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Category Archives: Crime

The SAPD arrested a pastor for allegedly sexually assaulting a little girl

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Santa Ana Police Detectives arrested Carlos Ramirez Valdez, a 57-year-old resident of Riverside, California for Child Molest.

Between 2014 and 2017, Valdez was a member of the “Iglesia De Dios Ebenezer Church” located at 2020 West Chestnut Ave. in Santa Ana, California. During that time, Valdez lured an eight-year-old girl that was attending church service into a van where he sexually assaulted her.

Valdez repeatedly assaulted the victim by luring her into a van over a period of three years.

In January 2020, the Riverside Police Department investigated a sexual abuse allegation against Valdez. The abuse was said to have occurred in 2017 when the victim was eight years old. Also in January 2020, a third victim reported being sexually abused by Valdez to the Garden Grove Police Department. This abuse was said to have occurred in 2015. The victims in both of these cases knew Valdez through the church.

Valdez became a pastor and is now a pastor at the International Mission Church USA located at 505 South Main Street in Santa Ana, California.

Valdez was booked at the Orange County Jail for numerous child molest charges and his bail has been set at $100,000.00.

The Santa Ana Police Department detectives believe there could be additional victims. Detectives are asking for anyone with information to contact Detective J. Gaeta at (714) 245-8350, jgaeta@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Four O.C. suspects arrested for allegedly stealing nearly $2 million worth of products from retailers

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Anaheim residents Jaime Mendoza, 36, and Maritza Guerrero, 31, and two others were arrested by California Highway Patrol officers on Aug. 31, on charges of stealing nearly $2 million worth of retail products from 43 different stores. They allegedly stored the products inside mobile home in Midway City and in multiple storage units.

They were seen, by CHP investigators, committing at least one theft and they then took the stolen merchandise to their mobile home

Investigators from TJX Companies Inc., which owns TJ Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods stores, also identified the suspects. The CHP’s Organized Retail Crime unit, which works with retailers across the state to combat sophisticated crews who steal merchandise, was engaged by the investigators to track down the suspects.

The other two suspects, Yolanda De la Rosa, 48, and Jaime De la Rosa, 55, were arrested after CHP investigators obtained a search warrant and then found merchandise from “floor to ceiling” inside the mobile home.

The CHP investigators found even more merchandise at four self-storage units that are also connected to the suspects. The investigators needed multiple trucks to haul off all the stolen goods. The investigators also found more than $65,000 in cash. The merchandise still had store tags and several had security sensors.

The CHP did not indicate how they identified the suspects but did say that the suspects targeted stores throughout Southern California.

Mendoza was already released from jail, on Sep. 1. Guerrero and both Jaime and Yolanda De la Rosa remained in jail on no bail. They are supposed to make their next court appearance on Sept. 16.

A Santa Ana man was killed by a hit and run driver in Fountain Valley

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On September 11, 2021, at approximately 6:21 a.m., the Fountain Valley Police Department responded to the intersection of Edinger Avenue and Ward Street regarding a traffic collision involving a dark colored vehicle and a pedestrian.

Officers arrived and discovered an injured male pedestrian suffering from traumatic injuries in the westbound lanes of Edinger Avenue.

The involved vehicle fled the scene.

Paramedics responded to the scene and the pedestrian was transported to a local hospital. The pedestrian succumbed to his injuries two days later and was pronounced deceased.

The male pedestrian was identified as 34 year old Long Ta of Santa Ana. The victim’s family has been notified.

The investigation revealed the suspect vehicle was traveling westbound on Edinger Avenue towards Ward Street. Witnesses said the pedestrian was walking northbound across Edinger Avenue while in the crosswalk with a green walk signal. The suspect vehicle ran the red traffic signal and struck the pedestrian in the roadway. The vehicle did not stop and was last seen westbound on Edinger Avenue.

In the days following the collision, Traffic Investigators have reviewed surveillance footage and identified a vehicle of interest in the collision. The vehicle is possibly a, dark colored 1991-1995 Chrysler or Dodge minivan, which may have sustained left front end damage.

Photos of the actual vehicle of interest, captured via surveillance footage are seen above.

Ta was an engineer. He was jogging when he was struck and killed.

FVPD Investigators are requesting anyone with information which will lead to the identification of the vehicle and driver to contact the FVPD Traffic Bureau at 714-593-4481. Incident #21-29620.

La Habra mother found to be sane when she pushed her infant off the CHOC parking structure

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – A La Habra mother was found by a jury to be sane when she pushed her 7-month-old son off the fourth story of the Children’s Hospital of Orange County parking structure in Orange, killing the infant.

Sonia Hermosillo, 41, of La Habra, was convicted by a jury last month of one felony count of first-degree murder and one felony count of assault on a child causing death. Hermosillo had entered a plea of not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, triggering a separate trial to determine whether she was legally insane at the time of the crime.

The same jury which convicted Hermosillo of first-degree murder also found her to be sane at the time of the murder.

Hermosillo is currently being held on no bail. She faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life. She is scheduled to be sentenced on October 29, 2021 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana in Department C30.

On Aug. 22, 2011, Hermosillo drove her 7-month-old son, Baby Noe, to the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and parking her car on the fourth floor of a parking structure. The baby suffered medical conditions that required him to receive medical treatment at CHOC regularly, but the infant did not have a scheduled appointment that day. Baby Noe wore a medical helmet for one of his medical conditions.

At approximately 6:20 p.m., Hermosillo removed her baby’s helmet and pushed Baby Noe from the parking structure with the intention of murdering him with the four-story fall. Hermosillo then walked inside the hospital, validated her parking, and drove away.

A witness who saw the baby falling through the air called 911 and the Orange Police Department (OPD) responded to the scene. Baby Noe was taken to the trauma center at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center in critical condition. He died two days later.

Shortly after Baby Noe was pushed off the parking structure, Hermosillo’s husband called law enforcement to report his wife and infant son were missing. That night an Orange police officer saw Hermosillo driving past CHOC on Main Street and arrested her.

Hermosillo has two other children.

“No child should die at the hands of another human being, let alone the very person whose most basic responsibility is to keep that child safe from harm,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Baby Noe should be here today, but he is not because of the methodical and callous decision by his own mother to push him to his death. No words can express the incredible sorrow that his father and siblings have had to suffer by the loss of Baby Noe.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Mena Guirguis of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

Orange County will release the new Hate Crimes Report on Friday

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SANTA ANA, Calif. (September 13, 2021)— On September 17, 2021, the public is invited to participate in the virtual release of the Orange County 2020 Hate Crimes Report, where the Orange County Human Relations Commission will present Orange County hate activity trends for 2020. The County produces and publishes this report annually to increase awareness, strengthen hate crime prevention programming, and promote a bias-free community.

The 2020 Hate Crimes Report reflects an increase in both hate incidents and crimes from 2019 in Orange County, with the most frequently reported hate crime being motivated by the person’s race, ethnicity, and/or national origin, followed by religious intolerance and anti-LGBTQ.

In 2020, hate incidents in Orange County more than doubled from 2019. Of the 263 reported hate incidents reported, 76 cases were related to anti-Asian discrimination, a ten-fold increase from last year. Anti-Semitism also saw a significant rise with 94 hate incidents reported compared to 44 in 2019.

“The rising worldwide statistics of hate crimes are alarming,” said Chairman Andrew Do, First District Supervisor. “Racial discrimination has serious and long-lasting negative impacts on our community, as well as on people’s physical health and psychological well-being. We must come together and support one another as people to help create a better world for our children.” 

Report Release Information:

Date: Friday, September 17, 2021

Time:  9-10:30 a.m.

Location:  Webinar via Zoom

Speakers: Chairman Andrew Do, Orange County Board of Supervisors; Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer; Priscilla Huang, Asian Americans in Action; Douglas Haynes; University of California, Irvine

Registration: https://bit.ly/hatecrimereport20; Registration closes Friday, September 17.

The Orange County 2020 Hate Crimes Report will also be available online upon release on the OC Human Relations Commission website at http://occommunityservices.org/ochrc. For registration assistance and more information, please contact Norma Lopez at (714) 697-5069.

The County of Orange would like to thank the Orange County Human Relations Commission who are volunteer members of the public appointed by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to seek out the causes of tension and conflict; discrimination and intolerance based on race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, age, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, or marital status; and attempt to eliminate those causes.

The County of Orange would also like to thank the Orange County Human Relations Council, which is contracted by the County to support the Commission and work closely with law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, diverse faith leaders, and community members to respond and track hate crimes and incidents on behalf of the County.

To learn more about services provided by the County through the OC Human Relations Commission, please visit occommunityservices.org/ochrc.

Anaheim transient arrested for allegedly stabbing a security guard to death

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ANAHEIM, Calif. (September 11, 2021) – Anaheim homicide detectives have arrested 24-year-old Andrew Isaiah Godinez, a transient from the Anaheim area, for the unprovoked stabbing death of Joseph Paul
Gomez, a 46-year-old Tustin resident.

On Friday, September 10, at 10:13 p.m. Anaheim police officers responded to a strip mall in the 1800 block of W. Lincoln Avenue after multiple callers reported that a man was being stabbed. Responding officers located Godinez leaving the scene and arrested him without incident.

Gomez, who was working at the location as a security guard, was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Detectives are seeking additional witnesses or people who may have had other contacts with Godinez. Anyone with information is asked to call the APD Homicide Detail at 714-321-3669.

Friends and family of Gomez are hosting a Kermes to raise funds for his funeral on Saturday, Sep. 18, 2021, at 5103 W. 7th St., in Santa Ana, starting at 9 a.m. Food will be available for sale including tamales, tacos dorados, menudo, nachos, ceviche, tinga, beer, soda, cookies and chips.

The SAPD is investigating the fatal shooting of a man in the Pico-Lowell Neighborhood

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On Thursday, September 9, 2021, at approximately 10:57 PM, Santa Ana Police Officers responded to reports of shots fired at the 900 block of South Shelton Street, in the Pico-Lowell Neighborhood.

Officers arrived on scene and located an adult male with an apparent gunshot wound to his upper torso.

Orange County Fire Authority treated the victim at the scene and subsequently transported him to a local hospital. The victim underwent emergency surgery but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.

The identity of the decedent is pending identification by the Orange County Coroner’s Office.

The initial investigation revealed this is possibly a gang related homicide and qualifies for the Gang Reward Program.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Homicide Unit is handling the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call SAPD Homicide Unit at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

The Costa Mesa police made 10 DUI arrests at their last DUI checkpoint

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On Friday night, Sept. 3, 2021, at the Costa Mesa Police Department’s DUI and driver’s license checkpoint on Newport Boulevard and Flower Street, with assistance from Orange County Sheriff’s Department, CA and CHP – Santa Ana, a total of 290 vehicles were screened.

The DUI screenings yielded 25 field sobriety tests, 10 DUI arrest, 6 citations issued for driving unlicensed including 1 driver with a suspended license, and 13 vehicles impounded.

A total of 1,938 vehicles passed through this checkpoint.

The checkpoint was funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

The SAPD seized a drugs and cash from two suspects near the railroad tracks

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While conducting outreach and enforcement in the area of N. Edinger Avenue, the SAPD’s Quality of Life Team (QOLT) made contact with two subjects near the railroad tracks.

Both subjects were found to have outstanding warrants for their arrest.

During a search of one of the subjects’ property, 18.6 oz. of methamphetamine, 18 grams of fentanyl, packaging material, a digital scale and over $2000 cash were found inside of a backpack.

Both subjects were booked for possession of narcotics and outstanding warrants.

The SAPD seized firearms and drugs at an illegal marijuana grow operation

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Yesterday, SAPD Vice Detectives, with the assistance of Directed Patrol and Code Enforcement, served a search warrant at a suspected illegal cannabis business in the area of the 100 block of E. Alton Avenue. just north of the Sandpointe Neighborhood.

Upon entry into the business, officers and detectives located cannabis and firearms.

In total, over 20 pounds of cannabis, 4 firearms & 1 shotgun were seized.

The investigation continues.

The SAPD is looking for suspects who assaulted a woman in the South Coast Metro area

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SAPD police officers responded to a call of a female who had been assaulted in the area of S. Flower Street and W. Sunflower Avenue.

When officers arrived, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) had treated the victim for injuries. The victim indicated she had been assaulted but could not provide further information. OCFA transported her to the hospital for an evaluation.

At the hospital, it was determined she had sustained a traumatic head injury. Officers and Detectives are canvassing the area for a possible crime scene and to locate witnesses. The Investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Moroyoqui at (714) 245-8390.

Gunfire wrecked a Santa Ana resident’s TV but SAPD police officers replaced it

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During the shooting this Thursday night, near Madison Park, that resulted in a homicide, one of the bullets went through a nearby apartment, hitting the resident’s television – causing it to shatter.

SAPD officers collected money, bought the resident a new tv and delivered it to his home the next afternoon!

We have heard a lot this week about the shenanigans at the Santa Ana Police Officers Association and their greedy leader, Gerry Serrano. The good news is most of our local police officers are good people who sincerely want to help the community.

An adult male was shot and killed by Madison Park

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On Thursday, September 2, 2021, at approximately 5:01 PM, the Santa Ana Police Department responded to the 1600 South block of Evergreen Street (just south of Madison Park) after receiving calls of a shooting. Officers arrived on scene and located an adult male with apparent gunshot wounds to his upper body.

Officers immediately began life saving measures. Orange County Fire Authority paramedics arrived on scene and transported the victim to a local hospital. The victim underwent emergency surgery but ultimately succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

This is an active homicide investigation. Officers and Homicide detectives are currently working the crime scene. Initial investigation revealed this is possibly gang related homicide and qualifies for the Gang Homicide and Felony Assault Reward Program.

The Santa Ana Police Department’s Homicide Unit is handling the investigation. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact (714) 245-8390

The SAPD is searching for a hit and run driver who hit two pedestrians on 8/26

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On 08/26/2021, at about 10:35 a.m., a suspect vehicle was traveling eastbound on 3rd Street, approaching Western Avenue when it struck a pedestrian causing severe injuries.

The vehicle fled the scene and several minutes later, the same vehicle was seen traveling northbound on Raitt Street and made a ride hand turn onto 7th Street when it struck another pedestrian, causing moderate injuries.

The vehicle continued driving eastbound on 7th Street and fled the scene before police could make contact.

The vehicle and driver are still outstanding.

Anyone with information is asked to please contact Investigator L. Bao 714-245-8223 / lbao@santa-ana.org

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

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COSTA MESA, Calif. (Sept. 1, 2021) – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) will be conducting a driving under the influence (DUI) and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. within the city limits.

Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired. During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

“These checkpoints, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety, are essential to keeping the community safe,” Sgt. Dan Miles said. “We are looking for impaired drivers because driving under the influence is dangerous and puts others on the road at risk.”

CMPD reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or “operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

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 to get home, which could be a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, a cab or public transportation.
  • If you see someone who is impaired try to 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.
  • If you plan on drinking or taking medications that may impact your ability to drive safely, plan on staying at home.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

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.