A man was stabbed to death near a Santa Ana bike trail

A man was stabbed to death near a Santa Ana bike trail and another man was detained by SAPD detectives, on Monday night.

SAPD police officers arrived at the scene of the crime at around 7:50 p.m., on Dyer Road near South Bradford Place.

The police officers found a male victim near a bike trail. He had been stabbed multiple times.

Orange County Fire Authority responded and pronounced the subject deceased. SAPD Homicide Detectives responded and assumed the investigation.

During the preliminary investigation, a citizen alerted officers to a possible suspect in the area of 2600 S. Olive Street.  The subject fled from officers and was apprehended after a brief foot pursuit.  The subject, identified as Sergio Gaytan (42) of Santa Ana, was in possession of items belonging to the victim and had blood on his clothing.  A knife believed to be the murder weapon was recovered nearby.

Homicide detectives interviewed the suspect who made incriminating statements.  With the concurrence from the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, SAPD Homicide detectives booked Gaytan for CPC 187- Murder.

The motive for the murder is unclear at this time.  The victim has been identified as Joany Hernandez (36) of Santa Ana by the Orange County Coroner’s Office.

Both directions of Dyer Road between South Garnsey Street and South Sycamore Street were closed while SAPD homicide detectives investigated the fatal stabbing.

Detectives are attempting to identify and locate any witnesses who can shed additional light on this incident.  

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call SAPD Homicide Section Detectives at (714) 245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

This is the second stabbing incident in Santa Ana in the past two weeks.