Pregnant Santa Ana mother facing life in prison after severely torturing 15-month-old twins

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 17CF3201

Date: December 19, 2017

PREGNANT MOTHER OF FOUR FACING LIFE IN PRISON FOR TORTURING 15-MONTH-OLD TWINS RESULTING IN BONE FRACTURES AND BRAIN BLEED

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A pregnant mother of four is scheduled to be arraigned today and faces 26 years to life in prison for torturing 15-month-old twins in her care, resulting in multiple bone fractures and bleeding in the brain.

Defendant: Sacil Siglaly Lucero, 26, Santa Ana

Charged today with the following felony counts: Continue reading→

The SAPD is looking for two thieves who have stolen expensive motorcycles in the South Coast Metro area

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Motorcycles, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Request Assistance In Identifying Motorcycle Theft Suspects and Vehicle

The suspects shown above were captured on video surveillance driving into the parking garage of 15 MacArthur Place in a white Chevrolet Astro van (no plates) on 12/8/17 at 5:45pm. Both suspects exited and stole the victim’s red 2015 Ducati 1299s motorcycle (CA#23E6499), placing it in the back of the van.

A similar motorcycle theft was made by the same suspects in the same area approximately two months ago. Continue reading→

The SAPD is looking for an identity theft suspect who used an ATM at a local 7-11 store

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Request Assistance In Identifying Suspect In Identity Theft Case

On 9/16/2017, at approximately 1:58 PM, the suspect entered the 7-Eleven store at 103 S. Harbor Blvd., in Santa Ana, and used the ATM inside multiple times. The suspect fraudulently withdrew $1,000.00 from a victim’s bank account.

Suspect appears to be wearing a shirt that says “Basketball Never Stops” and red shoes. The suspect is believed to have made fraudulent withdrawals at 7-Eleven ATMs in Upland and Westminster as well. Continue reading→

A Santa Ana resident is a top ten finalist to be the next face of GFranco shoes

Posted on by Posted in Dance, Santa Ana, Women Leave a comment

Santa Ana resident Marissa Rivera is currently a top ten finalist to be the next face of GFranco shoes, a leading Latin dance shoe company that is a staple in the world of Latin dance. Bachata, Salsa, Brazilian zouk, and even hip hop dancers swear by GFranco’s quality, style, and lifespan.

Melissa is asking that we share her video and vote for her here.

Here is Marissa’s story: Continue reading→

The Santa Ana School Police are investigating a shooting threat at Valley High School

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

One of our readers sent us a note tonight regarding a threat that was discovered regarding an alleged shooting that was supposed to take place tomorrow, Monday, Dec. 18, at Santa Ana’s Valley High School.

The note, which was sent by Valley High School Principal David Richey, states that the Santa Ana Police Department is investigating this matter. However school will be in session on Monday, despite the threat. Continue reading→