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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: ward 1

Two more shootings went down in Santa Ana on Friday

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana 8 Comments

Santa Ana Gang Shooting

A Santa Ana man was shot at but not hit while standing in front of his home Friday evening at around 8 p.m. at the 1300 block of Third Street, in a possible gang-related attack, according to the O.C. Register.

SAPD police officers found video surveillance footage from nearby Herperian and Third streets that showed four men, who were standing on a corner firing the shots.

No one was arrested as the suspects took off.  This incident happened in Santa Ana’s Ward 1, which is represented by Mayor Pro Tem Vince Sarmiento. Continue reading→

Men stabbed and bitten when a fight broke out at a party at a Santa Ana home

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

Santa Ana Stabbing

Apparently a group of men were getting their drunk on in the backyard of a home in the 3200 block of South Olive Street, across the street from Douglas MacArthur Fundamental Intermediate School, on Wednesday, when a fight broke out, according to the O.C. Register.

The SAPD showed up at the scene at around 2:45 pm, and as one might expect, three men ended up with stab wounds, including cuts to their hands and arms.  But there were also bite marks!

The police got help from an O.C. Sheriff’s Department helicopter and chased down a guy who had run off.  He was caught almost a mile from the scene, near the 2900 block of Bradford Place. Continue reading→

Suspected car thief barricaded himself in a home near Madison Park for six hours

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Santa Ana Crime Scene

The SAPD SWAT team took action when a suspected car thief locked himself up in a home near the 1800 block of South Cedar Street, in Santa Ana, today at noon, according to the O.C. Register.

The suspect stayed in the home, which is located just south of Madison Park, until 6 pm when a K-9 police dog was sent into the home.  The suspect was then arrested. Continue reading→

Police seek man who robbed the RA Food Store, in Ward 1

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Santa Ana Police Robbery Detectives request Media and Publics assistance in identifying armed Robbery Suspect

Location: RA Food Store, 2225 South Main Street

Occurred: Monday 02/02/2015 at 10 p.m.

Suspect: Male Hispanic, 28-32 years old, 6ft to 6’-7”, 170 to 180 lbs., medium build with brown hair and eyes, goatee, medium brown complexion. Suspect was wearing a red long sleeve button up shirt, gray beanie, black denim pants, black sneakers and was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun. Continue reading→

Man shot in Santa Ana’s Ward 1 on Sunday

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

Santa Ana Gang Shooting

A man in his 20’s was shot on Sunday, in Santa Ana, at a residential apartment complex located at the 1800 block of Evergreen Street, at 3:24 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.

Police officers were called and when they arrived they found an approximately 25-year-old unconscious man with a gunshot wound to the upper toro, according to the SAPD. Continue reading→

An SAPD police dog helps to capture a suspected car thief in Ward 1

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Police attack dog

A 33-year-old man, identified as Richard Molina, was suspected of driving a stolen 1997 gray, four-door Honda Civic ran when a Santa Ana police officer became suspicious of a parked vehicle at around 7:40 pm, on Thursday night, in a parking lot near South Main Street and East Dyer Road, according to the O.C. Register.

Molina noticed that an SAPD police car was watching him and he attempted to flee, according to officials.  He drove drove a half-mile north on South Main Street where he crashed into a car near West Warner Avenue. Molina then fled on foot. Continue reading→

Another gang shooting in Ward 1, in South Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 11 Comments

South Main Street Sign

Gang shootings are on the rise again in Santa Ana!  The latest shooting occurred today when a gunman approached a group of up to five men outside a business on the 1700 block of South Main Street at around 1 am before opening fire, Santa Ana Police Department said, according to NBC News.

Officials said a light-colored compact car drove up to the group and a man got out of the passenger side to ask the men about their gang affiliation.  He then pulled out a shotgun and fired a single round, which injured three of the men and damaged the business behind them, police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Councilman Sarmiento’s calendar shows that he keeps a very full schedule

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Council Member Vincent Sarmiento

We have been looking this week at the publicly posted official calendars of our City Council Members, for the month of June, 2013.  So far we have determined that Council Members David Benavides and Angie Amezcua are barely present in their own Wards, while Council Member Michele Martinez is staying pretty active in her own Ward.  And we were disappointed by Mayor Pro Tem Sal Tinajero, who was only active on ten days in June, and by Roman Reyna, who was totally absent from his Ward in June.  Now we turn to the calendar of Council Member Vincent Sarmiento, who represents Ward 1.

  • On June 1, Sarmiento was at the SA Health & Fitness Fair, at Rosita Park, which lies on the boarder of Wards 3 and 5.
  • On June 3, he was at the Triada Court at The Station District Grand Opening, in Ward 2. Continue reading→

Labor unions are supporting Santa Ana Council Member Vincent Sarmiento

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Labor, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2012

CONTACT: Karia Salazar, PHONE: (714) 623-7185, EMAIL: salazar_karia@yahoo.com

Working Families Line Up in Support of Councilman Vincent Sarmiento for Re-election in Santa Ana City Council

Santa Ana, California – Councilman Vincent Sarmiento receives the backing of working families for his re-election to represent Santa Ana’s Ward -1.

“We are proud to endorse Councilman Sarmiento for re-election. Councilman Sarmiento has a proven record of delivering for working families in Santa Ana . We look forward to working with him to build a smart, transparent and vibrant city,” said Tefere Gebre, Executive Director of Orange County Labor Federation. Continue reading→

Sarmiento appears to regret backing Benavides, as he runs for re-election

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Estela Amezcua, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 8 Comments

I am hearing that Santa Ana Council Member Vince Sarmiento appears to be having buyer’s regret when it comes to upstart Santa Ana mayoral candidate David Benavides.  Apparently Sarmiento has told others that while he has endorsed Benavides he is not actively campaigning for him.  But the damage is done – endorsing the clueless, bumbling Benavides is simply inexcusable.

Sarmiento is running for re-election this year, in Santa Ana’s Ward 1, against Estela Amezcua, a Santa Ana educator.  She is not related to Al Amezcua, the failed Santa Ana mayoral candidat who, like Sarmiento, is also backing Benavides. Continue reading→

Council Member Sarmiento endorsed by the Democratic Party of Orange County

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Democratic Party, Elections, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 6 Comments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 13, 2012

CONTACT: Karia Salazar, PHONE: (714) 623-7185, EMAIL: salazar_karia@yahoo.com

The Democratic Party of Orange County Endorses Councilman Vincent Sarmiento to Represent Santa Ana City Council – Ward 1

Santa Ana, California – Vincent Sarmiento has received the endorsement from the Democratic Party of Orange County for Santa Ana City Council’s Ward -1 seat. Continue reading→

Updated: Estela and Angelica Amezcua to run for Wards 1 and 3

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Alfredo Amezcua, Angelica Amezcua, Brett Franklin, Carlos Bustamante, Elections, Eric Alderete, Estela Amezcua, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 9 Comments

Estela and Angelica Amezcua pulled papers today to run for the Santa Ana City Council, in Wards 1 and 3.  It initially appeared that they were running for each other’s wards, based on addresses I found online, however the Santa Ana City Clerk emailed me today to advise that someone on her staff had inadvertently transposed their names on the candidate status report that was posted yesterday.  That report has since been corrected.

Angelica is running for the Ward 3 seat that is currently held by and Estela is running for Ward 1.   Angelica is challenging disgraced Council Member Carlos Bustamante, who is facing serious sex crime and public theft charges, and Estela is running for the ward represented by Council Member Vince Sarmiento.   Continue reading→

Vincent Sarmiento to run for the 69th Assembly District

Posted on by Posted in 2012 Elections, Carlos Bustamante, Civic Affairs, Claudia Alvarez, David Benavides, Democratic Party, Elections, Jose Solorio, Michele Martinez, Miguel Pulido, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 2 Comments

State Assemblyman Jose Solorio (D-69) has reportedly convinced Santa Ana City Councilman Vincent Sarmiento to run for the 69th Assembly District in 2012, when Solorio will term out.

Sarmiento was appointed to the Santa Ana City Council when Solorio resigned to go to Sacramento.  Now, I am told, Sarmiento will return the favor, as the Santa Ana City Council will appoint Solorio to replace Sarmiento, in Ward 1.

I am told Solorio will have a tough time getting four votes from the current Santa Ana City Council  – he can rely on David Benavides, Carlos Bustamante and Mayor Miguel Pulido, but Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez is no fan of his, nor is Council Member Sal Tinajero.  Council Member Michele Martinez will be the all-important swing vote.

Julio Perez, the political director of the OC Labor Federation, was considering running for the 69th, according to various sources, but that is now unlikely.  Sarmiento should be able to raise a lot of money, with Solorio’s support.

The 69th is a predominantly Democratic district.  That may change via redistricting but until that happens, Sarmiento will be the presumptive victor, should he win in the Democratic Party’s primary, as the OC GOP has not been able to challenge for the seat since the days of former Assemblyman Jim Morrissey, who infamously hired a Democrat to run his campaigns.