Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Orange County

Many Orange County children still suffer from dental disease and lack of preventative care

Posted on by Posted in Dental Care, Disease, OC Health Care, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

OC Health Care Agency Releases Oral Health Strategic Plan and Launches ‘Smile Habits OC’ Website

(Santa Ana, CA) – The Orange County Local Oral Health Program (OC-LOHP) was established within the OC Health Care Agency (HCA) with funding from the California Department of Public Health last January. The group was tasked with conducting a comprehensive oral health needs assessment and engaging stakeholders to develop a strategic oral health plan, which is available today at www.ochealthinfo.com/oralhealth.

The plan builds on the expertise of stakeholders across Orange County such as health care providers and clinicians, CalOptima, educational institutions, community based organizations, local governmental agencies, local coalitions and collaboratives and takes into consideration existing programs, policies, best practices and environmental factors.

Key findings include: Continue reading→

Supervisor Andrew Do joins the Metrolink Board

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Supervisor Do Joins Metrolink Board

Supervisor Andrew Do was recently appointed to represent Orange County on the Metrolink Board of Directors. His first meeting was Friday; so naturally, he took the train from Santa Ana!

“Southern Californians deserve frequent, safe, and reliable train service,” said Supervisor Do. “And we need it now more than ever as we face challenges including housing, long-distance commutes, and widespread traffic congestion.” Continue reading→

Man charged with murder after a DUI crash that killed an off-duty Costa Mesa Fire Captain

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

Stephen Taylor Scarpa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2018

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND COLLIDING WITH OFF-DUTY COSTA MESA FIRE & RESCUE CAPTAIN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged today with ­­­­­murder for driving under the influence of drugs and colliding with off-duty Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Captain Mike Kreza, who was cycling in Mission Viejo.

Defendant: Stephen Taylor Scarpa, 25, Mission Viejo

Charged today with: Continue reading→

Armed and dangerous fugitive from L.A. could be in Orange County

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Los Angeles County, Orange County Leave a comment

LASD – Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept Information Bureau (SIB)

Community*Update* #LASD Updated Wanted Bulletin for Person of Interest – Jesus “Chuy” Guzman, Littlerock, CA

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau Detectives continue to seek Person of Interest, Jesus “Chuy” Guzman regarding a double murder which occurred February 20, 2018 on the 11000 block of Hample Avenue, Littlerock, CA. and the discovery of human remains found at the 30900 block of 106th Street in the unincorporated area of Littlerock, CA on October 11, 2018

Mr. Guzman is a 34 y.o. male Hispanic with black hair, brown eyes, 5’5″ and 150lbs. He owns a black 2009 Toyota Corolla (CA license 6SCD663). Continue reading→

Off duty Costa Mesa Fire Dept. Captain badly injured by a suspected DUI driver while bike riding

Posted on by Posted in Costa Mesa, Crime, Drugs, OC Sheriff, Orange County Leave a comment

Captain Mike Kreza with Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue

JOINT STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OCSD Investigating Major Accident involving Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Captain

MISSION VIEJO, Ca. (November 3, 2018) – This morning just after 8 a.m. OCSD deputies responded to the scene of a traffic collision on eastbound Alicia Parkway near Via Burgos in Mission Viejo. Upon arrival, deputies found the victim, a male bicyclist in his 40s, laying in the roadway unresponsive with visible head and body trauma. The Orange County Fire Authority responded and transported the victim to a local hospital in critical condition.

From initial witness statements, the driver of a van struck the victim while he was riding his bicycle eastbound on Alicia Parkway. The driver remained at the scene and was evaluated for DUI by an OCSD deputy trained as a drug recognition expert. He is suspected to be under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of the collision and multiple prescription medications were in his vehicle. Continue reading→

The OC Sheriff’s Dept. now has the funding to test all DUI suspects for drugs too

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Drugs, Orange County Leave a comment

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Orange County Sheriff’s Department Awarded DUID Enhanced Testing Grant

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Nov. 2, 2018) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department – OC Crime Lab has been awarded a $316,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for training and enhanced DUID testing.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will use the funding to efficiently test all blood samples collected in DUI investigations for the presence of drugs, regardless of the blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Continue reading→

The OCDA charged four chiropractors allegedly involved in a workers’ comp referral scheme

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Health and Medical, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 18CF3066 – 18CF3070

Date: October 31, 2018

PHASE II CHARGES FILED ON FOUR CHIROPRACTORS AND CAPPER IN MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE REFERRAL SCHEME

*Part of prior case with largest number of attorneys charged in one case in Orange County history

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Four chiropractors and a capper were charged yesterday with insurance fraud in a massive multi-million dollar workers’ compensation insurance referral scheme that exploited persons in predominantly Spanish-speaking communities. Last year, 10 attorneys and six cappers were charged as part of the same investigation. This is the second phase of filing resulting from a 4-year insurance fraud investigation by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) Bureau of Investigation, Insurance Fraud Unit.

Defendants:

  • Fermin Alexander Iglesias, 38, Glendale
  • Bahar Danesh Gharib, DC, 42, Woodland Hills
  • Bryan Aun, DC, 45, Brea
  • Afsoun Naderi, DC, 50, Newport Coast
  • John C. Larson, DC, 45, Rancho Cucamonga

Charged on Oct. 30, 2018, with multiple felony counts of insurance fraud: Continue reading→

The County of Orange has approved $25M for new housing for the homeless

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Homelessness: Orange County Approves $25 Million for Permanent Supportive Housing, Greenlights 3 New Supportive Housing Projects

Santa Ana, California – Orange County is closer to achieving its goal of building 2,700 new permanent supportive housing units for the homeless.

On Tuesday, the Orange County Board of Supervisors approved $25 million in Mental Health Services Act funding (MHSA) for permanent supportive housing and gave the green light to three new housing projects in Central Orange County. Continue reading→

The OCDA is looking for more victims of a faith healing scam that targeted Hispanics

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Health and Medical, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: October 31, 2018

OCDA SEEKS POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF “FAITH HEALING” FRAUD RING TARGETING HISPANIC COMMUNITIES

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s (OCDA) Office Bureau of Investigation is investigating an organization that is committing theft by utilizing “Faith Healing” to fraudulently con victims out of their savings. The organization, primarily based out of Los Angeles, is known as Terapias Alternativas Aaron, Inc. and Terapias Alternativas Angel, Inc. This “Faith Healing” organization is specifically targeting the Hispanic communities in multiple counties via ads and infomercials aired on Hispanic television stations and newspapers. At least two victims from Orange County have made reports of this fraud.

“This is unconscionable fraud that targets the desperate and the sick. The victims should report this without feeling embarrassed,” stated District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. Continue reading→

O.C. Supervisor Do urges a countywide solution for the homeless crisis

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Homelessness: Santa Ana Representatives Stand United, Urging for Countywide Solution

Santa Ana, CA (October 29, 2018) – In regards to today’s status conference for Orange County Catholic Worker et al v. Orange County, The City of Anaheim, The City of Costa Mesa, and The City of Orange:

“I will not support a settlement without all cities named in the lawsuit,” said Supervisor Andrew Do, Chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. “I am profoundly disappointed. The plaintiffs have punished the only cities working to solve the problem. North and Central Orange County are building homeless shelter space, while South County is rewarded for fear-mongering and obstruction. My message to the plaintiffs is simple: Stop posturing. Stop playing politics. Bring every Orange County city as parties to this lawsuit. Santa Ana, Orange, Costa Mesa and Anaheim cannot continue to bear the full burden of this countywide crisis.” Continue reading→

Supervisor Do unveiled the new LED lights at the Santa Ana Bikeway on Tuesday evening

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Supervisor Do at the new Jerome Park Bike Trail

Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do unveiled the new LED/solar powered lights along the Santa Ana Gardens Bikeway, next to Jerome Park, on Tuesday evening, Oct. 23.

This project made the area traversable by foot or by bicycle. This area used to be unpaved and was locked to the public. Now one can see entire families biking along the trail. Continue reading→

Bakerfield pimp gets 20 years in state prison for trafficking women in Orange County

Posted on by Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

MAN SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN STATE PRISON FOR MULTIPLE COUNTS OF PIMPING, PANDERING, AND TRAFFICKING WOMEN IN ORANGE COUNTY

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for multiple counts of pimping, pandering, and trafficking women in Orange and other counties.

Defendant: Deunta Patterson, 28, Bakersfield

Pleaded guilty on Oct. 22, 2018 to the following felony counts: Continue reading→

The O.C. Democratic Party is hellbent on distributing drug needles in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Civic Affairs, Crime, Democratic Party, Drugs, Nelida Mendoza-Yanez, Orange County, Paul Gonzales, Politics, Public Safety, Roman Reyna, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The Resolutions Committee of the Democratic Party of Orange County passed a resolution calling on Santa Ana to restore approval for the Orange County Needle Exchange Program (OCNEP) back in February of this year. And now the Democrats are backing only the Santa Ana City Council candidates who are promoting passing out drug needles in our community.

The City Council candidates who have said, on the record, that they support passing out drug needles in Santa Ana, include Roman Reyna, Ward 4; Nelida Mendoza, Ward 6 and Paul Gonzales, Ward 2. Of those Mendoza and Gonzales are endorsed by the Democratic Party of Orange County – even though there are other Democrats running for the wards in question. (They would have backed Reyna too but he screwed up so much while he was trying to carpetbag in Ward 4 that the Democrats had to take a hard pass). Continue reading→

Grandstanding Todd Spitzer released a sealed search warrant revealing info about rape victims

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Crime, OCDA, Orange County, Politics, Todd Spitzer 1 Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: October 17, 2018

STATEMENT REGARDING TODD SPITZER DISSEMINATING COURT SEALED MATERIALS AT PRESS CONFERENCE

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – After a court hearing in the People v. Grant Robicheaux and Cerissa Riley case, Todd Spitzer, an attorney, and his Chief of Staff Melanie Eustice, knowingly disseminated a sealed search warrant at a press conference. The search warrant contained extremely sensitive information about the rape victims and the defendants. Spitzer talked about knowing the search warrant was sealed and knowingly distributed it to members of the media. Continue reading→

Local meth traffickers allegedly shipped drugs to Hawaii disguised as Aztec calendars and statues

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Federal Government, Garden Grove, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Methamphetamine Trafficking Ring Allegedly Shipped Drugs to Hawaii Disguised as Aztec Calendars and Statues

SANTA ANA, California – Federal authorities this morning arrested eight defendants named in a grand jury indictment that alleges a scheme to send methamphetamine to Hawaii, including nearly 12 kilograms of narcotics made to look like decorative Aztec calendars and statues.

Today’s arrests follow the filing of a seven-count indictment on October 10. A ninth defendant charged in the indictment was already in federal custody on an unrelated case. Continue reading→