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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Alcohol

A woman’s legs has to be amputated after a DUI crash in Garden Grove

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Andres Ramon Salas, 35, of Garden Grove, was arrested after crashing his vehicle into a 66-year-old Garden Grove woman, whose legs later had to be amputated as a result, and then trying to flee from the scene, according to the O.C. Register.

The Garden Grove police found the victim pinned against her car when they responded to the 8000 block of Larson Avenue shortly after 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday night.

The woman was pinned behind her car when the suspect plowed his car into hers as she was standing behind her vehicle, in her neighborhood.

The suspect then tried to speed off but he proceeded to crash into another vehicle about 700 feet away.

The suspect was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the Garden Grove Police.

The woman ended up at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, where her legs were amputated. She remains in critical condition.

Homeless man who stole alcohol from a Rite Aid arrested by the SAPD

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UPDATE – Suspect Michael Boyce Davis was taken into custody Friday night by patrol officers after a citizen called in to report seeing him, according to the SAPD.

ORIGINAL MESSAGE:

Wanted Suspect: Michael Boyce Davis (35) Transient

On 6/1/19 at approximately 8:59 AM, Suspect Davis entered the Rite Aid located at 3325 S. Bristol St. Davis removed a bottle of alcohol from a shelf and attempted to leave without paying for the item.

When Davis was contacted by store security, he raised the bottle in the air as if he was going to strike the security guard. Fearing for her safety, the security guard backed away and Davis left the location with the merchandise.

Davis is homeless and currently on informal probation for robbery. An arrest warrant has been issued for Davis in the amount of $150,000.00.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of suspect Davis, please contact Detective D. Prewett at (714) 245-8323 or dprewett@santa-ana.org

The SAPD is looking for a homeless man who stole alcohol from a Rite Aid

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On 6/1/19 at approximately 8:59 AM, Suspect Michael Boyce Davis, a 35-year-old transient, entered the Rite Aid located at 3325 S. Bristol St. Davis removed a bottle of alcohol from a shelf and attempted to leave without paying for the item, according to the SAPD.

When Davis was contacted by store security, he raised the bottle in the air as if he was going to strike the security guard. Fearing for her safety, the security guard backed away and Davis left the location with the merchandise.

Davis is homeless and currently on informal probation for robbery. An arrest warrant has been issued for Davis in the amount of $150,000.00.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of suspect Davis, please contact Detective D. Prewett at (714) 245-8323 or dprewett@santa-ana.org

The Costa Mesa Police Department is conducting a DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday night

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COSTA MESA, Calif. (May 29, 2019) – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) will be conducting a driving under the influence (DUI) and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, May 31, 2019, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. within the city limits, according to a press release.

DUI Checkpoints like this one are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Officers will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with officers checking drivers for proper licensing.

CMPD reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

In 2017, 1,120 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. Last year in Costa Mesa, there were 214 DUI collisions, which claimed four lives and resulted in 72 injuries.

CMPD offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that does not involve a DUI:
Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
If you see someone who is clearly impaired try and drive, take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
If you are hosting a party, offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor those who are drinking and how they are getting home.

Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not! Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses not to mention possible jail time.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to CMPD by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A Santa Ana man pleaded guilty to a fatal DUI pedestrian collision

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Alberto Solano Diaz of Santa Ana, a 38-year-old convicted drunken driver, pleaded guilty Wednesday, May 15, to an alcohol-fueled hit-and-run collision that killed a homeless woman in April, according to the O.C. Register.

Diaz accepted charges of a felony count of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury and one misdemeanor count each of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence and driving under the influence of alcohol. He is set be sentenced on June 7.

An SAPD police officer who was on patrol found 40-year-old Leticia Marquez lying in the road, just past midnight, on April 24, on Standard Ave., north of Edinger Ave., according to the SAPd.

Police investigators determined that Marquez had been in a crosswalk but could not ascertain if she was crossing against a red light when she was struck by a vehicle. She was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

As it turned out other SAPD officers found unoccupied car that had major front-end damage, a couple blocks away from where Marquez was struck. Diaz, who showed signs of intoxication, was walking away from the car when the police officers detained him.

Diaz previously pleaded guilty, back in 2009, to misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving with a blood-alcohol level above the legal limit of .08 and driving without a valid driver’s license. At the time he was placed on three years of informal probation and he was ordered to pay $440 in fines and participate in a first-offender alcohol program for three months.

Diaz has since had his probation revoked and reactivated because he did not pay his fines.

The SAPD is conducting a pre-Mother’s Day DUI and Driver’s License checkpoint tonight

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SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday May 10th, 2019. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:00AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2000 W. First Street, 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.

Suspect arrested after a DUI crash by Madison Park injured a pedestrian

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Suspect: Albert Solano Diaz (38) Santa Ana

On Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at approximately 12:01 AM, a Santa Ana Police Officer was traveling south on S. Standard Avenue when he came across a female lying in the roadway just north of E. Edinger Avenue.

Upon contacting the female, the officer found her to be unconscious and not breathing. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and attended to the victim before she was transported to an area hospital with critical injuries.

Officers conducted an area check and found an unoccupied vehicle with major front end damage in the immediate area and observed a male walking away from the general area. The male was detained and found to be intoxicated. Video surveillance footage showed the male getting out of the vehicle and walking away just before officers locate it.

The male observed walking away from the vehicle was identified as Alberto Solano Diaz. Diaz was ultimately arrested for investigation of DUI. He was booked into the Santa Ana City Jail for (felony) DUI causing injury and (felony) Hit & Run. The female pedestrian remains unidentified and in extremely critical condition. The collision continues to be investigated and alcohol is believed to have played a role.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) responded to the collision and handled the investigation. Anyone having possible information about this collision is asked to contact the Santa Ana Police Corporal Brett Nelson at (714) 245-8208.

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and Driver’s License checkpoint tonight

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The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday April 19th, 2019. It will begin at 6:30 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 1:30 AM. It will be conducted in the area of 500 W. Warner Avenue, 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 check point 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.

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.

Police are searching for two armed suspects who robbed a Tustin liquor store

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Two male suspects walked into One Stop Liquor, located at 14252 Newport Ave., grabbed cases of beer and then tried to leave without paying, on Saturday, March 16, according to a Tustin Police press release.

When an employee confronted the suspects in the parking lot, they got into a fight. One of the robbers then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the store employee before the suspects took off in an older model, dark colored Acura SUV.

The employee suffered minor injuries during the fight, but thankfully no shots were fired at him.

Tustin police detectives are still searching for the robbery suspects. Anyone with information about the suspects is encouraged to call Tustin Police Detective Cossack at 714-573-3269, or the watch commander at 714-573-3220. Anonymous tips can also be left with Orange County Crime Stoppers by dialing 855-847-6227 or by visiting ocrimestoppers.org.

The SAPD is conducting a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint this Saturday night in Santa Ana

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SAPD conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Saturday, March 30, 2019 in the area of 2500 W. 5th Street

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Saturday March 30th, 2019. It will begin at 9:00 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30 AM. It will be conducted in the area of 2500 W. 5th Street, 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 SAPD will conduct a DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint this Friday night

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SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday March 8th, 2019. It will begin at 9:00 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30 AM. It will be conducted in the area of 100 N. Ross Street, 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 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 SAPD will be looking for borrachos on Superbowl Sunday

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Don’t Get Super Busted on Super Bowl Sunday by Driving Impaired

Law enforcement will be out looking for impaired drivers

Santa Ana, Calif. – Santa Ana Police Department is encouraging all football fans to celebrate Super Bowl LIII responsibly by not driving impaired, or letting other fans get behind the wheel when they shouldn’t.

“Millions of people will be watching the Super Bowl at parties and bars across the country,” David Valentin, Chief of Police. “Please don’t put others at risk because you chose to break the law and drive impaired.”

Santa Ana Police Department also reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

If you’re hosting a party, be a team player and have plenty of snacks and non-alcoholic drinks available for designated sober drivers. Be sure to monitor who is drinking and how they are getting home. If you plan to drink, don’t plan to drive. Even one drink can be one too many so have your sober friend be the “MVP” and get you home, use ride-share or take public transportation. Anyone who sees a drunk driver should call 911.

No matter who you are rooting for on Super Bowl Sunday, we are all on the same team when the game ends so remember to go safely.

Enjoy an evening of gourmet beer and food at the O.C. Heritage Museum in Santa Ana on Feb. 2

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The Orange County Brewers Guild has announced that its inaugural OC Palate: A Beer & Food Event will be held on Saturday, February 2nd from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Orange County Heritage Museum (3101 W. Harvard Street in Santa Ana). This sophisticated beer and food event is geared to those who appreciate a full culinary experience as it unites Orange County’s most noted independent craft breweries and the region’s most celebrated chefs.

Guests will enjoy an intimate evening of sampling carefully curated food and beer pairings that have been created through collaboration between local brewers and chefs. Guests will have the opportunity to partake in a variety of small-plate pairings and learn about the intention and inspiration behind each as they speak with the brewers and chefs firsthand.

“Orange County is quickly becoming a burgeoning craft beer destination amongst the already prestigious Southern California beer community,” commented Errica Cook, Executive Director of the Orange County Brewers Guild. “Our brewers are making nationally and globally recognized beers and this event is an opportunity to celebrate and showcase their creations. By pairing our world-class beers with food, guests will be able to experience beer as a pairing in the culinary world.”

Following is a list of participating breweries and chefs:

FEATURED BREWERIES:

  • All-American Brew Works
  • Artifex Brewing
  • Asylum Brewing Company
  • Backstreet Brewery
  • Beachwood Brewing
  • BJ’s Brewhouse
  • Bootleggers Brewery
  • Bottle Logic Brewing
  • Bruery Terreux
  • Chapman Crafted Beer
  • Docent Brewing Co.
  • Four Sons Brewing
  • GameCraft Brewing
  • Green Cheek Beer Co.
  • Gunwhale Ales
  • Honey Pot Meadery
  • Hoparazzi Brewing
  • Karl Strauss
  • Lost Winds Brewing
  • Phantom Ales
  • RIIP Beer Co.
  • Stereo Brewing
  • Taps Brewery & Barrel Room
  • The Good Beer Co.
  • Towne Park Brew Co.
  • Tustin Brew Co.
  • Unsung Brewing

TICKETS:

Tickets are $100 per guest (21+ only) and must be purchased in advance at https://events.ocbrewers.org/e/ocpalate. Guests will have access to unlimited pours and bites, as well as a commemorative keepsake glass.

ABOUT THE OC BREWERS GUILD:

The Orange County Brewers Guild is an organization dedicated to educating the public about the great American tradition of craft beer and its rich brewing culture in Orange County. With over 37 established craft breweries within the county’s borders, the OC Brewers Guild strives to bring to the public visibility and knowledge of the rich and steadily growing brewing culture present in Orange County.

The guild aims to:

• Educate the public about the benefits of fresh, local beer

• Promote the interests of breweries located in Orange County

• Participate in and create local community events to raise funds for charities, and increase public awareness of locally available craft beer.

As the organization continues to develop and expand, it hopes to cultivate a passion for craft beer in the general community and inspire the public to seek out their local artisan breweries.

The SAPD is conducting a DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, Jan. 25

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, January 25, 2019 in the area of 200 S Grand Ave.

SANTA ANA POLICE STEP UP DUI ENFORCEMENT

The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday January 25th, 2019. It will begin at 9:00PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:30AM. It will be conducted in the area of 200 S Grand Ave., 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.

Address/Location
Santa Ana Police Department