New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: Gangs

Judge approves Santa Ana’s second gang injunction

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 3 Comments

Santa Ana Gangs

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 8, 2014

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: JUDGE ENJOINS 13TH ORANGE COUNTY VIOLENT STREET GANG FROM TERRORIZING NEIGHBORHOOD IN SANTA ANA

*This is the second gang injunction in the City of Santa Ana

SANTA ANA – A violent Santa Ana criminal street gang have been preliminarily enjoined from terrorizing the community and acting as a public nuisance, marking the 13th injunction to be brought against Orange County gangs and the second in the City of Santa Ana. This injunction is in response to decades of violent crime by this gang and numerous residents pleading with law enforcement to eliminate the gang presence so that they no longer have to live in fear.

Deputy District Attorney Susan Eckermann prepared the injunction on behalf of the Gang Unit of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Continue reading→

Two gang members arrested for attempted murder by the SAPD

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Homicide and Gang Detectives arrest two Gang Members for Attempt Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder Arrested:

• Joel Aguilar (26), Santa Ana
• Alberto Santana (22) Santa Ana

Charges: Attempt Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder

Summary: On Wednesday, 7/23/14 at 1130 PM Officers responded to a shooting call in the 1900 block of West Myrtle Street and found a 19 year old male who had been shot four times in the upper torso. The Victim is an identified gang member who was uncooperative and told officers he was shot as he was walking westbound on the north sidewalk of 1900 block of West Myrtle Street. The victim was transported to UCI Medical Center where he was treated for his injuries.

SAPD Homicide detectives were assigned the case. Based on information obtained during their investigations detectives identified two suspects, both identified gang members believed to be involved in the 7/23/14 shooting. Detectives secured search warrants for two separate residences in the 800 block of South Townsend Street. Continue reading→

OCDA and SAPD to talk about their latest gang injunction today

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Carlos Rojas, Crime, Entertainment, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: (07/29/2014) Morning press conference on the OCDA’s lawsuit against a dangerous, criminal, turf-oriented street gang.

Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas and Santa Ana Police Department Chief Carlos Rojas will hold a press conference today immediately following the 9:30 a.m. hearing in Department C-14. Continue reading→

Does shooting of a 20-year old man mean the West Myrtle Street Gang is active again?

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 6 Comments

Police are investigating a Tuesday night shooting that left a 20-year-old man injured on the sidewalk at the 1900 block of West Myrtle Street, as reported by the O.C. Register. The victim was shot multiple times in the upper torso.

Eleven members of the West Myrtle Street Gang, who are active in that area, convicted after a two-year investigation by Santa Ana police and federal agents, under Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) charges, in May of 2007, according to the Los Angeles Times. That was the first time that the RICO Act was used to bust local gang bangers. Continue reading→

Three Anaheim men charged facing gang-related felony charges

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Gangs, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

Orange County District Attorney Media Advisory

For Immediate Release: July 15, 2014

MEDIA ADVISORY: Case # 14NF2935

WHO: Jose Luis Segura, 20, Bryan Alexander Segura, 18, Eriberto Lua, 21, all from Anaheim

WHAT: Were each charged today with one felony count of carrying a loaded unregistered firearm in public, being an active gang member having a concealed firearm, causing a concealed firearm to be in vehicle, street terrorism, and a sentencing enhancement for criminal street gang activity. Jose Segura is also charged with one felony count of resisting and deterring an executive officer and Lua is also charged with a sentencing enhancement for crime-bail-crime. If convicted, Jose Segura and Bryan Segura each face a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison. Lua faces a maximum sentence of nine years in state prison. Continue reading→

The OCDA imposes a new Santa Ana gang injunction without public comment

Posted on June 23, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Photo by Santa Ana CopWatch

The Orange County District Attorney’s office (OCDA) filed for a preliminary gang injunction on Santa Ana’s Townsend Neighborhood earlier this month and Santa Ana police served notices to those named in it just last week, according to the OC Weekly.

However Santa Ana Police Department Police Chief Carlos Rojas had promised at a meeting of the Santa Ana City Council’s Public Safety Committee that he would discuss any proposed gang injunctions with the affected community before taking any action. He clearly lied.

The boundaries of the new gang injunction’s “safety zone” are: West First Street, South Raitt Street, West McFadden Avenue and South Sullivan Street. Continue reading→

Surprising drive by shooting, on Fairhaven, in front of Lake Park Mobile Homes

Posted on June 22, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

XXXXX XXXX, from the Young Square Neighborhood, took her dog out for a run on Saturday night, June 21, 2014, when she noticed that there was a male and female Hispanic couple in front of her. Little did XXXX know that the couple was soon going to come under fire in what turned out to be a horrifying drive-by shooting in normally tranquil north Santa Ana.

The man was walking his bicycle while his female companion walked next to him. XXXX was behind them, in front of the Lake Park Mobile Homes, closer to Linwood. They were about 50 feet ahead of her, heading toward Cambridge. All of a sudden a medium-sized dark car with several people in it approached from the other direction (westbound on Fairhaven). When the people in the car saw the couple they slowed down and made a U-Turn to pull up next to them and slowed way down. The guy with the bike raised his hand like he knew them and in response they immediately opened fire with what XXXX thought was a 9mm handgun. They shot off 5 rounds before their car pulled away. Continue reading→

Teen shot in broad daylight at 17th and King Street

Posted on June 21, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Witnesses told police that four males, who appeared to be in their teens, robbed and shot a 17-year old boy near 17th and King streets at about 11 a.m., said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna of the Santa Ana Police Department, according to the O.C. Register.

This is outrageous! That is a busy thoroughfare in north Santa Ana, right by the local U.S. Post Office and a convenience store. Alona Park, which includes a Pony Baseball League field, is just a few blocks north of this area. Continue reading→

SAPD arrests ten in operation targeting gangs

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Officers targeted more than a dozen people who police say are affiliated with gangs in a Friday morning sweep, the latest operation in an ongoing effort to combat a recent increase in gang shootings and homicides, according to the OC Register.

The sweep resulted in ten arrests and the cops found 11 grams of methamphetamine and a little less than a gram of heroin.

Crime has shot up since the Santa Ana City Council got rid of the SAPD’s STrike Force, with 42 gang-related shootings reported through late May, compared with 25 the previous year. The city has already had seven homicides that police say were gang-related homicides in 2014, two more than in all of last year. Continue reading→

Drive by shooting in the Park Santiago Neighborhood?

Posted on June 5, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana 9 Comments

Graphic courtesy of CrimeMapping.com

Crime is rising even as scores of yuppies are moving into Santa Ana’s Park Santiago Neighborhood. It has been a rude awakening for those who were expecting a vibrant city, not one awash in criminal activity.

This struck particularly close to home on June 4, at 7:19 pm, when there was allegedly a drive by shooting at the 900 block of E. 19th St, according to CrimeMapping and a commenter on the Park Santiago Nextdoor website. Continue reading→

Another man is killed in a gang shooting on South Halladay

Posted on June 1, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 2 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Homicide Detectives investigating shooting related death 300 Blk South Halladay

On 05-31-14, at approximately 2224 hours, an officer was in the area of 600 E. Pine and heard gunshots. The officer observed several males running in the area. One of the males sustained a gunshot wound to the upper torso and collapsed in front of him. OCFA Paramedics responded and pronounced the male deceased.

Homicide detectives were called to the scene. A preliminary investigation revealed that someone in a vehicle fired at the victim and his companions in the area of 300 S. Halladay. The suspect vehicle fled the area and has not been located. Continue reading→

Another drive by shooting results in the arrest of two gang members

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Two gang members were arrested Friday after reports of someone in an SUV firing gunshots at a passer-by in a Santa Ana neighborhood, police said, according to the OC Register.

Officers shortly after 9:30 a.m. responded to reports of a passenger in an SUV firing a handgun at a pedestrian or pedestrians near Daisy Avenue and Myrtle Street, Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said. He also said police were unable to locate any victims. Continue reading→

Santa Ana resident Leonicio Banuelos killed in drive by shooting this morning

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 11 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Homicide Detectives investigating shooting death 200 block South Newhope

Details: On 5-18-14 at approximately 0235 a.m. officers responded to the 300 block of south Newhope regarding a shooting victim. Upon arrival, they located the victim a 22 year old male who had been shot in the upper torso. He has been identified as 22-year-old Leonicio Banuelos.

Orange County Fire Authority and paramedics responded to the scene and transported the victim to UCI Medical where he later died from his injuries. Continue reading→

Mother’s Day weekend started with a gang shooting and a DUI crash into a cop car

Posted on May 11, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Brother of Santa Ana shooting victim

Santa Ana residents rang in Mother’s Day weekend with a gang-related shooting in front of a house and a DUI crash into an SAPD cop car.

Santa Ana police Cmdr. Jason Viramontes said the shooting happened in the 4700 block of West Oakfield Avenue about 11:45 a.m. after a man driving a gray, newer model pickup truck drove past three men standing in front of a home. After some looks were exchanged, the truck made a u-turn and pulled up in front of the house, he said. The driver asked the men where they were from and fired eight to nine shots with a handgun, hitting two of them several times in their lower bodies before speeding off, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Victim of shooting on South Standard played football at Godinez High School

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Football, Santa Ana, SAUSD 14 Comments

The victim of the shooting death in the 1400 block of South Standard on January 24, 2014 has been identified as Jeffrey “Jay Jay” Enriquez (18) of Santa Ana, a former football player at Godinez Fundamental High School. He leaves behind his mom, Maria, and seven brothers and sisters.

On 1-24-14, at approximately 1:10 AM, Santa Ana patrol officers responded to a report of a person who was observed lying on the ground in the 1400 block South Standard Street. Upon their arrival, officers found a male adult who was shot and in need of medical assistance. The Orange County Fire Authority and paramedics responded to the scene and pronounced the subject, who was later identified as Enriquez, deceased, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→