Santa Ana has had a problem with prostitution for some time – and the prostitutes have been at times targeted by murderous criminals. The trail of one of those suspects, Jose Esteban Cardenas Zuniga, a 41-year old resident of Mammoth Lakes, started today, according to the O.C. Register.
Zuniga is charged with killing a then 25-year old prostitute, Yacshicka Watts, whose body was found at a Santa Ana business park, early in the morning, on Oct. 20, 2007, by transients. Continue reading
A friendly game between former players of two professional Mexican soccer clubs on Sunday afternoon, June 25, at Eddie West Field in Santa Ana turned violent when dozens of fans rushed the field and began beating each other, forcing authorities to suspend the match, according to the O.C. Register.
The “game of legends” featured former Club America and Pumas players was supposed to benefit Santa Ana-based United Soccer Talents Foundation, which supports soccer players. Continue reading
SANTA ANA, CA – As Independence Day approaches, we would like to remind our community that only fireworks bearing the “Safe and Sane” seal are permitted to be used within the City limits, during the following days and hours only:
• Saturday, July 1, 2017 – 12:00 pm (noon) to 10:00 pm
• Sunday, July 2, 2017 – 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
• Monday, July 3, 2017 – 10:00 am to 10:00 pm
• Tuesday, July 4, 2017 – 10:00 am to 9:00 pm Continue reading
Santa Ana Police Department
Christian Isaac Arias (30) Santa Ana
On Saturday, June 10, 2017, SAPD Officers encountered Christian Arias, an adult male, in the area of 1300 West 1st Street. Arias displayed symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance and/or alcoholic beverage(s). The officers detained Arias without incident and requested medics for a medical evaluation. Continue reading
We finally have some very good news to report about the Santa Ana Police Department – a once proud agency that was wrecked by former SAPD Police Chief Carlos Rojas and our lame Santa Ana City Council majority. The current interim City Manager, Cynthia Kurtz, has appointed a new acting SAPD police chief selecting Deputy Chief David Valentin and returning the current acting police chief, Jim Schnabl, to his administrative duties.
This is truly fantastic news and I hope Valentin gets the permanent job. He is already the Deputy Chief in charge of Field Operations which includes the Patrol Division, Homeland Security, Traffic Division, Emergency Management and the SWAT team. Continue reading
Pearleen Hopkins
Dallas Frank Reichstein, a 48-year-old Santa Ana resident and repeat drunken driver, admitted guilt on Friday, June 16 and he faces 22 years in prison for a hit-and-run collision that left a pedestrian dead in Santa Ana, according to the O.C. Register.
Reichstein accepted felony charges of hit-and-run with permanent and serious injury and gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. As part of his plea bargain with the OCDA, a murder charge will be dismissed. Continue reading
Charlene Hanson, 71, was hit by a vehicle tonight, June 17, as she crossed the street away from her church, and was in critical condition at a hospital, according to the O.C. Register.
Hanson was leaving St. Joseph Church, on foot, crossing Civic Center Drive, heading due north, away from the church, when she was struck by a Toyota Tacoma at about 6:19 p.m. Continue reading
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Case # 12CF0764
Date: June 16, 2017
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A gang member was sentenced today to life in state prison without the possibility of parole for murdering an innocent bystander in a retaliatory gang shooting in Santa Ana.
Defendant: Rene Mojarra, 25, Santa Ana
Found guilty by a jury on March 14, 2017, of felony: Continue reading
A man suspected of burglary who attempted to hide inside a 7-Eleven located at 2745 W. McFadden Ave., was arrested late Thursday, June 15, after he crashed through the store’s ceiling tiles, according to the O.C. Register.
The suspect had apparently broken into several apartments at a complex located at 2701 W. McFadden Ave., at around 11 p.m., according to the SAPD. Continue reading
Monroe Elementary in Santa Ana
Santa Ana Police Department
Advisory: SAPD/OCSD Bomb Squad Working Suspicious Package at Armory
Location: 612 E. Warner – National Guard Armory
UPDATE: The SAPD has declared the scene to be safe as of 10:36 a.m.
Armory personnel discovered a suspicious package left near the south entrance gate. SAPD Officers are on scene and have established a perimeter. Monroe Elementary has been placed on lockdown. Continue reading
Remember a few weeks back when we noticed that the SAPD was no longer reporting crime data to Crimemapping – a website that logs crime activity throughout the U.S.? Well today the SAPD finally admitted what happened.
The SAPD noted in a press release that the Department changed its computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system and apparently because of that the link between the CAD and CrimeMapping.com stopped working and had to be rebuilt. Continue reading
Guest Inn and Quality Suites
Do you remember when the Guest Inn and Quality Suites, located at 2151 E. First St., was converted into the first large-scale permanent supportive housing project in Santa Ana for the homeless, last year? Well they are in the news again as the SAPD is now investigating a shooting that occurred there early this morning in which a woman was wounded, according to the O.C. Register.
When SAPD police officers arrived at the Guest Inn, after getting a phone call about a woman being shot, they found a woman with what looked like one gunshot wound to her upper torso, according to the SAPD. Continue reading
Lately, there has been a lot of fingering pointing at who is to blame for Officer Brandon Sontag being given his job back with the Santa Ana Police Dept. after being seen in a video of the Sky High marijuana dispensary raid?
So who is to blame for Officer Sontag getting his job back with the Santa Ana Police Dept?
The Mayor? NO!
Former Chief of Police Rojas? NO!
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY NEWS RELEASE
Case # 17CF1275
June 8, 2017
MAN EXTRADITED FROM ARIZONA AND CHARGED WITH 1984 COLD CASE MURDER OF TRANSIENT MAN IN SANTA ANA
SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was extradited from Arizona and charged with the 1984 cold case murder of a transient man in Santa Ana.
Defendant: John William Zelinski, 61, Tucson, Arizona
Charges: Continue reading
Daniel Jonas Fine, 42, a Santa Ana man, pleaded guilty on Wednesday, June 7, to misdemeanor charges for hitting a clerk in the head, hurling bananas at another employee and knocking over two cash registers when his payment card was declined for a candy purchase at a Santa Ana 7-Eleven store, according to the O.C. Register.
Fine was placed on three years of informal probation despite pleading guilty to charges including battery, vandalism and assault. He has been in jail since April 18 so his additional 30-day jail sentence most likely is a moot point. Continue reading