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Tag Archives: Crime

SAPD investigating death of woman found on the I-5 and the 22 Freeways

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Martha Rodezo

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Santa Ana Police Detectives suspicious death investigation

On 12-8-2013 at 243am CHP received a 911 call from a driver northbound I-5 at the 22 freeway “gore point” of a possible body. CHP arrived, located the deceased identified as Martha Rodezo (51) Los Angeles. CHP started their investigation, Coroner was then called to the scene and preliminary review of the injuries believed that her death was not conducive to a high speed vehicle/Ped traffic collision; Coroner requested a joint investigation between CHP & Santa Ana PD Homicide Detectives. Continue reading→

OCDA receives $386K state grant to fight against driving under the influence of drugs

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OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release: December 6, 2013

OCDA RECEIVES $386,060 STATE GRANT TO INCREASE FIGHT AGAINST DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS

SANTA ANA – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) has received a $386,060 state grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) to address the problem of driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs in Orange County. This is the fourth OTS grant awarded to OCDA in an effort to improve detection and prosecution of alcohol and drug-related DUI cases. The OTS grant is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Between 2005 and 2012, the OCDA received over $1.3 million in OTS grants to facilitate the prosecution of DUI alcohol and drug cases by allowing deputy district attorneys and clerical support staff to focus exclusively on DUI cases. Continue reading→

SAPD arrests two suspects in cold case murder of Juan Manual Diaz

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Steve Moreno

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Detectives arrest two suspects in 2011 Cold Case Murder of Juan Manual Diaz

Homicide Detectives working on new leads in the 11-2-2011 Murder of Juan Manual Diaz identified two suspects they believe committed the shooting death. On 12-3-2013 Detectives arrested Steve Moreno (25) Santa Ana during a traffic stop in the City of Santa Ana. The second suspect Emmanuel Vega (29) Eastvale was located at his place of employment in the City of Chino as well as the vehicle belonging to him a 2003 Toyota 4 Runner. Detectives believe the vehicle was used during the murder.

Arrested: Both booked into the SAPD Jail Continue reading→

SAPD arrests two for school burglaries and recover stolen iPads and laptops

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Christopher Erik Clark

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Police Detectives arrest two for school Burglaries recover 62 Apple iPads and nine Apple iMac laptop computers

There were two separate burglaries reported at Hazard Elementary at 4218 West Hazard in Santa Ana. The first burglary occurred sometime between the dates of November 22-26. The second occurred between November 26 and December 2nd. During the two burglaries a total of 69 Apple iPads and nine Apple iMac laptop computers were taken. There was no suspect information at the time of these crimes.

On 12-3-2013 the police department received information that lead officers to a computer repair shop located in the 2600 block of West 17th street. At the business, officers located 18 of the Pads and all nine of the iMac laptops belonging to Hazard Elementary School. Detectives following up on leads obtained during the investigation located suspect #1 Javier Cruz Perez (38) of Santa Ana in possession of 12 additional iPads. Continue reading→

Serial murderer of OC homeless dies in jail

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Itzcoatl Ocampo

NEWS RELEASE, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, (714) 904-7042

Gail Krause, (714) 647-1840

In-Custody Death

SANTA ANA, Calif. – (November 29, 2013) – On Thursday, November 28, 2013 at approximately 1:38 p.m., Inmate Itzcoatl Ocampo (3-20-88) was pronounced deceased by medical staff at Western Medical Center (WMC), Santa Ana. Ocampo was being treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after becoming ill while in custody at the Orange County Jail (Central Jail Complex – Central Men’s Jail). Continue reading→

Bible study leader convicted of molesting his young relatives

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Westminster 1 Comment

OCDA Seal

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 09WF1805: November 27, 2013

SELF-APPOINTED PASTOR/BIBLE STUDY LEADER CONVICTED OF SEXUALLY ASSAULTING TWO YOUNG MALE RELATIVES

WESTMINSTER – A self-appointed pastor who hosted regular “church” meetings and Bible studies in his Westminster home was convicted today of sexually assaulting two young male relatives beginning when the victims were 12 years old.

James Ray Guerrero, 54, Westminster, was found guilty by a jury of eight felony counts of lewd acts upon a child under 14, one felony count of distributing pornography to a minor, and sentencing enhancement allegations for substantial sexual conduct with a child and lewd acts on more than one child. He faces a maximum sentence of 123 years to life in state prison at his sentencing Feb. 14, 2014, at 1:30 p.m. in Department W-16, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for Sat., Nov. 30

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Santa Ana 6 Comments

SAPD DUI Checkpoint

SAPD Advisory: Police Department conducting DUI/Drivers License checkpoint Saturday Nov 30th 7:30PM – 1:30AM area of 3300 W. 5th

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, November 30th, 2013. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 3300 W. 5th Street, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Suspected burglars arrested after they jump down a 10 story hotel

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Chad Alexander Walker

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Officers arrest suspects for burglary after they scaled down 10 story hotel building

Officers responded to the Mobile Gas station reference a report of a beer run. The clerk advised that the 2 suspects (males in their early 20s) had been involved in an earlier beer run at about 520 PM and had returned at 620 Pm to do another.

Following the second theft, the clerk followed the two suspects and saw that they entered the Embassy Suites at 1325 E. Dyer. Working with hotel management, officers located the room where the suspects were partying on the 10th floor. Continue reading→

Man convicted of embezzling over $110K from a Santa Ana church

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Fiatala Manu

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 13CF2428: November 22, 2013

TREASURER CONVICTED AND SENTENCED FOR EMBEZZLING OVER $110,000 FROM CHURCH BANK ACCOUNTS

*Defendant laundered money through an Indian gaming casino

SANTA ANA – A treasurer was convicted and sentenced today for embezzling over $110,000 from church bank accounts. Fiatala Manu, 47, Lake Elsinore, pleaded guilty to one felony count each of embezzlement by fiduciary of trust, money laundering, falsifying records, and sentencing enhancements for property loss over $65,000. He was sentenced to one year in jail, two years of mandatory supervision, and was ordered to pay over $113,000 in restitution. Continue reading→

Ex Garden Grove cop convicted of forcibly sodomizing three women he had dated

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Jesse Andrew Green

Orange County District Attorney Press Release

For Immediate Release, Case # 10WF2451: November 22, 2013

POLICE OFFICER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR FORCIBLY SODOMIZING THREE WOMEN, WHOM HE HAD BRIEFLY DATED

SANTA ANA – A police officer was sentenced today to 12 years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration for forcibly sodomizing three women, all of whom he knew in a dating capacity. Jesse Andrew Green, 36, Huntington Beach, was found guilty by a jury Sept. 6, 2013, of three felony counts of forcible sodomy. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on one felony count of rape.

At the time of the crime, Green had been a police officer with the Garden Grove Police Department since 2006. The defendant also worked for the Calexico Police Department from 2004 to 2006. Continue reading→

SAPD arrests suspects who used a blowtorch and tire iron to assault victims

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Maria Guadalupe Caudillo

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Officers arrest robbery suspects who assault victim and witnesses with blow blowtorch and tire iron

UPDATE: Officer have learned the suspect arrest Fortino Rueda provided a false name to arresting officers. He used the name of a family member and he has now been identified as Peter Saul Rueda (31) Santa Ana. He has been charged with additional charge of PC 529(a)(1)False Impersonation

Police Department received numerous 911 calls of a large fight 800 North Fairview. Officers found the Victim (42/M) parked his truck loaded with garden equipment, at the location before entering the donut shop to purchase coffee and donuts. A witness (victim’s coworker) drove into the same parking lot to notice the three suspects (M/33 -F/34-M/unk) stealing garden equipment from the victim’s truck. The witness blocked the suspect’s vehicle to prevent escape. Continue reading→

Girl scares off a possible abductor with a stick, in Corona del Mar

Posted on by Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Newport Beach, Orange County Leave a comment

Newport Beach police suspect sketch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PRESS RELEASE #112113b: Nov. 21, 2013

Subject: Suspicious Circumstances

At approximately 11:20 a.m. on November 20, 2013, a 14-year-old female was sitting on the front stairs of her residence in the 600 block of Iris Avenue in Corona del Mar, when a green Subaru wagon drove by, The vehicle passed her residence, then reversed its direction of travel and stopped in front of the home. The driver remained inside while the passenger exited the vehicle and approached the female, asking for directions to a nearby fast food restaurant.

When female said that she could not help with directions, the passenger stated that he had a map in the vehicle and encouraged her to return to the vehicle with him. When the female refused, the passenger became persistent. Out of concern for her safety, the female armed herself with a large stick that was nearby. The passenger then returned to the vehicle and told the driver to leave the location. Continue reading→

SAPD investigating a fatal accident and arrest the driver for DUI

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Ulises Mendoza

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Police Investigate Fatal T/C arrest driver DUI & Gross Vehicular Manslaughter

11/21/13 at 0115 am a 1993 Honda Civic Hatchback occupied by five occupants (three males –two females) traveling at a high rate of speed southbound on the 900 block North Fairview Street when the driver lost control and collided with a fence and then into a utility pole .

One of the adult passengers (Male 23) Santa Ana died as a result of the impact, name not released pending notification of family. The driver and three remaining passengers were transported to local trauma centers for their injuries. The Collision Investigation Unit responded to investigate. Continue reading→