Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Crime

O.C. Sheriff Hutchens to speak at the West Floral Park Neighborhood Assn. on 8/10

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Neighborhood Associations, Orange County, Sandra Hutchens, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens will be speaking at the West Floral Park Neighborhood Association on August 10, 2016, at 7 p.m., at Santiago Elementary School, in Room 51, which is behind the main office. Santiago Elementary is located at 2212 N. Baker St., in Santa Ana.

One question that might be posed to Sheriff Hutchens is whether or not her agency may take over security at the Plaza of the Flags, in the wake of the shooting of an unarmed homeless man by an SAPD police officer. Continue reading→

Man who stole a car from a Santa Ana tow yard a suspect in a fatal hit and run accident

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) is seeking the public’s assistance to identify a person of interest in a fatal motorcycle vs. vehicle accident yesterday in Modjeska Canyon.

The person driving the vehicle in the accident left the scene before deputies arrived. Continue reading→

Gangbanger convicted of killing a man on South Main St. then fleeing to Mexico

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 13CF1954

Date: August 2, 2016

MAN CONVICTED OF STABBING-MURDER OF ACQUAINTENCE AFTER CHASING AND STALKING HIM BEFORE FLEEING TO MEXICO

FULLERTON, Calif. – A man was convicted today of stabbing and murdering an acquaintance after chasing and stalking him before fleeing to Mexico. Mario Alberto Rodriguez, 26, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury of one felony count of murder with a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a knife. Rodriguez’s prior serious felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance for sale for the benefit of a criminal street gang in 2012 in Orange County was found true. Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of 36 years to life in state prison at his sentencing on Oct. 7, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department N-11, North Justice Center, Fullerton.

On March 9, 2013, Rodriguez saw 26-year-old acquaintance Paul Anthony Garcia in front of the defendant’s family’s home in Santa Ana, and chased him on foot. Rodriguez and two associates followed Garcia for a few blocks until he entered the El Chile Picante restaurant on South Main Street. Continue reading→

Santa Ana mosque volunteer faces new charges for molesting a 7-year-old girl

Posted on by Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 15CF0405

Date: August 2, 2016

FORMER MOSQUE VOLUNTEER FACES NEW CHARGES FOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTING 7-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO CAME FORWARD AFTER MEDIA COVERAGE OF PRIOR INCIDENTS

*The defendant also faces additional charges for sexually assaulting two victims listed in the original complaint

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former mosque volunteer is scheduled to be arraigned today on additional charges for sexually assaulting a 7-year-old girl who came forward after seeing media coverage of prior sexual assaults. Ahmad Henry Osman, 54, Tustin, is charged with seven felony counts of performing lewd acts upon a child under the age of 14 and one felony count of oral copulation with a child 10 years or younger, with a sentencing enhancement allegation for multiple victims. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 105 years to life in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. He is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned this morning, Aug. 2, 2016, in Department C-5, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

Osman is accused of violating his position of trust as a volunteer at the Indo Chinese Islamic Center (IIC) in Santa Ana. At the time of the crimes, the defendant taught classes at IIC and befriended the victims and their family members. Continue reading→

Is the under-reporting of crime in Santa Ana an election year tactic?

Posted on by Posted in 2016 Elections, Angelica Amezcua, Carlos Rojas, Crime, Mike Harrah, Public Safety, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

Over the last few days two major crimes occurred in Santa Ana that were not reported by the media. In one case a man stole a car in Anaheim and led police on a pursuit that ended when he crashed into Santa Ana’s Walmart. And in another a security guard at Original Mike’s was shot.

While it is true that the O.C. Register is hurting and probably not well-staffed one has to wonder if the under-reporting of crime in Santa Ana is an election year tactic. Continue reading→

Why wasn’t the shooting of a security guard at Original Mike’s last night reported?

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Mike Harrah, Restaurants, Santa Ana 14 Comments

A security guard was shot at Original Mike’s last night, according to Derek J. Bordeaus’ Facebook page. Apparently the security guard was injured but is still alive.

For some reason the O.C. Register has not published an article about the shooting. Could it be that their new landlord, developer Mike Harrah, who founded Original Mike’s, put the kibosh on any reporting about this latest criminal incident at Original Mike’s? Continue reading→

Stolen car pursuit started in Anaheim and ended with a crash into Santa Ana’s Wal Mart

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

Apparently somebody stole a BMW drove it into the front of the entrance to Santa Ana’s Walmart and then fled from his car on foot and hid inside the store last night.

The police ordered everyone to stay put and to not move so they could do a search in the store. There had to have been at least 30 policemen with dogs and tasers, according to a Facebook poster named David Vargas. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man charged with kidnapping a little boy in order to molest him

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case # 16CF1970

Date: July 29, 2016

MAN CHARGED WITH KIDNAPPING 4-YEAR-OLD BOY FOLLOWING ARREST AFTER GOOD SAMARITANS HELP SAPD LOCATE MISSING BOY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged today with kidnapping a 4-year-old boy who was reported missing and found after Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) located the victim thanks to the assistance of Good Samaritans. Armando Torreblanca Nunez, 28, Santa Ana, is charged with one felony count of kidnapping to commit a sexual offense. If convicted, Nunez faces a maximum sentence of seven years to life in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to be arraigned sometime today, July 29, 2016, in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The SAPD is investigating a fatal DUI accident that occurred this morning on Bristol St.

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: TRAFFIC INVESTIGATORS ARREST DRIVER IN FATAL COLLISION FOR VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER AND DUI-GREAT BODILY INJURY/DEATH

Arrested: Ryan Anthony Morris (26), Santa Ana

Booking Charges: Vehicular Manslaughter and DUI Causing Great Bodily Injury and or Death.

Deceased/Victim: Shane Spear (23), Santa Ana

On 07/29/2016 at approximately 8:37 AM, officers responded to a report of a solo vehicle collision at Bristol St. and MacArthur Blvd. Several calling parties indicated the vehicle collided with a pole, overturned and there were passengers trapped inside the vehicle. Continue reading→

Suspect arrested after he took a 4-year-old boy from Jerome Park in order to molest him

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Law Enforcement Works with Concerned Citizens to Stop a Sexual Predator and Save a Child Victim

On July 27, 2016, the 4-year-old victim and several family members were celebrating a birthday at Jerome Park in Santa Ana. At about 8:15 PM, the 4-year-old playing on the playground with other children. A few minutes later, the child’s mother lost sight of her son and began searching for him. After failing to locate her son, the child’s mother called the Santa Ana Police Department, who immediately responded to the area to continue the search.

Santa Ana Police Officers utilized the OCSD Air Support Unit helicopter to broadcast the description of the lost 4-year-old child to the nearby community. Two concerned citizens saw a child matching the description of the lost child in a nearby market. The child was being accompanied by Armando Torreblanca Núñez, 28, of Santa Ana. The citizens confronted Nunez, who released the child and tried to flee the scene. The citizens detained Nunez and called police officers who responded to the scene immediately. The child was unharmed and returned to the mother. Continue reading→

A possible pellet gun attack took place on the 22 Fwy. on Wednesday night

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Public Safety Leave a comment

An unknown suspect fired a projectile at a Honda vehicle as it was being driven on the westbound 22 Freeway, near the Harbor Blvd. off-ramp, just before midnight on Wednesday, according to the O.C. Register.

The projectile caused minor injuries to the Honda’s female driver and a male passenger when it shattered the driver’s side window, according to the CHP. Continue reading→

Parole agent arrested for allegedly embezzling state funds in exchange for narcotics

Posted on by Posted in california, Crime, Drugs, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case #16CF1898

Date: July 28, 2016

PAROLE AGENT ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF EXCHANGING EMBEZZLED CDCR FUNDS FOR PAROLEE’S PRESCRIPTION NARCOTICS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A parole agent was arrested yesterday on charges of exchanging embezzled California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) funds for narcotics prescribed to a parolee. Scott Patric Keblis, 49, Chino, is charged with one felony count of embezzlement by a public employee and one misdemeanor count of possession of a controlled substance. If convicted on all counts, Keblis faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and one year in county jail, and would be ineligible to ever hold any office of honor, trust, or profit in California. Keblis was released from custody today after posting $20,000 bond. The defendant’s court date is to be determined. Continue reading→

The Santa Ana Police will host the 2016 National Night Out on 8/2

Posted on by Posted in Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Youth Activities Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana Police Department National Night Out – Tuesday, August 2, 2016.

***SAVE THE DATE*** ‪Santa Ana Police Department ‪National Night Out is coming soon! Join us for our 10th Annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2nd at Garfield Elementary School (850 E. Brown Street) from 4PM – 7PM. Continue reading→

Third striker charged with robbing five stores in Fountain Valley

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley Leave a comment

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PRESS RELEASE

Case #16WF1578

Date: July 25, 2016

STRIKER ARRAIGNED FOR ROBBERY OF FIVE FOUNTAIN VALLEY STORES BY THREATENING CASHIERS WITH FIREARM

WESTMINSTER, Calif. – A striker was arraigned Friday, July 22, 2016, for the robbery of five Fountain Valley grocery and drug stores by threatening cashiers with a firearm. John Allen Wagner, 48, Westminster, is charged with five counts of second degree robbery. Wagner faces sentencing enhancement allegations for two prior strike convictions for residential burglary in 1987 and federal bank robbery in 1991, both in Orange County. If convicted, Wagner faces a maximum sentence of 175 years to life in state prison. The defendant is being held on $1 million bail and must prove the money is from a legal and legitimate source before posting bond. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing on August 1, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. in Department W-2, West Justice Center, Westminster. Continue reading→

Santa Ana woman gets four years in prison for DUI accident that killed a man

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, OCDA, Orange, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Rebecca Munoz, a 23-year-old Santa Ana woman, pleaded guilty Friday and was sentenced to four years in prison for gross vehicular manslaughter in a drunken driving crash that killed a man in Orange last year, according to the O.C. Register.

Munoz was driving her 2014 BMW 320i south on the Orange (57) Freeway at about 80 mph early in the morning on March 14, 2015,  when she made an unsafe lane change and hit the left rear of a 2002 Jeep Liberty, according to the OCDA. Continue reading→