Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

Man the SAPD pursued and helped catch convicted of stabbing and killing his wife and infant son

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 15NF1732

MAN CONVICTED OF SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES STABBING-MURDER OF WIFE AND THEIR INFANT SON

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was convicted today of the special circumstances stabbing-murder of his wife and their infant son. Kwame Adom Carpenter, 27, Anaheim, was found guilty by a jury on Feb. 26, 2019, of two felony counts of murder with special circumstances for committing multiple murders and a sentencing enhancement allegation for the personal use of a deadly weapon. He faces a maximum sentence of life in state prison without the possibility of parole. Carpenter is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26, 2019, at 9:00 a.m., in Department C-45, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana.

At the time of the crime, Carpenter and 24-year-old Moureen Gathua-Carpenter were living together with their 6-month-old son, Kyan Gathua-Carpenter, in an Anaheim apartment.

At approximately 12:00 p.m. on June 22, 2015, Carpenter got into a verbal argument with Moureen in their apartment. During the course of the argument, Moureen picked up Kyan, and the defendant stabbed both of the victims with a butcher knife. The defendant is accused of fleeing the scene in a relative’s car.

The Anaheim Police Department (APD), who investigated this case, responded to a 911 call and found both victims suffering from stab wounds.

Moureen was pronounced dead at the scene. Kyan was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.

At approximately 3:00 a.m. on June 23, 2015, Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) officers located the defendant sleeping in the back seat of the car in the parking lot of Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. The defendant drove away from SAPD officers. An SAPD officer fired a single shot, but did not hit the defendant. Carpenter led SAPD and Fountain Valley Police Department (FVPD) officers on a vehicle pursuit.

He crashed the vehicle in Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley and jumped into a nearby lake. APD arrived at the scene and arrested the defendant, and he was then transported to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries sustained from an FVPD K-9 bite during his arrest.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Steve McGreevy of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County’s dead homeless tallied in two new reports

Posted on by Posted in Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (February 25, 2019) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner Division publicly released two reports today concerning reported deaths of individuals experiencing homelessness in Orange County in 2018.

The OCSD Coroner Division is responsible for investigating deaths that occur within the county of Orange. This includes unnatural deaths such as homicides, suicides, accidents and/or suspicious or unexplained deaths. In Orange County in 2018, there were 5,858 deaths reported to the Coroner Division. Of those, 210 decedents were considered homeless as they had “no fixed abode” at the time of death.

The first report, titled “Coroner Division Homeless Mortality Report,” provides data categorized by the cause of death and the geographic location of where the death occurred. The information is provided for each calendar year 2014 to present, in addition to statistical graphs by mode of death. The Coroner Division has been working to compile this data since January 2019 to study these cases and identify changing patterns important to public health and safety.

The second report was prepared pursuant to a request from the Honorable David O. Carter, Judge in the United States District Court to provide the causes of death of homeless individuals who passed away in 2018 and 2019. The report lists the 210 decedents from 2018, and 25 reported deaths from Jan. 1 to Feb. 19, 2019.

2018 data shows that of the 210 homeless decedents, 75 individuals died of natural causes, with overdose as the second highest cause of death claiming the lives of 44. Thirty-two are still pending an official cause of death awaiting toxicology results.

“Examining this data allows us to observe causal factors that might assist in preventing the deaths of individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. “As a member of the Commission to End Homelessness, I will be presenting this data to the commission for further discussion and action aimed at reducing the number of deaths of homeless individuals.”

This week’s Cochino List includes Hopper & Burr, Victoria’s Bakery and Fresh Donuts

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Insects, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of Feb. 14 to Feb. 22, 2019. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Hopper & Burr, 202 W. Fourth St., Santa Ana, Closed: Feb. 19, Reason: Operating without a valid health permit, Reopened: Feb. 19.
  • Victoria Bakery, 709 N. Bristol St., Suite J, Santa Ana, Closed: Feb. 21, Reason: Cockroach infestation.
  • Fresh Donuts, 940 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, Closed: Feb. 19, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 21.
  • Nam Giao Restaurant, 10145 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, Closed: Feb. 22, Reason: Cockroach infestation.
  • Water & Ice, 1125 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite B, Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 20, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 21.
  • Costless, 1403 E. Lambert Road, Suite F, La Habra, Closed: Feb. 20, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 21.
  • Mini market at Santa Ana River Lakes, 4060 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 20, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 21.
  • Culinary arts room at Aliso Niguel High School, 28000 Wolverine Way, Aliso Viejo, Closed: Feb. 19, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 20.
  • Del Taco, 1720 Superior Ave., Costa Mesa, Closed: Feb. 15, Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • George’s Best Burgers, 1475 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 15, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 19.
  • Restaurant at Shorecliffs Golf Club, 501 Avenida Vaquero, San Clemente, Closed: Feb. 15, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Big Chopsticks, 1089 Baker St., Suite C, Costa Mesa, Closed: Feb. 15, Reason: Insufficient hot water, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Circle K, 33541 Del Obispo St., Dana Point, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Sinofusion, 5555 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 14.
  • DonerG, 2139 E. Ball Road, Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Mamma Cozza’s, 2170 W. Ball Road, Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 15.
  • Update: Nam Giao Restaurant at 10145 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, closed Feb. 14 because of a cockroach infestation, reopened Feb. 15.
  • Update: Citrus Cafe at 1481 Edinger Ave., Tustin, closed Feb. 13 because of a cockroach infestation, reopened Feb. 15.

Two SAPD police horses were assaulted when a huge fight broke out in DTSA early this morning

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

Six people were arrested after a large fight broke out in Santa Ana early Sunday morning as bars were closing, with more than 200 people spilling into the streets, according to KTLA.

Six people were arrested, one of them after striking a police horse named Chex, who was punched or slapped but was unfazed. The horse continued to do his job, according to the O.C. Register.

Wilma the SAPD Police Horse

Another SAPD police horse named Willa was also assaulted, according to KTLA.

This latest DTSA embarrassment began at around 2 a.m. when a large fight broke out and then quickly grew.

Picture from a reader

The SAPD’s mounted police unit, which often patrols DTSA, called for backup when they came across the scrum.

Even when additional police showed up, the crowd did not immediately disperse.

The SAPD does not know what started the fight or the ensuing near-riot. Somehow no injuries were reported.

Five suspects were arrested on charges of public drunkenness, resisting arrest and committing an unlawful act against a police animal. None of the suspects were identified by the SAPD.

While the SAPD referred to the incident as a fluke, as such large fights have not been common in DTSA, the reality is that this is just the latest in a long series of awful crimes that have happened since DTSA was gentrified.

The gentrifiers cleared the Mexican bars out of Downtown Santa Ana and replaced them with hipster bars. But DTSA has still been a train wreck over the past few years with multiple horrible murders, including a young Vietnamese American woman who was literally stomped to death by two local Latinas, a Korean man from Irvine who was robbed and shot in a DTSA parking structure and a woman who was raped in a bar’s stairwell.

Compare this mess to what happened in Downtown Brea when it was redeveloped – that area has family establishments including not one but two first-run movie theaters and a great variety of family restaurants. What you won’t find in Downtown Brea is a ton of bars.

Is DTSA better off now? Is it?

Help plant trees at Centennial Park this Saturday

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The People and Trees organization is inviting Santa Ana residents to participate in a tree planting event this Saturday, Feb. 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

The goal is to plant ten more Weeping Willow trees at Centennial Lake, on the side opposite to Centennial Park’s main entrance.

This planting was rescheduled from two weeks ago because of rain.
Forecast for this weekend promises no rain and mostly sunny sky. However bring a light jacket as mornings can be cool.

Please forward this information to your friends, family and neighbors!

If you who are going to come to plant trees this Saturday, please RSVP to PeopleAndTreesOC@gmail.com with your name and the names of your family members or friends who are coming with you. Or text a message to (949) 856-9926.

Directions to Planting Site for February 23, 2019:

Enter Centennial Park through is main entrance (from Edinger Ave) and park in the first parking lot on its left, close to the lake.
From there, walk around the lake on the sidewalk on its left to the planting site on the opposite side of the lake.
On the map below, this path is shown blue, solid for driving and dashed for walking, and planting spots are circled red.

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday night

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Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, February 22, 2019 in the area of 1000 N. Harbor Blvd.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, February 22, 2019. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 1000 N. Harbor Blvd, in the City of Santa Ana.

The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver is.

The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.

All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2525 Main St. apartment development has been sent back to Planning

Posted on by Posted in Development, Planning, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Last night’s Public Hearing for the proposed luxury apartment development at 2525 Main St., in north Santa Ana, dragged on until midnight.

As was the case at the last public hearing for this project, two weeks ago, the speakers, for or against, pretty much mirrored each other’s comments – for hours.

Those against the project kept insisting that the project is too large, even though the project’s EIR says otherwise.

In the end Mayor Miguel Pulido firmly voiced his opposition to the project, which was no surprise since he has had a bone to pick with the project’s developer. Pulido believes, wrongly or rightly, that the developer backed his opponent, Sal Tinajero, in last year’s General Election. Pulido won, but it was too close for comfort.

Mayor Pro Tem Juan Villegas followed suit – and that too was no surprise. He too was upset because the developer allegedly supported Roman Reyna, in Ward 4. While Reyna won he later had to resign from the City Council, effective March 1, because he fudged his campaign paperwork and got caught. Reyna never should have been on the ballot in the first place!

The rest of the City Council was able to salvage the project by sending it back to the Planning Agency.

Near the end of the meeting, the developer proposed “significant changes” such as reducing the project from 476 apartments to about 385 to 395 units and lowering the tallest part of the project by up to 40 feet, according to the O.C. Register.

I don’t think the NIMBY’s in the adjacent Park Santiago neighborhood will settle for anything above 200 units.

This has to be a nightmare for the developer. It could take a long time to resolve.

I don’t think the developer will consider building single family homes. He generally develops apartments. I also don’t know if he can afford to cut the density as much as the NIMBYs would like.

As for Pulido, he is terming out in two years but he really seems to be rejuvenated. He has been at this a long time but he has not lost a step.

The rest of the City Council still has to sort out who they will appoint to replace Reyna – and then the jockeying to replace Pulido in two years will begin in earnest.

The SAPD is still looking for an armed robbery suspect from 2017

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

Advisory: Santa Ana PD is bringing back our #MostWantedWednesday series!

On October 18, 2017 Santa Ana PD detectives released pictures and video surveillance footage of an armed robbery that occurred at 617 E. 17th Street – Santiago Food Mart-76 Gas Station. This armed robbery suspect remains unidentified and we are requesting media and public assistance to get suspect identified.

  • ORIGINAL MESSAGE –

Location: 617 East 17th Street. Santiago Food Mart-76 Gas Station

Suspect: Male White, 40-45, 5’7” to 5’9” tall, 170-190 lbs., was wearing a black hoodie with “CALIFORNIA” on the front, blue jeans, beige baseball cap and a blue/white bandana around his neck.

On 10/17/17, at 9:50pm, the suspect entered the store and approached the two cashiers. The suspect quickly pulled out a silver and gray semi-auto handgun and a pink tote bag. The suspect pointed the firearm at the female cashier and ordered her to put the money from the registers into the bag. The cashiers complied with the suspects demands. The suspect fled on foot in an unknown direction with the bag containing the money.

Surveillance Video:

Anyone with information identifying the suspect in this case is asked to contact Detective Greaver at (714) 245-8362 or DGreaver@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

The SAPD is searching for a vehicle used in a carjacking

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Advisory: SAPD Detectives Request Assistance In Locating Vehicle Used In Carjacking

On 1-27-2019, SAPD officers handled a carjacking incident that occurred at Windsor Park, 2915 W. La Verne Ave. Two male suspects and a female suspect who was armed with a handgun took the victim’s vehicle at gunpoint.

On 1-28-2019, a male later identified as Alberto Beltran (30) was captured on camera dropping the victim’s vehicle off in the 300 block of S. Sullivan. He was then observed getting into the pictured gold Acura and fleeing the scene. On 2-14-19, Suspect Beltran who had been identified as one of the three suspects involved in the 1-27-2019 carjacking was arrested by SAPD Patrol Officers.

Video Surveillance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQaPascxLdA

SAPD Robbery Detectives are releasing pictures and video of the gold colored Acura, which was observed in the video picking up suspect Beltran as he dropped off the victim’s vehicle in the 300 block of S. Sullivan. Detectives believe the same vehicle may have been involved in the original carjacking and was possibly driven by one of the outstanding suspects.

The outstanding female suspect is described a Hispanic, 20’s, heavyset, dark-skinned, possibly multiple tattoos on her left arm and wearing glasses. She was armed with an unknown type of handgun, which is still outstanding. The additional male suspect is only describes as a male Hispanic in his 20’s.

Detectives are looking for assistance in locating the gold colored Acura and information on its owner. Anyone with information is asked to contact Robbery Detective Prewett at DPrewett@santa-ana.org or 714-245-8323.

The four victim’s of Sunday’s fatal DUI crash in Santa Ana have been identified

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Advisory: Update- Victims Identified – Quadruple Fatality – 4th Street & Tustin Ave

Driver: Jose Alberto Avila-Rosas (31 years of age)- Santa Ana

Passengers:

  • Ziomara Zaragoza (23) – Garden Grove
  • Antonio Alonso Santibanez (23) – Orange
  • Prisma Yuliana Montoya (34) – Santa Ana

Details:On Sunday February 17th, 2019 at 0229 hours, SAPD Officers were dispatched Code 3 (lights and sirens) to the area of ‪4th Street‬ and Tustin Avenue for a reported two vehicle traffic collision with both vehicles being overturned. The vehicles were found in the eastbound lanes of 4th west of Tustin. A calling party reported the occupants in a white Chevy Silverado were trapped and the vehicle was catching fire. An off-duty firefighter and his wife, an off-duty nurse, were passing by and stopped to render aid. Officers arrived on scene and found the occupants of the white truck unresponsive and trapped inside the vehicle. The driver of the black Jeep Wrangler was found lying in the roadway adjacent to the vehicle and was able speak to officers.

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and determined all four occupants of the white truck were deceased as a result of the collision. The 28-year-old driver of the black Jeep, identified as Vincent Michael Calvo of Buena Park, appeared to be extremely impaired at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries before being later released and arrested for suspicion of DUI. He faces four counts of murder as well as felony DUI.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) responded to the collision and handled the investigation. Investigators have secured surveillance video, which shows the black Jeep traveling westbound on ‪4th Street‬ and the white Chevrolet pickup truck traveling southbound on Tustin when the Jeep fails to stop for the red signal light before entering the intersection and broadsiding the truck. The investigation is on-going and anyone possibly having any information regarding this collision is asked to contact Collision Investigator – Corporal ‪Brett Nelson‬ at ‪(714) 245-8208‬.

The SAUSD will conduct a special school board election on Nov. 5

Posted on by Posted in 2019 Elections, Angie Rosario Cano, Bruce T. Bauer, Carolyn Torres, Education, Elections, Santa Ana, SAUSD Leave a comment

After two regular board meetings and four special board meetings, the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) was unable to fill the vacancy on their School Board that resulted from the election of SAUSD School Board Member Ceci Iglesias (R) to the Santa Ana City Council. As such, they did not meet the February 9 deadline under state law to fill the vacancy by appointment, and the County Superintendent of Schools must call a special election for SAUSD, according to the OC Political Blog.

The special election won’t happen any time soon. It has been set for Tuesday, November 5, 2019. The regular election for the next term for the same School Board seat will be less than a year later on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

On December 11, the SAUSD School Board voted to hold an appointment process. Applications were due January 3. As we previously disclosed a few individuals asked for applications but there were no replies from the SAUSD.

The School Board held a special meeting on January 8 to interview the 10 applicants. During that meeting, 2 applicants were ruled ineligible because they did not live in the School District boundaries, and 3 finalists were picked from the 8 eligible applicants, including Carolyn Torres, a very liberal public school teacher, and Bruce Bauer, an attorney who previously ran for the SAUSD School Board then announced after he lost that race that he was now identifying as a homosexual.

At three special SAUSD School Board meetings in January, the SAUSD School Board Board deadlocked 2-2 on the appointee for the vacancy, with Board Members Rigo Rodriguez and Alfonso Alvarez voting to appoint Torres and Board Members John Palacio and Valerie Amezcua voting to appoint Bauer. Because the SAUSD School Board Members were unable to pick a replacement for Iglesias in time the voters will now choose that candidate.

It should be noted that all of the current SAUSD School Board Members are liberal Democrats, as are Torres and Bauer. And all of these individuals are known shills for the public school teachers’ union. However about 40% of the local voters are registered as Decline to State voters and about 25-30% are Republicans. These voters have no representation on the SAUSD School Board.

Other local candidates who turned in applications to repace Iglesias included:

  • Shaulyn Barban (NPP), an 18-year-old high school senior
  • Irma Macias (D), a Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Commissioner, who came in 6th in the 2018 election for City Council, Ward 2
  • Mark McLoughlin (D), a Santa Ana Planning Commissioner and former Rancho Santiago Community College District Trustee, who came in 5th in the 2016 election for SAUSD
  • Jesus Montoya (D), a community college counselor
  • Gisela Contreras (R), an insurance brokerage account manager
Angie Cano

It is very likely that Angie Cano, a Santa Ana Planning Commissioner who has run for the SAUSD School Board three times and came close to winning in 2016, according to Ballotpedia, will run again this November. She will likely be the only pro school choice candidate on the ballot. She would be our pick to replace Iglesias.

Interestingly if the Santa Ana City Council cannot figure out by March 31 who to appoint to replace Roman Reyna, who is resigning from the City Council effective March 1, then they too will have to put a Special Election to the voters. That election will be held concurrently with the SAUSD School Board Special Election, on Nov. 3.

The SAUSD School Board is seeking applicants for the Measure I Bond Oversight Committee

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The SAUSD Board of Education seeks applications to fill 7 spots on the Bond Oversight Committee, which oversees the expenditure of Measure I funds and communicates its findings to the Board and the public. Deadline to apply is Feb. 19, 2019. Click here for more information.

ABOUT THE CITIZENS BOND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

State Law requires the appointment of a local Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee for Measure “I”. The purpose of the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee is to:

Actively review and report on the expenditure of voter-approved bonds
Receive and review copies of annual performance and financial audits
Present an annual written report to the Board of Trustees
Education Code Section 15278 requires that the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee inform the public concerning the expenditure of revenues received from bond sales pursuant to Measure “I”. The Oversight Committee is comprised of individuals from local businesses, senior citizen organizations, organizations involved with schools, a bona fide tax payers’ organization, as well as involved parents of children residing in the Santa Ana School District.

APPLICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP

Notice is hereby given that the Board of Education for the Santa Ana Unified School District seeks applications to fill a total of seven seats on the Bond Oversight Committee.

The purpose of the Bond Oversight Committee is to oversee the expenditure of Measure I funds and to communicate its findings to the Board and the public in order to promote the proper expenditure of school bond funds as voters intended and the efficient completion of projects.

One applicant will be chosen from each the following representative groups to serve a two-year term. Appointment to the Committee will require attendance at quarterly Committee meetings.

  • SAUSD parent
  • SAUSD parent: Active in PTA or in school site council
  • Active in a senior citizen organization
  • Active in the business community within the District
  • Active in a taxpayer’s organization
  • General member
  • General member

All applicants must be at least 18 years of age, a resident of California, and reside within the district’s geographic boundaries. Applicants may not be an employee or official of the district, nor a vendor, contractor, or consultant of the District.

The Communications Office will be accepting the applications.

Applications may be accessed via this link or requested from the Communications office at (714)558-5555, or obtained at the Santa Ana School District office located at 1601 E Chestnut Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92701.

Please submit your application no later than 4:30 p.m. on February 19, 2019

A man was arrested after four people were killed in a suspected DUI crash in Santa Ana early this morning

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, OCFA, Santa Ana, SAPD 3 Comments

Four people died in a horrific traffic accident early this morning in Santa Ana when Vincent Michael Calvo, a 28-year-old Buena Park man, allegdly sped through a red light and struck another vehicle, in what police suspect was a DUI crash.

On Sunday February 17th, 2019 at 0229 hours, SAPD Officers were dispatched Code 3 (lights and sirens) to the area of ‪4th Street‬ and Tustin Avenue for a reported two vehicle traffic collision with both vehicles being overturned. The vehicles were found in the eastbound lanes of 4th west of Tustin.

A calling party reported the occupants in a white Chevy Silverado were trapped and the vehicle was catching fire. An off-duty firefighter and his wife, an off-duty nurse, were passing by and stopped to render aid. Officers arrived on scene and found the occupants of the white truck unresponsive and trapped inside the vehicle. The driver of the black Jeep Wrangler was found lying in the roadway adjacent to the vehicle and was able speak to officers, according to the SAPD.

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and determined all four occupants of the white truck were deceased as a result of the collision. The 28-year-old driver of the black Jeep, identified as Vincent Michael Calvo of Buena Park, appeared to be extremely impaired at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries before being later released and arrested for suspicion of DUI. He faces four counts of murder as well as felony DUI.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) responded to the collision and handled the investigation. Investigators have secured surveillance video, which shows the black Jeep traveling westbound on ‪4th Street‬ and the white Chevrolet pickup truck traveling southbound on Tustin when the Jeep fails to stop for the red signal light before entering the intersection and broadsiding the truck. The investigation is on-going and anyone possibly having any information regarding this collision is asked to contact Collision Investigator – Corporal ‪Brett Nelson‬ at ‪(714) 245-8208‬.

A 13-year-old boy put out a house fire with a garden hose early this morning in Santa Ana

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

A 13-year-old boy saved the day early this morning when he grabbed a garden hose and extinguished a fire at a home located at the 4100 block of W. 5th St., in Santa Ana, according to the OCFA.

The boy took action after a smoke alarm sounded. Firefighters showed up at the scene at 6:06 a.m. and the fire was completely out by 6:14 a.m. The firefighters commended the boy for his quick action. They also credited two housemates for getting the victims out of the burning house.

One adult male in his 40s suffered critical burns and ad adult female in her 40s suffered moderate burns. They were taken to the UCI Burn Center.

Five people were displaced by the fire. The Red Cross stepped in to help them to relocate.

Details were not available regarding the cause of the fire.

This week’s Cochino List includes El Pollo Loco, Popeyes and Inka Grill

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Insects, OC Health Care, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of Feb. 7 to Feb. 14, 2019 . Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Nam Giao Restaurant, 10145 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, Closed: Feb. 14, Reason: Cockroach infestation
  • Citrus Cafe, 1481 Edinger Ave., Tustin, Closed: Feb. 13, Reason: Cockroach infestation
  • Pho Quang Trung, 10072 Westminster Ave., Garden Grove, Closed: Feb. 11, Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Feb. 12
  • Popeyes, 6948 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, Closed: Feb. 7, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 8
  • Inka Grill, 260 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, Closed: Feb. 8, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 8
  • El Pollo Loco, 88 Corporate Park, Irvine, Closed: Feb. 13, Reason: Ongoing foodborne illness investigation
  • The Cherry Pit, 749 W. Katella Ave., Orange, Closed: Feb. 7, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 8
  • Carl’s Jr., 701 S. Beach Blvd., La Habra, Closed: Feb. 13, Reason: Sewage overflow, Reopened: Feb. 13
  • Sweet Elle Cafe, 7251 Warner Ave., Suite L, Huntington Beach, Closed: Feb. 13, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 14
  • Costless, 1403 E. Lambert Road, Suite F, La Habra, Closed: Feb. 11, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Feb. 13
  • Mini market at USA Gasoline, 4601 Campus Drive, Irvine, Closed: Feb. 11, Reason: Operating without a valid health permit
  • Orange Tei at Anaheim Packing House, 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Suite 202-203, Anaheim, Closed: Feb. 7, Reason: Cockroach infestation. Reopened: Feb. 8
  • Oh Those Donuts, 1734 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, Closed: Feb. 7, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Feb. 9
  • Update: La Langosta at 13571 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove, closed Feb. 6 because of a cockroach infestation, reopened Feb. 7.
  • Update: Tacos y Platillos de Mi Pueblo at 7032 Hazard St., Suite 2, Westminster, closed Feb. 5 for operating without a valid health permit, reopened Feb. 8
  • Update: A kitchen at Anaheim Convention Center, 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, closed Feb. 5 because of a rodent infestation, reopened Feb. 14.