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Category Archives: Irvine

Driver convicted of murdering two women in high-speed 2017 DUI crash in Irvine

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 26-year-old Irvine man was convicted today of two counts of second-degree murder for killing two women in a high-speed 2017 drunk driving crash in Irvine. The driver had been warned just before the crash that he should not be driving after a night of heavy drinking.

Norman Martin, 26, of Irvine, was convicted of killing Jamie R. Lopez, 26 of Santa Ana, and Nancy A. Ortiz, 26, of Garden Grove both 26, in the July 22, 2017 crash.

He faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life. He is scheduled to be sentenced on September 3, 2021 in Department C45 at the Central Justice Center in Santa Ana

On July 22, 2017, Ortiz and Lopez agreed to take an Uber with Martin to the home of one of Martin’s friends. Martin diverted the Uber to his home in order to pick his Corvette up and drive Ortiz and Martin to his friend’s home.

At approximately 2:20 a.m., Martin had a blood alcohol content of .11 – more than the legal limit – with Ortiz and Lopez in his two-seat Corvette. Martin was driving 138 miles per hour when he lost control of his vehicle while running a red light at Jamboree and Main Street in Irvine.

The Corvette went airborne and hit numerous objects, including three palm trees. Martin and his two passengers were ejected. Lopez and Ortiz were pronounced dead at the scene.

Martin was taken to a local hospital and treated for his injuries.

Martin was arrested by the Irvine Police Department on December 11, 2018.

“The victims in this case mattered. They mattered to their loved ones, their co-workers, their friends, and they mattered to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol cost the lives of so many innocent people. The two people who lost their lives in this crash are not numbers. They are not statistics. These are real human beings who had their lives and the lives of their loved ones shattered because of the selfish decision of someone to get behind the wheel while intoxicated. If you have been drinking or using drugs, don’t get behind the wheel. The life you may save may be someone else’s or it may be your own. Thank you to the Irvine Police Department and to Senior Deputy District Attorney Eric Scarbrough for fighting for justice for these victims and making sure that every drunk driving victim matters.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Eric Scarbrough of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

1980 cold case O.C. murder solved by forensic use of DNA

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The 1980 murder of a 42-year-old Irvine wife and mother has been solved by the Newport Beach Police Department through the use of investigative genetic genealogy and new forensic crime solving techniques.

Kenneth Elwin Marks has been identified as the person responsible for the murder of 42-year-old Judith “Judy” Nesbitt, who was killed on November 26, 1980 while showing her family’s boat (the Felicidad IV) to a man she believed to be a potential buyer. At approximately 1:00 p.m., the man, now known to be Kenneth Marks, followed Judy into the sleeping quarters of the boat and accosted her. After a violent struggle, Marks shot Judy and stole her credit cards, checkbook, and cash from her purse before fleeing the scene.

Marks died in 1999 without ever being identified as the suspect in Nesbitt’s murder, but generations of Newport Beach police officers never gave up on the cold case.

Hairs from the unknown suspect had been kept as evidence since the crime occurred. In 2002, a limited DNA profile was extracted from the roots of these hairs and entered into the FBI’s CODIS system, but the profile never matched with any other entries in the database. In 2018, through the incredible work of Green Laboratories, LLC, a more expanded DNA profile was able to be extracted from the remaining hair shafts. This was the first DNA extraction of its kind to identify a murderer in a criminal investigation in the United States. Investigators then used genetic genealogy techniques – and the assistance of Genetic Genealogist CeCe Moore – to identify Kenneth Marks as the killer in this case.

Members of the Newport Beach Police Department met with the Nesbitt family to inform them that Judy’s murder had finally been solved.

“This is a case that has hung heavy in the hearts of our community, our department, and the Nesbitt family,” said Newport Beach Police Chief Jon T. Lewis. “Kenneth Marks has passed away, but he no longer gets to hold the secret of his deeds. Through incredible advances in technology, and the tireless dedication of these investigators, we now have some closure for all who knew and loved Judy Nesbitt.”

The Newport Beach Police Department would like to thank our law enforcement partners, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Orange County Crime Lab, the Texas Rangers’ Department of Public Safety, and the Wise County Sheriff’s Department for their assistance and commitment to this investigation. Additionally, we would like to thank our non-government organizations for their commitment and assistance, Green Laboratories, Astrea Forensics, Family Tree DNA, Verogen, Bode Technologies, and the University of North Texas.

A Judge has ruled that the OCDA DNA database is legal

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Superior Court judge has ruled the OCDA DNA collection program is legally authorized by law and rejected a lawsuit filed by professors and students at the University of California, Irvine School challenging the program’s constitutionality, declaring the lawsuit lacks sufficient evidence to proceed.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer issued the following statement on the ruling:

The OCDA DNA collection program has solved crimes that would have never been solved.

This ruling comes as no surprise as this program is clearly authorized by law. This frivolous lawsuit was never about the law; it was merely an attempt by UCI Law School to weaponize the court system to attack a program it simply doesn’t like. Thankfully the Court saw through UCI’s Law’s attempts to stomp their feet like a petulant child. 

In making his ruling, Judge William D. Claster agreed that participation in this program is completely voluntary, is in no way coercive, and involves multiple layers of safeguards to ensure absolute voluntary participation, including a judge’s ability to reject the defendant’s plea if he or she is concerned the defendant does not understand the ramifications of participating. 

The fact that an unrepresented defendant could confer with an attorney prior to agreeing to participate in the voluntary program also debunks any allegation of coercion, Judge Claster reasoned.

Murder charges were filed against two brothers in 2009 for strangling a woman to death and setting her body on fire. The break in the case: one of the brothers had submitted his DNA in connection with a misdemeanor plea earlier that year. 

A man charged in Orange County with a misdemeanor for violating a restraining order in 2011 agreed to provide his DNA. His DNA matched evidence from a 2004 rape, kidnapping, and robbery in Chandler, Arizona.

Sex offenders, kidnappers, and residential burglars have been put behind bars as a result of their decision to willingly give their DNA to the OCDA DNA database. Their DNA helped connect them to more serious crimes – and provided justice for their victims.

This is not a numbers game. It is not about percentages. It is about real victims – and every single victim deserves justice. The OCDA DNA collection program assists in the pursuit of justice.

The OCDA DNA collection program is lawful – and effective. That fact is indisputable. And it is a fact worth repeating.

UCI Professor Thompson is simply wrong on the law and he is wrong on the facts. The Court agrees.

Recidivism – the chance a criminal is going to reoffend – is reduced by 43 percent in the year after an individual submits their DNA, according to University of Virginia professor Jennifer Doleac’s 2017 study “The effects of DNA databases on the deterrence and detention of offenders.” The OCDA DNA program protects the public, prevents additional victimization, and provides individuals with a path out of the criminal justice system. 

And it is clearly allowed under the law.

This program helps to reduce the number of incarcerated individuals  in Orange County while having a significant positive impact on preventing future crime – and preventing people from ever becoming crime victims.

This is something to be applauded.

My efforts to reach out to discuss the program – and its benefits – have been met with silence.

UCI Law School should issue a public apology for attacking a program that helps to keep our communities safe.

I certainly hope UCI Law School does a better job educating students to become lawyers than it does teaching them wasting public resources to attack lawful programs just because they don’t agree with them.

The taxpayers deserves better than that. 

There were fatal car accidents today in Tustin and in Costa Mesa

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A car accident claimed the life an an Irvine man this morning, Sunday, May 9, in Tustin.

The Tustin police responded to the accident scene at Moffett Drive, beneath the Jamboree Road underpass, at about 11:50 a.m.

The responding police officers found a vehicle with major front-end damage. Inside the vehicle they found a 67-year-old man who was unresponsive.

The driver was declared dead at the scene of the crash by responding paramedics. The police are withholding his name  pending the notification of relatives.

Tustin police investigators believe the vehicle was headed east when it crashed. At this time they do not suspect drugs or alcohol were involved in the collision. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

At about 1:54pm, the Costa Mesa Police Department responded to a fatal traffic collision at Bear & Sunflower involving 3 vehicles, including one rollover.

A 54-yr-old man has died at the scene. No other major injuries reported. Traffic was diverted. Residents were encouraged to find alternate routes and avoid the area.

The police did not announce the name of the accident victim.

Irvine man arrested for allegedly obtaining $5M in COVID-relief loans fraudulently

Posted on by Posted in Banking, Crime, FBI, Federal Government, Irvine, Justice, Newport Beach, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, California – An Orange County man was arrested today on federal charges alleging he fraudulently obtained approximately $5 million in Payment Protection Program (PPP) loans for his sham businesses, then used the money on himself, including purchasing Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini sports cars.

Mustafa Qadiri, 38, of Irvine, was named in a federal grand jury indictment returned Wednesday charging him with four counts of bank fraud, four counts of wire fraud, one count of aggravated identity theft, and six counts of money laundering.

Qadiri surrendered to law enforcement this morning and is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in United States District Court in Santa Ana.

According to the indictment, Qadiri claimed to have operated four Newport Beach-based companies, none of which are currently in operation: All American Lending, Inc., All American Capital Holdings, Inc., RadMediaLab, Inc., and Ad Blot, Inc.

In May and June of 2020, Qadiri allegedly submitted false and fraudulent PPP loan applications to three banks on behalf of those companies. The false information allegedly included the number of employees to whom the companies paid wages, altered bank account records with inflated balances, and fictitious quarterly federal tax return forms. Qadiri allegedly also used someone else’s name, Social Security number and signature to fraudulently apply for one of the loans.

Relying on this false information, the banks funded the PPP loan applications and transferred approximately $5 million to accounts Qadiri controlled, according to the indictment. Qadiri allegedly used the fraudulently obtained PPP loan proceeds for his own personal benefit, including for expenses prohibited under the requirements of the PPP program, such as the purchase of luxury vehicles, lavish vacations, and the payment of his personal expenses. Federal agents have seized the Ferrari, Bentley and Lamborghini cars that Qadiri allegedly purchased with the fraudulently obtained PPP loans, along with $2 million in alleged ill-gotten gains from his bank account.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was designed to provide emergency financial assistance to millions of Americans who are suffering the economic effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. One source of relief provided by the CARES Act is the authorization of up to $349 billion in forgivable loans to small businesses for job retention and certain other expenses through the PPP. In April, Congress authorized more than $300 billion in additional PPP funding.

The PPP allows qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans with a maturity of two years and an interest rate of 1 percent. Businesses must use PPP loan proceeds for payroll costs, interest on mortgages, rent, and utilities. The PPP allows the interest and principal to be forgiven if businesses spend the proceeds on these expenses within a set time period and use at least a certain percentage of the loan towards payroll expenses.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Homeland Security Investigations, the Small Business Administration Office of Inspector General, the FBI and IRS Criminal Investigation investigated this matter as part of the El Camino Real Financial Crimes Task Force. Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.

A resident tip led to the arrest of two package theft suspects in Irvine

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Yesterday afternoon, an Irvine resident saw a woman walk up to his doorstep after a package was delivered. She walked away after seeing the resident and got into a waiting vehicle. The resident called IPD and provided the license plate of the vehicle and a description of the female. Officers responded and stopped the vehicle as it was leaving the area. During the investigation, officers located crow bars, shaved keys, a stolen license plate and narcotics inside the vehicle.

The male driver, 38-year-old Cody Boardman, was arrested for possession of narcotics for sale, possession of burglary tools and possession of stolen property.

The female, 34-year-old Leah Ferguson, was arrested for possession of narcotics, providing false identification to a peace officer and a misdemeanor warrant.

The Irvine Police Department recommends that you retrieve your packages soon after delivery or have a neighbor pick them up for you to avoid being a victim of package theft.

The Irvine police have identified the suspects arrested after a vehicle theft, police pursuit and standoff

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The Irvine Police Department (IPD) arrested 28-year-old Daniel Ramirez for kidnapping and assaulting a man inside his apartment. His girlfriend, 27-year-old Mallory Arredondo, was also arrested for an outstanding warrant.

Yesterday, at approximately 9 a.m., Irvine police officers responded to an apartment community in the area of Irvine Center Drive and Spectrum regarding a possible stolen vehicle investigation. The victim stated that he met Ramirez and Arrendondo several days prior and they asked to borrow his car yesterday. When he refused, they took his car without permission and had not returned after several hours.

Later in the afternoon, at approximately 12:25 p.m., an Irvine police officer spotted the victim’s vehicle and attempted an enforcement stop. The vehicle fled at a high rate of speed a a short vehicle pursuit ensued. The officer discontinued the pursuit due to the suspect vehicle’s excessive speed and the danger it posed to the public.

A short time later officers located the unoccupied vehicle parked, with the engine running, in the underground parking lot of the victim’s apartment building. Officers made repeated attempts to contact the victim by phone, but there was no answer.

Due to the suspicious circumstances, officers feared the victim was inside his residence and was possibly in danger. Irvine police patrol personnel began to evacuate neighboring apartments and the OCFA was requested to stage nearby to provide immediate aid to anyone injured. A drone was deployed to surveil the area and to make announcements. Following the announcements, the victim exited the apartment and the door closed promptly behind him. The suspects then barricaded the door and refused to come out.

The victim told the officers that both suspects were inside the apartment. He said the male suspect pistol whipped him and was in possession of multiple firearms.

The Irvine SWAT and Crisis Negotiation Team responded to the scene and took over the negotiations with the suspects. When negotiations were not successful multiple less-lethal projectiles were used to break the windows of the apartment. Arredondo exited the apartment at 8:43 p.m. and Ramirez surrendered approximately 10 minutes later. Both suspects were detained and Irvine Police detectives took over the investigation.

A search warrant was later served on the apartment a a non-serialized AR-15 assault rifle and two handguns were successfully recovered. All the firearms were in various stages of disassembly. Detectives believe Ramirez disassembled the weapons when officers were negotiating his surrender. Ammunition for one of the handguns was also recovered.

Ramirez was arrested and booked at Orange County Jail for Kidnapping, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Threats and outstanding warrants. Detectives will request firearm charges be added by the Orange County District Attorney’s office at a later date against Ramirez if appropriate. Arredondo was arrested for her outstanding warrant and she was cited and released from the Irvine Police Department custody facility.

Anyone with information related to this case should contact Detective Jason Renshaw at (949) 724-7244 or jrenshaw@cityofirvine.org.

Two suspects arrested in Irvine after a vehicle theft, police pursuit and a standoff

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An unidentified man and a woman were arrested by the Irvine Police on Wednesday following a vehicle theft and a high-speed pursuit that morphed into a long standoff.

The suspects were alleged to have stolen an Irvine resident’s car at an apartment at The Village at Irvine Spectrum, located near Irvine Center and Quasar Drives. The Irvine police received a call about the vehicle theft at about 9 a.m.  on Wednesday. The call reported that his Ford Mustang was taken by the suspects, who were from from Los Angeles County. The victim had recently met the suspects. The responding police officers had just finished interviewing the victim when they spotted the missing car near the complex at 12:27 p.m.

When the police officers tried to conduct a traffic stop the suspects sped off and the driver blew through red lights and was speeding on and off of the nearby 405 Freeway, according to the Irvine Police.

The police officers finally opted to stop pursuing the suspects in order to prevent a collision. They returned to the victim’s apartment building and ended up finding the stolen vehicle running in the complex’s underground parking structure at 12:42 p.m. The vehicle was empty.

The police officers then deployed a drone to survey the area and to announced that the police were searching for the suspects in the area. It turned out the suspects were back at the victim’s apartment. They pistol-whipped the victim and he felt coerced to stay put. He was however finally allowed to leave when the suspects heard the drone’s announcement.

The Irvine Police SWAT team then responded to the scene. They were able to talk to the suspects over the phone, in the apartment. The police officers negotiated for several hours then opted to fire less-than-lethal rounds, which broke the windows at the apartment.

About fifteen neighboring apartment units were evacuated by the police during the SWAT negotiation with the suspects. The police also asked people to stay away from the area, and a portion of Quasar Drive near the scene was blocked off Wednesday evening.

The female suspect finally came out of the apartment at about 8:43 p.m. followed by the male suspect about 10 minutes later. Both were arrested and not harmed.

The suspects are facing charges in connection with outstanding warrants as well as their actions on Wednesday including vehicle theft, the police pursuit and their assault of the victim.

The police have not yet made the identities of the suspects available.

The Irvine Police are searching for four armed robbery suspects

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IRVINE, Calif. (April 27, 2021) – The Irvine Police Department (IPD) is seeking the public’s help in identifying four male suspects involved in an attempted armed robbery that occurred Sunday afternoon at a shopping center.

On Sunday, April 25, just before 4:00 p.m., IPD responded to the shopping center at Harvard and Main regarding an attempted robbery. According to statements and video footage, a white Mercedes sedan drove past the victim as he walked through the parking lot. The Mercedes stopped in the middle of the parking lot and two males exited the vehicle. Simultaneously, a gray Nissan Sentra stopped nearby and two additional males exited, one holding a handgun in his right hand as he ran towards the victim.

Upon seeing the suspect with the handgun, the victim ran toward a nearby restaurant with the suspect chasing behind him. The victim reached the restaurant and closed the restaurant door. The armed suspect did not enter the restaurant, but joined the other three suspects who gathered near a parked white Range Rover. As the victim sheltered himself inside the restaurant, the suspects approached the passenger side of the Range Rover and appeared to be talking to someone inside. The armed male suspect tapped on the window with the barrel of the handgun and all four suspects ran to the Mercedes and drove out of the parking lot. The Nissan Sentra also drove out of the parking lot onto Coronado.

  • Suspect #1 is described as a male black wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants, and black athletic shoes.
  • Suspect #2 is described as a male black wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans, and black/white athletic shoes.
  • Suspect #3 is described as a male black, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants with a red stripe down the side, and white high top athletic shoes.
  • Suspect #4 is a male black wearing a red/white/blue hooded sweatshirt, blue shorts, white crew socks, and black athletic shoes. He was armed with a handgun.
  • Suspect vehicle #1 is a white Mercedes A220 four-door sedan with tinted windows and a sunroof. Suspect #1 exited the front passenger side and suspect #3 exited the left rear passenger side.
  • Suspect vehicle #2 is a gray Nissan Sentra with tinted windows, a black rear bumper with damage to the left rear quarter panel. Suspects #2 and #4 exited this vehicle as the driver rolled forward from the parking space.

The drivers of the suspect vehicles were not seen during the commission of the crime.

An uninvolved vehicle parked in the shopping center captured video of the crime. An edited version of the video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/SF-31Xajl8I.

At this time it is unknown why the victim was targeted, but it appears that the suspects may have followed him into the City of Irvine from the Los Angeles area. The victim is not an Irvine resident and he was passing through Irvine on his way to another city. It is believed this was an isolated incident and there is no known danger to the community.
The investigation into this case is ongoing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Haldor Larum at 949-724-7194 or email: hlarum@cityofirvine.org.

Providence opens two free mass COVID-19 vaccination clinics in Santa Ana and Irvine

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ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. — Providence, a national nonprofit health system, is partnering with Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW), the Orange County-based medical technology company, and the Cities of Irvine, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Tustin to open two mass vaccination clinics at one of Edwards Lifesciences’ campus buildings in Santa Ana and the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, providing convenient access for residents to protect themselves from COVID-19.

The Providence clinic at the Edwards Lifesciences site, which was made possible in part by a generous $500,000 donation from the company as well as significant facility and staffing support, was strategically chosen due to its capacity and central location. The clinic opened on April 21 at 3009 Daimler St. in Santa Ana. A second Providence vaccination clinic in partnership with the City of Irvine will open at the Orange County Great Park on Monday, April 26. The drive-through clinic, at 8000 Great Park Blvd., will offer residents convenient access to life-saving vaccines from the comfort of their vehicles.

Vaccines are by appointment only and can be scheduled at myturn.ca.gov or by calling 1-833-422-4255. Free parking is available adjacent to the clinic location at Edwards.

To ensure smooth operation of the sites, the Cities of Irvine, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Tustin are providing resources, including public safety and equipment. Through targeted outreach and multi-lingual communications, the cities are also working to overcome accessibility challenges and immunization hesitancy within their local communities.

“Providence is committed to providing Orange County residents with access to the vaccine, particularly our most vulnerable communities that are bearing the brunt of this virus, and our strong partnerships are making that possible. Working with the dedicated staff at Edwards and the Cities of Irvine, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and Tustin to open these two sites, helps us increase our capacity to deliver more vaccine doses and keep our communities healthy,” said Erik G. Wexler, president, operations and strategy, Providence – South.

Providence has helped lead vaccine distribution in the region, having administered more than 256,815 doses to date. Providence clinical and operations teams will staff the mass vaccine clinics, and through its regional operations, have access to the three U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson). Following the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Providence has paused use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Once fully operational, the two sites together will be able to vaccinate up to 4,000 residents per day, with the ability to expand depending on vaccine supply. All vaccines are administered free of charge.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been over 44,000 diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in Santa Ana, equating to a 13.2% positivity rate. Neighboring cities have faced lower, but still high positivity rates, with Irvine having a 3.6% positivity rate; Tustin, 7.49%; and Costa Mesa, 7.59%. Furthermore, communities of color continue to be disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.

Providence is committed to helping reduce health disparities exacerbated by the pandemic, and recently made an initial investment of $1.4 million to expand outreach and education and increase the COVID-19 testing and vaccination supply to marginalized communities. In addition to pop-up vaccine clinics in at-risk communities, Providence hopes these two new mass clinics will help support equitable distribution of vaccines across the county.

About Providence Southern California

Providence Southern California is a not-for-profit Catholic health network with 11 hospitals, approximately 90 clinics, TrinityCare Hospice and its TrinityKids Care pediatric hospice, Providence High School, home health care services, eight wellness centers and numerous physician groups in its Southern California Region. Together these ministries, including secular affiliates and some representing other faiths, generate $7.5 billion in net revenue and have approximately 30,000 employees – called caregivers – and nearly 5,200 physicians on staff.

Providence Southern California is part of Providence, a national not-for-profit Catholic health system comprising a diverse family of organizations and driven by a belief that health is a human right. With 52 hospitals, over 1,000 physician clinics, senior services, supportive housing and many other health and educational services, the health system and its partners employ more than 120,000 caregivers serving communities across seven states – Alaska, California, Montana, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington, with system offices in Renton, Wash., and Irvine, Calif. Learn about our vision of health for a better world at Providence.org.

Irvine mail theft suspect arrested again for the third time in three days

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IRVINE, Calif. (April 22, 2021) – On Monday, April 19, Irvine Police officers arrested 35-year-old Joshua Thompson for stealing mail in the area of Jeffrey and Encore. This is the third time the Irvine Police Department (IPD) has arrested Thompson since February:

On Saturday, February 20, at approximately 1:20 a.m., a resident called about a suspicious male with a loud exhaust stealing mail. Thompson was contacted leaving the area and arrested for mail theft, possession of burglary tools, possession of narcotics and possession of a magnetic card reading device.

On Monday, April 12, shortly after 3:00 p.m., Thompson was arrested and booked at the Orange County Jail for mail theft with a prior conviction after it was determined he stole mail from 39 different victims in Irvine and Mission Viejo. IPD issued a press release on April 13.

On Monday, April 19, at approximately 12:30 a.m., an alert resident contacted IPD to report an individual stealing mail from community mailboxes in the area of Jeffrey and Encore. IPD officers responded and located the suspect’s vehicle leaving the area with the assistance of the witness. Officers stopped the suspect and determined he was driving under the influence of drugs. Thompson was found to be in possession of mail belonging to numerous Irvine residents. He was arrested for mail theft and DUI, and once again booked at Orange County Jail.

Anyone with additional information, pictures, or video is asked to contact Investigator Voigt at (949) 724-7180 or SVoigt@cityofirvine.org.

The Irvine Police Department has increased their patrols in targeted areas to combat mail theft and reminds residents to retrieve their mail regularly. We ask our community to continue to notify the police department immediately if suspicious activity or a crime in progress is observed.

Suspect arrested after a fatal DUI crash and a police pursuit near the Costco at the District in Tustin

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Pedro Pantoja Jr., a 29-year-old, was arrested by the Irvine Police on Sunday, April 18, after he was involved in a fatal car crash which he fled from eventually causing a second crash in Irvine.

The first crash happened at about 8:45 a.m. at the 2800 block of Park Ave., near the Costco at the District at Tustin.

David Kawashima, a 62-year-old man from Orange, was killed in the first crash. He died at the scene.

As the Tustin police were responding to that accident the suspect fled. A police pursuit began and it ended with another crash when the suspect north in the southbound lanes of Jamboree Road and collided with another vehicle north of Warner Avenue.

Pantoja Jr. was arrested by the Irvine police on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, causing injury to his passenger while driving under the influence, vehicle theft, a parole violation and evading a police officer.

The Irvine police responded to the second crash scene after their help was requested by the Tustin police as the incident happened on the border of Irvine and Tustin.

Pantoja was hospitalized after he was arrested. A female passenger in the car he was driving was also hospitalized. There were no details given by the Irvine police regarding their injuries.

The Irvine police are requesting that anyone with information on the fatal crash please call Detective Roberto Solis at 949-724-7024. Anonymous tips can also be called in to the O.C. Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.

The Irvine police arrested three mail theft suspects in two separate cases

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IRVINE, Calif. (April 13, 2021) – Yesterday afternoon, IPD officers arrested 35-year-old Joshua Thompson for stealing mail in the area of Portola and Arrowhead. This morning, 27-year-old Oscar Cruz-Guzman and 29-year-old Emily Hernandez were arrested for mail theft in the area of Montanas Este and San Joaquin.

Yesterday, shortly after 3:00 p.m., witnesses observed an adult male in a white Toyota Scion stealing mail from unsecured mailboxes in the area of Portola and Arrowhead. A witness on a bicycle gave chase while another witness called IPD. The bicyclist saw an officer in the area and was able to point out the suspect vehicle as it drove away. The officer stopped the suspect and located piles of mail on the front passenger seat. It was determined Thompson stole mail from 39 different victims in Irvine and Mission Viejo. He was arrested and booked at the Orange County Jail for mail theft with a prior conviction.

At approximately 5:00 a.m. this morning, an officer was patrolling a neighborhood near Montanas Este and San Joaquin when he noticed a vehicle leaving the area. He stopped the vehicle driven by Oscar Cruz-Guzman, and learned he had active warrants for drug related offenses. A search of the vehicle revealed several pieces of stolen mail from two victims in Irvine. A female passenger in the vehicle, Emily Hernandez, had several master mailbox keys in her possession. Hernandez was arrested for mail theft, possession of burglary tools and possession of narcotics. Cruz-Guzman was arrested for outstanding warrants, mail theft, possession of burglary tools and drug paraphernalia.

Mail thieves typically seek credit cards or mail containing personal identifying information to be used for fraud related crimes. Please retrieve your mail regularly to help avoid becoming a victim.

Irvine man faces hate crime charges after attacking a woman in Tustin

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On April 11, 2021 at approximately 10:42 am, Tustin Police officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Valencia Avenue regarding a possible assault and battery. Officers contacted the victim and confirmed she had been assaulted by the suspect.

The victim informed officers the suspect made racial comments and punched her in the stomach. During the altercation, the victim pepper sprayed the suspect. The suspect fled the scene prior to the officers arrival.

The suspect was later located by officers and taken into custody without incident. The suspect has been identified as Jauhar Tajuddin Shuaib, a 42-year old resident of Irvine, California.

The suspect was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail for the following charges:

  • CPC 422.6(a): Hate Crime/Assault Based in Whole or In Part of the Victim’s Race;
  • CPC 245(a)(4): Assault with Force likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury;
  • CPC 647.6(a)(2): Sexually Motivated Annoyance;
  • CPC 241.2(a): Assault in a Public Park;
  • CPC 653b(a): Loitering about a Place Where Children Congregate;
  • CPC 415(1): Disturbing the Peace;
  • TMC 7112(h): Abusive or Profane Language Prohibited.

If anyone has any information or video regarding this incident or any unreported crimes that may be related to Shuaib, please contact Detective Eric Haug at 714-573-3246.

Irvine man tried to avenge crimes against Asians by kidnapping and trying to sexually assault a woman

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Irvine, Calif. (April 9, 2021) – Last night, Irvine Police arrested 37-year-old Michael Sangbong Rhee for kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual assault against a woman at an apartment complex.

Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 1:30 p.m., an adult female of Asian descent was sitting in the driver’s seat of her vehicle near her apartment in the area of Harvard and Coronado. Her driver side door was open and she looked up to see Rhee standing at the driver’s side door holding a handgun. She did not recognize Rhee and he told her if she wanted to live, she needed to get in the back of her car. The victim offered Rhee her wallet and money and he said they would “do that later.” He then opened the rear passenger door and pushed her onto the backseat. The victim believed she was going to be sexually assaulted or killed and began to look for an opportunity to escape. As she struggled with Rhee, he committed a sexual battery against her. The victim yelled to a maintenance worker nearby that Rhee had a gun. Rhee then exited the vehicle, ran through the apartment community, and got into his vehicle. Surveillance cameras captured his license plate as he was leaving the complex.

The Irvine Police Department (IPD) and the City of Irvine do not tolerate violent crimes against women or hate-related crimes in our community. IPD detectives immediately followed up on the license plate information, which led them to Rhee’s residence in Lake Forest. Rhee was contacted at his home and he was detained. Detectives obtained and served a search warrant and several items were recovered from his home and vehicle linking him to the assault. One of the items collected from the vehicle was a BB gun similar to the weapon described by the victim.

Rhee was arrested late last night and booked at Orange County Jail for kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual assault. He is being held on $1,000,000 bail.

Based on the totality of the investigation and statements made by Rhee, detectives believe he targeted the victim because he thought she was White. Detectives also believe the assault was retaliation for hate crimes committed against the Asian community. IPD detectives will be adding hate crime charges to the complaint filed with the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact Detective Haldor Larum at (949) 724-7194 or email hlarum@cityofirvine.org.