Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Fullerton

Armory Shelters in Santa Ana and Fullerton Extend Hours Due to Rain

Posted on by Posted in Fullerton, homeless, Housing, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana, Calif. (February 14, 2019) – With coordination and support from the California Military Department, the Orange County Armory Emergency Shelter Program in Santa Ana and Fullerton is operating on a 24-hour basis beginning today through Saturday morning to provide shelter and protection to the homeless community during the current and predicted rain.

Due to the severe weather event in Orange County and the region, the County of Orange, in conjunction with Mercy House Living Centers Inc., is providing shelter services all day at the Santa Ana and Fullerton armories from Thursday, February 14 through Saturday morning, February 16 at 6 a.m. The armories are scheduled to resume regular operations the evening of Saturday, February 16 with operating hours from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The Santa Ana and Fullerton armories provide a total of up to 400 beds per night. Individuals experiencing homelessness will receive a nutritious meal, a warm shower and a safe place to sleep.

In addition to the seasonal armories, the County operates the Courtyard Transitional Center in Santa Ana and Bridges at Kraemer Place in Anaheim. For additional information about the County’s shelters, visit the OC Housing & Community Development webpage.

Man arrested for stealing from gym lockers all over Orange County

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Fullerton Leave a comment

Todd Neubauer

Fountain Valley Police Detectives arrested 29-year old Todd Neubauer of Fullerton for numerous thefts from lockers at 24 Hour Fitness and Crunch Gyms throughout the county.

Neubauer would cut the locks off gym lockers, steal the property and then use any credit cards obtained to fraudulently purchase items from various stores.

The Fountain Valley Detective Bureau investigated this case, developed several leads and ultimately identified Neubauer as the suspect.

He was arrested in Fullerton and had stolen property in his possession as well as bolt cutters and a lock picking set.

He was booked into Orange County Jail for burglary, possession of stolen property, identity theft, fraud and possession of burglary tools.

Just a reminder to the public, the safest practice is not to keep valuables in your vehicle or in a gym locker. Any possible victims are encouraged to call the Detective Bureau and (714) 593-4468.

A woman from Fullerton went missing in Santa Ana on Oct. 1

Posted on by Posted in Fullerton, Mental Health, Public Safety, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Lorena Gonzalez, a resident of Fullerton, has been missing since October 1. Her brother Alex Gonzalez reports that she is off her medication.

Gonzalez fell back into depression and was last seen around downtown Santa Ana in Orange County at 1 a.m. on Oct. 1. Continue reading→

Three men led police on a pursuit from Fullerton and were arrested in Santa Ana last night

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fullerton, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

You might have heard a commotion last night, Dec. 28, with police helicopters and lots of sirens, at the 5 Freeway. Turns out it was a police pursuit that led to the arrest of three men, according to the O.C. Register.

The incident began at around 8:20 p.m. when Fullerton police officers tried to pull over the suspects as they were driving a Dodge Ram truck, for a vehicle registration violation. This prompted the suspects to flee – and one of them three a handgun out of the window of the vehicle. Continue reading→

Man suspected of armed robberies of liquor stores in Fullerton and in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Fullerton, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

An armed robber was captured on surveillance video when he robbed Valley Liquors, located at 2429 West Edinger, in Santa Ana, just after midnight on Wednesday morning, according to KTLA.

The SAPD and the Fullerton Police are trying to figure out if this suspect is also the man who robbed JJ’s Liquor, located at 2238 W. Orangethorpe Ave., in Fullerton, at around 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

A man who shot at a Santa Ana truck driver on the 91 is heading to prison for only five years

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Fullerton, OCDA, Santa Ana 3 Comments

ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE

Case # 14NF3221

Date: July 21, 2017

MAN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR DRIVE-BY SHOOTING ON 91 FREEWAY

SANTA ANA – A man was sentenced today to five years in state prison for shooting at a man in another car on the 91 Freeway.

Defendant: Jerry Valentin, 35, Scottsdale, Arizona

Pleaded guilty on April 12, 2017, to: Continue reading→

A suspected DUI driver killed a Century High School student in a crash on the 57 on Sunday morning

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Fullerton, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Luis Torres, a 15-year old student at Century High School, was killed this morning while he was in the back of a 2009 Honda that was pulled over on the shoulder of the southbound 57 Freeway, in Fullerton, according to the O.C. Register.

The crash happened early on Sunday morning, at 1:59 a.m., just north of the Yorba Linda Boulevard off-ramp when Nicole Cortinas, 28, of Moreno Valley swerved a 2015 Honda off the freeway lanes and onto the shoulder, striking the 2009 Honda, according to the CHP. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man arrested and charged with a fatal hit and run DUI collision

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Crime, Fullerton, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Traffic Investigators Make an Arrest in Fatal Hit and Run Collision

Arrested: Israel Gutierres Zamora (45) Santa Ana

Booking Charges: Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated, Felony Hit and Run

Victim: Mitchell Paul Viturino (61), Fullerton

On Monday, February 8th, 2016 at 2:01am, officers responded to a report of a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Bristol Street and 1st Street in Santa Ana. The collision involved a silver 2006 Mercedes Benz E350 sedan and a red 1999 Ford Mustang coupe. It was also reported that occupants of the Mercedes were seen fleeing the scene of the collision. Continue reading→

Councilman Tinajero honored for his work as a speech and debate coach

Posted on by Posted in Education, Fullerton, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community Alert: Upon Retirement, Councilmember Tinajero Receives National Honor for Speech and Debate: Recipient of Harold Keller Award

Over the past weekend, at the National Speech and Debate Association’s 2016 National Tournament, Santa Ana Councilman Tinajero was announced as the recipient of the Harold C. Keller Award, a top honor provided to individuals for their dedication and development to speech and debate.  This great honor comes on the heels of Councilmember Tinajero’s retirement from being Director of the Fullerton Union High School Speech & Debate Team earlier this June after 15 years of dedicated service which included over 170 speech and debate tournaments, coaching of over 1,000 students, and numerous other prestigious accolades.

Councilmember Tinajero has an outstanding record of achievement including: Continue reading→

Middle College High School student recognized for her volunteer work as a Big Sister

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Education, Fullerton, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Big Brothers Big Sisters Names Inaugural ‘Angelitos Award’ Recipients

New award recognizes teen volunteers for dedication to the organization’s High School Bigs mentoring program

SANTA ANA, Calif., June 2, 2016 – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire, Orange County’s premier youth mentoring organization, is launching a new award named in honor of local auxiliary group Angelitos de Oro. The auxiliary is a major supporter of High School Bigs, one of Big Brothers Big Sisters’ three one-to-one mentoring programs offered to children facing adversity.

Receiving the inaugural award are two dedicated teen volunteers through High School Bigs. The program matches high school students one-to-one with children at local elementary schools in weekly site-based sessions facilitated by a BBBS program specialist. During these sessions, matches discuss academic achievement, self-esteem, bullying and relationship-building. Continue reading→

The OCTA gears up for 2016 Bike Month

Posted on by Posted in Bicycles, Fullerton, Health and Medical, irvine, Orange, Orange County, Santa Ana, Transportation Leave a comment

OCTA Gears Up For Bike Month

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority invites bicyclists of all ages to improve their health, help the environment and cut the cost of driving by celebrating Bike Month at their annual bike rally at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 12.

Get your free bike month T-shirt and join OCTA on the slow-paced group ride through Old Towne Orange and the Santiago Creek Trail. The ride will begin at Orange Metrolink Station and end at OCTA’s headquarters. Continue reading→

Learn about the future of transit on Harbor Blvd. at upcoming open houses

Posted on by Posted in Fullerton, Garden Grove, OCTA, Transportation Leave a comment

City of Santa Ana

Community Alert: Help Develop the Vision for Future Transportation Opportunities: Central Harbor Blvd Transit Corridor Study

The Orange County Transportation Authority is partnering with the cities of Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Anaheim and Fullerton for the Central Harbor Blvd. Transit Corridor Study to envision the future of transit on Harbor Blvd.

Harbor Blvd. provides a vital north-south connection linking residents, businesses, schools and visitor destinations and has the distinction of being the busiest bus routes in the County. Continue reading→

Speeding car caused a fatal crash this morning that closed the N. Bristol and W. First St. intersection

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Crime, Fullerton, Public Safety, Santa Ana 1 Comment

A high-speed crash left one person dead and two others sought by police in Santa Ana Monday morning, according to KTLA News.

The accident happened this morning just after 2 a.m. when a driver in a silver Mercedes Benz ran a red light while speeding southbound at the intersection of North Bristol Street and West 1st St., according to the O.C. Register.

The speeding driver broadsided a red Ford Mustang that was headed eastbound through the intersection, fatally injury the Mustang’s driver, Mitchell Viturino, 61, of Fullerton. Continue reading→

The OC Armory Emergency Shelter Program seeks volunteers

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Fullerton, homeless, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Armory Emergency Shelter Program Seeks Volunteers

By OC Supervisor Lisa Bartlett

With the cold weather upon us, the Orange County Armory Shelter opened on November 14 and will remain open through April 15, 2016. The Armory Program provides up to 400 beds per night for the homeless in Fullerton and Santa Ana. Volunteers are needed 7 days per week to help both in the evening (5-8 PM) and morning hours (5-7 AM). Volunteer activities include assisting with set-up, clean up, passing out meals and donations. Continue reading→

Event combats human trafficking and raises funds for a Santa Ana nonprofit

Posted on by Posted in Brea, Charities, Crime, Fullerton, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Ed Royce, Lita Mercado, Marty Simonoff, Oree, a human trafficking survivor, Pastor Alan Frow, and Brea Police Chief Jack Conklin

U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, Lita Mercado, Brea Mayor Marty Simonoff, Oree, a human trafficking survivor, Pastor Alan Frow, and Brea Police Chief Jack Conklin

FREE OC HOSTED BY SOUTHLANDS CHURCH RAISED $15,000 FOR ORANGE COUNTY HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE – ITS NEWEST FAITH-BASED PARTNER ORGANIZATION TO HELP VICTIMS OF SEX AND LABOR TRAFFICKING RE-INTEGRATE INTO MAINSTEAM SOCIETY

At the Aug. 1 FREE OC Fundraising Dinner and Auction, The Task Force Debuted Rising Above, OCHTTF’s New Scholarship Fund for Trafficked Survivors

Brea, Calif. (August 3, 2015) – Southlands Church in Brea, the newest faith-based member of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF), which is administrated by nonprofit Community Service Programs (CSP), hosted FREE OC, a sold-out dinner and auction fundraiser for OCHTTF on August 1, 2015 that raised $15,000 to support survivors and help restore dignity to those rescued from sex and labor trafficking in Orange County. In addition to helping bring hope and freedom to survivors, proceeds from FREE OC kick started Rising Above, a new OCHTTF scholarship fund.

The OCHTTF is a virtual organization of multiple agencies organized to stop human trafficking, also called modern-day slavery, in Orange County. These human rights violations occur in the forms of commercial sex (sex trafficking) and forced labor, such as domestic servitude, factory or agricultural work. Since 2004, OCHTTF has assisted more than 450 victims of human trafficking from 36 countries. Continue reading→