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Tag Archives: Crime

The SAPD is looking for two armed suspects who robbed a liquor store

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On 6/22/2019, at 10:40 p.m., the below-pictured Charger parked on the north side of Nady’s Liquor Store located at 652 S. Harbor Blvd. A female exited the driver’s door and appeared to look inside the liquor store through the large window. The female sat back in the driver’s seat and shut the door. The male suspect then exited the passenger side and entered the liquor store.

The suspect pulled a semi-auto firearm with an extended magazine from his waistband and threatened the victim. The suspect demanded money from the register and the victim complied. After taking money from the victim, the suspect entered the left rear passenger seat of the Charger, which fled westbound on McFadden Ave.

Suspect #1: Male Hispanic, 18-25 years old, 5’-5” to 5’-7” and 140-160lbs, armed with a semi-auto firearm with extended mag. Suspect had some black colored substance on his face in an attempt to alter his identity.

Suspect #2: Driver Female Hispanic, unknown age, 5’-3”, 120-130lbs, with long dark hair

Vehicle Used: 2015-2017 Dodge Charger, Black in color, tinted windows and five star rims

Please forward information to Detective Greaver at (714) 245-8362 or DGreaver@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Woman arrested for impersonating a cop in Costa Mesa

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The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) is seeking to identify any potential victims of a woman arrested for impersonating a police officer. The arrestee’s photo and vehicle are included.

On the evening of Nov. 1, 2019, the CMPD Gang Unit conducted a traffic stop on a white, 4-door, 2016 Chevrolet Impala equipped with a law enforcement light bar, and California exempt license plates in the area of Harbor Boulevard and Merrimac Way in the City of Costa Mesa.

The sole occupant and driver, Michelle Brianna Hughes, 30, Huntington Beach, was wearing a tactical vest with a “POLICE” patch on the front of the vest. Hughes was also wearing a law enforcement duty belt which had handcuffs, a fake law enforcement badge, a Taser, and a loaded unregistered handgun with a high-capacity magazine on her belt.

Hughes identified herself to the arresting officers as a deputy for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Hughes is not a law enforcement officer and was in possession of other police uniforms from other law enforcement agencies as well as other government exempt license plates. She was arrested for carrying an unregistered loaded firearm, being in possession of a high capacity magazine, and impersonating a police officer. She then bailed out.

CMPD is seeking the public’s help in identifying victims who have possibly had contact with Hughes while falsely impersonating a police officer. Anyone with information pertaining to this suspect as it relates to impersonating a law enforcement officer, is asked to contact CMPD Detective J. Smith at jsmith@costamesaca.gov or 714-754-5097.

The SAPD has arrested an auto theft suspect

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Suspect Pedro Junior Lopez (33) has been located and arrested.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE – On 10/09/2019 at 8:20 AM, wanted suspect Lopez was caught on video surveillance stealing a vehicle from the rear parking lot of the Jack In The Box.

Prior to being reported stolen, Lopez was stopped in the vehicle in the area of Chestnut and Standard Avenue, and provided a false name. The vehicle was later found abandoned at 100 S. Cedar and was partially stripped. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lopez please contact Detective Romero at (714) 245-8529.

A man was shot at a backyard party last night near Delhi Park

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While most of us were watching football on T.V. last night, or participating in Halloween festivities, a shooting was taking place at a backyard Halloween party in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

A man was hospitalized early this morning with non-life threatening injuries suffered in that shooting.

The shooting took place at the 2200 block of South Orange Avenue, northwest of Delhi Park, at about 11 p.m. on Thursday night.

SAPD police officers found the male victim down in the street with two gunshot wounds to his upper body.

The SAPD has not yet determined a motive for the shooting nor have they released any information about the suspect(s).

The SAPD is looking for a vagrant who stole his mother’s car

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On 10/08/2019, at 11:30 AM, the victim arrived at the Extra Space Storage and parked her vehicle in front of the storage unit. The victim’s transient son, wanted suspect Jorge Edward Mendoza (39), was present without her permission and in violation of a restraining order.

As the victim was placing items into the backseat, Mendoza got into the driver’s seat of her vehicle and refused to get out. The victim was afraid to force Mendoza out of the driver seat due to his history of violent behavior and he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. The victim yelled at Mendoza to stop when he drove past her. Mendoza rammed the closed gate to the facility and exited the location.

Anyone with information on wanted suspect Mendoza’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Greaver at (714) 245-8362 or DGreaver@santa-ana.org

The SAPD is looking for a grand theft suspect

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In 2015, wanted suspect Alex Ramirez, 42-years-old, misrepresented himself as the manager of a band and entered into an agreement for the band to perform at an event. Ramirez received a large monetary deposit for this agreement. Ramirez never provided the services and did not return the deposit.

A warrant was issued for Ramirez’ arrest for grand theft. Ramirez has connections to the cities of Downey, Hacienda Heights, and Chino, CA.

Ramirez is 5′ 9″ and he weighs 205 lbs. He has very little hair but what is left is brown. He has brown eyes as well.

Anyone with information on Ramirez’ whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Corporal Aguilera at (714) 245-8251 or caguilera@santa-ana.org

Santa Ana man who cybserstalked and threatened Parkland shooting victims’ families convicted

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MIAMI – Today, a federal jury in South Florida convicted Brandon Michael Fleury, 22, of Santa Ana, California, of cybserstalking and sending a kidnapping threat to families of victims of a mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, announced U.S. Attorney Ariana Fajardo Orshan for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge George L. Piro of the FBI’s Miami Field Office.

According to evidence introduced at trial, Fleury used thirteen different Instagram accounts, using aliases including alleged Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz, notorious serial killer Ted Bundy, and others, to target families and friends of Parkland shooting victims with messages over the course of three weeks between Dec. 22, 2018 and Jan. 11, 2019. Many of the messages, including ones written under usernames referring to Cruz and containing Cruz’s profile picture, taunted the message recipients about the deaths of loved ones in the Parkland shooting. On Dec. 25, 2018, Fleury, sent a message stating, “I’m your abductor I’m kidnapping you fool.” On January 9, 10, and 11, 2019, Fleury continued to harass, intimidate, and threaten the message recipients from multiple Instagram accounts. These included messages sent under the username “the.douglas.shooter,” and using a profile picture of Nikolas Cruz. These messages included statements like, “With the power of my AR-15, you all die,” and “With the power of my AR-15, I take your loved ones away from you PERMANENTLY.”

After examining Fleury’s tablets, law enforcement found thousands of saved images of Ted Bundy, images of the targeted victims, and saved screenshots of the messages that he had sent the victims.

Fleury was convicted of interstate transmission of a threat to kidnap, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 875(c), and interstate cyberstalking, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2261A. Fleury is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 2, 2019 by United States District Judge Rudolfo A. Ruiz II (Case No. 19cr60056). Fleury faces a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in prison.

U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan commended the investigatory efforts of the FBI’s South Florida Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force and Broward Sheriff’s Office in this matter. U.S. Attorney Fajardo Orshan also thanked the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office and task force members. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared M. Strauss and Ajay Alexander.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or on http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov.

California could put 10,000 repeat felons back on the street

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Orange County is asking Governor Gavin Newsom to veto legislation that would reduce sentences for as many as 10,000 repeat felons.

Senate Bill 136, authored by Senator Scott Wiener, D- San Francisco, would eliminate a one-year sentence enhancement for repeat offenders that go on to commit more crimes. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, an estimated 10,000 inmates are currently serving sentences under existing sentencing laws.

“SB 136 is dangerous,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, a former prosecutor. “California lawmakers are putting dangerous predators back on the streets, where they can terrorize our neighborhoods.”

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved OC Supervisor Andrew Do’s resolution urging Gov. Newsom to veto the controversial legislation.  

SB 136: Early Release for Child Abuse, Domestic Violence

Neither the poorly crafted bill nor the legislative analyses identify the complete list of crimes that would qualify for shorter sentences. The Associated Press reports that it “would ease sentences for those convicted of repeat child abuse and domestic violence offenses.”

“This legislation grants early release to violent felons that have repeatedly engaged in child abuse and domestic violence,” said Supervisor Do. “SB 136 sends a horrible message to crime victims: California won’t protect you from the devastating violence of child abuse and spousal abuse.”

SB 136 faced bipartisan opposition in the state legislature from victims’ rights advocates, prosecutors and law enforcement agencies, including the California District Attorneys Association and California State Sheriffs Association. Sixteen Democratic lawmakers opposed the bill.

“There’s got to be accountability at some point,” Democratic Assemblyman Jim Cooper of Sacramento, a former sheriff’s deputy, told the Associated Press.

California Already Released 48,000 Prisoners in 12 Years
SB 136 comes as California has already granted early release to tens of thousands of prisoners. Today, there are approximately 48,298 fewer prisoners in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities than in 2006.

“48,000 prisoners back on the streets is equivalent to the population of Aliso Viejo or Cypress,” said Supervisor Do.

As of October 31, 2006, at midnight, 173,357 inmates were incarcerated in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation facilities. As of September 18, 2019, at midnight, that figure is just 125,059.

Supervisor Andrew Do represents Orange County’s First District, which includes the Central Orange County Cities of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Westminster, a portion of the City of Fountain Valley, and the unincorporated community of Midway City. In his second term, Supervisor Do has reformed Orange County’s mental health services, expanded access to health care, and led efforts to combat homelessness.

The SAPD is searching for a transient who burglarized a local business

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On January 19, 2019, Vantha Nhean (34), a transient, was observed on video surveillance breaking into a business in the city of Santa Ana near the intersection of Mcfadden Ave. and Lyon St.

During the commission of the burglary, Nhean stole approximately $5,000 worth of laptops, cameras and other electronics.

A warrant was issued for Nhean’s arrest reference the burglary in addition to two other outstanding warrants for drug possession.

Nhean is a transient who frequents the southeast section of the city as well as motels in the 2100 block of E. 1st Street.

Anyone with information on Nhean’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Garcia at (714)245-8732 or jgarcia@santa-ana.org

The SAPD is searching for a convicted transient who assaulted his ex-girlfriend

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On 08/21/19, wanted suspect Ruben Torres, age 30, physically assaulted his ex-girlfriend. The assault occurred in the area of Fairview/Trask, near the Chevron Gas station.

Torres pulled the victim to the ground, grabbed her by the hair and dragged her for approximately 20 feet. He proceeded to punch her in the face, head, back, and stomach area.

The victim sustained a bloody lip, bruising on her right bicep and abrasions to her left arm, stomach, and lower back.

Torres is on probation and a transient who frequents the area of the incident and the city of Garden Grove.

Anyone with information on Torres’ whereabouts is asked to contact PIS Ruvalcaba at BRuvalcaba@santa-ana.org

The SAPD arrested a suspect who barricaded himself in an auto body shop today

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The SAPD closed W. First St. today, from S. Harbor to W. Jackson, after a suspect with a gun entered a 7-Eleven located on W. First St., at about 11 a.m., according to the O.C. Register.

The suspect exited the building and ran from the police when they arrived, according to the SAPD.

The suspect hid at the rear of an auto shop, Culver 7 Auto Body Shop, at 3635 W. 1st St. The SAPD police officers fortunately were able to get all the employees out of there.

The SAPD police officers surrounded the body shop and tried several times to communicate with the suspect, who did not respond. They eventually deployed a robot to monitor his position. He then tried to escape through the roof of the building, but SWAT officers were waiting for him. They arrested him at about 3:30 p.m.

The OCFA provied a fire truck with a basket, which was used to lower the suspect to the street. His identity was not announced by the SAPD.

The police officers observed the suspect hiding under cars in the body shop during the standoff and he appeared to have some sort of firearm. However no gun was recovered when he was finally arrested.

The police investigators have not been able to confirm if he was in fact armed. They were conducting a complete search of the business he was hiding in. However it is a large auto body yard with many cars, so the search could take a while.

No gunshots were heard during the incident, and no injuries were reported.

Barricaded suspect leads to the closure of W. First St. from S. Harbor to S. Jackson

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The SAPD is currently working a barricaded suspect incident in the area of W. 1st St & S. Harbor Blvd., according to their Twitter account.

W. 1st St. has been closed in all directions from S. Harbor Blvd to S. Jackson.

More details to follow #SAPDPIO #onscene #SAPDTraffic.

The SAPD is urging residents to stay away from this area!

The SAPD is investigating a fatal drive-by-shooting that happened near Santa Ana College

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On Monday, September 16, 2019, at 12:57 AM, Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) Officers responded to reports of a traffic collision in the area of 17th Street and Bristol Street. At 12:59 AM, an additional caller reported shots fired near Bristol Street and Washington Avenue.

Responding officers located the scene of a traffic collision at the 1500 block of North Bristol Street. Officers found a compact sedan disabled atop the shrubs separating the sidewalk and the parking lot of Santa Ana College. Officers also located an adult male down in the parking lot of the college suffering gunshot wounds to his body.

Orange County Fire Authority paramedics responded and attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. Paramedics declared the man deceased at 1:10 AM.

SAPD Homicide Section Detectives responded to investigate. The Orange County Coroner’s Office also responded. The Coroner’s Office listed the decedent as a John Doe pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.

During the preliminary field investigation, officers detained three persons of interest in the city of Carson. Detectives also detained two possible suspects in the city of Long Beach. The investigation is ongoing.

SAPD officials are working with the administration from Santa Ana College to mitigate the impact to traffic on Bristol Street and campus operations. Bristol Street, between 17th Street and Washington Avenue, and the northwest parking lots of Santa Ana College remain closed while detectives and crime scene personnel process the crime scene.

This case is eligible for the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Reward Program. Detectives encourage anyone with information about this shooting to contact the SAPD Homicide Section at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers https://occrimestoppers.org/

SAPD Detectives are investigating a homicide at 500 East Pine Street

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On Saturday, September 14, 2019, at 4:41 AM, SAPD Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the area of 500 East Pine Street. Officers located an adult male down on the ground suffering a gunshot wound to his upper torso.

Orange County Fire Authority paramedics responded and attempted life-saving measures but were unsuccessful. Paramedics declared the man deceased at 4:54 AM. The decedent is listed as a John Doe pending identification by the Orange County Coroner’s Office and notification of next of kin.

The preliminary investigation revealed the shooting was gang-related. SAPD Homicide Section detectives responded to investigate.

This case is eligible for the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Reward Program. Detectives encourage anyone with information about this shooting to contact the SAPD Homicide Section at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers https://occrimestoppers.org/

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday night

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SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday September 6th, 2019. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 100 N Ross 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 is.

The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected o f alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.

This operation is NOT connected to any immigration enforcement action. Given Santa Ana’s Sanctuary City designation, as defined in Santa Ana Ordinance NS-2908, the ordinance prohibits members of the Santa Ana Police Department from engaging in any immigration enforcement within the City limits. Public safety requires community partnerships, and engaging in immigration enforcement operations erodes the trust necessary to provide effective public safety services in our City.

All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.