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Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Crime

A Santa Ana man suspected of murder was killed in a fight with an O.C. jail inmate

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ORANGE, Ca. (January 19, 2020) –At approximately 4 p.m. on Jan. 18, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. The inmate, 57-year old Kirk Price, was transferred to the hospital December 27, 2019 due to injuries he sustained during a fight with another inmate.

Price, a Santa Ana resident, was arrested March 25, 2016 by Tustin Police investigating the death of  OC Boxing MMA Academy owner Fahness Lutalo, who died the day before Price’s arrest by a man who walked into the gym and shot him several times, according to the O.C. Register.

Price was booked into Orange County Jail on March 25, 2016, by the Tustin Police Department on suspicion of murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.

Councilman Solorio announces a major reduction in homicides in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Jose Solorio, Santa Ana, SAPD 6 Comments

SANTA ANA, CA — City Councilman Jose Solorio announced a significant decline in homicides in Santa Ana and called on the police department to focus on enforcing anti-camping and related laws in order to continue the City’s progress reducing crime and making neighborhoods and business corridors safer.

Santa Ana experienced an overall 36% decline in homicides and a 44% decrease in gang-related homicides in 2019. There were 5 gang-related homicides in 2019 compared to 9 in 2018.

As chair of the City’s public safety committee in 2017, Councilman Solorio led the effort to hire more police officers and championed the police department’s initiatives to increase the size of the gang unit and bring back a vice unit. Under Police Chief David Valentin’s leadership, the Department re-allocated resources to provide 7-day a week gang suppression and intervention enforcement, prioritize getting dangerous and illegal guns off the street, and begin to rebuild the vice and narcotics unit.

“These statistics are proof that our policing strategy is working,” Councilman Solorio said. “As we see the homicide rates go down, we must also make sure we’re tackling growing areas of concern, which is why I’m calling on the Santa Ana Police Department to focus on enforcing anti-camping laws and addressing the high number of crimes committed against or by homeless individuals.”

“We need new initiatives to help reduce neighborhood crimes that residents bring to our attention, enhance community-oriented policing programs, and continue to lower 911 response times. These steps will move us toward being a safer City,” continued Councilman Solorio.

As a result of the last collective bargaining agreement signed with the Santa Ana Police Officers Association, the City has been successful in recruiting and retaining more officers — a record 50 new officers were hired in 2019. Councilman Solorio also urges the City to continue to improve staffing, technology, and youth development programs to make all Santa Ana neighborhoods safer.

The Santa Ana Police Department compiles and reports on homicide data on a monthly basis. After being elected in 2016, Councilman Solorio asked police for ongoing reporting of crime statistics to track the progress of our City’s public safety initiatives and make appropriate changes to ensure the safety of Santa Ana’s residents.

Jose Solorio is a Santa Ana City Council Member. He previously represented the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana in the State Assembly for six years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine and a master’s degree in public policy from Harvard University.

To learn more about City Councilman Jose Solorio, visit www.JoseSolorio.com, Facebook.com/SolorioForSantaAna, Instragram.com/SolorioForSantaAna or Twitter.com/JoseSolorio.

The SAPD is searching for a robbery suspect who stole $145K of marijuana money

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On 1/15/2020 at approximately 7:17 PM, a courier for a marijuana product distributor parked his work vehicle in the Mobil Gas Station at 1351 E. Dyer Road after collecting money from various dispensaries. After walking into the gas station, the suspect vehicle approached the passenger side of the victim’s vehicle. The front passenger exited and shattered the passenger window. The suspect stole approximately $145,000 in US Currency from the vehicle.

SUSPECT DESCRIPTION: Male with medium complexion, 25-35 years-old, wearing a red jacket with a white hooded jacket underneath and blue gloves.

SUSPECT VEHICLE: Newer model white Nissan Pathfinder

Anyone with information identifying the suspect/vehicle in this case is asked to contact Det. Cpl. Angel at (714) 245-8404 / Det. Romero at (714) 245-8529 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS

A suspect crashed into a truck this morning during an SAPD police pursuit

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On Thursday, January 16th, 2020 at approximately 12:59 AM, Santa Ana Police Officers attempted to stop a truck driving at a high rate of speed in the area of Fairview Street and McFadden Ave. The driver of the truck failed to yield to Officers and a pursuit was initiated.

The truck continued west on McFadden traveling in the opposing lanes of traffic of McFadden Ave. As the truck was entering the intersection of McFadden Ave and Harbor Blvd on a red light, a bobtail truck was traveling north on Harbor Blvd. The bobtail truck collided into the vehicle being pursued.

Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and briefly treated the male (suspect) before he was transported by CARE Ambulance to the UCI Medical Center. The male sustained serious injuries and is in critical condition at UCI Medical Center. The driver of the bobtail truck did not suffer any injuries as a result of the crash. The truck was later determined to be stolen out of the City of Huntington Beach.

The California Highway Patrol was called and is handling the collision investigation. The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is assisting in the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Corporal Daniel Carrillo at (714) 245-8346.

The SAPD is looking for a suspected arsonist

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On 12/01/2019 at 5:30 AM, an unknown suspect intentionally lit a door on fire at a hotel located in the 100 block of East MacArthur Blvd. This unidentified suspect is a person of interest in this arson investigation.

Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’6”, medium build, eyeglasses, dark hooded sweatshirt and pants, dark/light colored shoes, light colored backpack.

Anyone with information identifying the suspect in this case is asked to contact Detective A. Castro at (714) 245-8345 or acastro@santa-ana.org.

Santa Ana man accepts charges after killing two in a DUI crash in 2017

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Vincent de la Vega, 31, a Santa Ana man, was charged with murder in connection with a crash that killed two people on the southbound Orange (57) Freeway in Diamond Bar, according to the O.C. Register.

De la Vega pleaded no contest Monday to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He is due back in court on Tuesday, when victims’ impact statements are scheduled to be delivered, according to the Daily Pilot.

De la Vega’s crash victims included Eduardo Goncalves-Lins, 28, of Costa Mesa, and his passenger, Paula Queiroz-Lopes, 24, of Diamond Bar. They were killed in the crash, on Oct. 28, 2017, shortly before 3 a.m.

Goncalves-Lins was involved in a previous accident that morning as he was driving a 2014 Toyota Corolla south on the 57. He veered to the right and crashed into the back of a tow truck that was parked on the right shoulder just south of Diamond Bar Boulevard, according to the CHP. About a minute later, de la Vega’s Toyota Tacoma struck the Corolla, and both Goncalves-Lins and Queiroz-Lopes were thrown onto the freeway, according to the CHP.

Woman arrested for armed grand theft robbery after stealing $2 million of jewelry at South Coast Plaza

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COSTA MESA, Calif. – On Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at approximately 12:00 p.m., a female suspect entered a jewelry store located inside the South Coast Plaza shopping center at 3333 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa. She asked to look at and try on several pieces of high-end jewelry. After putting on the jewelry, the suspect asked if she could view the jewelry in the sunlight. She was informed the jewelry could not leave the store while she began walking toward the entrance, where she was stopped by the store security. The suspect then brandished a large knife and threatened the security officers. She fled the store and was followed to the parking lot, where store security was able to obtain the license plate of the vehicle as she drove away.

Karen Yvonne Flood

Based on the license plate information and witness identifications, the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) detectives identified the suspect as Karen Yvonne Floyd, 54, Newport Beach, and obtained a search warrant for Floyd’s residence.

On Jan. 13, 2020, detectives contacted Floyd in the lobby of her apartment building and placed her under arrest with no incident. Floyd was promptly booked and is still in custody, being held without bail. Detectives searched Floyd’s residence and recovered the stolen jewelry and the knife used in the robbery. The jewelry, valued at over 2 million dollars, was subsequently returned to the store.

The SAPD arrested an Uber driver on charges of sexual assault

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

Santa Ana Police Department Special Crimes Section detectives arrested an Uber driver on January 8, 2020, for a sexual assault that occurred in July of 2018. Amir Attia, a 45-year-old resident of Tustin, was arrested for the sexual assault. On the date of this incident, the victim, a 25-year-old woman, was involved in a traffic collision and arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) by the Tustin Police Department. The victim reported that upon her release from the Tustin Police Department, she requested an Uber respond to drive her home.

Attia, an Uber driver, drove the victim from the Tustin Police Department to her home in Santa Ana. Somewhere along the way, Attia stopped and sexually assaulted the victim. This was confirmed through DNA evidence.

Attia was arrested and confessed to sexually assaulting the victim. He was booked at the Orange County Jail for PC 289(d) Digital Penetration and PC 243.4(a) Sexual Battery. His bail has been set at $150,000.00. Attia has a previous conviction for sexual battery from 1993.

Santa Ana Police Department Detectives are asking that anyone with information regarding this case, or who may have been victimized by suspect Attia, contact Corporal Maria Lopez at 714-245-8542, mlopez15@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

The SAPD is looking for four suspects who attacked two juveniles and tried to rob them

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On December 30, 2019 at approximately 9:55 pm, both juvenile victims were walking westbound on W. Wilshire Avenue east of S. Ross Street. An older model, tan colored Honda Accord, with a sunroof, was also traveling westbound on Wilshire Avenue and stopped near the victims. Four suspects exited the vehicle and approached the victims.

The suspects questioned the victims about their gang affiliation and demanded the victims’ property. The victims refused and started to run away. The suspects chased the victims and assaulted both of them. One victim was also struck with a baseball bat.

The suspects took both victims’ property and fled the location in the suspect vehicle westbound on Wilshire Avenue and then northbound on Flower Street. The victims suffered minor injuries.

Anyone with information identifying the suspects in this case is asked to contact Detective Prewett at (714) 245-8323 or Dprewett@santa-ana.org.

Former instructor charged with molesting a Middle College High School student

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Santa Ana, Calif. – A former Santa Ana College welding instructor has been charged with four felonies for molesting a 15-year-old high school student enrolled in his class. Authorities are asking for the public’s help in identifying other possible victims of the instructor who taught at several high schools and community colleges across Southern California.

Santa Ana Police Special Crimes Section detectives arrested George Moreno, 59, of Cherry Valley, at Alessandro High School in the City of Hemet on January 7, 2020. He is currently employed through the Riverside County Office of Education as a welding instructor at the high school.

Moreno has been charged with four felony counts of lewd acts with a 15-year-old child. He faces a maximum sentence of five years if convicted. He was released from the Orange County Jail after posting $50,000 bail.

Moreno was a welding instructor at Santa Ana College from 2007 to 2018. Students from Santa Ana Middle College High School, which is part of the Santa Ana Unified School District, were enrolled in his class during that time.

In August 2019, a woman reported to Santa Ana police that she had been sexually molested by Moreno beginning in 2015, when she was 15 years old. The victim reported numerous incidents that occurred on campus over a three-year period.

“Teachers are entrusted with our most precious resource – our children,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Classrooms should be safe place where children can learn – not hunting grounds for predators.”

Authorities are asking for anyone with additional information to contact Santa Ana Police Detective Gerry Corona at 714-245-8343, Gcorona@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS. Devin Crowley of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

Suspect shot in the face by Costa Mesa police on New Year’s Eve facing 12 felony charges

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Santa Ana, Calif. – A 26-year-old man who survived being shot in the face by police after firing at an officer during an hours-long New Year’s Eve standoff was charged today with 12 felonies and one misdemeanor. Fernandez is also accused of holding one woman at gunpoint and shooting at another as she drove her car into her garage.

Steven Taylor Fernandez, 26, of San Diego, is facing a maximum sentence of 62 years to life plus 31 years and eight months if convicted on all charges.

Fernandez has been charged with one felony count of attempted murder of a peace officer, one felony count of attempted murder, five felony counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, one felony count of criminal threats, one felony count of vandalism, and one felony count of carrying a loaded firearm in public. He has also been charge with one felony count of discharging a firearm at an inhabited building, one felony count of grossly negligent discharge of a firearm, and one misdemeanor charge of brandishing a firearm capable of being concealed.

Fernandez has also been charged with five felony enhancements of personal use of a firearm during the commission of a serious felony, one felony enhancement of attempted premeditated murder, two felony enhancements of personally using a firearm, and two felony enhancements of discharge of a firearm.

Officers were notified of a man in distress who was in possession of a handgun near Orange Avenue and Palmer Street in the city of Costa Mesa around 3:43 p.m. on December 31, 2019.

The man, later identified as Fernandez, shot several times at police, who returned fire. Fernandez ran to a residential garage on the 200 block of Knox Place and opened fire on a resident. The resident was not hurt.

Fernandez barricaded himself in the garage and was subsequently shot by officers.

He was taken to Orange County Global Hospital where he remains in custody. Fernandez is scheduled to be arraigned on January 10, 2020 in Department C5 at the Central Justice Center.

Deputy District Attorney Laila Nikaien of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

Santa Ana woman arrested for stabbing and killing a man during a robbery in Tustin

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Tustin police have arrested a couple, Miguel Orellana of Anaheim and Erika Pineda of Santa Ana, and they have been charged with stabbing 62-year-old David Nakaki in Tustin, according to the O.C. Register.

The Tustin police say the motive for the fatal attack was robbery. They did not indicate what was stolen.

Police said the victim, 62-year-old David Nakaki, was taking his evening walk on Dec. 9 when he was attacked. People driving in the area found Nakaki on the ground near the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Norwood Park, according to ABC News.

Nakaki is survived by two older children.

Orellana, 19, was charged with felony murder with enhancements for using a deadly weapon and special circumstances of it also being a robbery. Pineda, 25, was charged with felony counts of conspiring to commit a crime and being an accessory after the fact.

The Costa Mesa police arrested an armed suspect who shot at them

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On December 31, 2019, at approximately 3:43 p.m., the Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) received a call of a possible suicidal subject armed with a handgun in the area of Orange Ave. and Palmer St.

An officer in the area observed Steven Fernandez, who matched the description of the subject in question. When Fernandez saw the officer, he began to flee on foot while firing several shots at the officer with a handgun. The officer returned fire and Fernandez continued to run and shot at the officer several more time. Neither Fernandez or the officer were hit during the exchange.

Fernandez fled to a garage in the 200 block of Knox Pl. where he shot at a resident. Fernandez was confined to the location by the perimeter established by responding officers.

CMPD SWAT responded and attempted to negotiate with Fernandez. As negotiators were occurring, Fernandez displayed a weapon which led to an officer involved shooting. Fernandez sustained a gunshot wound and was transported to OC Global hospital where he is expected to survive.

Two handguns were recovered from Fernandez. No community members or officers were injured during the incident. This is an ongoing investigation being handled by the CMPD and OC DA’s Office.

The O.C. Sheriff’s Department opens a housing unit for U.S. veterans

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The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will open its first-ever housing unit for select inmates verified as U.S. veterans, which is expected to support successful transition post-release.

Housing Unit for Military Veterans (HUMV) at the Theo Lacy Facility will include 32 beds, patriotic-themed murals on the walls, 55-inch televisions, game room-style tables, and flags representing each branch of the military hung overhead.

To participate in HUMV, inmates must meet specific security criteria and agree to actively participate in the programming.

Inmates assigned to the unit will get access to additional privileges including more out-of-cell time and programming tailored to veterans such as peer mentoring, post-release employment resources and workshops, financial planning classes, and substance abuse services, among other programs.

HUMV inmates will be moved in starting January 2, 2020.

“This is not just a new housing unit with different paint on the walls. This is a program model designed to go one step further in better assisting those who have served our country,” said Sheriff Don Barnes. “The Sheriff’s Department dedicates much time and resources to build diverse and effective programming for all inmates with the hope that when released from custody, individuals will not recidivate.”

OCSD Correctional Programs has partnered with 10 agencies to provide programming for HUMV, including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Tierney Center for Veteran Services, Working Wardrobes and the Orange County Probation Department, among others.

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

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The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, December 27, 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 3200 W. 5th Street (Santa Ana, CA).

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.