Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Category Archives: Tustin

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

Posted on by Posted in Charities, Food, homeless, Orange County, Santa Ana, Tustin 1 Comment

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→

The OC Rescue Mission in critical need of 35K diapers for homeless families

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ORANGE COUNTY RESCUE MISSION IN CRITICAL NEED OF MORE THAN 35,000 DIAPERS;
CALLS ON COMMUNITY FOR DONATIONS AND DIAPER DRIVES

Orange County, Calif. (September 12, 2018) – The Orange County Rescue Mission has announced a critical need for size 4, 5, and 6 diapers, boys and girls pull-up diapers of all sizes, and baby wipes for its high number of toddlers and young children living at The Village of Hope, the Rescue Mission’s transitional living facility in Orange County.

The nonprofit is urgently seeking help from the local community to provide a total of 34,700 large-size diapers, 2,500 pull-up diapers, and 121,875 baby wipes according to Jim Palmer, President of the Orange County Rescue Mission. Continue reading→

A suspect was killed in Santa Ana last night after crashing into a tree during a police pursuit

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A pollice pursuit left one person dead and another two injured following a crash after police tried to conduct a routine traffic stop on Tuesday night in the Tustin area, according to the O.C. Register.

The suspects caught the attention of an O.C. Deputy Sheriff’s unit who tried to stop their SUV, described as a White Infiniti, for a code violation. But the driver sped off and the Deputies lost their vehicle after 11 p.m. Continue reading→

Tustin man arrested for allegedly trying to commit a lewd act on a girl at a park restroom

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Pedro Frias

Pedro Frias, 21, of Tustin, was arrested today on suspicion of committing a lewd act on an underage girl at park in Tustin on Wednesday, according to the O.C. Register.

Frias tried to expose himself to the girl but she was able to escape following a “brief struggle,” police said in a statement. Once she was out of the restroom, she ran to her father and he called 911, according to KTLA. Continue reading→

OC Animal Care will waive fees to encourage pet adoptions through July 4

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2018

OC Animal Care will Waive Fees to Encourage Adoptions

(Tustin, Calif.) – Due to an abundance of dogs, cats and other animals, OC Animal Care will begin waiving fees for pets adopted by residents across Orange County.

The waiver includes all regular adoption fees with the exception of a $27 charge for rabies licensing and will begin on June 29. The waiver will remain in effect until the capacity at the shelter drops below 60 percent. Continue reading→

Fugitive extradited from El Salvador facing life in prison after allegedly murdering a man in Tustin

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Juan Palacios arrested

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 04CF1972

FUGITIVE EXTRADITED FROM EL SALVADOR TO FACE MURDER CHARGE AFTER SHOOTING MAN THROUGH THE HEART IN TUSTIN 15 YEARS AGO

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A fugitive was extradited from El Salvador and is scheduled to be arraigned today for murdering a man by shooting him through the heart in Tustin 15 years ago.

Defendant: Juan Palacios, 59

Charged on June 30, 2004, with the following: Continue reading→

Tustin murder suspect extradited from El Salvador

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On January 5, 2003 Tustin Police Officers responded to a call of shots fired on Alliance Ave. Once on scene the officers discovered a victim with a gunshot wound. The victim was transported to a local area hospital but succumbed to his injuries. The victim was identified as 32-year-old Mario Santamaria.

Tustin Police Detectives began investigating the case and identified Juan Palacios as the suspect responsible for the shooting of Mr. Santamaria. Detectives discovered suspect Palacios, with the help of family members, fled the United States to El Salvador. Continue reading→

A Tustin man was arrested on suspicion of attempted rape

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Norman Ibarra, a 28-year-old man from Tustin, is under arrest on suspicion of attempted rape, sexual assault and kidnapping after he allegedly attacked a woman walking along Mitchell Avenue in Tustin, May 12, according to the O.C. Register.

Ibarra was identified through surveillance and a canvas of the area and the police were also able to connect the suspect to the crime through DNA evidence found at the scene, according to the Tustin Police. Continue reading→