Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Editor

The Santa Ana City Council opts to shut non-union contractors out of bidding on large public works projects

Posted on by Posted in Labor, public works, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Santa Ana City Council has approved Orange County’s first citywide project labor agreement, establishing local hire requirements for construction projects funded by Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.

This is a completely ridiculous action by our City Council – they have essentially decided to prevent non union contractors from bidding on city multi-trade construction contracts exceeding $250,000 and specialty contracts over $100,000 limited to a single trade or scope of work. Continue reading→

OCDA investigator honored for helping to keep kids out of gangs

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 14, 2017

OCDA INVESTIGATOR KEVIN RUIZ RECEIVES “GOLDEN RULE AWARD” FOR BEING A NON-PROFIT LEADER AND KEEPING YOUTH OUT OF GANGS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Investigator Kevin Ruiz of the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) was honored with the “Golden Rule Award” for his extensive work as a non-profit leader with Orange County Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership (OC GRIP). The award was presented at Kiwanis’ 19th Annual Strike Gold for Kids Gala on Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in Tustin.

Each year, The Kiwanis Club of Santa Ana, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth through service projects, holds a gala to raise proceeds towards helping children in the community. OCDA Investigator Ruiz was recognized for leading the way in enhancing the education and safety of children, young adults, and families through his work with OC GRIP. Continue reading→

Man convicted of pimping and pandering a 13-year old girl in Santa Ana

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 16CF1494

MAN CONVICTED OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING, PIMPING, AND PANDERING 13-YEAR-OLD GIRL IN ORANGE COUNTY

*Victim in this case is the youngest filed victim since the HEAT Unit’s establishment in 2013

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted today of human trafficking, pimping, and pandering a 13-year-old girl in Orange County.

Defendant: John Wayne Calhoun, 31, San Bernardino

Charges: Continue reading→

The SAPD is targeting drug problems at the California Lodge Motel

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

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: City of Santa Ana Cracks Down on Illegal Activities at California Lodge Motel

SANTA ANA, Calif. — On Tuesday, August 15, 2017, the Santa Ana City Council authorized the City Attorney’s Office to initiate an action under the Drug Den Abatement Act against the Santa Ana California Lodge, LLC (“California Lodge”) and the owners of the property located at 2909 S. Bristol Street in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

Suspect who robbed several cell phone stores wanted by the SAPD

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

Santa Ana robbery suspect

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Asking For Media & Public’s Assistance In Identifying Suspect Wanted In Robbery Series

Suspect: Male /Hispanic/Adult, 5’10”-6’00” tall, 220-250 lbs., heavy build, *armed with a handgun, tucked in his right waistband*

Crime Type: Commercial Armed Robbery/ PC 211 Continue reading→

Hobo with three strikes gets 21 years to life in prison after attacking and robbing a Santa Ana business owner

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

Fernando Zazueta Gonzalez, a 61-year old homeless man who pistol-whipped a Santa Ana store owner with a pellet gun during a robbery, was sentenced Friday to 21 years to life in prison, according to the O.C. Register.

Gonzales is a third-striker with previous burglary and robbery convictions. He got busted again in March after he robbed a beauty-supply business on West Third St.  Continue reading→

Santa Ana man gets 22 years in prison after killing a woman in a DUI hit and run

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

Dallas Frank Reichstein, a Santa Ana resident who fled the scene of a crash that left a pedestrian dead was sentenced Friday to 22 years in state prison, according to the O.C. Register.

Pearleen Hopkins, a beloved 59-year old Santa Ana resident, died on Jan. 28, 2015, when Reichstein, who was speeding in a 2002 Nissan Xterra, at about 10:10 p.m., struck her as she was crossing MacArthur Blvd.

Hopkins died at the scene. Reichstein took the coward’s way out as he opted to flee from the scene. Continue reading→

Safe Surrender is saving the lives of babies in Orange County

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

Date: August 11, 2017

Contact: Molly Nichelson, (714) 541-7734, Molly.Nichelson@ssa.ocgov.com

Safe Surrender Saves Lives in Orange County

Orange County, CA – A healthy baby was safely surrendered to Anaheim Fire & Rescue (AF&R) Station 1 late on Tuesday afternoon. The baby and mother were assessed by AF&R’s Nurse Practitioner and Firefighter/Paramedics before being transported to a local hospital for care and observation. The baby is currently in the care of the County of Orange Social Services Agency’s Children and Family Services (CFS) division. Continue reading→

Fresno felon convicted of pimping a young woman in Orange County

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

August 10, 2017

Case # 16WF1947

FRESNO FELON CONVICTED OF PIMPING YOUNG WOMAN AND ILLEGALLY POSSESSING LOADED FIREARM

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A felon from Fresno was convicted today of pimping a young woman and illegally possessing a loaded firearm.

Defendant: Adam Rocky Trinidad, 25, Fresno

Pleaded guilty today to: Continue reading→

The death of a Santa Ana Jail inmate is under investigation

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

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD and OCDA Investigating In Custody Death

On Wednesday, August 4, 2017 at approximately 9:49 pm, Santa Ana Jail Correctional Officers discovered a U.S. Marshal’s Service detainee unresponsive in his cell.

Correctional Officers initiated life-saving measures while awaiting the arrival of OCFA medics. Medics transported the inmate to a local hospital where he was stabilized and ultimately admitted due to his medical condition. Continue reading→

An armed suspect robbed a Santa Ana Verizon Wireless store last night

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

An unidentified armed man is suspected of taking an undisclosed amount of cash and electronics from a Verizon Wireless store at 1730 E. 17th St., in Santa Ana, at 9 p.m. last night, Aug. 10, according to the O.C. Register.

The suspect pulled up his shirt to reveal a handgun in his waistband, when he entered the store, according to the SAPD. He then ordered the store’s employees to go to the back of the store and demanded that they open the store’s safe. Continue reading→

Man who raped a Santa Ana teenager facing 98 years to life in prison

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Santa Ana 4 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 17HF1025

Date: August 9, 2017

OCDA SEEKING PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICITMS OF A MAN ACCUSED OF FORCIBLY RAPING TWO TEENAGERS IN SANTA ANA AND SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a man who is accused of forcibly raping and sexually assaulting two teenagers in Santa Ana and San Juan Capistrano.

Defendant: Alejandro Hernandez Garcia, 41, San Juan Capistrano

Felony Charges: Continue reading→

Woman pleads guilty to embezzling half a million dollars from a Santa Ana company

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

Young Ah Kim, a 48-year-old Cypress woman, pleaded guilty Monday, Aug. 7, to embezzling at least $500,000 from California Systems, a Santa Ana company, where she worked as an office manager, according to the O.C. Register.

Kim accepted 21 felony charges that were accompanied by multiple sentencing enhancement allegations for white-collar crime.

Kim was fired in 2012 by California Systems. She had been hired in 2006.

Continue reading→

OC Summer Freedom Festival set for Aug. 11-13 at Mile Square Regional Park

Posted on by Posted in Entertainment, Family, music, Orange County, Parks and Recreation Leave a comment

The County of Orange and OC Parks proudly present “The Summer Freedom Festival” at Mile Square Park, at 16801 Euclid St, Fountain Valley, on a 3 day weekend, August 11th, 12th & 13th, 2017.

Please come join us for food & drinks, daily raffles, carnival rides, a beer garden, and live entertainment, featuring the “Sound of OC Music Competition.” Entrance to the Summer Freedom Festival is FREE, so bring your Family and Friends to Mile Square Park and enjoy summer with us! Continue reading→

The OCDA’s offender treatment program appears to be reducing recidivism by 500%

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

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: August 7, 2017

ORANGE COUNTY OFFENDER TREATMENT PROGRAM DECREASED RATE OF RECIDIVISM BY 500% FOR 2015-2016 PARTICIPANTS

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Pacific Educational Services (PES) released an evaluation indicating a 500% reduction in the rate of criminal recidivism for last year’s participants in the Orange County Offender Treatment Program (OC-OTP) in Santa Ana. The evaluation detailed the positive impact OC-OTP had on participants who completed the program without termination, primarily offenders dealing with drug usage and/or possession. Continue reading→