On 03/05/2020, an arrest warrant was issued for Felipe Fernandez Garcia, 22-years-old.
Garcia is wanted for lewd acts with a child that occurred in the Villa Del Sol Apartments.
Garcia is aware police officers are attempting to locate him regarding this incident. Garcia is known to frequent Costa Mesa, Riverside and Santa Ana.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Garcia is asked to please contact Detective Tapia at (714) 245-8516 or GTapia@santa-ana.org.
Earlier today one of our Facebook readers reported a police helicopter near the apartments at Memory Lane and Bristol. Minutes ago we found out what happened!
An SAPD gang unit apparently observed three subjects flee from a vehicle, according to the SAPD’s Twitter account. A perimeter was established and two of the suspects were located hiding in separate yards; a loaded semi auto .380 pistol was found in a bush where a suspect was hiding.
The suspects turned out to be gang members and they were apparently on probation for firearm violations.
Some people never learn…
SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 30, 2020) –At approximately 3 p.m. on March 29, an inmate previously housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. The inmate, a 69-year old man, was transferred to the hospital the morning of March 27 due to medical issues resulting from underlying health issues. Upon the inmate’s arrival at the hospital, he was tested for COVID-19, and the results are pending.
The inmate was booked into Orange County Jail on Jan. 24, 2020 for a probation violation and possession of narcotics.
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.
The NIMBY’s in north Santa Ana have been gnashing their teeth of late about the homeless shenanigans at the vacant office building at 2525 N. Main St. but what is happening there is just the tip of the iceberg.
The developer at that property ended up shuttering it entirely. He is paying for roving mobile security daily and all night. But what about all the other vacant properties in Santa Ana?
One reader sent me a comment today that he found a homeless vagrant in his secure apartment complex, sleeping. This is surely not an isolated incident.
As we all shelter in place and avoid social contact the businesses the homeless relied on for dumpster diving no longer have much food in their trash cans.
A trio of vagrants recently killed one of their own at Santiago Park. They were all known for panhandling. I suspect that this murder was just a sign of the unrest and desperation in that community.
Vagrants also recently broke into and vandalized the Lawn Bowling Center at Santiago Park. There is roving mobile security now in our parks but these miscreants must have timed their attack.
Even worse the SAPD is hand-tied right now as they know the Courts don’t want to be bogged down with misdemeanors and the O.C. Sheriff is already releasing criminals from jail early as officials try to keep COVID-19 from infecting everyone there including jail employees.
This is all happening while certain Santa Ana City Council members keep attacking the concept of sheltering the homeless in our city. Yes there are a few shelters but most of the homeless in our streets cannot gain access to shelter in many cases because they cannot prove a connection to Santa Ana.
Leaving these people in the street is a recipe for disaster! It is a certainty that COVID-19 will eventually infect them. They will in turn carry that infection into our public parks and streets.
Right now, for example, the homeless have few options when it comes to using the restroom. Most businesses have closed. There are few public options. At night, when the park restrooms are closed, there are no options at all. Where do you suppose they are defecating? Doctors say that the COVID-19 virus can be spread through fecal matter. Imagine tracking that into your home if you step on it?
Many of our readers on Facebook have been sending me pictures of the homeless breaking into vacant properties. This will only get worse as the pandemic continues.
At some point I suspect we are going to start seeing outright rioting, looting and home invasions.
I have no answers for this disaster and I am dismayed that our city leaders are just ignoring this. In most cases their only answer is to say that other cities should be sheltering the homeless. Well maybe so but this is a crisis here and now! We can’t just kick the ball down the road any more.
What will we do when reports come in about an elderly couple that was home invaded and killed? I assure you this is going to happen and soon if we don’t do something.
On 03/25/2020 at approximately 6:50 PM, the victim was shot and killed at El Salvador Park located at 1825 W. Civic Center Drive. The suspect has been identified by detectives as Daniel Contreras who is a documented gang member.
Contreras was in possession of a .40 caliber handgun, which is outstanding. A warrant has been issued for Contreras’ arrest. Contreras is considered armed and dangerous.
Wanted Suspect: Daniel Christopher Contreras (22) Santa Ana
Description: Male, Hispanic, 6’01”, 175 lbs., Black Hair and Black Eyes
This case is eligible for the Santa Ana Police Department Gang Homicide Reward. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Contreras is asked to contact the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1 (855) TIP-OCCS.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 27, 2020): Communities across the United States are in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis. As the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to evolve, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department is taking proactive steps to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Three inmates in the Orange County Jail have tested positive for COVID-19, making it necessary to quarantine or isolate portions of the jail population to contain the spread of the virus. As a consequence, it is critical to create additional bed capacity in the Orange County Jail System.
State law authorizes a Sheriff, in cases of emergency, to release inmates from a correctional facility. Under this authority, and in collaboration with County of Orange criminal justice partners, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be releasing a limited number of inmates prior to the conclusion of their sentence. At this time, Sheriff Don Barnes is limiting releases to low-level offenders with less than 10 days remaining on their sentence and inmates who are medically vulnerable as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and the Public Health Officer. Violent offenders and those who pose a risk to the community will not be released early.
“The decision for early release was made collaboratively and is absolutely necessary to stop the spread of this virus and preserve lifesaving medical resources,” said Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. “During this unprecedented moment, with substantial pressure on our health system, we are taking action to protect those in our custody, reduce the risk to our correctional personnel, and ultimately preserve our mission to keep the public safe.”
Without the ability to manage the impacts of COVID-19 within custody operations, there is a risk of an outbreak in the jail system. Utilizing the emergency authority to release a small segment of the inmate population is a proactive way to reduce demand on the healthcare system beyond the jail walls and maintain the ability of the jail to keep the most serious offenders behind bars.
To date, the total jail system houses a population of 4,580 inmates. A total of 141 inmates have been quarantined due to potential exposure to COVID-19. Fifteen inmates have been tested for COVID-19, eight inmates have had a negative result, three have tested positive, and four are pending.
The Sheriff’s Department has implemented several changes to jail operations over the past few weeks in response to COVID-19. Actions include requiring enhanced medical screening for all inmates, law enforcement, and staff entering the Orange County Jail; temperature screening prior to entering any jail facility; temporary suspension of visiting; and increased access to hygiene and cleaning supplies for inmates.
On 03/26/2020 at approximately 2:20 PM, during a scheduled visitation at a local McDonald’s, Rosa Erika Lima Avila, the biological mother, drove away with Emiliano Lima.
Lima Avila’s vehicle has been located. The whereabouts of Emiliano Lima and Rosa Lima Avila are not known at this time.
Description: Male Hispanic, 2’04” tall, 22 lbs., black hair , brown eyes, last seen wearing a bright green shirt, yellow sweater and striped brown pajama bottoms.
Missing Child: Emiliano Barrera Lima (1)
If you have information on their whereabouts, please contact Detective Gus Moroyoqui (714) or gmoroyoqui@santa-ana.org.
On Wednesday, March 25, 2020, at approximately 6:51 PM, SAPD Officers responded to a report of a shooting at El Salvador Park, located at 1825 West Civic Center Drive.
Officers arrived and located an unresponsive male with an apparent gunshot injury. Orange County Fire Authority paramedics arrived and pronounced the victim deceased at 7:02 PM.
The identity of the decedent is being withheld pending positive identification by the Orange County Coroner’s Division and notification of next of kin.
Through the preliminary field investigation, officers determined a group of teens were congregating near the baseball diamond when two self-identified gang members confronted the teens regarding their gang affiliation. The confrontation resulted in one of the suspects shooting the decedent. The suspects fled the scene prior to the arrival of police.
Santa Ana Homicide Section detectives responded and assumed the investigation, which is ongoing.
Investigators encourage anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward and provide a statement. This case is eligible for the Santa Ana Police Department Gang Homicide Reward. Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1 (855) TIP-OCCS.
Orange County, Calif. (March 25, 2020) – The County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) is warning residents to be on the lookout for potential scammers using the COVID-19 situation in order to obtain confidential client information.
The California Department of Social Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Services have received reports of a potential scam targeting CalFresh food assistance program recipients. While many organizations are seeking to help communities respond to COVID-19, clients should exercise caution if asked to share confidential information.
Clients have been asked by scammers to provide personal information, including their EBT card number and PIN, Social Security number and date of birth. Please be advised this may be an attempt to gather information which may be used to withdraw funds from recipient accounts.
Clients are advised NOT to give out their personal information. Please remember that SSA will never ask for your personal information in a text message or via email.
If you are unsure if a request for information is legitimate, please contact the SSA call center to confirm the request at (800) 281-9799 or contact your assigned case worker if you have one.
If you have called the phone number associated with a request for personal information or responded to a text or email request and have provided personal information, it is recommended that you file a report with your local police department.
ORANGE, Ca. (March 24, 2020): An inmate in Orange County Jail has tested positive for COVID-19. The inmate, a man in his 40s, was booked into the Orange County Jail on June 17, 2018 on suspicion of child endangerment, torture, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon.
The inmate was recently isolated for flu-like symptoms, and was administered a test for COVID-19. The positive test results were returned today. The inmate remains in isolation receiving medical treatment with moderate symptoms, and at this time does not require hospitalization.
Prior to exhibiting symptoms, the inmate was housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana in barracks housing. The Orange County Jail employs an electronic card system inside the facility, which will enable the Department to identify all inmates and staff who have had contact with the inmate to notify them of the potential exposure.
Inmates who have potentially been exposed will be closely monitored for symptoms and their movement inside the jail will be restricted for up to 14 days. If an inmate begins to exhibit symptoms, the Department will follow the Communicable Disease protocol and the inmate will be isolated. The OC Health Care Agency’s Correctional Health Services staff will provide appropriate medical care and testing.
“We have been proactive in implementing containment strategies, and now will be activating our Communicable Disease protocol to safeguard the inmates and staff at the Orange County Jail,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.
To date, twelve inmates have been isolated due to flu-like symptoms, and eight have had negative COVID-19 or flu test results. The remaining three inmates are isolated pending test results.
The Sheriff’s Department is requiring enhanced medical screening for all inmates, law enforcement, and staff entering the Orange County Jail, including temperature screening prior to entering any OC Jail facility. The Orange County Jail population has steadily declined over the last ten days.
ORANGE, Ca. (March 24, 2020): An inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange was pronounced deceased at a local hospital the evening of March 23, 2020. The inmate, a 43-year old man, was booked into Orange County Jail on March 13, 2020 to serve time for a DUI conviction. He was transferred to the hospital at approximately 10:30 a.m. on March 23, 2020 due to medical issues, and was pronounced deceased at approximately 9 p.m the same day.
The inmate was recently isolated for flu-like symptoms, and was administered a test for COVID-19. The test results were negative, indicating the inmate did not have COVID-19. Following the negative results, the inmate remained in isolation receiving medical treatment until he was transferred to the hospital.
The Department is not releasing the identity of the deceased inmate at this time pending the notification of next-of-kin.
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.
There have been no inmates diagnosed with COVID-19 in an Orange County Jail to date. Twelve inmates have been isolated due to flu-like symptoms, and eight have had negative COVID-19 test results. The remaining four inmates are isolated pending the results of their tests. The Sheriff’s Department is requiring enhanced medical screening for all inmates, law enforcement, and staff entering the Orange County Jail.
Backers of the campaign to recall Santa Ana City Councilwoman Ceci Iglesias have put signs up in a Caltrans work area on N. Main St. and Edgewood, at the 5 Freeway. This is a blatant violation of the Santa Ana political sign ordinance which prohibits putting signs up in public areas. This work zone is also off limits to the public so the recall campaign supporters engaged in trespassing when they put up these signs.
I reported this on the MySantaAna phone app this morning. I expect the signs will be taken down soon.
This is the type of behavior I have come to expect from the recall supporters, who are mostly NIMBYs from the Park Santiago neighborhood and disgruntled members of the Santa Ana Police Officers Association.
The NIMBYs are upset because Iglesias voted to support the development of a luxury apartment building at 2525 N. Main St.
The police officers are upset because Iglesias refused to support their huge pay raise, which passed without her support.
Iglesias was actually instrumental in convincing the developer to greatly reduce the density of this project.
In related news we posted a video, above, of paid signature gatherers who were collecting signatures at Santa Ana College on a related ballot referendum, to overturn the City of Santa Ana’s approval of the 2525 N. Main St. development. The signature gatherers can be heard in the video telling voters that this project will displace the Discovery Cube – a blatant lie as this project will actually result in the Discovery Cube gaining access to badly needed additional parking spaces at 2525 N. Main St.
We also caught the signature gatherers blatantly blocking a public sidewalk in the Park Santiago neighborhood, by the 2525 N. Main St. property. That violation was also reported on the MySantaAna phone app.
The entitled NIMBYs who are supporting these ballot referendums are clearly willing to break the law to get their way. Santa Ana’s voters should remember this when the recall election comes up on May 19.
These same NIMBY’s by the way are currently lying again, on the Nextdoor website, about a recent killing that took place at Santiago Park. The killing happened at the entrance to that park, as a group of suspects attacked and killed a homeless man. The NIMBY’s right away blamed the 2525 N. Main St. development for this murder.
In reality if the 2525 N. Main St. project was actually progressing it would currently be in the framing state and there would be security around the clock. There would be less crime in the Park Santiago neighborhood.
The NIMBY’s recalcitrance and obstinance has actually made the Park Santiago neighborhood less safe!
On Saturday, March 21, 2020, at approximately 8:23 PM, SAPD Officers responded to a report of numerous subjects assaulting a male victim near the entrance to Santiago Park at the intersection of Main Street and Walkie Way. Officers arrived and located an adult male with numerous wounds on his upper body, which were bleeding profusely. Officers initiated life-saving measures. Orange County Fire Authority paramedics responded, treated, and transported the victim to a local trauma center. Live-saving efforts proved unsuccessful and the attending physician declared the man deceased at 9:13 PM.
The identity of the decedent is being withheld pending positive identification by the Orange County Coroner’s Division and notification of next of kin. The preliminary field investigation revealed the decedent may have been a transient living in the area.
Santa Ana Homicide Section detectives responded and assumed the investigation, which is ongoing. Investigators encourage anyone with information regarding this incident to come forward and provide a statement by contacting the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section at (714) 245-8390.
A suspected drunk driver crashed into an SAPD police officers squad car on Saturday night, March 20, as the officer pursued a third vehicle.
The officer was not injured, according to the O.C. Register.
The incident began at 9:45 p.m. when SAPD police officers tried to pull over a driver who was suspected of street racing at the 3000 block of South Fairview St.
The suspected driver failed to pull over and a police pursuit began. The driver ended up abandoning his vehicle at the 300 block of South Halladay Street. He was arrested after a foot chase.
The officer who ended up in the collision with the suspected drunk driver had responded to the pursuit when the collision took place at West Parton and South Highland Streets.
The suspected drunk driver was arrested on the suspicion of driving under the influence. A passenger was in the vehicle. That passenger had a minor injury but declined medical attention.
Judge Kimberly Menninger, at the Orange County Central Justice Center, has apparently ordered three days-worth of court appearances and all the defendants and lawyers in one crowded place in one day in violation of her presiding judge’s requested order to close the courts which was signed by the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court.
The O.C. Superior Court’s last Tweet, seen above, actually states that the Court will be closed at all locations for the next two weeks, through March 27.
While it is true that the O.C. Health Department has modified their Health Order today indicating that most businesses do not have to shutter it is also true that every organization should be doing everything possible to maintain as much social distancing as possible.
In Riverside County, for example, they are allowing counsel to call the courtroom clerk who then emails the new court date to the DA and counsel. As long as you have authority to waive time from your client you can call in.
Here is the latest press release from the O.C. Superior Court regarding how they are managing during the COVID-19 pandemic:
Superior Court of California
County of Orange
News Release
Public Information Office
Contact: Kostas Kalaitzidis, (657) 622-7097, PIO@occourts.org
March 12, 2020
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Coronavirus (COVID 19) Information
Santa Ana, CA – Recognizing the severity of the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak nationally and internationally, the Orange County Superior Court is taking active steps to control its spread within the community.
The Court is expanding sanitation efforts in public areas with additional personnel cleaning doors, elevators, stair rails, and other frequently-touched surfaces.
If you were called for jury service and you are ill, please contact the Office of the Jury Commissioner to request a postponement prior to reporting for service, by visiting www.occourts.org/ejuror/ or by calling 657-622-7000. We will make every effort possible to grant the postponement.
The Court is working to reduce the necessity of in-person courthouse appearances where it is legally and practicably possible.
We encourage the public to minimize in-person visits to the Court, by using the available online services on the Court’s website http://www.occourts.org/onlineservices/
Such online services include:
• The payment of traffic tickets (http://www.occourts.org/directory/traffic/paymentsextensions.html)
• Contact with Self-Help (http://www.occourts.org/self-help/)
• Accessing case information (http://www.occourts.org/online-services/caseaccess/)
• Accessing forms and information on eFiling documents with the Court
(http://www.occourts.org/online-services/efiling/ )
• Establishing online payment plans, (https://cupportal.occourts.org/home )
• and many others.
The public is encouraged to refer to the OC Healthcare Agency website for up-to-date information about COVID-19 symptoms: http://www.ochealthinfo.com/phs/about/epidasmt/epi/dip/prevention/novel_coronavirus
Members of the public who come to Court without presenting symptoms should still follow best personal hygiene practices, such as frequent handwashing, avoiding touching the face, and coughing or sneezing into the elbow.
The Court’s services and business hours otherwise remain unchanged. More information will be released as it becomes available, please visit our Court News on the web to find updates.