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:…
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…
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…
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…
OCFA firefighters battled a blaze that was reported at 11:47 p.m. last night at a single-story house located at the 4800 block of Morningside Ave., in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.
Several cats and dogs were killed by the fire and five people were hurt, including one victim with critical injuries.
The firefighters were able to extinguish the fire by 12:23 a.m., according to the OCFA. Continue reading
Several of our readers reported tonight that a police helicopter was flying overhead while broadcasting a message about a missing girl. That girl is Kimberly Del Villar, who is only 12-years old. She was last seen by her siblings on Friday near Garfield Elementary School, according to the O.C. Register.
The good news is that Kimberly was found tonight at about 8 p.m. near the area of E. 4th Street and N. Grand Avenue, not far from Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, and returned safely to her family, according to the SAPD. Continue reading
Oscar Roberto Urbina
I took a call this week from a young lady who had quite a story to tell. Apparently she was dating a musician named Oscar Roberto Urbina, a 46-year old man who performs in a band called Libertad Chicana. The relationship went sideways and Urbina started to pester her at work. The young lady eventually got a temporary restraining order. Then Urbina showed up at her work, a market in Santa Ana, and he allegedly assaulted her.
Urbina was charged with “Disobeying domestic relations court order” on Feb. 1, and a jury trial has been set for April 7, according to OC Court Case Number 17CM01158. The victim says Urbina is fairly broke but someone paid his $15K bail to get him back on the streets. Continue reading
Sheriff Hutchens Clarifies OCSD’s Role in Immigration Enforcement
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Feb. 25, 2017) – As immigration policy has taken front and center over the past few weeks, debate continues and questions from the public proliferate. As your Sheriff, I do not determine immigration policy, and I will leave discussion on the merits of proposals to the Congress and the President. However, I want to clarify the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s role in the enforcement of immigration law.
Enforcing immigration law is a federal government responsibility. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department does not play a role in the enforcement of these laws, and it is not part of our primary mission. As we patrol our communities, deputies are focused on criminal violations of state and local law. We enforce these laws equally, without bias, and without regard for one’s immigration status. In carrying out our duties, we do not ask the immigration status of suspects, witnesses, or those who call to report crimes. To reiterate: The Sheriff’s Department will provide for your safety and respond to your call for service without concern for your immigration status. Continue reading
Ryan Michael Booth, a 31-year old Long Beach man, faces 128 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting a family member in Costa Mesa for more than a year, starting when she was 9 months old, and circulating videos of his acts online, according to the O.C. Register.
Booth was convicted on Wednesday of multiple felony counts of sexually assaulting a child, using a child for obscene matter and possession of child pornography, according to the DA. Continue reading
Sergio Joaquin Mendoza, a 27-year-old man was convicted Thursday of carving his name on his girlfriend’s chest with a razor blade and several other attacks in Santa Ana two years ago, according to the O.C. Register.
Mendoza evaded a felony kidnapping charge but he was convicted of misdemeanor and felony counts of false imprisonment. Continue reading
Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens Responds to Homeland Security Report
Yesterday, a report was released concerning the Theo Lacy Jail. Several things in the report were not accurate and did a disservice to the hard working individuals who operate our custody facilities. Unfortunately, some media outlets choose to cover the report in a sensational manner that painted a misleading “Shawshank-like” picture of Orange County jail facilities.
The report was based on an inspection done by the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General in November 2016. Some legitimate issues were identified in the report and were quickly addressed. Many of the other issues raised were inaccurate and can be refuted. In an effort to provide the public with transparency and a more accurate account of our operations, I have itemized the concerns raised in the report and provided our response (see below). Continue reading
Anthony Gálvez
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: UPDATE: CRITICAL MISSING 13 YEAR OLD LOCATED INSIDE ANAHEIM CHURCH
Child was located inside an Anaheim church save and sound. He is being returned to his family
Original: Location: 614 North Jenkins
On Thursday, 3/9/17, at 3:53 pm, officers responded to a critical missing call. Anthony Gálvez, a 13 year old boy, with a mental capacity of a 5 year old, walked away from his residence in the 600 block of N. Jenkins. He was last seen in the area of 300 N. Euclid Way. Officers coordinated a grid search with marked units and OCSD airship Duke. Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT
The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Saturday, March 11th, 2017. It will begin at 9:30 p.m. and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30 a.m. It will be conducted in the area of 3500 W. 5th St., 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
Ronald Spurlock
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
March 9, 2017
Case # 14CF2383
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MAN CONVICTED OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PIMPING, AND PANDERING SEVERAL WOMEN
FULLERTON, Calif. – A San Bernadino man was convicted yesterday of human trafficking, pimping, and pandering of several women. Ronald Preston Spurlock, 38, Grand Terrace, was found guilty by a jury on March 8, 2017, of two felony counts of human trafficking, four felony counts of pimping, eight felony counts of pandering, and one felony count of conspiring to dissuade a witness. Spurlock also pleaded guilty on Feb. 27, 2017, to one felony count of possession of a firearm by a felon. The defendant faces a maximum sentence of 34 years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at his sentencing on June 16, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-11, North Justice Center, Fullerton. Continue reading
Eva Tsai, the President of E-Fang Accountancy Corp., in Santa Ana, has been ordered to pay $6,083 and undergo three years probation by the California Board of Accountancy, according to the O.C. Register.
Tsai, was accused of failing to obtain evidence to support an audit report, not registering the firm name with the CBA and failing to comply with professional standards. Continue reading
In response to the “Shame on Santa Ana Teacher/Councilman Sal Tinajero for allowing worker layoffs” post, on our 
Facebook link Councilman Tinajero now complains: “What?!? I’m in the minority! I don’t have the votes! Your trying to discredit me because you get paid! I refer you to real reporting i.e. Voice of OC, OC Register, LA Times, or New York Times.” Give me a break!!
As was said in the Facebook thread, the vote was tied (3-3) and Sal could have voted to have staff negotiate to keep the contract with ICE and help protect city jobs and keep $7-$8 million in annual revenue. With his vote, it could have been 4-2! (Embarrassed by his comments and actions, Sal had them deleted overnight, but we took a screenshot before he did!)
This may be too late to fix or not, but if city workers get laid off, they will remember who made an effort to help and who did not. Just sayin…
Unity Middle College High School will open in the Fall of 2017 at 1310 East Lincoln Ave., in Orange, with 100 9th and 10th grade students. They are offering free college courses for all their students. Unity Middle College High School students will graduate with a High School diploma and college courses that may include an AA degree. They are currently accepting intent to enroll forms online. Continue reading
On Tuesday, March 7 at about 3 p.m. a female was driving in the area of 800 North Raitt when she heard multiple gunshots. She told SAPD police officers that she saw three suspects running and after the shots were fired her rear window was struck and shattered, according to SAPD Case # 17-06152.
This shooting happened a block east of the Santiago Little League which operates at El Salvador Park, next to Fremont Elementary School.
Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
UPDATE: Arrested: Robert Andrew Austin – (23) Santa Ana
On February, 14th, 2017, SAPD Detectives requested media and the public’s assistance; Detectives released video and photographs of the two suspects wanted in connection to a series of commercial burglaries. Based on the information provided and the media stories completed, the detectives received tip information identifying suspect number one as Robert Andrew Austin (23).
Detectives shared this information with our patrol officers; On March 6th, 2017, members of the department’s Civic Center Detail located and arrested suspect Austin. Continue reading