New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Crime

Man arrested for murder of transgendered Santa Ana resident Zoraida Reyes

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, LGBT, Santa Ana 7 Comments

Parkerson, Randy Lee
Raul Quezada, Chief of Police

PRESS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 8, 2014

Released by: Lt. Bob Dunn, (714) 497-6330

Subject: Updates on On-going Homicide Investigation

On June 12, 2014 at 10:51 am, the body of Zoraida Reyes was discovered in the parking lot of a Dairy Queen in the 200 block of N. State College Blvd. Reyes, 29 of Santa Ana, was an active member of several Orange County transgender and immigrant rights advocacy groups and her death prompted concern. So far the investigation has not uncovered any evidence to indicate Reyes was specifically targeted, and Detectives are not investigating this homicide as a hate crime.

Yesterday, October 7, 2014 at 9:25 a.m., Randy Lee Parkerson was arrested in his vehicle in the 200 block of E. Katella Ave. Parkerson, 38 of Anaheim, was booked at the Anaheim Police Department Temporary Detention Facility for murder and he is being held on 1 million dollars bail. His booking photograph is above. Continue reading→

Robbers crash on the 5 Freeway and one of them runs to the MainPlace Mall

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Robbers crash in north Santa Ana

Picture Courtesy of KTLA News

Three men and a woman suspected in connection with at least one Laguna Hills burglary were chased from South County by deputies Wednesday morning on the northbound I-5 freeway until the fleeing driver crashed near the Westfield MainPlace mall, according to the OC Register.

The driver refused to stop and led authorities on a pursuit that lasted about 30 minutes before crashing into a white Chevy Volt on the 5 Freeway near the Westfield MainPlace mall in Santa Ana, according to KTLA News. Continue reading→

ODCA fundraising online to end modern day slavery

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Women 2 Comments

Beat the Heat

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 3, 2014

THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, ORANGE COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE, AND CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY LAUNCH ONLINE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN TO END MODERN DAY SLAVERY

*Please consider contributing on Indiegogo

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA), the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF), and Chapman University are pleased to announce the launch of their online fundraising campaign with the world’s most established crowdfunding platform, Indiegogo, for the 2nd Annual “Keep Calm and Beat H.E.A.T. Rocking & Rally” on Friday, Oct. 24, 2014, at Chapman University.

The event will increase community awareness of human exploitation and trafficking, the second largest criminal enterprise in the nation, behind narcotics trafficking, that nets approximately $32 billion a year. A free rock concert will immediately follow with Stan Frazier and Murphy Karges of Sugar Ray. Elected officials, law enforcement, non-profits, private law firms, businesses, and private citizens have all donated to this cause and support is growing. To make a donation of any amount and to join the cause, please visit http://igg.me/at/beatheat. Continue reading→

School bus driver sentenced for molesting a minor girl in his apartment

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 2, 2014

SCHOOL BUS DRIVER SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR MOLESTING MINOR GIRL UNDER THE AGE OF 14 IN HIS APARTMENT

SANTA ANA – A school bus driver was sentenced Tuesday to eight years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration for molesting a minor girl under the age of 14 in his Laguna Hills home. Shane Norman Crawford, 39, Laguna Hills, pleaded guilty Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014, to two felony counts of lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14.

Crawford gained access to the children by befriending their parents. Continue reading→

Two Anaheim men charged with murder, kidnapping and rape of four women

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Women 1 Comment

Steven Dean Gordon and Franc Cano

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: TWO MEN TO BE ARRAIGNED ON INDICTMENT FOR SPECIAL-CIRCUMSTANCES MURDER IN COMMISSION OF KIDNAPPING AND RAPE OF FOUR WOMEN

SANTA ANA – Two men are scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow on an indictment for the special-circumstances murder in the commission of a kidnapping and rape of four women. Steven Dean Gordon, 45, and Franc Cano, 28, both of Anaheim, were indicted by the grand jury today Oct. 2, 2014.

They are each charged with four felony counts of special circumstances murder during the commission of rape, kidnapping, lying in wait, and multiple murders. They are also each charged with four felony counts of forcible rape. If convicted, they face a minimum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole and are eligible for the death penalty. The defendants are both scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment tomorrow, Oct. 3, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted of sex crimes against girls he met at church

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Churches and Religion, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

David Elifar Verduzco

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: October 1, 2014

Case # 11CF3067

MAN CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO GIRLS BETWEEN AGES 9 AND 12 AFTER MEETING THEM AT CHURCH AND BEFRIENDING THEIR FAMILIES

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of sexually assaulting two girls between ages 9 and 12 after meeting them through church and befriending their families. David Elifar Verduzco, 35, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of three felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of sexual penetration with a child 10 years or younger, one misdemeanor count each of child annoyance and disorderly conduct. The sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on multiple children were found true. He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration at his sentencing on Oct. 17, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-43, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Verduzco was a parishioner of Agape House of Prayer in Anaheim, where he was a worship team leader and gave electronic keyboard lessons. The defendant met both of the victims and their families at the church and befriended them. Continue reading→

Guatemalan dignitaries to hear about strategies to help at-risk youth, on 10/1

Posted on September 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, immigration, Latinos, OCDA, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

grip

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: OC GRIP TO HOST PRESENTATION TO DIGNITARIES FROM GUATEMALA TO OFFER STRATEGIES TO HELP AT-RISK YOUTH

SANTA ANA – The Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP), local law enforcement, and community organizations will host a presentation tomorrow to dignitaries from Guatemala offering strategies and prevention techniques to help at-risk youth. The presentation will cover components of the OC GRIP program, OC GRIP’S partnership with small businesses and corporations, community involvement through mentorship, and incentive outreach programs to award at-risk teens who stay away from gang activity and do well in school. The presentation will take place tomorrow, Oct. 1, 2014, at 10:30 a.m. at the Santa Ana Police Department.

Since 2012, the City of Santa Ana has participated in a series of exchanges and trainings with municipalities in Guatemala, under the International City/County Management Association, to help develop innovative violence and prevention programs. Part of its goal is to provide training and technical assistance to local governments and community groups in coordination with police and other local-level programs. Continue reading→

How many Santa Ana residents will be ticketed at the upcoming Ciclovia?

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Bicycles, Civic Affairs, Crime, Gerardo Mouet, Parks and Recreation, Public Safety, Santa Ana 12 Comments

Santa Ana bicycle registrations

Gerardo Mouet, executive director of the City of Santa Ana’s parks, recreation and community services agency, told the OC Register this week that “Santa Ana is the county seat and the most urban section in the county. Biking and walking in an urban setting is of growing interest, and Santa Ana is a great place to illustrate this trend to the entire county.”

Mouet is very proud of the fact that Santa Ana will be hosting Orange County’s first ever Ciclovia – an open streets event where the streets will be closed to cars and opened to bikers, walkers and runners. SOMOS or “Sunday On Main Open Streets” is scheduled for Sunday, October 5, 2014 from 9 am to 4 pm.

But here is the problem – the City of Santa Ana has a mandatory bike registration program in place that is run by the Santa Ana Police Department. If your bike is not registered with the police they can stop you and actually give you a pricey ticket! Hardly any of our residents know about this program. How many people are they going to ticket at the Ciclovia? Continue reading→

The Food 4 Less robbery suspect has been arrested

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Robbery Detectives Identify Suspect in Food 4 Less after community members sees suspect during TV News story.

Arrested: Antonio Delgado Juarez (35) Santa Ana

Details: On 9/25/14, SAPD Robbery Detectives requested the media and community’s assistance in identifying a suspect involved in the 9/18/14 robbery of a Food 4 Less grocery store. After the story aired on television (unknown which Station), detectives received a tip from a community member who advised that they had watched the story and believed they knew who the suspect was. Detectives were provided information that led them to suspect Antonio Delgado Juarez. The Detectives found that suspect Juarez was already in SAPD custody on an unrelated incident. On 9/22/2014, Juarez was taken into custody by SAPD for Burglary, Battery and Possession of Burglary Tools. Continue reading→

Do two weird stripping incidents mean bath salts have arrived in Santa Ana?

Posted on September 25, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Drugs, Santa Ana 3 Comments

A woman stripped off her clothes inside a Santa Ana market yesterday and died shortly after she was subdued by store employees, according to the Fountain Valley Patch.

Shortly before 9 a.m., a woman in her 40s began yelling and screaming in the liquor section of the El Toro Market in the 1300 block of West First Street, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said, according to the O.C. Register.

Two store employees, a security guard and the store’s manager subdued her and called authorities, but the woman died while paramedics and police were en route to the scene. Continue reading→

The SAPD needs help tracking down a man who robbed a Food 4 Less on S. Bristol

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Robbery Detectives Request Media and Public Assistance In Identifying Robbery Suspect

SYNOPSIS: On 09/18/14 at about 0957 hours, the above depicted suspect entered the Food 4 Less grocery store. After entering the store, the suspect used a handicap motorized scooter to ride around the store. The suspect dismounted the scooter, approached the store manager from behind and placed him in a headlock. The suspect forced the manager to the front office. Inside of the office, the suspect ordered the manager and bookkeeper to fill his backpack with cash. The manager and bookkeeper complied. The suspect also ordered the manager to handover his vehicle keys. The manager complied and gave the suspect his vehicle keys. The suspect then grabbed the manager by the arm and walked him to his vehicle.

After reaching the manager’s vehicle, the manager fled as the suspect entered the vehicle. As of 09/24/14, the manager’s vehicle is still outstanding. Continue reading→

Man who is alleged to have knifed his wife and shot her with a pellet gun is arrested

Posted on September 24, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Homicide Detectives locate suspect wanted in Attempt Murder Case

Arrested: Juan Carlos Guadarrama (42) Santa Ana

Details: On 09/20/14, Juan Carlos Guadarrama arranged to meet his estranged wife at a location in the 1200 block of East Dyer Road in Santa Ana. During their encounter the suspect assaulted his estranged wife with a knife, stabbing her multiple times; the suspect also shot the victim with a pellet gun, causing great bodily injury. The victim was transported to a local trauma center in critical condition. Continue reading→

Estranged husband stabbed his wife and shot her with a pellet gun

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana police officers were called to the 1200 block of East Dyer Road about 9 p.m. Saturday after reports of a woman screaming and a man running from a parking lot, Santa Ana police Cmdr. Jason Viramontes said, according to the O.C. Register.

The police reported that the woman was stabbed multiple times and was also apparently shot with a pellet gun. They found a knife and a pellet gun at the scene. Continue reading→

Executive sentenced for not paying taxes on $180M in fraudulent income

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: September 19, 2014

Case # 03HF1207

FORMER EXECUTIVE SENTENCED TO SEVEN YEARS IN PRISON AND RESTITUTION FOR FAILING TO PAY TAXES ON OVER $180 MILLION IN UNREPORTED INCOME FROM POWER PLANT REFURBISHING BUSINESS

*Co-defendant ex-wife has been convicted and sentenced in this case

SANTA ANA – A former executive was sentenced today to seven years in state prison for failing to pay taxes on over $180 million in unreported income from their power plant refurbishing business. Richard Engel, 70, pleaded guilty Dec. 16, 2011, to three felony counts of filing false personal tax returns and five felony counts failing to file tax returns for himself and his company. The defendant also admitted to sentencing enhancements for fraud in excess of $500,000 causing a loss in excess of $1 million. Engel will also be required to pay restitution in an amount to be determined by the Court.

Richard Engel’s ex-wife Jolene Engel, 63, pleaded guilty Dec. 16, 2011, to one felony count of failure to file tax returns for her corporation and one felony count of failing to provide material information in a tax return. She was sentenced today to three years of informal probation and will also be subject to restitution in an amount to be determined. Continue reading→

Fountain Valley man convicted of shooting and killing a rival 17-year-old

Posted on September 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, OCDA Leave a comment

Reda Hassan Safieddine

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: September 18, 2014

Case # 12WF2176

MAN CONVICTED OF SHOOTING-MURDER OF RIVAL 17-YEAR-OLD

SANTA ANA – A man was convicted today of shooting and murdering a 17-year-old rival. Reda Hassan Safieddine, 20, Fountain Valley, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of second degree murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal discharge of a firearm causing death and one misdemeanor count of brandishing a firearm. He faces a maximum sentence of 40 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Nov. 7, 2014, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-40, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Safieddine, then 18 years old, and the victim had an ongoing rivalry. A few hours before the shooting on Aug. 13, 2012, the defendant encountered the victim and argued with him in a residential neighborhood in Santa Ana. After the verbal confrontation, the two went separate ways. Continue reading→