Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Crime

Homelessness increasing along the Santa Ana River

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment
Photo by Tim Houchen

Photo by Tim Houchen

HOMELESSNESS ALONG THE SANTA ANA RIVER

By the Fountain Valley Police Department

The Department has received inquiries regarding an increase in homeless/transient persons who have taken up residence along the Santa Ana River and river trail area.

The riverbed and river trail are the jurisdiction of County of Orange and the Sheriff’s Department. As such, the encampment and crime and quality of life issues related to it are not directly in our jurisdiction. The County and Sheriff’s Department have a countywide strategy in dealing with these issues; including outreach, education and enforcement. Either this relatively new encampment or the homeless/transients that have lived under the overpasses of the Santa Ana River for many years have an impact on our community when they come into town. We deal with those issues as they arise as best we can. Continue reading→

Santa Ana gangbanger extradited from Mexico charged with multiple felonies for a 2011 murder

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

GANG MEMBER EXTRADITED FROM MEXICO TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR 2011 MURDER OF 16-YEAR-OLD RIVAL IN SANTA ANA

*Co-defendant was arrested shortly after the murder and is awaiting trial

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A gang member who was extradited from Mexico last week is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for the 2011 murder of a 16-year-old rival in Santa Ana. Jesus Canales, 23, Santa Ana, was charged on July 25, 2011, with one felony count of special circumstances first degree murder committed for a criminal street gang purpose and one felony count of street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity and discharge of a firearm causing death. If convicted, he faces a minimum sentence of life in state prison. He is being held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Dec. 13, 2016, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

Co-defendant Juan Manuel Galvan, 25, Santa Ana, was charged on July 25, 2011, with one felony count of murder and one felony count of street terrorism, with sentencing enhancements for criminal street gang activity and vicarious discharge of a firearm causing death. He is being held without bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Feb. 2, 2017, at 9:00 a.m. in Department C-35, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Man attacked by four people and stabbed at a Santa Ana Chevron gas station

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An unidentified 53-year-old man was stabbed on Monday night in Santa Ana after four people attacked him at the Chevron gas station located at Bristol Street and McFadden Avenue, according to the O.C. Register.

SAPD police officers found the injured man at that location at about 9 p.m. He had a stab wound on his torso after he had fought with three males and one female.  Continue reading→

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and Drivers License checkpoint tonight

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Fri, December 9th, 2016, 9:30PM to 2:30AM, 2500 W. 5th 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 9th, 2016. It will begin at 9:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2500 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→

Santa Ana gangbanger arrested for a 2011 homicide after fleeing to Mexico

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Arrest Man Wanted In 2011 Gang Related Homicide

Arrested Jesus Canales (23) – Charge Homicide

On Friday, July 22, 2011, a gang-related shooting occurred at the 300 block of East Washington Ave. The victim, a male juvenile, died as a result. During the investigation SAPD Homicide Detectives identified Jesus Canales, 18-years old at the time of the shooting, as one of the suspects. A warrant was issued for his arrest. Continue reading→

L.A. felon charged with pimping and filming the sexual assault of a 15-year old girl

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

December 7, 2016

Case # 16WF1916

LOS ANGELES FELON CHARGED WITH HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND PIMPING FOUR VICTIMS INCLUDING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND FILMING SEXUAL ASSAULT OF 15-YEAR-OLD VICTIM

WESTMINSTER, Calif. – A Los Angeles felon is facing additional charges for human trafficking and pimping four victims, including a 13-year-old girl, and filming the sexual assault of a 15-year-old victim. James Dennis Lyle, 29, Walnut, was charged on Aug. 25, 2016, with one felony count each of human trafficking of a minor, human trafficking, oral copulation of a minor under 16, sodomy of a person under the age of 16, unlawful sexual intercourse, pimping a minor, pandering a minor under 16 by procuring, pimping, and pandering, with a sentencing enhancement for human trafficking by force or fear. Lyle was additionally charged today with one felony count each of human trafficking a minor, pimping a minor, pandering a minor under 16 by procuring, pimping, pandering, assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, and possession and control of child pornography, with a sentencing enhancement for a prior strike conviction for second degree burglary in Los Angeles in 2012. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 56 years and four months in state prison. He is being held on $2 million bail and is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on Feb. 9, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster.

Circumstances of the Case Continue reading→

Long Beach man charged with stabbing a man to death in Santa Ana

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Logan James Cunningham, a 27-year-old Long Beach man was charged Tuesday in the stabbing death of a man outside a Circle K store in Santa Ana in August, according to the O.C. Register.

Cunningham is also facing a count of murder with an enhancement for using a deadly weapon in connection.  Continue reading→

Thorpe Fundamental School is on lockdown due to police activity

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

Santa Ana School Police Department

Wednesday December 7th, 2016, 10:27 a.m. PST

Advisory: Thorpe Fundamental School on Lockdown due to Police Activity in the area. Police Officers on scene. Students Safe.

Update: The lockdown has been lifted as of 10:33 a.m. The suspect has been arrested by the SAPD.

Police are searching for a suspect in the area of Thorpe Fundamental School. As a precaution only, Thorpe has been placed in a lockdown. Police Officers are on site at the school Students are safe. Continue reading→

Man arrested for masturbating in public in Fountain Valley

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Fountain Valley, homeless Leave a comment

INDECENT EXPOSURE ARREST

On December 4, 2016, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Fountain Valley Police Officers were dispatched to the rear alley of 18533 Brookhurst Street in reference to a subject masturbating in public.

Officers arrived on scene and located William Bowyer (31) from Hemet, who was lying on the ground in a sleeping bag. Bowyer admitted to lewd behavior in public. Continue reading→

No. Cal. man heading to prison for pimping in Orange County and stun gun possession

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

December 6, 2016

Case # 16CF0030

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA STRIKER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN PRISON FOR CONSPIRING TO PIMP WOMAN AND POSSESSING STUN GUN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Northern California man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for conspiring to pimp a woman and illegally possessing a stun gun in his vehicle. Binh Cong Thai, 29, San Jose, pleaded guilty on March 3, 2016, to one felony count of conspiracy to commit pimping and one misdemeanor of unlawful possession of a stun gun with a prior conviction, and admitted to a prior strike conviction for a 2013 armed robbery in Santa Clara County. He was sentenced to five years of formal probation and 12 years in state prison was suspended. Due to a probation violation, Thai will serve 12 years in state prison.

Circumstances of the Case Continue reading→

Santa Ana man arrested in Fountain Valley for alleged car burglaries

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CAR BURGLAR ARRESTED

On November 21, 2016, a vehicle burglary occurred at 17200 Newhope Street in Fountain Valley. During the incident, the vehicle’s right front passenger window was smashed and a purse and wallet was taken. The crime was captured on video surveillance and a license plate was obtained on the suspect vehicle, a green 2011 Scion sedan. Video surveillance also captured the suspect using the victim’s credit cards at various locations in Santa Ana.

On November 26, 2016, a vehicle burglary occurred at an apartment complex located on the 10300 block of Slater Avenue in Fountain Valley. The suspect entered the vehicle by smashing a window and fled after taking music CDs. A security guard, who was working at the location, heard glass breaking and went to investigate. The security guard was able to write down the suspect’s license plate as he drove away. The license plate and vehicle description matched the vehicle used in the first incident. Continue reading→

The SAPD has received a $400K state traffic safety grant

Posted on by Posted in california, Crime, Santa Ana, Traffic Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT FOR SPECIAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CRASH PREVENTION

Santa Ana Police Department has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program of special enforcements and public awareness efforts to prevent traffic related deaths and injuries Santa Ana Police Department will use the funding as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to keep our roadways safe and improve the quality of life through both enforcement and education.

Chief Carlos Rojas said, “This grant award is critical to the on-going efforts in traffic/pedestrian safety in our city. This award compliments our Strategic Plan goals in traffic safety and Santa Ana’s Safe Mobility Plan.” Continue reading→

The SAPD wants to know who shot and critically wounded a man last night

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An unidentified man showed up at the Orange County Coast Medical Center, last night with serious injuries stemming from a gunshot wound to his upper torso. This prompted the medical personnel to call the SAPD, at around 9:10 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.

Unfortunately the people who dropped the injured man off at the medical center took off. Now the SAPD would like to speak to them to find out what happened to the victim. Continue reading→

Santa Ana gangbanger pleads guilty to shooting at SAPD police officers

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Imagine what might happen if you shot at police officers? Oscar Freddie Torres, a 19-year-old Santa Ana gang member, now is facing the consequences for doing just that. He pleaded guilty on Tuesday to grossly negligent discharge of a firearm because he allegedly opened fire on SAPD police officers that were responding to a domestic dispute, according to the O.C. Register.

Torres accepted a deal in return for his guilty plea that dropped attempted murder charges. He also admitted to sentencing enhancement allegations for the personal use of a firearm and criminal street gang activity. Continue reading→

Car theft suspect fled from the Costa Mesa police then escaped in Santa Ana

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Costa Mesa and Santa Ana Police were searching for a man who led officers on a short, high-speed vehicle pursuit early this morning, but got away, according to the O.C. Register.

Costa Mesa police officers tried to pull the suspect over this morning for a vehicle code violation at 2:35 a.m. as he was driving a Honda Accord near the intersection of 17th Street and Newport Boulevard, according to the Costa Mesa police. Continue reading→