Editor

The Westminster police made a big drug bust after a car stop

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Drugs, Westminster Leave a comment

A Westminster police officer conducted a car stop for CVC (California Vehicle Code) violations in the area of Bushard St. and Hazard Ave. on the evening of Jan. 22, at around 11 p.m.

The passenger was discovered to be on probation with search terms. Underneath the passenger seat, Officers located approximately 60 grams of methamphetamine, 8 grams of psilocybin (mushrooms), numerous MDMA pills, and other items related to drug sales.

The individual was arrested for drug sales and other charges and was later transported to Orange County Jail.

A naked man was arrested after he tried to break into a home in Westminster

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Westminster Leave a comment

What would you do if a naked man tried to break into your house in the early morning? This actually happened recently in Orange County when a naked man tried to break into a house at the 6200 block of Apache Road, in Westminster.

The incident happened on Saturday, Jan. 22, at around 3 a.m., when Artem Borodin Aleksandrovich, a 47-year-old resident of Westminster, tried breaking down a door at a residence. The effort made such a racket that the residents woke up and then called the police.

Aleksandrovich attempted to grab a cell phone from one of the residents and broke a window panel near the front door before the homeowners were finally able to secure the door.

When the police officers arrived they found Aleksandrovich punching and kicking the front door. He then began charging at the police officers when they tried to subdue him. He struck one officer with a closed fist in the face before finally being subdued and arrested.

Two Westminster police officers were injured and they were later treated at a local hospital. They are both expected to fully recover.

No residents were injured during the fracas. Police are investigating whether Aleksandrovich might have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Aleksandrovich was booked at the Orange County Jail on suspicion of robbery, residential burglary, and assault with a deadly weapon.

Homeless man on parole arrested for stealing a $2,000 bike from Orange Cycle

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Editor Posted in Bicycles, Crime, homeless, Orange Leave a comment

At 4:09 this morning, an alarm company for Orange Cycle reported a window smash activation. When the police officers arrived, they observed a window smash and found a $2,000 bicycle missing.

A graveyard officer observed a male riding a new bicycle in the area of St. Joseph Hospital. The suspect immediately fled, ditched the stolen bicycle at Batavia and La Veta, and jumped a fence into the Sisters of St. Joseph property.

A perimeter was established and the suspect was subsequently located (with the help from K9 Danto) and arrested.

The suspect, a transient on parole was identified as Alejandro Zermeno.

The suspect was booked at the Orange County Jail and the bicycle was returned to Orange Cycle.

The Orange Police Department hopes that the parole hold and felony arrest will keep Zermeno in jail this time.

A suspected DUI driver flew off an O.C. freeway and slammed into a motel

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Alcohol, buena park, CHP, Crime Leave a comment

The CHP arrested a driver on suspicion of DUI after he managed to fly his car off an Orange County Freeway and smashed it right into a motel in Buena Park.

The incident happened on Sunday night, Jan. 23, at around 11:10 p.m. The driver was in a 2019 BMW that was traveling eastbound on the 91 Freeway as he headed to the Beach Blvd. off-ramp. However the driver did not handle the curve in the road well and he drove off the roadway, smashing through several freeway signs, before busting through a fence and landing in the Quality Inn at 7555 Beach Blvd.

The driver was fortunate to escape without any injuries and no one at the Quality Inn was injured either, according to the CHP.

The arriving CHP officers suspected that impairment had contributed to the crash and they arrested the driver on suspicion of DUI.

Anyone with information that could assist with the investigation is asked to contact investigating Officer O. Renteria at the CHP at 714-892-4426.

Guns, drugs and nunchuks seized from a speeding felon by the Garden Grove police

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Drugs, Garden Grove, Guns Leave a comment

Early on Friday morning, Garden Grove Police Officers were conducting speed enforcement in the area of Chapman Ave and Medina Dr. when they noticed a driver exhibiting unsafe speed.

A vehicle stop was conducted and the driver was found to have a suspended license. As the police officers inventoried the car, incidental to a suspended license tow, they located 3.7 grams of cocaine.

A further search of the car, yield an unregistered and un-serialized AR-15, a Smith & Wesson 500 Magnum, high-capacity magazine, ammunition and nunchucks.

The driver was also later found to be a convicted felon, prohibited from possessing any of the items.

The driver was arrested and later booked into the Orange County Jail.

The SAPD seized several guns last week including a loaded AR-15

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Drugs, Gangs, Guns, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

The SAPD has posted their weekly gun seizure update for the week of 15/2022 – 01/21/2022.

While on patrol SAPD Directed Patrol officers observed a subject they recognized as an AB109 probationer with an active warrant for his arrest. Upon contact the subject attempted to flee but was detained. The police searched him and found a loaded.32 caliber firearm in his pants pocket.

SAPD gang detectives observed a suspicious vehicle exiting a parking lot at a high rate of speed. The detectives followed the vehicle and stopped the driver.

The detectives contacted the driver of the vehicle and he was recognized as an active gang member with several outstanding felony warrants for his arrest.

A search of the suspect found he was in possession of a loaded .45 semiautomatic firearm in his waist area. He also had approximately five ounces of narcotics.

SAPD gang detectives contacted a subject they recognized to be on parole for assault with a deadly weapon.

Upon contacting the subject the detectives located more than one ounce of narcotics on his pearson and almost ten thousand dollars in cash.

The suspect was arrested for sales of narcotics and a follow-up parole search of his residence was also completed. The police found a loaded AR15 with extended magazines and additional ammunition was also recovered.

SAPD gang detectives contacted four male subjects in a vehicle and one of the suspects fled on foot into the driveway of a residence.

The detectives observed the suspect discard a firearm into that residence’s backyard. A search warrant was obtained for the residence and the detectives located a loaded 9mm firearm, a pistol grip shotgun and additional ammunition with extended magazines. Gang indicia and narcotics were also find inside the residence.

Three suspects were taken into custody on several felony charges.

An unidentified victim was lying in bed when a suspect barged into the room and pointed a gun at him. The suspect demanded the victims wallet and subsequently pistol-whipped the victim on the head.

The victim fled from the scene and called the SAPD. When the police officers arrived they initiated an area check and were able to find the suspect.

The suspect also was in possession of a ghost gun. He was taken into custody.

The Santa Ana Youth Employment Program is now accepting applications

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Editor Posted in Civic Affairs, Jobs, Santa Ana, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Youth (SAY) Employment Program is back and is accepting applications. Youths ages 16-21 can apply to receive paid work experience up to $15/hour.

Applicants must be Santa Ana residents with the right to work in the US, 16-21 years old, and must complete the application and provide required documents.

Applications will be processed on a first come, first served basis. Visit https://www.santa-ana.org/SAYEmployment for more details about the program, or apply at bit.ly/SAYEmploymentProgram.

The SAPD and other local police agencies issued 26 street racing citations last week

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Editor Posted in automobiles, Crime, Garden Grove, Irvine, Santa Ana, Street Racing Leave a comment

In response to the continuous problem of street racing, the SAPD along with Garden Grove Police Department & Irvine Police Department (members of STEARRD – Strategic Traffic Enforcement Against Racing & Reckless Driving) conducted a street racing enforcement operation on 01/15-01/16 that resulted in:

(26) Citations
(2) 30-Day Impounds (2) Reckless Driving Arrests

Additionally, on 01/19 #SAPDTraffic along with Irvine PD & La Habra PD conducted a special detail resulting in:

Felony Evading Arrest
Reckless Driving Arrests
Citations
30-Day Impounds

These activities have proven to be deadly and they pose a clear and present threat to public safety. The SAPD has a zero tolerance policy for reckless driving / street racing and has made this issue a top priority

The Irvine Police arrested a man in a disabled car full of stolen mail

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine Leave a comment

Normally motorists in broken down vehicles are happy to get help from the police. That was not the case on January 20, 2022, when Irvine police officers stopped to help a man in a disabled vehicle at Sand Canyon and Barranca.

The man in the car, Manuel Santos, a 28-year-old from Los Angeles, had no explanation for why his broken down car was full of stolen mail.

Santos was arrested for mail theft and booked at the Orange County Jail.

A young man was fatally shot in Downtown Santa Ana last night

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Riverside County, SAPD Leave a comment

On Saturday, January 22nd, 2022, at 10:40 PM, Officers responded to 300 W. 5th Street regarding reports of a shooting. The shooting happened outside of a recording studio in DTSA.

Officers arrived on scene and discovered a male adult victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper torso. Orange County Fire Authority pronounced the victim deceased at the scene.

The circumstances surrounding this homicide are currently being investigated. The Orange County Coroner’s Office has identified the victim as Zion Gonzalez (18) of Moreno Valley, CA.

Detectives are attempting to identify and locate any witnesses who can shed 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 case is eligible for the Gang Reward Program.

This week’s Cochino List includes Pan Korean BBQ and Shabu Shabu

Posted on January 22, 2022 by Editor Posted in Business, Disease, Food, Food & Health, Health, Health and Medical, Insects, OC Health Care, Orange County, Public Safety, Restaurants, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The O.C. 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 Jan. 13 to Jan. 21. Most of these eateries reopen pretty quickly after the health inspectors determine their issues have been resolved.

Pan Korean BBQ and Shabu Shabu, 8851 Garden Grove Blvd., Suite 112, Garden Grove, Closed: Jan. 19, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Jan. 20
Mrs. Fields, 2101 Westminster Mall, Westminster, Closed: Jan. 18, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Jan. 18
Update: Cho Tam An Market at 9172 Bolsa Ave., Westminster, which was ordered closed Jan. 13 because of a rodent infestation, was allowed to reopen Jan. 14.
Update: Champagne Bakery at Asian Garden Mall, 9200 Bolsa Ave., Suite 116, Westminster, which was ordered closed Jan. 11 because of a rodent infestation, was allowed to reopen Jan. 14.
Cava, 3972 Barranca Ave., Irvine, Closed: Jan. 19, Reason: Rodent infestation, Reopened: Jan. 20
101 Noodle Express, 5408 Walnut Ave., Suite A, Irvine, Closed: Jan. 13, Reason: Cockroach infestation, Reopened: Jan. 14
Food sales at Walmart, 1340 S. Beach Blvd., La Habra, Closed: Jan. 15, Reason: Insufficient hot water, Reopened: Jan. 18
Update: Bear Flag Fish Co. at 3421 Via Lido, Newport Beach, which was ordered closed Jan. 7 because of a lack of running water, was allowed to reopen Jan. 8.

The C.M. Police are looking for a suspect who fled from a fatal hit and run involving a man in a wheelchair

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Editor Posted in Accidents, Costa Mesa, Crime 2 Comments

COSTA MESA, Calif. (Jan. 21, 2022) —The Costa Mesa Police Department (CMPD) is seeking the public’s help in locating the suspect who fled a fatal hit and run traffic collision. The vehicle involved is described as a 2009-2010 black Toyota Highlander with front-end damage.

Last night, Jan. 20, 2022, at approximately 11:32 p.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of Newport Boulevard and Industrial Way regarding a hit and run traffic collision leaving one victim, a man who had been knocked out of his wheelchair, injured at the scene.

Officers arrived and found the victim with significant injuries. The 50-year-old man was transported to a nearby hospital to be treated but subsequently succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. His identification is being withheld pending next of kin notification.

The suspect driver fled in their vehicle, which is possibly a 2009-2010 black Toyota Highlander with front-end damage.

The CMPD Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) responded to the scene and began their investigation.

CMPD is asking anyone with additional information that can assist in identifying the suspect, specifically witnesses who may have seen the suspect vehicle on Newport Boulevard or Industrial Way, to contact Traffic Investigator Luis Gomez at (714) 754-5264.

Nearby businesses and residents in the area of Newport Boulevard and Industrial Way with video footage from last night are also asked to contact Investigator Gomez.

Santa Ana Pickleball New Year Kick Off set for Jan. 22 at Santa Ana H.S.

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Editor Posted in Entertainment, Pickleball, Santa Ana, Sports, Youth Activities Leave a comment

The Santa Ana Pickleball New Year Kick-Off is set for Saturday, January 22, 2022 from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM at Santa Ana High School, located at 520 W. Walnut Street in Santa Ana.

PickleFest is $10 per person and free for those under 16 years old and is hosted by First Serve Santa Ana.

There will be free water, snacks, raffles, giveaways, demos, introductory lessons, and more. There will also be a Fun Round Robin Tournament and it’s $25 a player to join.

Meet some top Pickleball Pros, participate in fun contests with prizes or competing in a fun round robin, learn a new fun sport, and make some friends. Whatever you do, don’t forget to watch the professional exhibition match, scheduled at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm.

There will also be a Pickleball-themed Silent Auction Fundraiser at the event, benefiting the McFadden Institute of Technology in Santa Ana’s new Pickleball courts.

SEE YOU ON THE COURTS

PICKLEBALL:

A fun sport that combines many elements of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong.
Played both indoors or outdoors on a badminton-sized court and a slightly modified tennis net.
Played with a paddle and a plastic ball with holes.
Played as doubles or singles.
Can be enjoyed by all ages and skill levels.

To reserve a spot text (949) 427-1063. Or sign up in advance here.

Established in 2007, First Serve Santa Ana (FSSA) is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization that builds confident kids through the great games of TENNIS and PICKLEBALL

The next Santa Ana Com-Link Hybrid General Meeting is set for Jan. 27

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Editor Posted in Civic Affairs, Neighborhood Associations, Santa Ana Leave a comment

The next Santa Ana Communication Linkage Forum General Meeting (In-Person and Virtual) is set for Thursday, January 27, 2022 via Zoom and also in person at the SAPD Community Room located at 60 Civic Center Plaza.

Join through Zoom https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85882796296 or dial-in on your phone at: 1 (720) 707-2699 and enter
Meeting ID: 858 8279 6296#.

English to Spanish Interpreting services will be available.

Agenda

7:00 Call to Order, Com-Link Board Introductions and Flag Salute
7:05 Committee Updates:
- Arts and Culture Update by Tram Le, City Arts and Culture Specialist
- Santa Ana Unified School District Update by Lisa Solomon, SAUSD
- Liaison to Com-Link
Welcome to Dr. Annebelle Nery, New Santa Ana College President (pictured above)
7:25 Presentation by Nabil Saba, City Public Works Agency Executive Director and staff on the following:
- Neighborhood Block Transformation Contest (NBTC)
- Permit Parking District Study
- Trash Hauler Transition Update
- Bus Shelter Advertising and Maintenance
- Update on Current Construction Projects
8:40 Announcements

Note: We encourage you to attend this meeting in person. To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, the State of California requires that everyone wear a mask at all indoor public settings and workplaces until February 15, 2022

For more information click here to view the meeting flyer.

How to get free food and KN95 face masks in Santa Ana on Jan. 22

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Editor Posted in Disease, Food, Health and Medical, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Join Join The Seva Collective for free food and KN95 mask distributions on Saturday, Jan. 22, from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. or supplies run out, at Villa Fundamental School, located at 1441 E. Chestnut Ave., in Santa Ana.

There will be additional food and mask distributions at the same location on Feb. 12 and 26.

The Seva Collective started with the Sikhi concepts of Seva (Selfless Service) and Langar (Free Kitchen/Meals for all). In this time of food insecurity they realized that as the Orange County Sikh community needed to step up and help our neighbors.