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Category Archives: Tustin

Santa Ana man arrested for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl in Tustin

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Emiliano Diaz-Cruz, 41, of Santa Ana was arrested on Friday on suspicion of sexually assaulting and kidnapping a 14-year-old girl in Tustin on Thursday morning, according to KTLA.

The victim was walking on Newport Avenue near Irvine Boulevard at around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday morning when a man in a red Toyota pickup truck pulled up next to her and asked her if she needed a ride.

The victim “willingly” got into the man’s vehicle after he agreed to driver her to a nearby store, according to the Tustin police.

However the suspect did not drive the girl to the store. Instead he drove her to a different location where he sexually assaulted her.

The suspect drove his victim to another location in Tustin after he was done sexually assaulting her, and dropped her off.

The victim called the police after the incident. They found the suspect in Tustin. He was arrested without incident.

The suspect was arrested on charges including kidnapping with the intent to rape and kidnapping with the intent to molest a minor.

The Tustin police believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information was asked to call the Tustin Police Department at 714-573-3246.

A woman was arrested in Tustin for allegedly stabbing several victims at a gas station

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Tustin police detectives have no idea why a woman who may have been armed with a knife wounded three people at a Tustin gas station near Frontier Park yesterday at about 6.p.m., according to a press release.

Tustin police officers responded to a business near the corner of Red Hill and Mitchell Avenues after they received several 911 calls. They found a woman in the street near a knife the police later recovered. She was arrested as a suspect in the attack.

The police did not identify the suspect. They did say there was no obvious relationship between the suspect and her victims.

Two women in their 50s were stabbed and injured. They were taken by paramedics to OC Global Medical Center. They both had serious injuries, but the wounds did not appear to be life-threatening.

The third victim that was injured did not want to go to the hospital.

Police are searching for two armed suspects who robbed a Tustin liquor store

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Two male suspects walked into One Stop Liquor, located at 14252 Newport Ave., grabbed cases of beer and then tried to leave without paying, on Saturday, March 16, according to a Tustin Police press release.

When an employee confronted the suspects in the parking lot, they got into a fight. One of the robbers then pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the store employee before the suspects took off in an older model, dark colored Acura SUV.

The employee suffered minor injuries during the fight, but thankfully no shots were fired at him.

Tustin police detectives are still searching for the robbery suspects. Anyone with information about the suspects is encouraged to call Tustin Police Detective Cossack at 714-573-3269, or the watch commander at 714-573-3220. Anonymous tips can also be left with Orange County Crime Stoppers by dialing 855-847-6227 or by visiting ocrimestoppers.org.

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 teacher from Orange was arrested on suspicion of child molestation

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 23, 2019) – Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested a man suspected of committing multiple lewd acts on a 13-year-old boy beginning in 2011.

The man, Brandon Jacob Nease, 25, of Orange, was arrested yesterday on suspicion of felony child molestation. For the past one and a half years, Nease has been a drama teacher at Costa Mesa High School. He previously taught dance at the Boys and Girls Club in Tustin and Fountain Valley beginning in 2013. From 2015 to 2017, Nease was the Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Musical Theatre West in Long Beach. From 2012 to 2015, Nease was a dance specialist at Camp James in Newport Beach. From 2008 to 2016, Nease was the Choreographer/Director for the Musical Theater Village in Irvine. Nease worked closely with children in each of his roles as a dance instructor.

Due to Nease having continued access and contact with children over the past seven years, investigators believe there may be additional victims.

Nease posted $100,000 bond this morning and has been released from custody.

Please contact the Special Victims Detail at (714) 647-7419 if you have any information. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Santa Ana woman to be charged with vehicular manslaughter after fatal car accident

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19-YEAR-OLD DRIVER TO BE ARRAIGNED FOR VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER OF TWO MINORS AFTER FATAL CRASH IN TUSTIN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 19-year-old driver is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for the vehicular manslaughter of two minors after a fatal crash in Tustin.

Defendant: Josselyn Jazmine Anguiano, 19, Santa Ana

Charged on Nov. 27, 2018, with the following felony counts:

  • (2) Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence
  • Child endangerment by caretaker
  • Infraction:
  • Seat belt required
  • Sentencing Enhancement: (4) Great bodily injury

Maximum Sentence: 10 years and four months in state prison

Court Date on Dec. 27, 2018, 8:30 a.m. at Department C-55, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case

  • On March 23, 2018, Anguiano is accused of driving a five passenger sedan with a total of seven occupants in the vehicle including 17-year-old John Doe 1 and 17-year-old John Doe 2.
  • The defendant is accused of reaching 75 miles per hour (mph) before attempting to turn on a street with a 35 mph speed limit near the District in Tustin.
  • The vehicle struck a curb at approximately 47 mph, hit multiple steel/concrete poles, flipped on its side, and slid for a short distance before coming to rest.
  • John Doe 1 was pronounced dead at the scene and John 2 later died on March 25, 2018. Injuries among two other minor passengers include a broken jaw and a fractured pelvis.
  • Tustin Police Department investigated this case.
  • Prosecutor: Deputy District Attorney Brian Orue, Homicide Unit

The OC Sheriff is investigating reports of a suspect with a weapon near Hewes Middle School

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As I was coming back from dropping off my son at Foothill High School, in Tustin, this morning, I wondered why so many police cars were speeding by me, on 17th, heading back towards Tustin.

Turns out O.C. Sheriff Deputies were responding to an unsubstantiated report of a subject with a weapon near campus at Hewes Middle School, which is located in unincorporated Santa Ana, at 13232 Hewes Ave., according to the O.C. Sheriff’s Twitter page.

No injuries have been reported thus far and no shots fired. Deputies are working to clear the campus. 

Update: Initial search of the school is clear. Briefing deputies and law enforcement partners to conduct a full, methodical search of the school. Campus remains on lockdown.

A woman allegedly pretended she was a cop then groped a bar patron in Tustin

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Denise Latta

By: The Tustin Police Dept.

On September 13, 2018 Denise Latta entered a local bar in Tustin. She approached the victim and a bartender while presenting a badge similar to those worn by law enforcement officers. Latta then forced the victim to produce an identification card and cut the ID into several pieces. Both the bartender and the victim believed Latta was some sort of law enforcement.

Latta then forced the victim to leave the bar. Once outside, Latta forced the victim to put her hands on a wall and spread her feet. Latta then searched the victim, touching her breast and groin area over the clothing. Latta then told the victim that she wasn’t going to arrest her and told her to leave and never come back to the bar. Continue reading→

The Tustin Police Department is now handling the investigation of Friday’s fatal car accident in Santa Ana

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Red GMC pick-up that crashed in Santa Ana

Santa Ana Police Department

AdvisoryUpdate: Tustin Collision Investigation Unit Now Handling Fatal Collision -Red Hill Avenue and Dyer Road

On Friday, November 23rd, 2018 at approximately 9:41pm., the Santa Ana, Tustin and Irvine Police Departments responded to the area of Red Hill Avenue and Dyer Road because of a reported traffic collision. An Irvine Police Officer was in the immediate area and assisted by checking on the involved parties of both vehicles. He, along with other good Samaritans, were able to remove four occupants from an involved vehicle before it burst into flames.

Unfortunately, an elderly female in the back seat was pinned by the collision and died in the fire. Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) personnel responded and extinguished the vehicle fire and pronounced the female passenger deceased. The other four occupants of the vehicle, two adults and two juveniles, and the involved driver were transported to local hospitals with moderate to major injuries. The collision occurred in the City of Santa Ana. Continue reading→

The O.C. Rescue Mission needs food donations so they can feed the homeless on Thanksgiving

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ORANGE COUNTY RESCUE MISSION ANNOUNCES URGENT NEED FOR MEAL FIXINGS AHEAD OF ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER

Orange County, Calif. – As the holiday season kicks into gear, Orange County Rescue Mission is calling on the local community’s help for critical food donations of sides dishes ahead of its 53rd annual Thanksgiving dinner, which will feed more than 285 homeless men, women and children in the region.

“For many of us, Thanksgiving is another opportunity to gather with family and friends, and enjoy a delicious meal,” says Jim Palmer, President of Orange County Rescue Mission. “For those currently living at the Village of Hope and other local residents, this meal means so much more. Many residents have never had an opportunity to enjoy a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and we are urgently asking for food donations from the community so that we can offer a memorable holiday for those in need.” Continue reading→

Man arrested for possession of explosives in Tustin

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Kevin Sean Welch

Man arrested for possession of explosives in Tustin

TUSTIN, Ca. (November 15, 2018) – A man was arrested at his residence in unincorporated Tustin on Wednesday for possessing explosive devices, fireworks and a large amount precursor materials to make explosive devices.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) deputies were called to a condominium at 12720 Newport Avenue in unincorporated Tustin just before 9 a.m. Wednesday when a neighbor heard a loud explosion and a piece of shrapnel landed in the backyard of his residence. Responding deputies contacted the suspect, Kevin Sean Welch, 38, of Tustin, who lives in an adjoining condominium. Deputies located pieces of a terra-cotta “chiminea” in the backyard of Welch’s residence, and Welch initially admitted to an accidental explosion resulting from an aerated can placed in the burning chiminea. No one else was at Welch’s residence at the time, and no one was injured in the explosion. Continue reading→

The West Nile Virus has claimed the life of a woman in Tustin

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For Immediate Release: Oct. 16, 2018

OC Health Care Agency Reports West Nile Virus Related Death

(Santa Ana, CA) – The first human death associated with West Nile virus (WNV) infection in Orange County has been confirmed by OC Health Care Agency officials. The case is an elderly female resident of Tustin who died with WNV infection complications.

It is especially important to take precautions against mosquito bites during WNV season. Recommended precautions include: Continue reading→

A man who was walking on the 55 Fwy. this morning was struck by a car and killed

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A pedestrian was struck and killed while walking on the 55 Freeway early Tuesday morning, while several motorists were injured in a pair of crashes, according to the O.C. Register.

The man was seen walking between the carpool and fast lanes of the northbound 55 Freeway at about 5:40 a.m. CHP officers responded but before they could arrive the man was struck by a Honda Accord. Continue reading→

An 18-year-old worker was killed in a workplace accident in Santa Ana on Thursday

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Enrique Garcia-Vazques, an 18-year-old employee, died in a workplace accident at Aardvark Clay and Supplies, a clay products business in Santa Ana on Thursday, Sep. 20, at 11:15 a.m., according to the OCFA.

The victim was trapped in heavy equipment, possibly a mixer, at his workplace, located at the 1400 block of E Pomona, in Santa Ana. Continue reading→