Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Author Archives: Art Pedroza

A man was arrested after stabbing and killing multiple victims in a robbery spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Four people were killed and two others injured in a series of robberies and stabbings that started in Garden Grove and ended in Santa Ana on Wednesday evening, Aug. 7, according to the O.C. Register.

Undercover Garden Grove police officers located the suspect’s vehicle, a silver Mercedes registered in his name, in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven on Harbor Boulevard and 1st Street, and called for backup, according to ABC News.

The crime spree began at an apartment complex at the 12000 block of Jentges Avenue, in Garden Grove. Police officers responded to a burglary report at 4:09 p.m. As they were going about their investigation they received another call regarding a robbery at a house at 1304 Chapman Ave.

Witnesses saw a silver Mercedes at that residence. Police investigators now believe that the car was driven by the man who had broken into the apartment earlier.

The suspect

The police ended up back at the apartment complex after they got more calls at 5:04 p.m. regarding two men who were stabbed. The police found a dead man at the balcony of the apartment. A second victim was found inside and taken to UCI Medical Center, but he also ended up dying.

The police then got another call regarding a robbery at a check-cashing business at 12845 Harbor Blvd. The suspect then struck again down Harbor Boulevard as he robbed an insurance business. A female employee at the insurance business was seriously injured.

The suspect was not done yet. He then robbed a Chevron gas station near Harbor Boulevard and Banner Drive. During that robbery he almost severed a man’s nose from his face in a vicious attack.

Remarkably the police still had not caught the suspect. However at 6:15 p.m. the police spotted the Mercedes at a 7-Eleven near Harbor and 1st. The suspect stabbed a security guard there and stole his gun. That security guard also died.

At that point the SAPD got involved as their police officers made contact with the suspect and finally arrested him. He was not identified but the police did announce that he is 33 years old.

The police also told the media that another stabbing had taken place previously at a Subway restaurant across the street. In that attack both a security guard and a restaurant employee died.

According to officers all four people killed in tonight’s stabbing spree in Garden Grove and Santa Ana were male Hispanics, according to Fox News.

With all the focus on guns of late we all overlooked how dangerous knives can be.

SAPD officers arrest a suspect wanted in dozens of commercial burglaries

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

On Saturday, August 3, 2019, patrol officers located and arrested a subject wanted in connection with a series of commercial burglaries that have occurred in the Northeast area of Santa Ana, according to the SAPD.

The arrestee, identified as Raul Felipe Moreno, was booked into the Santa Ana Jail for burglary. A rash of burglaries in the Northeast commercial area of Santa Ana began in late May, 2019 shortly after suspect Moreno was released from custody on previous burglary charges. Based on their investigation, detectives were able to identify suspect Moreno through video and DNA evidence in multiple burglaries.

On August 6, 2019, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office filed nine counts of commercial burglary against Moreno.

Burglary Detectives are continuing their investigation into Moreno, who they believe may be the suspect in as many as 30 commercial burglaries that have occurred in Northeast Santa Ana in the area of 4th Street/Golden Circle Drive.

Anyone who may have witnessed or has information about these burglaries is asked to contact Detective J. Garcia at (714) 245-8732 or JGarcia@santa-ana.org.

Important update on the changes to the eastbound 22 Freeway at Bristol

Posted on by Posted in Garden Grove, OCTA, public works, Santa Ana, Traffic, Transportation 1 Comment

Construction for this project has just started and is expected to finish in Summer 2021. The purpose of this project is to improve safety for the Eastbound SR-22 freeway Interchange at SR-57, and the I-5 freeways.

The Bristol Street On-ramp will continue to provide access to SR-57 Northbound, I-5 Northbound, and I-5 Southbound. Only the access to the SR-22 Eastbound will be removed. Motorists will still be able to access Eastbound SR-22 from the City Drive or Main Street/Town and Country On-ramps.

There are no detours through Santa Ana neighborhoods! (See above detour map.)

Most work and detours will occur at night. Detour signs will be placed on affected arterials.

A meeting to provide further information about this project will be held on Wednesday, August 21, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The meeting location is:
Izaak Walton League Cabin
1714 Santa Clara Avenue, Santa Ana, CA. 92706

After Project Completion

The removal of half a mile of the collector-distributor road concrete barrier as well as the extension of the concrete barrier to provide access to the horseshoe connector will have two significant impacts.

  • The access to Eastbound SR-22 immediately before the horseshoe connector will be closed.
  • The Bristol St. on ramp will only provide access to the horseshoe connector. It will no longer connect to Eastbound SR-22. (Motorists will still be to access Eastbound SR-22 from The City Dr on ramp.)

Who will be Santa Ana’s next Mayor?

Posted on by Posted in 2020 Elections, Civic Affairs, David Benavides, Elections, Jose Solorio, Miguel Pulido, Nam Pham, Politics, Santa Ana 5 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is finally going to term out of office next November. He is already making plans to run for the First Supervisorial District.

So far three candidates have created committees to run for Mayor of City of Santa Ana – Municipal Government in 2020:

I cannot imagine many folks are excited about voting for Benavides, who was on the City Council for years but left no legacy and made no impact on the community.

Solorio has had a very successful political career including serving in the State Assembly. However he faces a strong headwind as there are a group of residents in Ward 3 who are trying to launch a recall election against him. They are mad about a development he is backing and are alleging he does not live in Ward 3.

Solorio however already has a ton of campaign cash on hand and he has vast connections in Orange County and in Sacramento.

Pham has no chance. He should find something else to do with his time.

There will be other candidates filing of course. Possibly including former City Councilman Sal Tinajero who barely lost to Pulido in the last Mayoral election.

Don’t be surprised if City Council Member Ceci Igliesias runs for Mayor. If she does she will be the only fiscal conservative in the race. She already enjoys broad support in our city and would be a dangerous candidate to be sure.

Of course being the Mayor in our city is a part-time job that demands full time hours. And you still have to get a majority of the City Council to work with you or nothing will get done. It is a tough job.

Pulido has had a heck of a time dealing with unfriendly City Councils over the years. Who knows what his successor will have to deal with as our city teeters on the edge of financial ruin?

Why won’t our police union admit that they are trying to recall City Council Members Iglesias and Villegas?

Posted on by Posted in 2019 Elections, Cecilia Iglesias, Civic Affairs, Elections, Gerry Serrano, Juan Villegas, Politics, SAPD, SAPOA 2 Comments

Following three failed attempts, the pro-recall group Neighbors Supporting the Recall of Santa Ana City Councilman Juan Villegas is seeking an order from the Orange County Superior Court that would mandate the city to accept its petition. LooA hearing on that request is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 9. Meanwhile, a petition filed by the Neighbors Supporting the Recall of Cecilia Iglesias is pending following another couple of failed submissions, leading Rosen, the committees’ attorney, to blame city officials for what he said are delaying tactics, according to the O.C. Register.

Iglesias is fighting back – she has already talked to those who signed the recall petition and has submitted to the O.C. District Attorney signed affidavits from 11 of the 35 petitioners who said they were misled into signing. If the OCDA verifies that fraud took place this will be considered a misdemeanor crime – interfering with an election.

The head of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, won’t admit that his union is behind the recall campaigns. But his attorney, Mark Rosen, is helping the folks who turned in the recall petitions.

The POA President told the Register “The families and businesses in our city deserve a professional elected official that will work to make Santa Ana a safer place to live, visit and work. Based on the will of the voters and her actions, at this time we are evaluating this as it progresses.”

Why be coy? The POA should just admit what is damn obvious. The POA is trying to recall two great Council Members because they refused to vote for the huge raise the City Council gave to the police officers.

This is all so unnecessary. The POA got their raise. Serrano should have just moved on. Instead he and his cohorts are now trying to get their revenge on Iglesias and Villegas. It is ridiculous.

These recalls will fail. What the POA doesn’t understand is that Iglesias and Villegas have united the left and the right. The majority of our residents are happy that these Council Members are trying to stop the City Council from wasting more money.

Iglesias and Villegas support our police and are believers in law enforcement. Serrano should be working with them – not trying to undo the will of the voters.

The POA better watch it. These recalls are only going to make Iglesias and Villegas even more popular. One of them just might end up running for Mayor and if they do they will win. That will work out even worse for the POA.

First mosquitoes test positive for the West Nile Virus Activity in the O.C. this year

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Health and Medical, Insects, Orange County, Orange County Vector Control District, Public Safety, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Garden Grove, CA. The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) has confirmed the first mosquito sample to test positive for West Nile virus (WNV) in 2019. The mosquitoes were collected from the city of Orange at El Camino Real Park on July 30, 2019. The District has also confirmed 9 birds with West Nile virus in the cities of Cypress, Buena Park, Huntington Beach, and Tustin. There are no confirmed cases of human infections at this time in Orange County.

District staff will conduct additional mosquito trapping in the area around El Camino Real Park and distribute flyers alerting residents to the detection of the virus. Additional inspectors have been deployed to canvass the area to look for mosquito breeding sources and expand public education.

“The increased temperatures and humidity creates an ideal environment for mosquitoes to breed, it is critical that residents take the necessary steps to eliminate potential mosquito breeding sources and prevent mosquito bites.” said Lora Young, OCMVCD’s Director of Communications.

West Nile virus is transmitted to humans via the bite of infected mosquitoes, which become infected when feeding on birds carrying the virus. Most individuals infected with WNV will not experience any illness. Others will have flu-like symptoms, such as fever, headache and body aches. In severe cases, people will need to be hospitalized, and in rare cases the disease can be fatal. Young children, the elderly, or individuals with lowered immune systems are at greater risk to experience severe symptoms when infected.

Since its introduction in 2003, WNV has infected more than 6,500 people and has caused 292 fatalities statewide, according to the California Department of Public Health. West Nile virus is endemic in California and in Orange County, and presents a risk to public health every year.

Follow the tips below to prevent mosquito bites:

  • Apply mosquito repellent to exposed skin before going outdoors; reapply as recommended
  • Wear repellent containing DEET®, Picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus
  • Close all unscreened doors and windows to prevent mosquitoes from entering your home or space; repair broken or damaged screens
  • Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, and opt for lighter-colored clothing

Around the home, eliminating breeding sources for mosquitoes is critical:

  • Dump and drain containers filled with water at least once a week
  • Clean and scrub bird baths and pet water bowls weekly
  • Dump water from potted plant saucers

Orange County residents are urged to report unusual numbers of mosquitoes to OCMVCD. For more information, please contact the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District at (714) 971- 2421 or (949) 654-2421, or visit www.ocvector.org.

The 3rd Annual O.C. Back to School Fair is coming up on August 10 in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Charter Schools, Education, Family, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – In preparation for the school year, the Orange County Parent Union has gathered local school districts, public charter schools, and business partners for its Third Annual Back to School Fair that will take place on August 10 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Santa Ana’s Salvation Army.

The fair is open to the public and our participants will be providing backpacks, haircuts, entertainment, games, dental and health screenings, and free food. The goal: to help families understand the public school options for their children.

“School choice is all about giving parents access to the best K-12 education options for their children,” said Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias, president of the Parent Union. “Our annual fair is a forum for local school districts and public charter schools to talk with students and parents about those options.”

Both district schools and charter schools are free public schools that provide education options to Orange County families.

ABOUT THE PARENT UNION

A project of the California Policy Center, the Parent Union is a group of parents and community members working together to ensure that every child has access to a quality public education. We believe that when parents choose the best education for their children, students and communities win.

An armed suspect robbed an El Pollo Loco on Sunday night, in Garden Grove

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Garden Grove Leave a comment

An El Pollo Loco employee was robbed at gunpoint in Garden Grove on Sunday night, Aug. 4, by a suspect who made off with cash, according to the O.C. Register.

The robbery happened at around 9:45 p.m. on Sunday night at an El Pollo Loco restaurant located at 12900 block of Harbor Boulevard. An employee was confronted by an armed suspect as he was who was preparing to close the restaurant for the night.

The male suspect demanded money and the employee, Bacmy Nguyen, gave the suspect the cash. The suspect then fled on foot.

The restaurant did not announce how much money was stolen. It was however said to be a large amount.

Fortunately Nguyen was not hurt during the robbery. He told a reporter that he was counting out his register when he was robbed. It was his second day on the job!

The suspect was described as a Hispanic man, possibly in his 20s.

A man was shot and killed in a Garden Grove backyard on Sunday afternoon

Posted on by Posted in Asians, Crime, Garden Grove Leave a comment

Police are investigating the fatal shooting of an unidentified man in a Garden Grove backyard on Sunday afternoon, according to KTLA.

The Garden Grove Police Department responded to reports of gunfire and a “victim bleeding” just after 12:45 p.m. at the 9600 block of Westminster Boulevard, according to the Garden Grove Police Department.

The responding police officers found a male Asian adult in the backyard of the residence in question. The victim had visible gunshot wounds and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The police do not know much about the victim or the shooting. No suspect information is available yet.

Anyone with information can reach Garden Grove police at 714-741-5704

Westminster mother and daughter charged in the largest Section 8 housing fraud case in O.C. history

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fraud, Housing, OCDA, Westminster Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif.- A mother and daughter from Westminster have been charged with felony welfare fraud charges for bilking Orange County’s Housing Authority (Section 8) and the County’s In Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program out of more than $190,000. The pair is accused of engaging in the largest housing fraud scheme in Orange County history.

Errica Madkins Mickens 55, of Westminster and Brittany Monet Mickens, 29, of Westminster, were arrested Thursday by investigators from the Orange County District Attorney’s Public Assistance Division.

They are currently being held at the Orange County Jail on $190,000 bail each.

Errica Mickens and Brittany Mickens are each facing one felony count of grand theft public housing fraud, one felony count of grand theft of housing funds, one felony count of medical insurance fraud of IHSS, and one felony count of grand theft of IHSS funds. They are also facing four enhancements of aggravated white collar crime over $100,000 and under $500,000.

They face a maximum of eight years in state prison if convicted on all charges.

“The County’s In Home Supportive Services program provides the ability for relatives to provide the compassionate care to loved ones in need,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The brazen way this program was exploited by these two individuals to steal taxpayer dollars is beyond disturbing. If you’re going to cheat the system, we will find out and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”

Errica Mickens and Brittany Mickens used multiple birth certificates and identification cards in order to gain eligibility for public programs while concealing their true identities.

Errica Mickens is a current IHSS client who receives the maximum benefit, which is reserved for the most severely disabled clients who require 285 hours of assistance per month. Brittany Mickens was serving as her in-home care provider under the guise that her mother was unable to speak or walk.

While under surveillance by the District Attorney’s Public Assistance Division, Errica Mickens was observed moving trash cans, carrying vehicle tires, driving a vehicle, shopping in grocery stores and handling large suitcases without assistance.

The pair did not disclose their familial relationship when applying for public assistance. The investigation revealed that Brittany Mickens was the owner of the house for which her mother was illegally receiving a housing voucher.

Applicants are not eligible to receive housing vouchers while they are living in a home owned by a relative.

Errica Mickens and Brittany Mickens also recently flew to France, Belize, and Italy, posting pictures on their Facebook profiles of riding around Italy and touring Belize. Errica Mickens also posted a photo of her and her daughter on a rollercoaster at Disneyland Paris despite claiming to be bedridden.

The investigation revealed more than $600,000 in bank accounts held by Errica Mickens and Brittany Mickens as well as a 2019 Land Rover that the pair recently purchased.

The District Attorney’s Public Assistance Division launched an investigation into Errica Mickens and Brittany Mickens after being notified of discrepancies by the Orange County Housing Authority. The Orange County Housing Authority administers federal funding allocated to the County to provide monthly rental assistance to more than 12,000 very low-income households.

The investigation was assisted by the Westminster Police Department, the Orange County Probation Department, Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General, the Social Security Administration Office of Inspector General, and the California Department Health Care Service, which is the investigative arm of Medi-Cal.

Deputy District Attorney Demetra Lewis of the Major Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.

The Romero-Cruz Academy Ribbon Cutting & Dedication Ceremony is set for Aug. 12

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

The Romero-Cruz Academy Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is set for Monday, August 12, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. at 2701 W. 5th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703. Click here to RSVP, which is due by August 9.

With the focus and intent to increase the educational opportunities for students, the Santa Ana Unified School District (SAUSD) has combined the school communities of Romero Cruz Elementary and Spurgeon Intermediate School into Romero-Cruz Academy to create an enriching Pre-K-8 learning option for students.

Beginning this fall, both existing schools will be integrated into one campus with specifically tailored state-of-the-art classrooms and other facilities for Pre-K, Kindergarten, elementary and intermediate grades.

A redesigned and reimagined Kindergarten area will make its debut with the start of the 2019-20 school year, featuring a new playground, an outdoor classroom and more.

A brand new preschool, with a focus on the arts and language, will also open on the grounds in December 2019.

In terms of academics, the 2019-2020 year will also bring with it the return of successful educational programs, in addition to enhanced programs and increased learning opportunities for Romero-Cruz Academy students.

With the addition of preschool to the Romero-Cruz Academy campus, the school’s Dual Language (Spanish) program will be offered at the PK-3rd grade level. Students in the intermediate grades will benefit from the addition of Spanish course offerings.

All students will continue to benefit from the Academy’s schoolwide AVID program, full athletics program, STEM Lab and robotics arena, comprehensive counseling department, and Visual and Performing Arts focus. Transportation services will also continue for 4th and 5th grade students.

In 2019, the school’s award-winning speech and debate program will expand to serve the Academy’s 4th and 5th grades, and the school will also continue to offer leadership development for students in grades 6 through 8.

Romero-Cruz Academy is at 2701 W. 5th St., Santa Ana, CA 92703.

Instruction begins Monday, Aug. 12, 2019.

To enroll, please call: 714-480-2200.

This week’s Cochino List includes Mariscos Hector and Tutti Frutti

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Food & Health, Health and Medical, OC Health Care, 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 July 25 to Aug. 2. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved.

  • Mariscos Hector Nightclub, 1701 E. McFadden Ave., Suite K, Santa Ana, Closed: July 25, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: July 26
  • Tutti Frutti, 1702 N. Bristol St., Suite G, Santa Ana, Closed: July 31, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: July 31
  • Lau Dong Que, 9066 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, Closed: Aug. 2, Reason: Insufficient hot water
  • 7-Eleven, 8971 Katella Ave., Stanton, Closed: July 31, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: July 31
  • La Barca, 151 W. Whittier Blvd., La Habra, Closed: July 31, Reason: Cockroach infestation
  • Togo’s, 5642 E. La Palma Ave., Suite 104, Anaheim, Closed: July 30, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: July 31
  • Sawali, 3414 W. Ball Road, Suite G, Anaheim, Closed: July 30, Reason: Cockroach infestation
  • Bruxie, 180 Fifth St., Suite 120, Huntington Beach, Closed: July 29, Reason: Insufficient hot water, Reopened: July 31
  • Eurest cafe at Verizon, 15505 Sand Canyon Drive, Irvine, Closed: July 25, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: July 28
  • Update: Restaurant El Fortin, 10444 Dale Ave., Stanton, which was ordered closed July 25 because of a cockroach infestation, was allowed to reopen July 29.

A honey oil lab was found in a burning Santa Ana building yesterday

Posted on by Posted in Drugs, Fires, Marijuana, OCFA, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

We reported a major fire yesterday via our Facebook page and now we know what happened – it was possibly an illegal drug lab that caught fire.

The OCFA reported that their Emergency Communications Center received a report of a Fire around the 2000 block of S. Main Street at 12:09. This happened just south of Superior Grocers, at W. St. Andrew Place.

The OCFA firefighters were able to knock-down the fire with around 35 firefighters. No injuries were reported.

The firefighters encountered what appeared to be a drug lab while trying to douse the building, according to the O.C. Register.

The drug lab was described as an elaborate honey oil operation, according to KTLA.

Hash oil, also known as honey oil or cannabis oil, is an oleoresin obtained by the extraction of cannabis or hashish. It is a concentrated form of cannabis extracts containing many of its resins and terpenes – in particular, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and other cannabinoids. There are various extraction methods, most involving a solvent, such as butane or ethanol. Hash oil is usually consumed by smoking, vaporizing or eating. Hash oil may be sold in cartridges used with pen vaporizers. Preparations of hash oil may be solid or colloidal depending on both production method and temperature and are usually identified by their appearance or characteristics. Color most commonly ranges from transparent golden or light brown, to tan or black. Cannabis retailers in California have reported about 40% of their sales are from cannabis oils, according to Wikipedia.

Senator Umberg’s district office grand opening & school supply giveaway set for August 7

Posted on by Posted in Civic Affairs, Education, Politics, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Tom Umberg Leave a comment

State Senator Thomas “Tom” J. Umberg is celebrating the Grand Opening of his new District Office in Santa Ana on Wednesday, August 7, form 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center, located at 1000 E Santa Ana Blvd., Suite 220B, in Santa Ana .

For this event, Senator Umberg is pleased to be collaborating with the City of Santa Ana, Santa Ana unified School District, and Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP-OC) in order to give over 100 families backpacks filled with school supplies for this upcoming school year.

The new office is in the heart of the community, and at the focal point of public transportation within Orange County: a building that combines services from Amtrak, Metrolink, OCTA, and intercity bus routes. The new office promises to be an access point for all members of the public to communicate issues relating to governmental services, or expressing thoughts on local issues and public policy.

The Confederate monument at the Santa Ana Cemetery has been removed

Posted on by Posted in Orange County, Racism, Santa Ana 5 Comments

SANTA ANA, CA (August 1, 2019) – At approximately 8:00 a.m. this morning, the Orange County Cemetery District removed the 10,000 pound 9 foot high granite structure that was placed in the Santa Ana Cemetery by the Sons of the Confederacy. This was scheduled with very little notice because the District had to work around scheduled funeral services (which naturally also occur with very little notice) so as not to cause any disruption to any services.

The District had demanded that the purported owners of the structure remove the structure from the public cemetery grounds by early February 2019 which they failed to do. It was important to have the structure immediately removed since it occupied the space over several cemetery plots that the Santa Ana Cemetery has a shortage of for families who want traditional in-ground burials for their departed loved ones for religious and/or cultural purposes. The District’s demand was met with absolute silence in that no response was received from the purported owners to the
District’s demand. The first time the District received any contact from a representative of the purported owners was a few weeks after it was reported on the internet that the structure was severely vandalized – six months after the District’s final demand was dispatched to the purported
owners.

The structure which was found vandalized on the morning of Sunday, July 7, 2019, with red paint and the word “RACISTS” inscribed on the face of the structure. The incident was immediately reported to the Santa Ana Police Department for investigation. District staff also took immediate action to attempt to remove the graffiti markings in an effort to abate what the District considered to be unsightly and a public nuisance, but such removal proved to be futile become of the composition of the paint used. Accordingly, the General Manager directed staff to immediately conceal the vandalized structure from public view with a tarp.

Because the structure was already scheduled for removal and because the District deemed it to be an unsightly public nuisance after the vandalism, it decided to immediately dismantle and remove the structure, but decided that as a courtesy, its remnants will be stored for approximately 30 days to allow the purported owners to retrieve the remnants.

Moreover, in the process of removing and dismantling the structure, it was discovered that the structure was structurally unsound because thousands of pounds of the main part of the structure was secured to the base by gravity rather than being properly secured to withstand toppling during a moderate earthquake. Unbeknownst to the District until this morning, the unsafe construction of the structure exposed to the District’s taxpayers to a tremendous amount of financial liability in the event anyone was harmed or killed by the tumbling structure. The issue of public safety was also raised by the District with the purported owners, who never responded to
the District’s concerns. In sum, this presented an unknown public safety hazard that would have been discovered had the structure been installed with proper permission from the District.

The estimated cost of dismantling, removing and storing the structure is $15,000.00, which includes not only District staff time and resources, but also the cost of assembling, operating and dismantling a 265 ton, 100 foot high crane by a private contractor retained by the District.

Reimbursement of all costs incurred by the District in dismantling, removing and storing the structure will be demanded from anyone who wants to retrieve the remnants of the structure from the District.

About Santa Ana Cemetery and the Orange County Cemetery District

Santa Ana Cemetery, founded in 1870, is one of the three public cemeteries in the County that are owned and managed by the Orange County Cemetery District, an independent special district governed by an appointed Board of Trustees. The 29-acre historic cemetery offers at-need full casket spaces, cremation urn interments, niches, and a rose garden for direct cremation burials.

More than 900 veterans are interred at the Cemetery, as are many pioneer families from Santa Ana and elsewhere in Orange County.