Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Costa Mesa

A woman was arrested today for a hit and run involving a bicyclist in Costa Mesa

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The victim of a Costa Mesa hit and run accident

Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: Update: CMPD has arrested the suspect in the hit-and-run that occurred earlier today

The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) has arrested Pratiti Renee Mehta, 33, Costa Mesa, the suspect in the hit-and-run that left a cyclist injured this morning.

Costa Mesa police officers, along with the Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue, were dispatched to Bristol Street and Red Hill Avenue  on March 20, 2018, at approximately 8:20 a.m., in response to a hit-and-run that left a cyclist on the roadway. The caller, who reported the incident, was with the 56-year-old male victim on the roadway when first responders arrived. Continue reading→

The OC Fair & Event Center will hire 1,500 workers for summer jobs

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OC Fair & Event Center to hire 1,500 workers for summer jobs

Costa Mesa, Calif. (March 7, 2018) – There is a lot of work that goes into putting on the annual OC Fair, and hiring is now under way to fill about 1,500 seasonal positions.

Jobs include everything from selling carnival tickets, parking cars and building exhibits to working as an accounting clerk, mechanic or audio assistant. Continue reading→

DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint set for this weekend in Costa Mesa

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Costa Mesa, Crime Leave a comment

Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: CMPD will conduct a DUI/driver’s license checkpoint this weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 7, 2018

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) will be conducting a driving under the influence (DUI) and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, March 9, 2018, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. within the city limits.

DUI checkpoints like this one are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspensions and other expenses that can exceed $10,000. Continue reading→

Homeless man arrested after police find a woman’s body at Talbert Regional Park

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Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: Man arrested after police find woman’s body in Talbert Regional Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2018

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) arrested a man today after the body of a woman was found in Talbert Regional Park.

At approximately 7:10 a.m., on Feb. 28, 2018, CMPD Dispatch received a call from a man advising he had found a female’s body in the Talbert Regional Park area. Police officers and detectives responded to the Talbert Nature Preserve, at 1299 Victoria Street, and located the male caller, identified as Daniel Correa, as well as the female’s body in the brush area nearby. Continue reading→

Man charged with stabbing and murdering a man in Costa Mesa

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Case # 18WF0485

Date: February 28, 2018

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR STABBING ACQUAINTANCE DURING DISPUTE IN COSTA MESA

*Defendant was out of custody after posting $60,000 bond for two 2015 cases

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged yesterday with murder for stabbing his acquaintance during a dispute in Costa Mesa.

Defendant: Jasper Bear Belknap, 21, Azusa

Charged on Feb. 27, 2018, with the following: Continue reading→

A Costa Mesa murder suspect was arrested today in Garden Grove

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Today, shortly after 12:00 p.m., the Garden Grove Police Department located and arrested Jasper Bear Belknap, 21, the suspect wanted in the homicide of 23-year-old Austin D. Robinson on Feb. 12, 2018.

Belknap was located in the area of Trask Avenue and Leda Lane in Garden Grove and was turned over to the Costa Mesa Police at the scene of the arrest. Belknap is now in the custody of the Costa Mesa Police Department and was booked into their city jail.  Continue reading→

Costa Mesa woman charged with embezzling over $265,000 from her employer

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In January 2016, a police investigation began after the Laguna Beach Corporation suffered a grand theft totaling over $80,000, according to the Laguna Beach Police Department.

The investigation led to Nhora Tellez, a 38-year-old Costa Mesa woman who was the victim’s office manager and bookkeeper. Having access to the victim’s financial information allowed Tellez to use this information to her advantage. Continue reading→

Serial robber gets 12 years in prison for robbing 13 O.C. stores

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case #16WF1578

Date: January 5, 2018

SERIAL ROBBER SENTENCED TO 12 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR ROBBING 13 STORES BY THREATENING CASHIERS WITH REPLICA FIREARM

WESTMINSTER, Calif. – A serial robber was sentenced to 12 years in state prison for robbing 13 stores by threatening the cashiers with a replica firearm.

Defendant: John Allen Wagner, 50, Westminster

Pleaded guilty on Aug. 2, 2017, to the following felony counts: Continue reading→

A Good Samaritan saved a Santa Ana woman who was being sexually assaulted in a vehicle

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Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Detectives Arrest Suspect In Attempted Rape Case, Believe There May Be Additional Unreported Victims

Jorge Cruz De Armas (27) Tustin, suspected of kidnapping and attempting to sexually assault a 28-year-old woman, was arrested in Costa Mesa last night. Santa Ana Police detectives arrested 27-year-old Jorge Cruz De Armas at his workplace after evidence at the crime scene led police to his identity.

On Monday at about 4:30 p.m., De Armas contacted the victim and offered her a ride. The victim accepted the offer and willingly entered his vehicle. Moments later, De Armas asked the victim if she wanted to have sex with him and she refused. De Armas drove the victim to an alley in the 1600 block of East Palm Street in Santa Ana where he attacked the victim. Continue reading→

An armed Santa Ana man got arrested in Costa Mesa after tampering with vehicles

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On Monday, Dec. 11, 2017, at approximately 4:55 a.m., the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) responded to the 3300 block of Nevada Avenue regarding a man looking into and tampering with vehicles.

A neighbor told the suspect, Trinity Crummie, 37, Santa Ana, to leave. Crummie then pulled a knife out of an arm sheath. Continue reading→

Las Vegas man gets eights years in prison for pimping a teenage girl in Costa Mesa

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ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

December 11, 2017

Case # 17CF2948

LAS VEGAS MAN SENTENCED TO EIGHT YEARS IN PRISON FOR TRAFFICKING AND PIMPING 16-YEAR-OLD UTAH GIRL IN COSTA MESA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Las Vegas man was convicted and sentenced to eight years in state prison today for trafficking and pimping a 16-year-old Utah girl in Costa Mesa.

Defendant: Brandon Antwan Hunter, 31, Las Vegas

Pleaded guilty today to the following felony counts: Continue reading→

Santa Ana man who stole and trashed a Ferrari caught begging for gas two weeks later

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Israel Perez Rangel, 38, a Santa Ana man got caught begging for gas money for what turned out to be a stolen $265,000 Ferrari and he was finally arrested after a two-week joyride that trashed the stolen vehicle, according to the O.C. Register.

Rangel was being held in the Orange County jail on suspicion of vehicle theft and grand theft auto with prior convictions and vandalism causing damages of $10,000 or more. Continue reading→

Las Vegas pair charged with trafficking and pimping a teen from Utah in Orange Counnty

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Brandon Antwan Hunter

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

November 28, 2017

Case # 17CF2948

LAS VEGAS MAN AND WOMAN TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR TRAFFICKING AND PIMPING 16-YEAR-OLD UTAH GIRL IN COSTA MESA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Las Vegas man and woman are scheduled to be arraigned today for trafficking and pimping a 16-year-old Utah girl in Costa Mesa.

Defendant: Brandon Antwan Hunter, 31, Las Vegas

Charged today with the following felony counts: Continue reading→

Burglars who fled from the police drove into a ditch by the 55 Freeway

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Two suspects believed to have burglarized a Costa Mesa business early Sunday were caught after leading police on a brief pursuit, according to the O.C. Register.

The burglary happened at about 7:25 a.m. at the 1900 block of Harbor Boulevard , near the Triangle in Costa Mesa, and the two suspects were seen fleeing in a gold colored GMC with paper license plates, according to the Costa Mesa police department. Continue reading→

Three suspects arrested for possession of narcotics, weapons, and a stolen scooter in Costa Mesa

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Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: Anonymous tip lead CMPD to suspects in possession of narcotics, weapons, and stolen scooter from Costa Mesa

Incident/DR#:17-15008

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) arrested three people for unlawful possession of narcotics, weapons, and a stolen scooter, after receiving an anonymous narcotics tip.

Prior to Nov. 10, 2017, CMPD detectives received an anonymous tip about unlawful possession of narcotics. Continue reading→