Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

There has been a line at Harvey’s Seatbelt bags since yesterday for a Nightmare Before Christmas release party
September 21, 2018 - Business, Santa Ana, Traffic - No Comments

Pandemonium has broken out at Harvey’s Original Seatbelt Bags as fans are lining up outside their Santa Ana location for an event that won’t even take place until tomorrow, Sep. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Harvey’s is apparently going to host a  Nightmare Before Christmas release party on tomorrow at their retail store. These…

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O.C. Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen finally found his dad after 50 years of searching for him
September 21, 2018 - OC Clerk-Recorder, Orange County, Santa Ana, Vietnamese - No Comments

Hugh Nguyen, the elected Orange County Clerk-Recorder, was born in Vietnam 50 years ago. He spent a lifetime looking for his father, an unidentified American GI. Nguyen’s mother, a South Vietnamese woman, told him that his father had been killed in action prior to Nguyen’s birth. Nguyen never gave up trying to find out who…

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An 18-year-old worker was killed in a workplace accident in Santa Ana on Thursday
September 21, 2018 - Accidents, Santa Ana, Tustin - No Comments

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…

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Santa Ana voter registration drive set for Sep. 25
September 21, 2018 - 2018 elections, OC Voter Registrar, Orange County, Politics, Santa Ana - No Comments

City of Santa Ana Community: Santa Ana Urges Youth Civic Engagement: High School & College Students to Host Citywide Voter Registration Event SANTA ANA, CA – On Tuesday, September 25 at 9:00 a.m., the Santa Ana City Council, along with representatives from Santa Ana College, Santa Ana Unified School District, Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce…

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The City of Santa Ana is conducting six public meetings regarding the Nov. ballot measures

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Ballot Measures, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

City of Santa Ana, Downtown Orange County

Community: City of Santa Ana Information Sessions:Election Ballot Measures/Sesiones Informativas de la Ciudad de Santa Ana:Medidas Electorales

These sessions will be strictly informational in nature and will provide information on all four ballot measures:

  • Measure X: Santa Ana Neighborhood Safety, Homeless Prevention and Essential City Services Enhancement Measure
  • Measure Y: Approve Ordinance Regarding a Marijuana / Commercial Cannabis Business License Tax
  • Measure Z: City Charter Modernization & Update of Administrative Provisions
  • Measure AA: Require By-Ward Nomination & Election of Councilmembers, and Redrawing of Ward Boundaries to Comply with State & Federal Law

Continue reading→

The Costa Mesa police are investigating a fatal car accident that happened on Saturday morning

Posted on by Posted in Accidents, Costa Mesa Leave a comment

Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) is seeking additional information on a fatal traffic collision

Saturday morning, Sept. 15, 2018, at approximately 12:06 a.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Victoria Street and Pacific Avenue regarding an injury traffic collision.

Officers arrived to find a black 2015 Honda Accord had struck a traffic signal pole. The driver of the vehicle, 26-year-old Patrick John Harris from Huntington Beach, was pronounced deceased at the scene. The CMPD Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to the scene and began their investigation. Continue reading→

This week’s Cochino List includes Tacos Y Birria El Guero

Posted on by Posted in Disease, Food, Insects, OC Health Care, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The OC Health Care Agency has released a list of the eateries (including restaurants, caterers and even school kitchens) that they inspected and shut down for the week of Sep. 7 to Sep. 14, 2018. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved. Here is the list:

  • Tacos Y Birria El Guero, 2330 W. Edinger Ave., Suite A, Santa Ana, Closed: Sept. 11, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Sept. 12
  • Update: Blaze Pizza at MainPlace Mall, 2800 N. Main St., Suite 196B, Santa Ana, closed Sept. 5 because of a cockroach infestation, reopened Sept. 7

Continue reading→

The SAPD arrested 8 suspects in yesterday’s Cyber Cafe SWAT raid

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Investigates Cyber Cafe for Illegal Activities – 8 arrested

On September 13, 2018 at 3:30 p.m. the Santa Ana Police Department SWAT Team served a search warrant at 1117 W 17th Street (Happy Times Café) in the City of Santa Ana. At the time of service, 54 people were contacted inside the business; eight were arrested for various charges. No injuries were reported during this police action.

The Santa Ana Police Department received community complaints regarding quality of life issues surrounding this business. The Police Department, in partnership with the community, worked together to identify and address specific concerns. These efforts resulted in several documented gang members being arrested for possession of firearms, possession of narcotics, and driving stolen vehicles. Continue reading→

DUI checkpoint cancelled when the Costa Mesa police officer in charge died suddenly

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Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: Friday’s DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint has been cancelled

When we conduct DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoints, which are funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), we are required to give the community a heads up and it is our protocol to do so.

That is why yesterday we released the info about Friday’s planned checkpoint. Continue reading→

The SAPD SWAT team raided a cyber cafe suspected of gang activity

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Santa Ana Leave a comment

If you were wondering what happened this afternoon in Santa Ana, on 17th Street, we now know that the SAPD raided the Happy Times Cyber Internet Café, which was investigated as a front for gang activity, according to ABC News.

The SAPD SWAT team searched the Happy Times Cyber Internet Cafe, which is located at 1117 17th Street, at about 3:30 p.m. while police questioned dozens of people in an adjacent parking lot after receiving multiple complaints of suspicious activity from nearby residents, according to the O.C. Register. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council forum and Mayoral debate set for Sep. 19

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Politics, Santa Ana 1 Comment

Connie Hamilton, Connect-to-Council

714-745-1692 (phone/text)/connect-to-council@earthlink.net

CONNECT-TO-COUNCIL HOSTS “AN EVENING WITH THE CANDIDATES”, A FORUM AND DEBATE FOR THE SANTA ANA VOTERS

Santa Ana, CA- Connect-to-Council, a Santa Ana non-profit organization, will host, a candidates’ forum and debate for the Santa Ana voters. This will take place at the Delhi Center on September 19, 2018. The council candidates have been invited to participate in a council candidate forum, then a mayoral candidate debate will immediately follow.

Wednesday September 19, 2018 6:00-8:00 p.m. Continue reading→

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

Posted on by Posted in Charities, homeless, Orange County, Tustin Leave a comment

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→

Five suspects arrested for grand theft of autos in Orange County worth over $1M

Posted on by Posted in automobiles, Crime, OCDA, Santa Ana Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ORANGE COUNTY AUTO THEFT TASK FORCE ARRESTED FIVE SUSPECTS FOR GRAND THEFT AUTO AND GRAND THEFT AS A RESULT OF AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION

*Total loss exceeds $1 million

SANTA ANA, Calif. – In August 2018, detectives and investigators from the Orange County Auto Theft Task Force (OCATT), along with members of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Border and Southern Division Investigative Services Units (ISU) as well as the California Attorney General’s (CAG) Office, arrested five suspects in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange, and San Diego.

Arthur Ray Ammons, 40, Los Angeles; Dwon Lamont McCarthy, 43, Los Angeles; Dunya Elina Wade, 45, Los Angeles; Jedon Jennifer Olivia Nelson, 27, Los Angeles; Gaylord John Pierce, 59, Los Angeles were charged with various crimes including grand theft auto, grand theft, attempted grand theft auto, and receiving stolen property. They are expected to be arraigned at a date to be announced. Eight suspects remain outstanding and are actively being sought by the OCATT. Continue reading→

The Costa Mesa police will conduct a DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint this Friday night

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Costa Mesa, Crime, Drugs Leave a comment

Costa Mesa Police Department

Advisory: CMPD to conduct a DUI/Driver’s License checkpoint on Friday

CMPD TO CONDUCT DUI AND DRIVER’S LICENSE CHECKPOINT

COSTA MESA, Calif. – The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) will be conducting a driving under the influence (DUI) and driver’s license checkpoint on Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. within the city limits.

DUI checkpoints like this one are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests, affording the greatest opportunity for achieving drunk and drugged driving deterrence. Locations are chosen with safety considerations for the officers and the public. Drivers caught driving impaired can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to include jail time, fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspensions and other expenses that can exceed $10,000. Continue reading→

The SAPD is investigating yesterday’s fatal crash after a police pursuit

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: SAPD Investigating Fatal Traffic Collision Involving Commercial Burglary/Pursuit

Driver/Arrestee – Ge’onte Ray Charles Sessions (20), Los Angeles

Decedent – Luis Arreguin (19), Los Angeles

On Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at approximately 11:04 pm an Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to initiate a traffic stop of a suspicious vehicle in the City of Tustin. A short vehicle pursuit ensued, until it was terminated when the suspect vehicle was lost by the Sheriff’s Deputy as it entered the east side of the City of Santa Ana.

At approximately 11:05 pm the Santa Ana Police Department (SAPD) received several calls from citizens reporting a traffic collision of a vehicle into a tree in the area of 1600 E. Chestnut Avenue. Continue reading→

Santa Ana City Council Ward 2 candidate Paul Gonzales wants to restore drug needle giveaways in our city

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Drugs, Paul Gonzales, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Paul Gonzales is one of several candidates running this year for the Santa Ana City Council’s Ward 2. But he is the only one who is openly advocating to restore needle exchanges in our downtown – a program which distributed thousands of hypodermic needles to the homeless last year. Over 4,000 of these needles were later found in the Santa Ana River Trail when it was cleaned up after the homeless camps were removed.

Gonzales clearly is advocating for something most Santa Ana residents do not want! He wrote this on Facebook: Continue reading→

The SAUSD and Capistrano Unified will work together to prevent racism at future football games

Posted on by Posted in Education, Football, Racism, Santa Ana, Sports Leave a comment

Joint Press Release

September 12, 2018

Santa Ana Unified School District and Capistrano Unified School District

Contact: Dr. Stefanie Phillips, SAUSD Superintendent (714) 558-5512

Contact: Kirsten M. Vital, CUSD Superintendent (949) 234-9308

SANTA ANA and SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA. – The Santa Ana Unified School District and the Capistrano Unified School District believe that all children and families are valued and, as public entities, we support every child’s success. No child should be bullied or treated with disrespect, and while we cannot control human behavior, we can control how we react and learn from these experiences. We believe diverse public schools provide our young people with an extraordinary education and experience that promotes unity, inclusion, equality and a respect for diversity. Continue reading→

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

Posted on by Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

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→