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Category Archives: Irvine

Burglary suspects who targeted O.C. homes arrested in multi county sweep

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – Five men accused of running a multi-county burglary ring responsible for stealing $1.9 million in designer watches and purses, jewelry, guns, purses, and cash in 44 residential burglaries in Orange and San Bernardino counties were arrested by SWAT teams on Friday.

The District Attorney’s AB109 Task Force, along with the Fullerton, Anaheim, and Buena Park Police Departments, the Orange Sheriff’s Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, executed simultaneous search warrants on Friday, May 15, 2020 in Los Angeles County.

Jurandir Endnilson Penate, 24, Erick Daniel Soria, 27, Alvaro Ramos, 37, Eugene Yi, 35, and Sergio Soto, 33, all of Los Angeles, were arrested in the multi-agency operation.

Felony criminal charges were filed against the five defendants Monday, May 18, 2020 in connection with the rash of burglaries that began in Chino Hills in August 2019 and continued in Fullerton, Anaheim Hills, Villa Park, Lake Forest, Yorba Linda, Buena Park, and Irvine through February. Four of the burglaries occurred when residents were home.

“This case underscores law enforcement’s resolve to effectively collaborate, across jurisdictions, to bring criminals to justice,” said Fullerton Police Chief Bob Dunn, who spoke at a Monday morning press conference at the District Attorney’s Office to announce the arrests.

Orange County Assistant Sheriff Jeff Hallock, Buena Park Police Chief Corey Sianez, Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros, Orange County District Attorney Bureau of Investigation Chief Paul Walters, and Assistant Special Agent in Charge Stephen Galloway of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives were also in attendance at Monday’s announcement.

Soria, who is currently on parole for residential burglary, is facing 83 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted on all charges. Soto, is a third striker with prior convictions for residential burglaries and assault with a deadly weapon, is facing 35 years to life in state prison if convicted on all charges. Ramos, who is currently on parole for residential burglary and evading police, is facing 125 years in state prison if convicted on all charges.

Yi, who has one prior strike for a 2005 great bodily injury conviction, is facing 19 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted on all charges. Penate is facing 55 years and 4 months in state prison if convicted on all charges.

“Ongoing efforts to decriminalize felonies and release state prisoners and jail inmates back into our communities has resulted in an increase in property crime. These are the people who are sneaking into our backyards to steal designer purses, shoes, cash, and guns,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “This case exemplifies why I started the AB109 Crime Impact Task Force last year to identify parolees who commit new crimes and assist police agencies in their investigations to get these criminals off the streets and back in prison where they belong.”

In order to support the efforts of probation which is now responsible for supervising AB109ers and to further protect the residents of Orange County, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office created a dedicated task force to identify and arrest AB 109ers who commit new crimes.

The AB 109 Crime Impact Task Force, which is housed at the Santa Ana Police Department, is made up of five District Attorney Investigators, one Santa Ana Police Officer, one Orange County Probation Officer, and an Investigative Assistant and a Research Analyst from the District Attorney’s Office.

Since July 2019, the AB 109 Task Force has arrested 128 AB109ers on new crimes, including five attempted murder suspects, four stolen car suspects, and 73 suspects arrested on felonies.

The task force has done 5,840 compliance and reporting checks on AB 109ers and revoked Post Release Community Supervision on 71 convicted felons since July 2019.

The AB 109 Task Force has located wanted subjects in other states, and coordinated their arrests and extradition back to Orange County to face charges.

Penate, Soto, Soria, Yi and Ramos are all being held on no bail at the Orange County Jail. This is an ongoing investigation.

The SAPD arrested a suspect in Irvine after a pursuit following a suspicious death

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On Saturday, February 22, 2020, at approximately 10:40 AM, SAPD Officers responded to 1203 South Baker Street for a death investigation. Officers met with a family member who located the homeowner deceased inside. Officers entered the home and located an elderly woman deceased. Orange County Fire Authority paramedics responded and confirmed the woman had died. The manner and cause of death is unknown at this time.

During the preliminary field investigation, officers canvassed the neighborhood. Based on witness statements and their observations inside the home, the officers suspected foul play. The scene supervisor requested the Santa Ana Homicide Section respond.

SAPD Homicide detectives responded and assumed the investigation. Detectives are seeking a search warrant to enter the home and recover potential items of evidentiary value. The Orange County Coroner’s Division is standing by for the warrant in order to conduct their investigation. The identity of the decedent has not been confirmed.

At approximately 1:43 PM, a possible suspect in the case approached the residence in a vehicle. When officers attempted to speak with him, the person drove away, leading officers in a slow speed vehicle pursuit. The pursuit terminated in the City of Irvine. The suspect barricaded himself in the vehicle. A K9 deployment occurred, which resulted in officers apprehending the suspect. The suspect is currently at a local trauma center receiving medical attention due to injuries sustained during his apprehension.

The investigation is ongoing.

Registration open now for OCFA’s Girls Empowerment Camp on March 7-8

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The Orange County Fire Authority’s Girls Empowerment Camp will take place for a second year on March 7-8.

OCFA will play host to 100 campers ages 14-18 at the free camp. Registration is now open at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/girls-empowerment-camp-registration-89898431629.

The camp introduces participants to the fire service and provides campers with a realistic, hands-on overview of firefighting. It teaches about all aspects of a fire service career, including the minimum qualifications for employment and the physical demands of the job. The program also empowers campers with life skills and professional guidance to encourage them to pursue careers in public safety.

The camp will take place from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day at the OCFA Headquarters, 1 Fire Authority Road, Irvine.

The SAPD arrested two male suspects for giving drugs to minors and having sex with them

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Santa Ana Police Detectives arrested two adults for giving two minors drugs and engaging in illegal sex acts with them. Isai Higinio Hernandez, a 21-year-old resident of Santa Ana, was arrested for committing lewd acts with a minor. Hernandez met both victims through Snapchat. Hernandez gave the first victim, a 14-year-old girl from Irvine, drugs before engaging in illegal sex acts with her.

At the time of Hernandez’ arrest, he was found sleeping in his vehicle with a second victim, another 14-year-old girl from Irvine and Jason Rabadan, a 20-year-old resident from Santa Ana. The second victim was a reported runaway from Irvine. Detectives discovered that Hernandez had also given her drugs and learned that Rabadan engaged in illegal sex acts with her.

Hernandez and Rabadan were booked at the Orange County Jail for multiple counts of committing lewd acts and for providing drugs to a minor. Their bail has been set at $100,000.00 each.

Santa Ana Police Department Detectives believe there may be additional victims because the suspects targeted the Irvine area and ask anyone with information to contact Detective J. Gallardo at (714) 245-8378, jgallardo@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

THE SANTA ANA POLICE DEPARTMENT WOULD LIKE TO REMIND PARENTS TO CLOSELY MONITOR THEIR CHILD’S SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVITY FOR ANY INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT.

Former Jamaican police officer, two others charged with murder of Irvine man

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Jamaican police officer and two other men have been charged with murdering an Irvine man and seriously injuring another during a home invasion robbery in October.

Devon Quinland, 33, of Westminster, Andre Andrews, 34, of Miramar, Fla., and Omar Miller, 41, of Lauderdale, Fla., have each been charged with one felony count of murder, one felony count of conspiracy to commit a crime, and one felony count of assault with a firearm.

The three men are also charged with the special circumstances of murder committed during the commission of a robbery and murder committed during the commission of a burglary. Additionally, Andrew and Miller are charged with three felony enhancements for personal use of a firearm and inflicting great bodily injury.

Miller is a former Jamaican police officer.

All three men could be eligible for the death penalty if convicted on all charges.

On Saturday, Oct. 26, at approximately 5:45 a.m., the Irvine Police Department and Orange County Fire Authority were dispatched to a call of an injured man in a residential neighborhood in Irvine.

A man told officers that he and his roommate had been assaulted inside a home onBayleaf Lane. Officers entered the residence on Bayleaf Lane and found a second man who was suffering several gunshot wounds. Both victims were taken to a local hospital and the gunshot victim, later identified as Raymond Alcala, 20, of Irvine, was pronounced dead. The second victim survived.

Quinland was arrested by Irvine police in the City of Westminster on December 17, 2019. Irvine police, with the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, arrested Andrews and Miller in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on the same day. Andrews and Miller were extradited back to California on January 22, 2020.

All three defendants are being held without bail in the Orange County Jail. Quinland is scheduled to be arraigned on February 28, 2020 at the Central Justice in Department C55.

“The men and women of the Irvine Police Department worked diligently to identify the individuals responsible for committing this horrible crime and we thank our law enforcement partners in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), including the FBI Orange County Violent Crime Task Force and the FBI South Florida Violent Crime and Fugitive Task Force, for their assistance in this case,” said Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel.

“The arrest and prosecution of these three individuals is a testament to the close working relationship the Irvine Police Department has across multiple jurisdictions and across state lines,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “It is this commitment to justice that is allowing the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to prosecute these murderers to the fullest extent of the law.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Janine Madera of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

L.A. man charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Irvine girl he met online

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 22-year-old man has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Irvine girl he met online, and videotaping at least one of the assaults. Investigators are asking for the public’s help in identifying other potential victims.

Angel Leonel Alonzo, 22, of Los Angeles, was arrested Thursday morning by the Irvine Police Department.

Alonzo has been charged with three felony counts of oral copulation of a victim under the age of 16, two felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, one felony count of sodomy of a victim under the age of 16, one felony count of sexual penetration by a foreign object of a victim under the age of 16, one felony count of using a minor in the production of child pornography, and one felony count of sending child pornography to a minor.

He has also been charged with one misdemeanor count of possession of child pornography.

Alonzo faces a maximum sentence of 11 years, six months if convicted on all charges.

He is currently being held at the Orange County Jail on $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, September 23, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. in CJ1.

“The internet provides predators with unfettered access to children who they can select and groom in order to abuse them,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “As parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, we must do everything we can to educate our children about the dangers of the internet and prevent them from becoming victimized. And as law enforcement, we will hold these predators accountable.”

“The Irvine Police Department aggressively investigates crimes perpetrated against children and we are committed to safeguarding these vulnerable members of our community,” said Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel.

Detectives are asking for anyone with information regarding other potential victims to contact the Irvine Police Detective Jameson Roberts at (949) 724-7170.

Deputy District Attorney Sarah Rahman of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.

Irvine burglary suspect now arrested for a double slaying in Newport Beach

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Press Release – Double Homicide Suspect Arrested

On April 25, 2019, the Newport Beach Police Department arrested Jamon Rayon Buggs, a 44 year old resident of Huntington Beach, for the murder of Darren Donald Partch, a 38 year old resident of Newport Beach, and Wendi Sue Miller, a 48 year old resident of Costa Mesa.

The victims were found deceased inside a residence in the 2100 Block of East 15th Street in Newport Beach on the evening of April 21, 2019. At the time of his arrest, Jamon Rayon Buggs was in custody at the Orange County Jail in connection with unrelated charges stemming from an arrest by the Irvine Police Department. Jamon Rayon Buggs is currently being held on a $1,000,000 bail pending double murder charges.

This is an open and ongoing investigation and no additional details are available at this time. Please see the attached booking photo of Jamon Rayon Buggs from the Irvine Police Department. Anyone with information regarding this case or with information on the recent activities and whereabouts of Jamon Rayon Buggs prior to his arrest should contact Detective Rick Henry at 949-644-3797.

The Newport Beach Police Department would like to thank our law enforcement partners, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Orange County Crime Lab, Irvine Police Department, Laguna Beach Police Department, Costa Mesa Police Department, Santa Ana Police Department, and Anaheim Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.

Costa Mesa Basketball Coach arrested for unlawful sex with minors in four cases from 2009

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Irvine, Calif. – A former basketball coach has been arrested after four victims came forward to report sexual incidents that occurred in 2009, when the victims were between 11 and 14 years of age. Carlos Juarez, 44, was arrested Thursday, April 11, outside his home on the 1300 block of Adams Avenue in Costa Mesa.

Juarez met the victims, who do not know each other, when all were in elementary school. Irvine Police Department Detectives believe that Juarez groomed the victims from a young age, with the incidents beginning years after his first contact with them. Juarez met the girls through his work as a basketball coach for a club team. The Irvine Police Department, Costa Mesa Police Department, Tustin Police Department and OC Sheriff’s Department are involved in the cases related to the four victims. Costa Mesa police arrested Juarez on a $100,000 warrant obtained by the Irvine Police Department. He was subsequently transferred to Orange County Jail.

Investigators believe there are more victims in this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective John Sanders at 949-724-7233 or jsanders@cityofirvine.org.

A Santa Ana man got 50 years to life in prison for killing a man over a bike

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Jacob Michael Margo

Jacob Michael Margo, 24, a Santa Ana resident, was sentenced on Friday to 50 years to life in prison for killing Octavio Jesus Alcala, a 19-year-old man, at an Irvine construction site – because he thought the victim stole his bike, according to the O.C. Register.

Margo was convicted in October of first-degree murder as well as a sentencing enhancement for using a gun to commit murder.

The shooting occurred at a construction site near Wolf Trail and Orchard Hills, in Irvine. Margo lured Alcala to that site, according to the OCDA. Construction employees found Alcala’s body on June 5, 2015, as they were arriving at work.

The prosecutor told the jury that Margo had told one of his friends that he “was going to shoot the guy who stole his bike.”

Margo allegedly savagely beat Alcala before finally shooting him, according to the prosecutor. Police investigators found Margo’s DNA on a rock at the scene of the crime.

Margo’s defense attorney argued that the killing was a “strangulation” done in the “heat of the moment” but the prosecutor countered by saying that Margo chose the construction site because it was remote and not close to residences. He then dumped the gun and ammo in the nearby ocean, at Laguna Beach.

Margo also told the jury that only wanted Alcala to “walk home” and he did not intend to hurt him.

The prosecutor also alleged that Alala’s body was a bloody mess when he was found and that Margo clearly had the upper hand during the entire altercation. Margo was in fact seen after the killing with hardly a scratch on his body.

Margo also had to explain to the jury why he went to Mexico two days after the murder. He said he went there to “get away” not because of the case and the resulting publicity.

The OC Sheriff is dumping ICE to focus on increasing mental health services

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 27, 2019) – Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes announced major changes to Orange County’s jail operations to efficiently use Department resources and address the increasing need for inmates requiring mental health services.

“Since 2015, we have seen a 40% increase in open mental health cases in our jails,” said Sheriff Barnes. “The number of mental health cases now reach almost 1,800 on any given day. Consequently, we must focus on enhancing our mental health services and expanding the number of beds available for individuals with mental health needs.”

As seen in the chart below, the number of inmates requiring mental health treatment in jail settings continues to climb, along with the severity of the mental illnesses. At present, approximately thirty percent of the jail population requires various levels of mental health services and that number has been increasing exponentially over the last five years. Mental health services include: counseling, medication management, intensive outpatient care, discharge planning, acute psychiatric inpatient care (hospitalization), and emergency psychiatric medications. OCSD has seen continuous increases in the number of inmates requiring mental health services from Correctional Health Services (CHS).

To address these increasing needs, OCSD will upgrade three existing housing modules at the Intake Release Center to treat inmates with mental health needs. ADA compliant cells and restrooms will be added. When complete, the upgrades will add approximately 500 behavioral health beds allowing for the security, care and treatment of male and female inmates. In order to accommodate the demand for mental health treatment and programming, increased staff will be added in mental health housing units. These upgrades and staffing will be more conducive to providing programs.

In addition to being a primary provider of mental health care, jails across the nation are also quickly becoming front line providers for substance use disorders, particularly in responding to the opioid epidemic. In 2018, approximately 40% of the jail population reported some type of substance use, and more than 100 inmates required frequent monitoring and assessment for drug and/or alcohol detoxification on a daily basis. With the upgrades, we will have designated areas for both males and females to focus on detoxification and treatment, in addition to added services and programing specific to drug use.

The Intake Release Center booking operations triage area where inmates first come when they are brought to jail will be redesigned and remodeled with privacy partitions to provide greater confidentiality when screening inmates for medical and mental health issues.

In order to fund and increase staffing ratios for inmates with mental health and substance use disorders, Sheriff Barnes has developed a jail operations reorganization plan.

“I have made the decision to make two significant changes to our jail operations,” said Sheriff Barnes. “These decisions are intended to mitigate the risk of litigation from the state while, at the same, minimize costs to Orange County taxpayers.

“Jail operations at the James A. Musick Facility will be temporarily suspended and our agreement with the Federal Government to house Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees will be ended.”

The Sheriff’s Department has leased bed space to ICE since 2010. The current agreement expires in July 2020 and allows for early termination.

In order to address the mental health crisis within Orange County jails, OCSD has notified ICE of the intent to terminate the agreement. Once formally terminated, ICE has 120 days to transfer the detainees to other facilities. Unfortunately, based on statutory language within SB-54, those individuals housed on behalf of ICE will most likely be transferred outside of California, separating them from family members who reside within this state.

The conclusion of the ICE agreement will allow maximized use of jail bed space and focus on the needs of the mentally ill. The loss of revenue will be offset by the savings through the temporary closure of housing operations at the Musick Facility.

The Musick Facility will be reopened when the construction of two new state-funded housing facilities are completed. The 512-bed and 384-bed facilities are specifically designed to meet the growing needs of today’s inmate population. The estimated completion is fall of 2022.

The decision to end the ICE agreement will not impact public safety. OCSD will continue to work with ICE within the confines of SB-54 to ensure they are alerted to the release of serious and violent offenders within our custody who have ICE detainers.

Treating those with mental illness in our jails is only one portion of the larger challenge policy makers must address with regards to the influx of the mentally ill in our community.

“We are obligated to do everything we can to provide care for the inmates in our custody and connect them to services,” said Sheriff Barnes. “We have a shared interest in rehabilitating inmates with mental health challenges and substance use disorders to be stable and sober, with the ultimate goal of having them not return to jail.”

Armed robbers have targeted several stores and hotels in Santa Ana and in Irvine

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A man wearing a ski mask and using a gun robbed a hotel in Santa Ana, then attempted to rob a convenience store in Irvine, and authorities said Thursday morning he may be connected to other robberies carried out in Orange County this week, according to NBC.

The suspect walked into the Courtyard by Marriott hotel near MacArthur Blvd. and Main St., in Santa Ana, at about 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday night. He pulled out a gun and then robbed the hotel of $600, according to the SAPD.

A similar crime occurred in Irvine on Wednesday night at 7-Eleven, 8693 Irvine Center Drive. At approximately 11 p.m., the suspect entered the store, brandished a silver handgun and demanded money from the clerk. The clerk refused, and the suspect fled. The suspect is between 5’5” and 5’7” and weighs 130 to 160 pounds. He wore a white T-shirt with a black long-sleeve shirt underneath and concealed his face with a ski mask. Irvine Police believe there is a second suspect involved in the robberies. The suspect is described as 5’9,” weighing approximately 150 pounds. He has been seen wearing a black windbreaker jacket, an orange beanie, and ski goggles.

Other robberies in Irvine took place at the Doubletree Hotel, 60 Pacifica, on March 1; the Marriott at 7905 Irvine Center Drive on March 11; and the La Quinta Inn, 14972 Sand Canyon, also on March 11.

The Irvine Police Department has established a tip line for information on the four armed robberies that have occurred in the City this month. Residents are urged to call 949-724-7394 to report information. Call 9-1-1 for crimes in progress. The Irvine cases are believed to be tied to a string of robberies across Orange County.

Santa Ana man facing multiple felony counts after allegedly attacking a cleaning woman in Irvine

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Criminal charges were filed Monday against Eduardo Godoy Gonzalez, a 21-year-old Santa Ana man accused of trying to sexually assault a woman cleaning an office in an Irvine commercial building, according to the O.C. Register.

Gonzalez is facing one count each of kidnapping to commit rape, assault with the intent to commit a sex offense, making criminal threats, second-degree burglary and false imprisonment, all felonies, as well as a misdemeanor count of brandishing a replica gun.

Gonzalez made his first court appearance in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana on Monday, but he did not enter a plea. He is currently being held without bail. He is set to return to court on Feb. 22.

It is alleged that Gonzalez approached his victim, a woman, at an office building located at 17877 Von Karman Ave., in Irvine at about 1:20 a.m. last Wednesday. He was carrying a skateboard and a fake Glock handgun, in the pocket of his sweatshirt, at the time. He entered the building through an unlocked door, according to the Irvine Police Department.

Gonzales then spoke to the victim in Spanish, asking her if she was working alone. She responded yes and then he made aggressive sexual comments to her before he demanded sex. He then pulled out the fake gun in his pocket, when she said no. He pointed it at her and he threatened to kill her, according to the prosecutor.

Gonzales then pushed the victim into another room, where he tried to remove her clothes. She begged for her life then fought him off for about four minutes, finally managing to disarm him. She then ran into a nearby office building looking for help.

When the Irvine police arrived at the scene they found the fake handgun. They were then warned by the victim that Gonzalez had a knife too.

The victim survived with bruised arms, hands and breasts. She also had scratches on her face.

The police credited the public with helping to capture Gonzales after the police released a surveillance video of the incident that led to several tips.

Santa Ana man arrested for allegedly attacking a cleaning woman in Irvine

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Irvine, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2019) – The suspect in an attempted rape that occurred in the early morning hours Wednesday, February 6, is in custody. Irvine Police Department Detectives arrested Eduardo Godoy Gonzalez, 21, of Santa Ana at his workplace in Tustin on Thursday around 5 p.m. Gonzalez was in possession of a knife believed to be used in the attack at the time of his arrest. A replica Glock handgun was recovered at the scene.

Police were led to Gonzalez thanks to several tips from citizens who saw media coverage of the case.

On Wednesday around 1:20 a.m., the suspect entered an unlocked door of an office at 17877 Von Karman Ave. and approached a woman who was cleaning the facility. The suspect asked the victim in Spanish if she was the only one there. When she said yes, he made aggressive sexual comments to her and ordered her to have sex with him. When she refused and said she was going to call police, the suspect pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the victim, threatening her life.

He then pushed her into another room and forcefully tried to undress her. For four minutes, the victim is seen on video pleading for her life and fighting off the attacker.

Eventually, the victim was able to overpower the suspect and disarm him. The victim then ran for help in a nearby building.

The gun was found at the location and determined to be a replica Glock handgun. The victim also reported seeing a knife during the attack. She suffered injuries during the assault, including bruising to her arms, hands and breast and scratches to her face.

The investigation in the case is ongoing. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Irvine Police Department Detective Haldor Larum at 949-724-7194.

A man was caught on video attacking and trying to rape a cleaning woman in Irvine

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The Irvine Police Department is looking for a male suspect who violently attacked and tried to rape a woman who was doing janitorial work at an office in Irvine, according to KTLA.

The attack happened early on Wednesday morning, February 6, 2019, at 1:20 a.m., at an office located at 17877 Von Karman Ave. The suspect entered the facility through an unlocked door.

The suspect was carrying a skateboard. He walked up to the victim and then he asked her in Spanish if she was alone. After she said yes, the man made sexually suggestive remarks and ordered the victim to have sex with him, according to the Irvine Police.

The woman refused and she then threatened to call the police. However the attacker then pulled out a gun and pointed it at her, as captured in surveillance video that was released by the Irvine police.

The attacker shoved his victim into another room and then tried by force to take off her clothing. The victim however first begged for her life then tried to fight off her attacker, according to unreleased video footage.

Fortunately the woman was in the end able to overpower her attacker, who was slight of frame and she even disarmed him. She then fled to a nearby building for help.

The man escaped before the police could arrive. The officers did find the weapon, which turned out to be a replica Glock.

The victim told the police that the suspect also had a knife.

The victim had bruises and scratches due to the assault but escaped serious injury.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 20 to 25 years old, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 130 to 140 pounds, according to the Irvine police.

The suspect has black hair, brown eyes and he wore glasses during the attack. He was dressed in a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a black knit cap with the letter “P” on the front.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked to contact Detective Haldor Larum by calling 949-724-7194 or emailing him at hlarum@cityofirvine.org.

Suspect in several armed robberies in Orange County arrested

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Emanuel Demar Banks

Irvine, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2018) – The Irvine Police Department has arrested a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred Sunday in Irvine. Emanuel Demar Banks, 38, of Los Angeles, is also suspected in a string of robberies that occurred in Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Westminster.

On Sunday, December 9, at approximately 7:38 p.m., Banks entered the Chevron gas station at 5425 Alton Parkway in Irvine. He brought an item to the counter, but instead of making a purchase, he brandished a gun and demanded money from the clerk. He took approximately $100 cash before fleeing.

During their investigation, Irvine Police Department Detectives were able to identify Banks and determine his whereabouts. On Tuesday, detectives located Banks in Gardena and took him into custody without incident. A search of the suspect’s hotel room revealed evidence related to the series of robberies that occurred in various Orange County cities on December 8 and 9.

The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Matt Ricci at 949-724-7189 or mricci@cityofirvine.org.