New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Tustin

Alleged repeat Peeping Tom arrested in Tustin

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Tustin Leave a comment

The Tustin Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit has been investigating a series of peeping style crimes. During these crimes the suspect videotaped, or attempted to videotape, unsuspecting victims through the windows of their homes.

Through the course of the investigation the suspect was identified as 24-year-old Joshua Russell Callihan, of Tustin.

On Sunday, September 13, 2020 Callihan was witnessed by Tustin Police Officers entering a gated apartment community in the 16000 block of Mcfadden Avenue., the same location where he is previously alleged to have committed the crime of peeping into an inhabited building.

During the course of the officer’s observations, Callihan was witnessed loitering on private property with the intent to commit a crime.

Callihan was arrested and booked at Orange County Jail.

Callihan was previously arrested and charged with six counts of peeping into an inhabited building, two counts of loitering on private property with the intent to commit a crime, and one count of annoying a child under 18 years of age.

Callihan committed this recent crime while released on bail for his previous arrest.

We are seeking anyone who believes they may be a victim or witness to similar crimes involving Callihan.

Anyone with information regarding this case or any similar case is encouraged to contact Detective Haug at 714-573-3246.

The Tustin Police seized several guns, drugs and cash from gang suspects on Sunday

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, Drugs, Gangs, Guns, Public Safety, Tustin Leave a comment

The Tustin Police Department’s Gang Reduction and Directed Enforcement (GRADE Unit) stopped a vehicle on Sunday and searched a related hotel room, according to their Facebook page.

The police officers recovered a loaded AR-15 rifle, a loaded 9mm handgun, a shotgun, 5.5 pounds of methamphetamine, 23 grams of heroin, drug paraphernalia, and a large amount of cash.

Two suspects were arrested for what the Tustin Police said were “many” charges and booked into jail.

The GRADE Unit was formed on February 19, 2018. GRADE is combination of the department’s former Special Enforcement Detail (SED) and Gang Unit.

The GRADE unit’s focus is suppressing gang activity and addressing identified Crime and Traffic Analysis and Policing Strategies (CTAPS) issues with self-initiated and proactive problem solving enforcement through a combination of high visibility uniformed patrols and plainclothes surveillance.

Free rabies vaccines on 9/3 at OC Animal Care

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Editor Posted in Disease, OC Animal Care, Orange County, Pets, Tustin Leave a comment

In honor of World Rabies Day, there will be Free* Rabies Vaccinations on Thursday, September 3rd at 6 p.m. at the Monthly Low-Cost Clinic hosted at OC Animal Care! While supplies last. Three vaccines per household.

Lets collaborate to vaccinate during this annual event with services provided by HEART – Healthcare & Emergency Animal Rescue Team!* Please note appointments are required for this service.

The first 100 rabies shots will be free with the exception of the 3 year Purevax Feline Rabies vaccines which will receive a $26 credit.

To make a reservation click here. Reservations are required! OC Animal Care is located at 1630 Victory Road, in Tustin.

World Rabies Day is held annually to raise awareness about rabies prevention. Rabies is 100% preventable, but the CDC reports that more than 59,000 people die from the disease annually all over the world. The only way to help eliminate this deadly disease is to vaccinate! As a pet owner it’s your responsibility to make sure your pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations.

Free pet food and low-cost pet adoptions on 9/12 at OC Animal Care

Posted on September 1, 2020 by Editor Posted in OC Animal Care, Orange County, Pets, Tustin Leave a comment

TUSTIN, Calif. (September 1, 2020) – OC Animal Care will host the Fur-ever Family event aimed at assisting pet lovers in the community with a pet food giveaway and low-cost adoptions sponsored by Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee of the Orange County Board of Supervisors.

On September 12, OC Animal Care social media platforms will highlight adoptable pets. Families ready to adopt will have the opportunity to virtually sign up for one of one-hundred low-cost adoption vouchers sponsored by Supervisor Chaffee. Vouchers are first-come, first-serve and are limited to one per household for up to one hundred vouchers.

“We support companionship and positive mental health and what better way than to do that while also connecting homeless pets with new families.” said Supervisor Doug Chaffee, Fourth District. “We know pets lower anxiety and stress as well as promote healthy habits for people of all ages.”

The event will also feature the contactless Family Fur-st Drive Thru Pet Pantry where Supervisor Chaffee and staff will work alongside volunteers to distribute pet food to families in need from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. or while supplies last. This will be the fourth pet food pantry hosted by OC Animal Care in conjunction with community partners Animal Assistance League of Orange County, SoCal Animal Response Team, and The Shamrock Rescue Foundation. To date, the pet food pantry has given out over 7,000 pounds of food to help feed more than 550 pets in Orange County.

All pet owners in need are welcome while supplies last!If you would like to help keep families together, please donate through the AALOC’s Amazon Wishlist or OC Animal Care’s Wishlist.

OC Animal Care is located at 1630 Victory Road, in Tustin.

“We truly appreciate Supervisor Chaffee for supporting our mission and helping all the pet lovers in the community.” added OC Animal Care Interim Director Andi Bernard. “We hope families join us virtually as we feature pets onsite and in foster homes who are waiting for their perfect match.”

To sign up for a low-cost adoption voucher, adopters need to submit an online form on the OC Animal Care website starting at 8 a.m. on the day of the event. The first one hundred families will receive an email confirmation with a voucher and have 30 days to make an appointment and adopt their new pet.

For more information and resources, please visit the OC Animal Care website at ocpetinfo.com.

OC Animal Care is the largest municipal animal shelter in Orange County. IT services 14 cities and takes in over 18,000 animals each year. For more information about OC Animal Care please visit www.ocpetinfo.com.

Bike bandit arrested in Tustin

Posted on August 18, 2020 by Editor Posted in Bicycles, Crime, Drugs, Tustin 1 Comment

A Tustin Meadows resident reported a suspicious subject riding around the neighborhood on a bicycle on Tuesday morning, August 17, according to the Tustin Police Department. The subject’s reported actions indicated he may be involved in vehicle burglary.

Tustin PD officers detained the subject in the neighborhood and began investigating. The subject was in possession of a confirmed stolen bicycle, burglary tools, and drug paraphernalia. He was placed under arrest without incident and the bicycle will happily be returned to the owner. The subject may be tied to additional thefts from vehicles in the area.

This event highlights the importance of reporting any suspicious activity. You can call Tustin PD Dispatch at 714-573-3225 to report any non-emergency and 911 for emergencies.

Santa Ana woman gets jail time after a car crash that killed her brother

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

Josselyn Jazmine Anguiano of Santa Ana, a 21-year-old, pleaded guilty on July 2 to charges stemming from a terrible car accident that happened over two years ago in Tustin, when she was behind the wheel and was speeding at the 16000 block of Legacy Road at about 2:50 a.m. on March 23, 2018.

Anguiano, who was 18-years-old at the time, lost control of her Infiniti M37 as she was driving at about 75 mph in a 35 mph zone before attempting to make a turn. The car hit a curb while going 47 mph before slamming into multiple poles and flipping on its side, according to the OCDA.

Anguiano was not alone in her car that day. There were six passengers in the car and they were all students at Century High School in Santa Ana. Her brother, 17-year-old Jason Anguiano and 17-year-old Pedro Fuentes were killed in the horrific car crash. Two other passengers were also injured, including one who suffered a broken jaw and another whose pelvis was fractured, according to the O.C. Register.

Anguiano accepted charges of two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter and one count of child abuse and endangerment, all felonies. She also admitted an infraction for not using seatbelts. She is scheduled to report to jail in September to serve a nine-month term. She will also be placed on five years of formal probation.

Sentencing enhancements for inflicting great bodily injury were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

The OC Public Libraries launch curbside pick-up

Posted on June 20, 2020 by Editor Posted in Garden Grove, Literature, Orange County, Tustin Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Beginning on June 16, 2020, library patrons can now pick up their holds thanks to OC Public Libraries new contactless Curbside Pick-up service. This announcement follows the reopening of book drops on June 9 as OC Public Libraries continues to follow State and County guidelines.

This service is available today at all County library branches with the exception of Costa Mesa Donald Dungan library, which will launch contactless Curbside Pick-Up on June 20.

Contactless Curbside Pick-Up will be available Tuesday through Friday from 12-6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hours for contactless Curbside Pick-up vary at the Laguna Hills Technology library and Laguna Woods library. Please contact those locations directly for curbside service availability.

Library users who wish to pick-up new library books through contactless Curbside Pick-Up can do so in six easy steps:

Place items on hold online at catalog.ocpl.org.
After receiving notice via email or phone that the item is ready, drive to the library.
Call the number on the sign upon arrival.
Wait for staff to place items on the outside table and return inside.
Once staff returns inside, retrieve the items.
Enjoy your reading, and return items to the book drops when done!

OC Public Libraries continues to provide a wide variety of virtual programs, including Virtual Storytimes, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) crafting projects, food literacy demonstrations, teen gaming, fun activities, and more. These can all be accessed at ocpl.org/virtualprograms.

Additionally, the library has curated a dynamic list of resources that can be used for at-home learning for all ages available at ocpl.org/elib/elearning.

Book donations are not being accepted at any library location until further notice.

For more information about OC Public Libraries and updates on service expansion, visit ocpl.org.

To find an O.C. Public Library near you click here. There are two Public Libraries in Garden Grove and one in Tustin. Santa Ana residents may sign up for free Orange County Library cards!

OC Animal Care will host a pet food drive through for needy families on June 13

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Editor Posted in OC Animal Care, Tustin Leave a comment

TUSTIN, Calif. (June 3, 2020) – OC Animal Care will be kicking off the Family Fur-st Drive Thru Pet Pantry to support Orange County families in need of pet food. The Family Fur-st Pet Food Pantry events will take place on the second Saturday of every month while food is available, and the need is still present in the community.

In collaboration with the Animal Assistance League of Orange County, SoCal Animal Rescue Team, and The Shamrock Foundation, the first event will take place on Saturday, June 13, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the OC Animal Care facility located at 1630 Victory Road in Tustin.

“This event will provide a helping hand to families with pets who are experiencing financial strain during these challenging times,” said Chairwoman Michelle Steel, Second District Supervisor.

Pet owners will get a bag of food for their dog, cat, or rabbit while supplies last.

“The financial burden suffered by many people because of COVID-19 has made it very difficult for people to feed and provide for their pets,” said Vice Chairman Andrew Do, First District Supervisor. “The goal of the drive-thru pantry is to support Orange County residents and make it easier for them to hopefully keep their pets and not give them up for financial reasons.”

The event will follow public health recommendations and allow attendees to remain in their vehicle while volunteers load the food. Families are asked to leave their pets at home to make this event run as efficiently as possible.

“The County recognizes pets have played an important role during this stressful time and is focused on connecting families with available resources.” added Supervisor Donald Wagner, Third District.

Pet owners will also get information on other resources for their pet. Anyone interested in supporting this effort can donate food directly to the Animal Assistance League Amazon wish list.

“We are happy to partner with organizations who are focused on providing help to our community during difficult times,” said Supervisor Doug Chaffee, Fourth District. “By partnering and working together, we can make Orange County a better place for everyone.”

OC Animal Care is still closed to visitors but continues to provide essential services including adoptions by appointment only. For more information about the Family Fur-st Pet Food Pantry and future events, please visit the OC Animal Care website at ocpetinfo.com.

“We will continue to find new ways to help support the pet owners in Orange County.” Said Supervisor Lisa Bartlett, Fifth District. “Together we can help keep families whole.”

OC Animal Care is the largest municipal animal shelter in Orange County. It services 14 cities and takes in over 18,000 animals each year. For more information about OC Animal Care please visit www.ocpetinfo.com.

Santa Ana Man charged with beating, raping and carjacking a 75-Year-Old homeless woman at a Tustin church parking lot

Posted on May 8, 2020 by Editor Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 24-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder for beating a 75-year-old homeless woman unconscious and sexually assaulting her in the parking lot of a Tustin church on April 30, 2020. After the attack he dragged the badly beaten woman into nearby bushes and stole her car.

The victim was still unconscious when she was discovered the following morning. Fernando Valdovinos, 24, of Santa Ana, was arrested by Tustin police on May 2, 2020 after they saw him riding in the victim’s car.

Valdovinos has been charged with one felony count of attempted murder, one felony count of sexual penetration by foreign object and force, one felony count of attempted forcible rape, and one felony count of carjacking.

Valdovinos has also been charged with two felony enhancements of causing great bodily injury on an elder, one felony enhancement of attempted premediated murder, and one felony enhancement of inflicting great bodily injury during the commission of certain sex offenses.

He faces life in prison if convicted on all counts. Valdovinos is scheduled to be arraigned on May 20, 2020 in CJ1 and is being held without bail at the Orange County Jail.

“The depravity with which this heinous attack was carried out demonstrates just how vulnerable the homeless population – and especially homeless women – is to violence,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is committed to getting justice for this woman who shouldn’t have been living on the streets and couldn’t fend for herself. No one should be forced to endure that kind of viciousness.”

Deputy District Attorney Mena Guirguis is prosecuting this case.

Santa Ana man arrested for attacking, sexually assaulting and carjacking an elderly woman in Tustin

Posted on May 4, 2020 by Editor Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

On May 1, 2020, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Tustin Police Officers were dispatched to the area of 600 W. 6th St. in reference to a partially nude, unresponsive female laying in the bushes near a parking lot. When officers arrived, they located a 75-year-old female with extensive facial injuries. Paramedics from the Orange County Fire Authority responded and immediately transported the victim to a local hospital where she remains in critical condition. Further investigation revealed the suspect, 24-year-old Fernando Valdovinos, struck the victim in the face numerous times with his hands and then sexually assaulted her. After the assault, Mr. Valdovinos and his 16-year-old female juvenile acquaintance stole the victim’s vehicle.

On May 2, 2020, at approximately 2:40 p.m., an officer from the Tustin Police Department spotted three people driving in the victim’s stolen vehicle. The officer stopped the vehicle and three people were taken into custody without incident. Mr. Valdovinos and the female juvenile were in the vehicle. The third adult male occupant was not involved in this incident and was released.

Based on our investigation, it was determined the crime occurred on April 30, 2020, at approximately 8:00 p.m. and the victim was left critically injured in the parking lot after the vicious assault until she was found the following day, about 14-hours later.

Mr. Valdovinos was booked into the Orange County Jail on multiple charges including attempted murder, attempted rape, carjacking, elder abuse, and other sexually related crimes. He is on formal probation for auto theft.

The 16-year-old female juvenile was nearby when the crime occurred but did not participate in the assault. She was booked into the Orange County Juvenile Hall for carjacking and conspiracy. She is on formal probation for robbery.

The investigation is ongoing and detectives are looking for any other victims who may have had contact with Mr. Valdovinos. If anyone has information on this case, please contact Detective Newton at 714-573-3249.

Arrested – Fernando Valdovinos, 24-year-old Santa Ana resident.

Tustin adjusts facial covering requirements to align with new County orders

Posted on April 23, 2020 by Editor Posted in Business, Disease, Orange County, Public Safety, Tustin 3 Comments

Following new facial covering requirements issued by the County of Orange on Tuesday, April 21, the City of Tustin rescinded its emergency order issued on Monday, April 20 to align with county guidance and reduce confusion for residents.

The Countywide order, which goes into effect at midnight on Friday April 24, requires all employees who have contact with the public in any grocery, pharmacy, drug, convenience store, gas station, restaurant, food preparation, and retail store to wear a cloth face covering as described in the California Department of Public Health Face Covering Guidance.

“Since the onset of COVID-19, the City of Tustin has remained focused on protecting our first responders and essential workers in order to continue providing essential service to the community,” Mayor Dr. Allan Bernstein said. “The County’s new facial covering requirements help to prioritize our commitment to the health and safety of our community, flattening the curve, and being able to get back to normal as soon as possible.”

In addition to implementation of facial covering requirements, Tustin officials stressed the importance of already-mandated measures such as staying home and social distancing, adding a strong recommendation for compliance with BOTH social distancing and face coverings when conducting essential activities.

“It should be underscored that one measure does not replace the other,” stated Mayor Bernstein. “Just because someone is wearing a face mask does not make it safe to be closer than six feet apart.”

Essential Tustin businesses required to have employees wear face coverings

Posted on April 21, 2020 by Editor Posted in Business, Disease, Emergencies, Food & Health, Public Safety, Tustin Leave a comment

On April 20, 2020, Tustin City Manager, Matthew West, acting in his capacity as Director of Emergency Services, approved an order requiring all essential businesses operating in the City of Tustin to require their employees to wear face coverings whenever one or more co-workers or patrons are present.

“Since the onset of COVID-19, the City of Tustin has remained focused on protecting our first responders and essential workers,” West said. “This order further prioritizes our commitment to the health and safety of our community, flattening the curve, and being able to get back to normal as soon as we can.”

The order also strongly encourages those businesses that provide services or sales of retail goods food, or banking services to require their patrons to wear face coverings, and strongly encourages grocery stores to establish dedicated shopping hours for those aged 60 and older and for other at-risk populations, such as those with physical disabilities, pregnant women, or those with compromised immune systems, who have been advised to avoid leaving home as much as possible.

Face coverings, as outlined in guidance from the California Department of Public Health and Orange County Health Officer, may be factory made or sewn by hand, or can be improvised from household items. Essential workers and patrons are discouraged from using medical-grade face masks, such as N95 masks, in order to preserve the limited supply of such masks for medical personnel, medical facilities, and first responders.

The order went into effect immediately and shall remain until further notice. West further stated “this order is intended to be yet another tool in the fight against COVID-19. Tustin is a great community and we will continue to rise to the occasion.”

Ratification of the order will be considered by the City Council at a Special Council meeting on April 21.

The Tustin Police Department remains optimistic our businesses will comply with this order. We are asking for voluntary compliance. We are in this together and getting through it requires a team effort.

How one man is helping to feed the needy in Orange County

Posted on April 9, 2020 by Editor Posted in Charities, Food, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

D. Scott Walker, a local Johnson & Johnson employee, has been making good use of his time during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He’s been working with the Orange County Rescue Mission for over six years, donating 1,560 hours of his time to the cause to date.

Walker visits local restaurant franchises/locations to “rescue” food and deliver it to the Orange County Rescue mission. He has been able to continue his food rescues and deliveries even during the COVID-19 pandemic – as the need remains and is even more essential during this time, as more people lose their jobs and face resource constraints as a result.

While daily deliveries have scaled back during COVID and he’s taking extra safety precautions, Scott has still been able to continue this important work. That said, total donations have been down recently, with restaurants either closing or scaling back operations so there is less food waste to “rescue.”

The O.C. Rescue Mission is currently supporting these food distribution efforts:

Calvary Church of Santa Ana
1010 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705
(714) 973-4800
Come to pick up a food box Monday – Thursday 9:00 am- 4:oo pm

Family Assistance Ministries
929 Calle Negocio, Suite G, San Clemente, CA 92673
(949) 492-8477
Food Distribution: M, 9-6; T-TH, 9-3; F, 9-12

Main Place Christian Fellowship
1631 El Camino Real. Apt 1, Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 505-1734
1190 N. Tustin St., Orange, CA
(714) 744-4263

Motel Church
Food box distribution is the third Saturday of every month at a motel in Orange County (usually in Stanton). Please call (714) 975-0555 for location and time.

The Neighborhood Church
2147 Oak Street, Santa Ana, CA 92705
Wed, NOON
(714) 545-1095
Monday and Thursday, 1:30pm to 3:30pm
Community referrals available on Thursdays during the food distribution.
Pardoned Prodigals

St. Paul’s Church
2580 W Orange Ave, Anaheim, CA 92804
Meetings 6:30pm, Friday nights
Community referrals the fourth Friday of the month

Tustin Family Youth Center
14722 Newport Ave, Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 573-3370

Tustin Family Senior Center
200 S. C St., Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 573-3340
Both sites: Food Distribution third Tuesday of every month 1:00-2:00pm
Community referrals available during distribution

Click here for ways to donate to the O.C. Rescue Mission.

Easter is less than a week away and you can help keep hope alive for a better tomorrow by donating Easter meals to families in need! Click here to find out how to help.

Babymouse author Jennifer Holm coming to the Tustin Library

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Editor Posted in Entertainment, Family, Literature, Orange County, Santa Ana, Tustin, Youth Activities Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. (March 10, 2020) – Orange County Public Libraries is proud to present two bestselling author events: one with Heather Morris, author of the novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz, and the second with Jennifer Holm, author of the popular children’s series Babymouse. This second event is supported by OC READ Families for Literacy.

The authors will read from selected works and share their experiences as writers. Additionally, there will be a Q&A and an opportunity to meet each author. Both authors’ books will be available for purchase, and the authors will be signing their titles for booklovers.

Heather Morris is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz. This debut novel is a beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage based on interviews conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist, Ludwig Sokolov.

Jennifer Holm is three-time Newberry honor winning and New York Times bestselling author known for her graphic novel series, Babymouse. This popular series showcases the trials and tribulations of elementary school.

WHEN:

Heather Morris – Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Jennifer Holm – Saturday, March 14, 2020 from 2-3 p.m.

WHERE:

Heather Morris – Laguna Niguel Library; 30341 Crown Valley Pkwy, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
Jennifer Holm – Tustin Library – 345 E. Main St, Tustin, CA 92780

OC Public Libraries mission is to provide access to information and promote literacy at all ages. Access to world-class authors inspires reading communities to meet powerful role models in the literary world. For many, it is their only opportunity to meet an author.

No registration required.

A Santa Ana man suspected of murder was killed in a fight with an O.C. jail inmate

Posted on January 20, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

ORANGE, Ca. (January 19, 2020) –At approximately 4 p.m. on Jan. 18, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange was pronounced deceased at a local hospital. The inmate, 57-year old Kirk Price, was transferred to the hospital December 27, 2019 due to injuries he sustained during a fight with another inmate.

Price, a Santa Ana resident, was arrested March 25, 2016 by Tustin Police investigating the death of OC Boxing MMA Academy owner Fahness Lutalo, who died the day before Price’s arrest by a man who walked into the gym and shot him several times, according to the O.C. Register.

Price was booked into Orange County Jail on March 25, 2016, by the Tustin Police Department on suspicion of murder and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.