New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: sapd

Santa Ana man sentenced for sexually assaulting little girls

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Orange County, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Roberto Jacobo Reyes

Orange County District Attorney Press Release
For Immediate Release: January 25, 2013
Contacts: Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718;
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486

MAN SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS TO LIFE IN PRISON FOR TOUCHING SLEEPING FEMALES IN FIVE HOME BURGLARIES, INCLUDING SEXUALLY ASSAULTING AN 11 AND 13 YEAR OLD GIRL

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to 30 years to life in state prison for breaking into five Orange County homes and touching female victims who were sleeping inside, including sexually assaulting an 11 and 13 year old girl. Roberto Jacobo Reyes, 50, Santa Ana, was found guilty by a jury Nov. 15, 2012, of one felony count of forcible lewd act on a child under 14, two felony counts of lewd act upon child under 14, and three felony counts of first degree residential burglary with sentencing enhancement allegations for committing lewd acts in the commission of residential burglaries, committing lewd acts on multiple victims, and for having a non-accomplice present during a residential burglary, and a sentencing enhancement for a 2003 prior strike for residential burglary. Continue reading→

SAPD seeks help from the public in identifying a sexual predator

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

santa ana sexual predator suspect

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Police seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a sexual predator, wanted for questioning in an attempt rape.

The Santa Ana Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a sexual predator, wanted for questioning in an attempt rape. Please direct the public to call Sex Crimes Detectives at (714) 245-8378 if they witnessed the crime or can provide information about the suspect. Continue reading→

SAPD to conduct DUI checkpoint on 1/26, at 1500 E. McFadden

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Santa Ana 1 Comment

SAPD DUI Checkpoint

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Saturday, January 26th, 2013. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1500 E. McFadden Avenue, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Police identify homicide victim

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Jaime Mejia Zaragoza

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Santa Ana Police Identify Homicide Victim

Victim Name: Jaime Mejia Zaragoza, Resident of Santa Ana
Age: 38

Details: On 1/20/13 at 8:57 pm officers were dispatched to the parking lot of 718 E. First Street for a report of a man down, covered in blood. Upon arrival, officers found a male adult lying in the parking lot, unconscious and not breathing. Paramedics pronounced the male deceased at the scene. The male had been stabbed in the upper body. Continue reading→

SAPD Alert – Attempted kidnapping today near Newhope Elementary

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SAPD Advisory: COMMUNITY ALERT ATTEMPTED KIDNAPPING

Occured 01-14-2013 Location 4500 W. Kent

Suspect vehicle information:

2000-2007, Unknown make/model, minivan, gold in color, with dirty rims, possible lower wooden trim and rust marks, sliding side door, similar body style of a Toyota Sienna. Continue reading→

SAPD shooting of Binh Van Nguyen leads to a $10 million dollar lawsuit

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civil Rights, Crime, Drugs, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Vietnamese, Westminster 8 Comments

The shooting of Binh Van Nguyen by SAPD police officers has blown up and led to a $10 million dollar lawsuit by the widow of the victim. Here are the latest news articles about this emerging story:

Click here to read the O.C. Register’s article about the shooting of Binh Van Nguyen, 39, of Westminster, when he drove a car towards SAPD officers, after he was observed in the backseat of that car for hours, according to witnesses.
Click here to read about the reaction of the family of Van Nguyen, as reported by the O.C. Register.
Click here to read about what happened at the SAPD Town Hall meeting about the death of Van Nguyen.
Click here to read about the family’s side of the story – they dispute the facts as presented by the SAPD.
Click here to read about the $10 million dollar lawsuit filed by the wife of Van Nguyen.
Click here to read about the huge turnout at Van Nguyen’s funeral. Continue reading→

SAPD arrests suspect in hit and run manslaughter case

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana 17 Comments

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Santa Ana Police make arrest in Vehicular Manslaughter case from 1-10-2013

On 01-10-13 at 6:38 AM, officers responded to a report of a male pedestrian (Miguel Chavez Ceja, 75 years old) lying in the roadway in the area of Orange Avenue and Stanford Street. The officers located an adult male pedestrian who had been struck by an unknown vehicle, which fled the scene. Paramedics responded to find the pedestrian had succumbed to his injuries at the scene.

Further investigation based on the roadway evidence at the scene, revealed that a dark blue, early model BMW 740iL may have been the vehicle involved. This information was passed on to the local media for distribution. Continue reading→

SAPD DUI checkpoint set for Jan. 11, at 400 S. Fairview St.

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Alcohol, Bars, Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: Police conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on January 11th, 7:30PM to 1:30AM, in the area of 400 S. Fairview Street

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI/Drivers License checkpoint on Friday, January 11th, 2013. It will begin at 7:30PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 400 S. Fairview Street, in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Santa Ana podiatrist to be arraigned for having over 1,000 child porn pics

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Courts, Crime, Lawyers, Orange County, Photography, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: January 9, 2013

County DA Office: PODIATRIST TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR POSSESSING OVER 1,000 CHILD PORNOGRAPHY IMAGES ON OFFICE COMPUTER, Case # 12CF3546

SANTA ANA – A podiatrist is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for possessing over 1,000 images of child pornography on his office computer. Pete Thomas, 58, Long Beach, is charged with one felony count of possession and control of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years in state prison and mandatory lifetime sex offender registration. Thomas is out of custody on $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow, Jan. 10, 2013, at 8:30 a.m. in Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Shocking video – Santa Ana school police caught red-handed

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Civil Rights, Crime, Latinos, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD 17 Comments

A brave young man named Ángel Juárez, of CopWatch Santa Ana, showed up near a Santa Ana school on Dec. 18, with a video camera after reports had come his way that a local Santa Ana school policeman was harassing young Latinos. Sure enough the police officer pulled over a car and the cameraman began filming the action.

The police officer quickly called in backup and it got ugly. The other police officers kept asking why the young man was in front of a school with a camera when it was pretty obvious he was there to catch a harassing cop in action.

There were five cops at the scene before long and they were all very intimidating as you will see in the video above. The cameraman and his friends were ultimately detained for “suspicious activity” and searched, over their objections. Continue reading→

Santa Ana Police Assoc. hosting two free business security meetings this month

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Art Pedroza Posted in Business, Crime, Entertainment, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department’s Homeland Security Division will host an informational meeting for area businesses to obtain additional information about the BERT program from graduates of the advanced training program. The meeting will be held at Centennial Police Joint Training Facility, 3000 W. Edinger on Thursday, January 10, 2013, from 8:15 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. Please RSVP right away and/or refer any questions to Executive Director Bill Cunningham at (714) 972-0200 or bert@sapdf.org. Click here to read more about this event.

The Santa Ana Police Foundation is also hosting an Active Shooter Response Seminar, along with numerous Santa Ana community business organizations, on January 15, 2013 from 9:00 am-10:30 am. Continue reading→

The SAPD bringing Christmas to family victimized by hit and run driver

Posted on December 20, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Charities, Civic Affairs, Crime, Entertainment, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Community Alert:

The City of Santa Ana Wishing a local family a Merry Christmas

The Santa Ana Public safety community who were all affected by the tragic events of June 23, 2012 that struck a local family have all come together to provide a special child and her family a Christmas celebration. Please join us today December 20, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. in front of the Police Department and in the SAPD Community room.

Details: On June 23RD at 1100 am a mother (Eloisa Magana) and her two daughters ( Osmara Meza, 5) and (Grecia Meza 7 ) crossing 17th Street from north to south in the marked crosswalk when a vehicle traveling west on 17th Street ran a red light at Spurgeon Street and struck the three pedestrians in a marked crosswalk. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s School Police flew to CT to support the police and community

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Education, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD 3 Comments

Santa Ana School Police Personnel have traveled to Connecticut as part of a State of Connecticut approved police delegation, along with police personnel from the LAUSD PD and LAPD for a two-fold mission: Support local law enforcement and the immediate community of Sandy Hook Elementary, according to the Santa Ana School Police Facebook page.

The Santa Ana School Police hope to obtain timely information for lessons learned from this tragedy, to provide their specialty school policing community amid the larger context of west coast law enforcement vital intelligence. Continue reading→

City Council and the SAUSD to host event to remember CT victims today at 3 pm

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Civic Affairs, Education, Entertainment, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAUSD 2 Comments

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County Community Alert:

SANTA ANA CITY COUNCIL AND SANTA ANA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT GATHER IN REMEMBERANCE OF THE VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF NEWTOWN, CONN.

SANTA ANA, CA (December 17, 2012) – Please join the Santa Ana City Council and the Santa Ana Unified School District as they gather in memory of the victims and the families of the recent school shooting that occurred at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut this past Friday. The event will include a prayer, a moment of silence, and a discussion on the preventative measures that are in place to protect our schoolchildren. Officials representing the Santa Ana Unified School District and the City of Santa Ana will lead the discussion. Continue reading→

The SAPD receives a $177K grant to improve traffic safety

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Art Pedroza Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department Advisory: SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES GRANT FOR SPECIAL TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT AND CRASH PREVENTION

The Santa Ana Police Department has been awarded a $177,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for a year-long program aimed at preventing deaths and injuries on our roadways through special enforcement and public awareness efforts. The grant received by Santa Ana will aid in the city’s ongoing effort to improve traffic safety and the quality of life. Santa Ana Police Department will use the funding as part of an on-going commitment to keep our roadways safe through both enforcement and education. Continue reading→