Earlier this afternoon, a suspect carjacked a Geek Squad truck from the Temecula Best Buy store with an employee in the back of the truck, according to the CHP.
A pursuit ensued with CHP-Riverside and then CHP-Santa Ana took over the pursuit as it came into Orange County.
The suspect eventually crashed the truck and ran into a building at the corner of Tustin and 4th Street.
With assistance from the SAPD and the Tustin Police Department, the suspect was located and arrested.
On Thursday, September 24, 2020, at approximately 12:16 AM, SAPD Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the east alley of 1600 South Cedar Street, near Madison Park.
Upon arrival, Officers located an adult male down in the alley suffering multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. Orange County Fire Authority paramedics responded and declared the man deceased at 12:25 AM.
Santa Ana Police Homicide Section Detectives responded and assumed the investigation. Based on the known facts of the case, detectives believe gang rivalry motivated the shooting. Detectives request anyone with information contact the Santa Ana Police Department or Orange County Crime Stoppers. This case is eligible for the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Reward Program.
The identity of the decedent is being withheld pending identification by the Orange County Coroner’s Division and notification of next of kin.
Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section (714) 245 – 8390 or O.C. Crime Stoppers 1 (855) 847 – 6227 / http://occrimestoppers.org/
In response to an increase in gang related activity, SAPD Gang Unit Detectives and OC Probation officers conducted a probation check in the area of 1000 S. Newhope Street yesterday, just south of the Fitz Intermediate Computer Science Academy.
Contact was made with three subjects, and one of them attempted to conceal a loaded 9mm semi-automatic handgun.
All three subjects were detained and ultimately arrested.
Two of the subjects were on felony probation for firearm violations and the other was found to be in possession of narcotic paraphernalia
Earlier today SAPD police detectives from the Metropolitan & Special Investigations Divisions served a search warrant at a suspected gambling facility at 1000 N. Raitt Street, according to the SAPD’s Twitter account.
The detectives detained 8 subjects inside.
The investigation resulted in 3 arrests (a felony warrant, gun possession, and operating a gambling facility), seizure of 7 gaming machines, approximately $2,900 cash, a 9mm handgun, and an improvised shotgun.
Santa Ana Code Enforcement also responded and “red tagged” the building.
The gambling bust occurred just northeast of El Salvador Park and Fremont Elementary School, in the Artesia Pilar Neighborhood.
On Monday, September 21, 2020, at approximately 11:25 PM, SAPD police officers responded to reports of a shooting in the area of 900 S. Bristol Street and Brook Street, right across the street from King Elementary School.
Upon arrival, Officers located an adult male down in the parking lot suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, according to the SAPD.
Orange County Fire Authority paramedics responded, stabilized, and transported the victim to a local trauma center. On Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 12:25 AM, attending physicians declared the victim deceased.
Santa Ana Police Homicide Section Detectives responded and assumed the investigation. The investigation is ongoing. The SAPD police investigators will be try to find out what happened by looking at surveillance video from nearby businesses.
The identity of the decedent is being withheld pending identification by the Orange County Coroner’s Division and notification of next of kin.
Detectives request anyone with information contact the Santa Ana Police Department or Orange County Crime Stoppers. This case is eligible for the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Reward Program.
Please report any tips about this shooting to the Santa Ana Police Department Homicide Section (714) 245 – 8390 or O.C. Crime Stoppers 1 (855) 847 – 6227 http://occrimestoppers.org/
Major civic construction projects often turn up bones but they usually turn out to be either fossilized remains of ancient creatures or sometimes remains of natives. However the SAPD had no choice but to start a homicide investigation after contractors working on the OC Streetcar project found what have been deemed to be human remains at a former recycling yard located at 2008 West 5th Street, which is in the Artesia Pilar Neighborhood, according to the SAPD’s Twitter account.
An anthropologist assigned to the project said the bones appeared to be human and they appeared to have been buried six feet in the ground, according to CBS.
Investigators used a drone to survey and take photos over the site of the discovery before attempting to retrieve the human remains Wednesday afternoon. What appeared to be a rib cage as well as arm and leg bones had been partially unearthed as of 4 p.m., according to the O.C. Register.
There are probably more bones at the site, which was a residential area before it became a recycling yard.
The SAPD’s 911 operators, police operators and professional staff will be at Dunkin’ Donuts on Wednesday, September 16th from 8:30-9:30 AM, at 1302 E. 17th Street.
Come by and meet the SAPD staff and have a free donut and coffee. Please remember to wear a face mask as they will be following CDC guidelines
On Friday, September 11, 2020 at 11:19 AM, the Santa Ana Police Department received a call of a female down in the roadway at 2200 W. 1st Street. Officers responded to the area and found an adult female down in the roadway suffering major injuries. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and began to treat the female before she was transported by CARE Ambulance to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the female pedestrian was crossing 1st Street east of Center when she was struck by a vehicle headed West on 1st Street. The vehicle involved in this collision remained at the scene and the driver was cooperative. Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in this collision. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Cpl. W. Hadley at (714) 245-8216 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.
On 08/31/2020, wanted suspect Francisco Gomez and a 2nd suspect entered the victim’s motel room while he was asleep.
Gomez woke the victim up by pistol whipping him in the face. Gomez demanded the victim’s money as he beat him. Gomez and the other suspect stole all of the victim’s property and money.
The victim sustained major injuries to his face and eyes as a result of the attack.
Gomez was stopped at the Hampton Inn Hotel at 2720 Hotel Terrace in Santa Ana, while driving a Nissan Altima soon after the robbery.
The robbery had not been known by officers until after the contact was completed and Gomez was released.
Gomez was found in possession of a replica handgun, which is in SAPD custody. Further investigation revealed Gomez was also in possession of the victim’s property.
Anyone with information on Gomez’s whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Greaver at (714) 245-8362 or DGreaver@santa-ana.org
On September 9, 2020 at about 4:00 am, a 51-year-old woman requested an Uber to take her to work in Santa Ana. Jason Rodas, a resident of Garden Grove, was identified as the Uber driver. While in route to the victim’s workplace, Rodas suddenly cancelled the ride and told the victim her ride would be free of charge. Rodas then asked the victim several questions about her sex life. The victim became frightened and demanded Rodas take her to work. Rodas threatened to throw the victim out of the vehicle if she called the police.
Rodas ignored the victim’s plea and drove erratically until they ended up in the area of 300 South Minnie Street in Santa Ana. The victim jumped out of the vehicle and attempted to escape but Rodas quickly caught her. Rodas placed the victim in a “choke hold” and strangled her before sexually assaulting her. Evidence at the scene identified Rodas as the suspect and he was arrested several hours later.
Santa Ana Police Detectives served a search warrant at his residence to recover additional evidence. Rodas was booked at the Santa Ana Jail for several sexual assault charges including kidnapping with the intent to commit rape. Rodas’ bail was set at $1,000,000.00.
Santa Ana Police Department Detectives believe Rodas may have committed other crimes due to his actions. Detectives are asking for anyone with information to contact Detective Julio Gallardo at 714-245-8378, gallardo@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
Do you know what to do in case of an emergency? Join the SAPD this Thursday, September 10th from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Home Depot located at 1750 E. Edinger Ave.
The SAPD will be manning a Police Safety and Preparedness Booth that will feature information and education on how to prepare for an emergency.
For more information contact PSO M. Ortega at MOrtega@santa-ana.org.
SAPD Gang Detectives contacted two subjects in the area of 413 S. Susan Street today, according to their Facebook page.
Upon contacting them, one of the subjects began walking away and was quickly detained without incident. He discarded a black semi-automatic 9mm pistol near a parked vehicle.
The second male subject was in possession of narcotic paraphernalia. Both subjects were arrested for several felony charges and parole violations
While working a STEARRD (Street Racing Enforcement) program, SAPD police officers responded to a report of street racers in the area of Columbine Ave & Majestic Dr., on Sep. 5.
The police officers observed a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro doing donuts in the intersection. The Camaro fled when officers arrived; however, with the assistance of our allied agencies, the vehicle was located and stopped in the City of Irvine.
SAPD officers responded to the location of the traffic stop and arrested the driver, Jaimiez Valdez, 24-years-old, for reckless driving. She was booked into the Santa Ana Jail and the vehicle was impounded.
SAPD has a zero tolerance policy for reckless driving/street racing and have made this issue our top priority. This is part of the multi-pronged strategy by the city of Santa Ana to combat this serious problem. These activities have proven to be deadly and they pose a clear and present threat to the public safety on our streets.
On Saturday, September 5, 2020 at approximately 7:19 PM, the Santa Ana Police Department received a call of a vehicle versus motorcycle traffic collision in the area of 100 E. Warner Ave. Officers responded to the area and found a male down in the roadway with visible trauma. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and began to treat the male before he was transported by CARE Ambulance to a local area hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the male motorcyclist was headed west on Warner Ave. when he collided with a truck crossing the westbound lanes of Warner Ave. from an alley. The vehicle involved in this collision remained at the scene and the driver was cooperative. Alcohol is not believed to have played a role in this collision. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Investigator N. Quinones at (714) 245-8217 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.
The Santa Ana Police Department will be conducting a DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday, September 4, 2020. It will begin at 8:30 PM and is scheduled to conclude at 2:00 AM. (Note – the SAPD is no longer informing the public in advance as to the location of these DUI checkpoints).
The primary purpose of a DUI Checkpoint is to deter impaired driving, not to increase arrests. All too often, members of our community are senselessly injured or killed on local roadways by impaired drivers. This DUI / Driver’s License checkpoint is an effort to reduce those tragedies, as well as ensuring drivers have a valid driver’s license. The DMV reports that unlicensed drivers are 4.9 times more likely to cause a fatal crash than a licensed driver is.
The checkpoint will be staffed by officers trained in the detection of alcohol and drug impairment to provide on-the-spot assessments of drivers suspected of alcohol or drug impairment. All checkpoints are conducted in accordance with the guidelines for DUI checkpoint operations outlined in the California Supreme Court decision, Ingersoll v. Palmer.
All vehicles may be checked and drivers who are under the influence of alcohol and / or drugs will be arrested. Our objective is to send a clear message to those who are considering driving a motor vehicle after consuming alcohol and / or drugs – Drunk Driving, Over the Limit, Under Arrest. The public is encouraged to help keep roadways safe by calling 911 if they see a suspected impaired driver. Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.