Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Santa Ana's top news & views blog

Tag Archives: Vince Sarmiento

A woman was shot and wounded at Santa Ana’s Guest Inn & Quality Suites this morning

Posted on by Posted in Crime, homeless, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

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→

Two minors were injured in a drive by shooting early today by Madison Park

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

The brief break in reported shootings in Santa Ana appears to be over as two minors were wounded at about 12:45 a.m. this morning at the 1600 block of South Evergreen St., by Madison Park, according to the O.C. Register.

The victim included two males and a female, who were apparently walking along the street when a vehicle pulled up and an armed male suspect got out of it. He began to fire multiple shots at the victims. One male and the female were injured in their lower extremities with what were described as non-life threatening wounds. The remaining male was not injured. Continue reading→

Santa Ana man convicted of manslaughter after stabbing another man to death at Underground DTSA

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

Juan Angel Rivera, 23, a Santa Ana resident who stabbed a fellow concertgoer, Nathan Alfaro, (a 23-year old resident of Westminster) to death during a March 2016 punk show at the Underground DTSA was convicted Monday of manslaughter, not murder, after jurors found that he acted in the heat of the moment, according to the O.C. Register.

Rivera is still looking at a prison term of up to 12 years. But if he had he been convicted of first-degree murder he could have ended up in prison for 26 years to life. Most likely he will not serve a full term as the State of California routinely lets inmates out of prison early. Continue reading→

An SAPD police officer was injured today while pursuing an auto theft suspect

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Los Cristales Bar

An unidentified man led SAPD police officers on a short car chase today after he fled from a traffic stop, in a stolen pickup truck, at 5:50 p.m., at McFadden and Grand Ave., according to the O.C. Register.

During the police pursuit the suspect intentionally rammed the pickup truck into a police cruiser. He then fled from the truck on foot and ran from  the police for a few blocks. Continue reading→

Mayor Pro Tem Martinez reacts to the effort to recall her pro-gang City Council colleagues

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, Civic Affairs, Michele Martinez, Politics, Santa Ana 8 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez reacted to the announcement that efforts are underway to recall her pro-gang colleagues on the Santa Ana City Council, in a rambling post on Facebook today:

I am being told that various members of the Santa Ana City Council are being threatened by a recall because of recent actions taken. I have also been informed that if I don’t get on board with the program, I to will be recalled. If they wish to recall me for protecting the city from bankruptcy and protecting the residents interest, so be it. The city is not in the position of hiring any new employees or giving raises. We have no surplus…. It is facing a 15- 20 million dollar structural deficit that I have been speaking of for years. With the increase of pension and health care cost this year and the next few years , it will only create a bigger burden on the general fund. We have to manage expectations but unfortunately, some of my colleagues want to give raises after they have been told that we are not in a position to do so. This is reckless and irresponsible and I will not be silent or threaten because I am trying to do the right thing. Continue reading→

Santa Ana’s pro-gang City Council Members are now facing recalls

Posted on by Posted in 2018 elections, David Benavides, Miguel Pulido, Nativo Lopez, Politics, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 14 Comments

Council Members Tinajero, Martinez and Benavides

Apparently efforts are now underway to recall Santa Ana City Council Members Sal Tinajero, David Benavides and Vince Sarmiento. All three of them have opposed hiring more cops and supported our lame former SAPD Police Chief, Carlos Rojas, who did us all a favor by quitting and moving to the Bay area. This means they have been pro-gang City Council Members – which is now what the people of Santa Ana elected them to do.

Tinajero should have been recalled some years ago. If you recall he was a friend and colleague of Nativo Lopez, when they were both on the SAUSD School Board. Lopez got recalled but Tinajero was allowed to stay on the School Board. Now he will finally have to face the music. Continue reading→

There was a drive-by shooting near Walker Elementary School this afternoon

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On Tuesday, April 18 at about 4:30 p.m., at 600 S. Standard, in a residential neighborhood, SAPD police officers were dispatched to the area after reports of a shooting that had just occurred, according to SAPD Case # CI#: 17-10369.

Upon arrival the police officers located several shell casings at the scene. Based on witness information, a Hispanic male adult was walking northbound on the west sidewalk of 600 S. Standard as a vehicle, occupied by several subjects, approached driving southbound. A passenger from the vehicle fired several gun shots at the subject walking on the sidewalk. Continue reading→

Sarmiento’s illegal marijuana dispensary is now a neighborhood eyesore

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Daisy Sarmiento, Drugs, Marijuana, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 3 Comments

Daisyland Eviction Notice

Last year we reported how an illegal marijuana dispensary called the Sanctuary was operating on the property at 2531 S. Main St. The property and building are owned by Daisy Sarmiento who is the sister of City Council Member Vincent Sarmiento.

On April 4th, the OC Sheriff issued an eviction notice to the operator of the Sanctuary a person by the name of Irfan John Nazarzai who was formerly an Account Manager for Weedmaps. The Plantiff on the eviction is listed as Daisyland Corp. which Daisy Sarmiento is the owner of. A quick search on Facebook shows that Nazarzai and Daisy Sarmiento are friends.  Continue reading→

A man was shot and killed early this morning at the Casa Del Rey bar in Santa Ana

Posted on by Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Daisy Sarmiento, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

Santa Ana Police Department

Advisory: Detectives Investigating Homicide in the 200 Block of West Warner Avenue

Victim: Male, name being withheld pending OC Coroner’s notification with family

On Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at 12:08 AM, Santa Ana Police Officers responded to reports of a shooting at the Casa Del Rey Bar located at 230 W. Warner Avenue. Upon arrival, Officers found an adult male down in the parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound. Orange County Fire Authority responded and pronounced the adult male deceased at 12:24 AM. Continue reading→

Two shootings were reported in Santa Ana on Tuesday

Posted on by Posted in Crime, David Benavides, Gangs, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento Leave a comment

On Tuesday, March 28 at about 5 p.m., SAPD police officers responded to the area of 700 South Center regarding a shooting. The investigation revealed the shooting occurred in front of Jerome Center. Witnesses said the victim was shot in his upper torso, according to SAPD Case # 17-08295.

This shooting happened next to Monte Vista Elementary School in Santa Ana’s Ward 4, which is represented by Councilman David Benavides. Continue reading→

Three more shootings were reported in Santa Ana this weekend

Posted on by Posted in Crime, Gangs, Jose Solorio, Sal Tinajero, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 3 Comments

On Saturday, March 25 at about 4:30 p.m. SAPD police officers responded to 317 E. 17th Street after receiving a phone call regarding shots fired. A witness told the police officers that he approached a couple in the parking lot involved in an argument when the male threatened him with a gun. The couple left and later the male returned with a handgun and shot at the witness narrowly missing him but striking the building, according to SAPD Case # 17-08025.

This shooting happened near the 5 Freeway in in Santa Ana’s Ward 3, which is represented by Councilman Jose Solorio. Continue reading→

Did Sarmiento vote for the Sanctuary City ordinance in order to protect his own family’s interests?

Posted on by Posted in Crime, immigration, mexico, Politics, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 5 Comments

Oscar Roberto Urbina

I took a call this week from a young lady who had quite a story to tell. Apparently she was dating a musician named Oscar Roberto Urbina, a 46-year old man who performs in a band called Libertad Chicana. The relationship went sideways and Urbina started to pester her at work. The young lady eventually got a temporary restraining order. Then Urbina showed up at her work, a market in Santa Ana, and he allegedly assaulted her.

Urbina was charged with “Disobeying domestic relations court order” on Feb. 1, and a jury trial has been set for April 7, according to OC Court Case Number 17CM01158. The victim says Urbina is fairly broke but someone paid his $15K bail to get him back on the streets. Continue reading→

Mayor Pro Tem Martinez wants to set up a Review Board to review police force incidents

Posted on by Posted in Crime, immigration, Police Brutality, Politics, Public Safety, Santa Ana, Vince Sarmiento 5 Comments

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Michele Martinez is proposing at the next Santa Ana City Council meeting that an Independent Review or Citizen Review Board be set up to review police force incidents, procedures and policies and to make recommendations to the City Council.

Martinez has submitted this item to the City Council as an 85A agenda item: Continue reading→

Remember when former SAPD Police Chief Walters cut gang violence by 40%?

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

 

Walters plaque unveiled

With all the talk about combating gang violence in Santa Ana we thought it would be worthwhile to revisit what our former, and far more capable, Police Chief, Paul Walters, accomplished a few years ago.

Walters was forced out of Santa Ana by the last City Council – and some of those Council members are still around, including David Benavides, Vince Sarmiento and Sal Tinajero.

Here is what the O.C. Register reported in 2013, about how effective Walters was: Continue reading→