New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Crime

Irvine man tried to avenge crimes against Asians by kidnapping and trying to sexually assault a woman

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Editor Posted in Asians, Crime, Hate, Irvine, OCDA Leave a comment

Irvine, Calif. (April 9, 2021) – Last night, Irvine Police arrested 37-year-old Michael Sangbong Rhee for kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual assault against a woman at an apartment complex.

Yesterday afternoon, at approximately 1:30 p.m., an adult female of Asian descent was sitting in the driver’s seat of her vehicle near her apartment in the area of Harvard and Coronado. Her driver side door was open and she looked up to see Rhee standing at the driver’s side door holding a handgun. She did not recognize Rhee and he told her if she wanted to live, she needed to get in the back of her car. The victim offered Rhee her wallet and money and he said they would “do that later.” He then opened the rear passenger door and pushed her onto the backseat. The victim believed she was going to be sexually assaulted or killed and began to look for an opportunity to escape. As she struggled with Rhee, he committed a sexual battery against her. The victim yelled to a maintenance worker nearby that Rhee had a gun. Rhee then exited the vehicle, ran through the apartment community, and got into his vehicle. Surveillance cameras captured his license plate as he was leaving the complex.

The Irvine Police Department (IPD) and the City of Irvine do not tolerate violent crimes against women or hate-related crimes in our community. IPD detectives immediately followed up on the license plate information, which led them to Rhee’s residence in Lake Forest. Rhee was contacted at his home and he was detained. Detectives obtained and served a search warrant and several items were recovered from his home and vehicle linking him to the assault. One of the items collected from the vehicle was a BB gun similar to the weapon described by the victim.

Rhee was arrested late last night and booked at Orange County Jail for kidnapping with the intent to commit a sexual assault. He is being held on $1,000,000 bail.

Based on the totality of the investigation and statements made by Rhee, detectives believe he targeted the victim because he thought she was White. Detectives also believe the assault was retaliation for hate crimes committed against the Asian community. IPD detectives will be adding hate crime charges to the complaint filed with the Orange County District Attorney’s office.

If anyone has any information regarding this case, please contact Detective Haldor Larum at (949) 724-7194 or email hlarum@cityofirvine.org.

Former O.C. resident charged with fraud after a bogus $14M stock offering

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Federal Government, Fraud, Justice, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, California – A former Southern California resident was charged today with defrauding more than 100 investors out of $14 million by using boiler room tactics to fraudulently offer a “pre-IPO” investing opportunity in his online streaming and entertainment company, then using much of the funds to support his lavish lifestyle.

Ronald Shane Flynn, a.k.a. “Ronnie Shane,” 57, who formerly resided in Santa Monica and Orange County and is believed to be residing abroad, was charged in a federal grand jury indictment with 15 counts of wire fraud. According to the indictment, Flynn was the founder and operator of Vuuzle Media Corp., which purported to be a streaming media business with offices in New York, Las Vegas, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, and other locations throughout the world.

From September 2016 to the present, Flynn falsely represented to investors that Vuuzle was a pre-IPO (initial public offering) investment opportunity that would provide high returns when it went public. To raise investor money, Flynn, through Vuuzle, hired a salesforce to solicit investors to purchase Vuuzle stock, according to the indictment. Although Vuuzle’s paperwork with federal securities regulators indicated Vuuzle would pay no commissions, Flynn allegedly paid large commissions to his salesforce and independent stock promoters.

Flynn also falsely told investors that their money would be used to operate and build Vuuzle’s online streaming business, as well as to take the company public, and he promised investors they would receive dividend payments from their investments in Vuuzle, according to the indictment.

Based on Vuuzle’s U.S.-based bank account and filed tax returns, Vuuzle never made a profit, and Flynn did not intend to conduct an IPO for Vuuzle, the indictment alleges. Because Vuuzle did not have audited financials, it could never make a public offering on any public stock exchange, and, since its inception in 2016, Vuuzle has never paid dividends to any investor, according to the indictment.

Out of the $14 million raised in investor funds, Flynn allegedly took a large portion of investor money to support his lavish lifestyle, including purchases at resorts and jewelry merchants, using an American Express credit card paid for by Vuuzle.

An indictment contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

If convicted of all charges, Flynn would face a statutory maximum sentence of 300 years in federal prison.

In January, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Flynn and Vuuzle in federal court in New Jersey, alleging violations of federal securities laws.

The FBI investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer L. Waier of the Santa Ana Branch Office is prosecuting this case.

The SAPD is searching for the Chinatown Express attempted murder suspect

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

On 2/13/2021 at 6:20 PM, the victim and Robin Velasco had a verbal argument inside the Chinatown Express Restaurant located at 2050 N. Grand Avenue. The victim walked to a U-Haul truck with his food. As the victim and his stepfather were about to eat, Velasco drove up and shot into the U-Haul truck approximately 2 to 3 times, striking the victim.

Velasco’s vehicle was last seen traveling southbound Grand Avenue. At the time of this incident, Velasco had three minors with him inside the vehicle.

Wanted Suspect: Robin Alexander Velasco

Suspect Description: Male, Hispanic, 5’05 tall, 155-170 lbs., black hair, brown eyes and glasses.

Vehicle Description: Black, Honda Pilot, 4 door SUV with CA license plate # 8DMB733

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Velasco is asked to contact, Homicide Detective Moroyoqui at (714) 245-8731 or gmoroyoqui@santa-ana.org.

The OC Human Trafficking Trask Force releases their 2021 Victim Report

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Editor Posted in Anaheim, Crime, Human Trafficking, Orange County Leave a comment

ANAHEIM, Calif., April 6, 2021 — Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) released the 2021 Human Trafficking Victim Report as it marked a 10-year milestone partnership of collaborative leadership by Anaheim Police Department and nonprofit Waymakers. The unique collaboration between law enforcement and victim services has made strides in community advocacy and education throughout the last decade, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In order to adequately handle the complex nature of human trafficking crimes and range of victims, the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) is a collaborative model of law enforcement, victim services, prosecution, government entities, nonprofit organizations, community organizations, and volunteers. With the support of the community and faith-based action committee, the purpose is to address the areas of protection, prosecution, and prevention in partnership with key stakeholders. Since 2013, OCHTTF has produced the Human Trafficking Victim Report to raise awareness of this often-invisible crime, documenting victims of modern-day sex and labor slavery in Orange County, California for public knowledge.

The 2021 Human Trafficking Victim Report shows that the task force assisted 357 victims of sex and labor trafficking in 2019-2020, including 317 sex trafficking victims and 33 labor trafficking victims. Of these victims, 330 were female and 27 were male, and 101 victims were minors.

“In these challenging times of the pandemic, and racial unrest, we know that trafficking doesn’t stop,” explained Michelle Heater, program director, Victim Assistance Programs with Waymakers. “That is just one of the reasons why the Human Trafficking Victim Report is pivotal in creating public awareness and putting statistics to these cases. Not only is the task force creating community collaboration, awareness, and educational partnerships but we are getting these victims the advocacy, care and healing each one of them needs. Our goal as a Task Force is to put the victims first when it comes to our services and based upon this year’s report, we know there is a significant need among victims for our support.”

“A decade of collaboration allows us to really see change that we have enacted,” said Anaheim Police Chief Jorge Cisneros. “Our partnership began the process of police personnel looking at the human trafficking problem from a completely new, holistic perspective. It required a complete change in mindset from law enforcement in addressing the problem. The Anaheim Police Department is proud of its decade long commitment to the mission and the new approach becoming a department philosophy. We will continue to be the lead law enforcement agency for the Task Force.”

COVID-19 Impacts Victim Assistance Approach but Not Trafficking Activity

While the 2021 Victim Report shows a slight decrease in victims assisted compared to the last report released in 2019 (from 415 to 357), this was likely due to law enforcement’s limited ability to be proactive with human trafficking investigations and victim identification during COVID-19. Call-out response consisted of 13 percent in comparison to 27 percent in 2019 and 35 percent in 2018. The pandemic, however, increased the volume of calls from the National Human Trafficking Hotline with 29 percent of calls coming from victims who resided outside the service area of Orange County needing assistance.

Even with the pandemic, human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation continued as traffickers and exploiters took advantage of the vulnerabilities of victims. The Orange County Child Abuse Registry experienced an increase in calls for Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) that identified more Orange County youth compared to previous years along with information from law enforcement.

Although the number of referrals for services made from prosecution was high in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, much of the work helping victims navigate the criminal justice system process was significantly slowed as investigations and the court system were unable to move at the same levels as before the pandemic.

The report also notes there were approximately 294 total referrals made to victim assistance services in 2019 and 2020, with 39 percent coming from law enforcement, 19 percent coming from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and the remainder from the community, other government entities, family/friends, and self-referrals.

In 2020, therapy services increased for victims, which could be a result of increased mental health support needs due to the isolation and stress of COVID-19 on victims. The biggest challenge noted during 2020 was navigating how to provide support during a pandemic. Waymakers and The Salvation Army, the primary organizations providing direct victim support for trafficking victims, were forced to significantly adapt their service delivery models to comply with health guidelines. For example, support groups that offer victims the opportunity to openly speak about their trauma had to meet online and the sense of community shifted for those who needed support.

Key Findings in a Decade of Work

In 2010, the OCHTTF was one of three task forces awarded the U.S. Department of Justice – Bureau of Justice Assistance and Office for Victims of Crime’s first Enhanced Collaborative Model (ECM) to Combat Human Trafficking project and continues to function as such to address all forms of human trafficking in Orange County. Waymakers and Anaheim Police Department lead this ECM and have transitioned to a victim-centered and trauma-enforced approach with the goal of combatting human trafficking in Orange County.

Over the past decade, the data shows that human trafficking crosses all racial, ethnic, gender, socio-economic and cultural lines. Local law enforcement has consistently been the top victim referral source for trafficking cases, while family and friend referrals continue to remain low. Since victims of labor trafficking consisted mostly of foreign nationals, these findings are consistent and not surprising, since national victims have often left family behind in hopes of finding a better life in the U.S. and domestic victims often come from abused and neglected homes. While the number of foreign victims assisted has not significantly changed from year to year, the steady increase among the U.S. victims shifted the victim demographic percentage significantly. This correlates to the types of service needs that may differ between foreign and U.S. victims in response.

Criminal justice advocacy started as one of the bottom needs for victims but has gradually increased in need over the last 10 years. In the years that housing assistance needs among victims was higher, transportation assistance was lower, and this potentially shows that when access to housing in Orange County was limited, the need for relocation assistance and transportation assistance increases. This correlation is important for the OCHTTF to consider as Orange County is a destination location for human trafficking victimization; approximately 80 percent of victims are not from Orange County. Depending on the locations where sex trafficking may be occurring—street, hotels, residential brothels, massage parlors—the victims are brought into Orange County anywhere from days to months before they are moved again.

A notable finding over the past decade was that from 2012 to 2020, 94 percent of cases reviewed by the Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit were filed and of the cases that went to jury trial, 95 percent received a guilty verdict. “The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has been unwavering in its commitment to investigating and prosecuting human traffickers and protecting the most vulnerable victims, including our children,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Justice is what is right for the individual, what is right for society, and what is right for the victims. For the last decade, this invaluable partnership between law enforcement, prosecutors, and victims’ assistance is helping to provide justice in human trafficking cases and help safeguard victims from predators who will do everything they can to exploit them.”

Looking Ahead to the Next Decade

While this report not only highlights the collaboration of a 10-year partnership, it looks forward to how the Task Force can continue its work for the next 10 years and beyond. The Task Force hopes to grow the current efforts from victim services, law enforcement, prosecution, social services, probation and all disciplines who are in a position to come across victims. This can happen with the identification and distribution of funds to expand training for the multi-disciplinary partners; hire and sustain experienced, bicultural staff; and development of specialized units and staff until institutional knowledge on human trafficking becomes more universal.

The Task Force also recommends a public health focus on prevention, exit strategy options and community reintegration to reduce recidivism and the revolving door of victimization for this serial crime. Prevention education for both male and female youth with strategies to divert youth from committing these acts of power, control, and violence is also critical. Opportunities to provide accessible and safe platforms for survivors to provide feedback and have a voice in building and changing programming is also recommended to inform additional victim-centered and trauma-informed training for service providers, law enforcement, and the community.

About Waymakers
Every day throughout Orange County, people find hope after trauma. They don’t simply survive; they find ways to heal – all with the help of Waymakers, formerly called Community Service Programs. Waymakers’ eight model programs guide over 120,000 abused children, crime victims, struggling families, acting-out adolescents and people needing mediation services annually. Waymakers has been sheltering children, supporting victims, counseling families, resolving conflicts and educating communities in Orange County since 1972. Learn more at WaymakersOC.org.

About the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force
The Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force (OCHTTF) is a multidisciplinary antihuman trafficking effort of over 60 agencies including law enforcement, victim service providers, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, government agencies and the community. The OCHTTF is committed to combatting all forms of human trafficking, recovering victims, prosecuting offenders, advocating on behalf of victims, raising community awareness and strengthening collaborative partnerships. For more information on the OCHTTF and resources, visit ochumantrafficking.com.

A man was shot and seriously wounded near the Fairview Mobile Home park

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Guns, Santa Ana, SAPD 1 Comment

An unidentified man was shot near the Fairview Mobile Home Park, at the 200 block of South Sullivan Street, in Santa Ana on Monday night.

SAPD police officers responded to the scene at about 8:35 p.m. They discovered the victim had been shot in his upper body.

The victim is expected to survive. He is in critical condition at a local hospital.

The victim went through several hours of surgery before the doctors could stabilize him.

The SAPD police investigators believe the victim was shot and wounded when he was standing near the entrance to the mobile home park.

The SAPD does not yet have a description of a suspect or a motive for the shooting.

The U.S. Justice Dept. is leading a coordinated civil rights response to COVID-19

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Disease, Federal Government, Hate Leave a comment

Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Pamela S. Karlan issued the following statement and attached resource guide to assist Federal agencies, state and local governments, and recipients of Federal financial assistance in addressing ongoing civil rights challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic:

The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed our Nation’s commitment to an open, equal, and inclusive society. We have seen hateful and xenophobic rhetoric and violence aimed at Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and businesses. We have also seen Black, Indigenous, Latino, and Pacific Islander communities, as well as people with disabilities, suffer disproportionately high rates of death and greater risk of infection and hospitalization. COVID-19 has magnified social, economic, and environmental inequalities that we cannot ignore.

As a Nation, we cannot adequately respond to, and recover from, COVID-19 if we do not protect all of our neighbors. That requires us to pursue justice on behalf of those targeted because of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, or citizenship.

The Department of Justice will vigorously enforce Federal civil rights as we continue the process of national reckoning, recovery, and healing. Civil rights protections and responsibilities still apply, even during emergencies. They cannot be waived. Federal agencies, state and local governments, and recipients of Federal financial assistance are an integral part of our shared effort to uphold civil rights.

The following principles should assist in meeting these nondiscrimination obligations:

1. Combat hate crimes, harassment, and other discrimination against the AAPI community. There has been a disturbing rise in violence, harassment, and discrimination directed at the AAPI community. Laws prohibiting such conduct must be vigorously enforced by the Federal government, acting with its state and local partners. We must support and provide services to victims of hate crimes, harassment, or unlawful discrimination and ensure the safety of schools, workplaces, and communities through prompt and thorough investigation of complaints. The attached guide includes resources to support prevention and reporting of hate crimes in communities. It also explains how to report discrimination, harassment, or hate incidents in housing, education, employment or other civil rights violations. The Civil Rights Division is prepared to work with sister Federal agencies to support state and local efforts aimed at preventing pandemic-related harassment and discrimination targeting AAPI communities. For more information on preventing hate crimes in your community, visit the Department of Justice’s hate crimes resource page: https://www.justice.gov/hatecrimes.

2. Ensure equal access for people with disabilities and avoid disability discrimination. COVID-19 has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on people with disabilities. Governments, health care providers, and long-term care facilities must comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504). This includes when making decisions about who will receive medical care, including vaccines and hospital beds. It also includes crafting and implementing policies such as crisis standards of care, visitation rules, and vaccine distribution plans. People living in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities have been placed at particular risk of COVID-19 infection and death. Some reports show that more than one-third of all deaths from COVID-19 in the U.S.—over 172,000 people—are linked to nursing homes and other long-term care facilities. Providing services in home- and community- based settings instead of in long-term care facilities can satisfy the ADA integration mandate by preventing unnecessary institutionalization. It can also reduce COVID-19 risk. As governments, employers, and businesses lift pandemic-related restrictions and reopen, they must comply with the ADA and Section 504. This includes providing reasonable accommodations and modifications, physical access, and effective communication. For information about rights and responsibilities under these statutes, please contact the ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800- 514-0383 (TTY) or visit https://www.ada.gov/.

3. Reduce further learning loss for vulnerable students. Education inequalities have worsened as COVID-19 continues to disrupt learning for millions of students. Students of color are experiencing disproportionate failure rates, a growing digital divide disadvantages students who cannot access the internet and miss school as a result, and students with limited English proficiency and/or a disability are suffering serious educational consequences. Students who are homeless or in juvenile justice facilities are particularly at risk of learning disruptions. Schools contribute to these challenges when they fail to communicate with limited English proficient families in a language they understand about how to access online learning and other important information about school activities. Whether schools begin to reopen or continue to teach virtually, they must do so in compliance with Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, the ADA, and Section 504. COVID-19 resources for schools, students, and families can be found at https://www.ed.gov/coronavirus?src=feature.

4. Protect correctional staff, incarcerated and detained people, and their families. Studies have shown that compared to the general population, a disproportionate number of COVID-19 outbreaks and deaths occur in jails, prisons, and detention facilities across the country. Certain communities of color, including Black, Indigenous, and Latino people, as well as people with disabilities, are more likely to have comorbidities, and suffer serious and even fatal COVID-19 infections, both in the general population and in jails, prisons, and detention centers. Individuals with limited English proficiency and those with disabilities can face increased isolation and lack meaningful access to essential information during COVID-19. This can limit their ability to obtain treatment and timely escalation of care when needed. State and local jails, prisons, and detention centers that receive Federal financial assistance must not discriminate on the basis of race, color, and national origin under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and other statutes. They must also comply with the ADA’s and Section 504’s disability nondiscrimination mandate. In addition to the statutory prohibitions on discrimination, these facilities may not deprive prisoners of their rights guaranteed by the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. Federal prisons and detention facilities are subject to Executive Order 13166 and other authorities that protect the civil rights of Federal detainees and inmates. For further guidance on managing pandemic response and recovery in correction and detention facilities, see https://nicic.gov/coronavirus and https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-
ncov/community/correction-detention/guidance-correctional-detention.html.

5. Protect vulnerable populations facing housing instability. COVID-19 has exacerbated existing racial and economic disparities in access to safe and affordable housing. Despite these challenges, individuals retain their fundamental right to obtain housing free from discrimination. Direct providers of housing must still comply with the Fair Housing Act. Our country already faced a severe shortage in affordable housing before the economic impacts of COVID-19 caused significant increases in housing instability. With studies showing that certain communities of color are more likely to be at risk of eviction, we must ensure that discrimination is not an additional barrier. Information on where to find housing assistance during the pandemic can be found here: https://www.benefits.gov/news/article/402. The Department of Housing and Urban Development also maintains a list of resources, found at https://www.hud.gov/coronavirus.

6. Provide information in languages other than English. Large numbers of people in the United States do not read or understand English well. Yet all people need to understand the symptoms, when to stay home, and how to protect themselves and their families to prevent the spread of the virus. Federal, state, and local public messaging on pandemic safety measures and recovery efforts should be provided in the wide array of languages spoken by people with limited English proficiency. Likewise, it is important that we ensure language accessibility in law enforcement, courts, and victim services so that victims of hate crimes and discrimination can vindicate their rights. Title VI requires recipients of Federal financial assistance to provide meaningful access to Federally-funded programs and activities to people with limited English proficiency. More information about ensuring language access and the concentration of, and languages spoken by, persons with limited English proficiency in a particular community can be found at https://www.lep.gov/ and https://www.lep.gov/maps/.

7. Collect data to monitor, track, and ensure equitable outcomes. COVID-19 requires accountability and action to address longstanding disparities for Black, Indigenous, Latino, AAPI, and other people of color, as well as people with disabilities. Complete, consistent, and accurate data collection and reporting on race, ethnicity, disability, and limited English proficient status are essential to our ability to recognize and address disparities and inequality. Federal civil rights offices are authorized to use qualitative (studies, news reports, and other sources of information) and quantitative data to conduct outreach, technical assistance, and enforcement to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Civil Rights Division is available to consult with Federal agencies on approaches to data collection and assessments to determine whether policies or practices may have a discriminatory impact. For more information on identifying discrimination under Title VI and on data collection, see https://www.justice.gov/crt/fcs/T6Manual7#Z; see also Executive Order 13985 (addressing the need for race, ethnicity, and disability data collection).

The Civil Rights Division will do its part to facilitate a coordinated federal response to these issues. Under Executive Order 12250, the Department of Justice is responsible for ensuring the consistent and effective implementation of Federal civil rights laws “prohibiting discriminatory practices in Federal programs and programs receiving federal financial assistance.” Accordingly, I have directed the Civil Rights Division’s Federal Coordination and Compliance Section and the Disability Rights Section to ensure that Federal agencies use their authority to pursue a comprehensive approach to advance equity and redress inequities in pandemic response and recovery. Finally, the Civil Rights Division will continue to convene meetings of Federal civil rights offices to:

1) exchange information and resources for agencies to take action on COVID-19-related harassment and discrimination;

2) monitor and address civil rights issues related to COVID-19 and recipients of Federal financial assistance;

3) identify strategies to ensure Federal, state and local efforts achieve equitable outcomes in current and future emergency planning and response;

4) work with the Federal agencies to develop and identify data sources or indices that will assist recipients of Federal financial assistance to collect data from communities of color and other underserved populations. The Civil Rights Division, together with other agencies throughout the Federal government, will continue to monitor civil rights issues related to COVID-19 and vigorously enforce civil rights laws. To file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division, please fill out our online form at https://civilrights.justice.gov.

Tustin police officers arrested an armed domestic violence suspect at a hotel

Posted on April 4, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Domestic Violence, Tustin Leave a comment

Michael Angelo Gutierrez, a 40-year-old Long Beach man was arrested on Saturday in an alleged domestic violence attack at a hotel in Tustin.

The Tustin police responded to the scene in the morning, at about 9:10 a.m., to a hotel in the 1600 block of El Camino Real after receiving a domestic violence call. The closed hotel in that area is the Key Inn and Suites at 1611 El Camino Real.

The victim told the responding police officers that he had been assaulted by Gutierrez, who was armed and was destroying the room.

When the police officers tried to contact Gutierrez he responded by barricading himself in the hotel room.

SWAT officers were then called in with crisis negotiators and the surrounding hotel rooms were evacuated.

The police officers were eventually able to arrest Gutierrez. No injuries were reported.

Remembering Hoover Elementary student Matthew Farias, who died in the Orange mass shooting this week

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Editor Posted in Civic Affairs, Crime, Santa Ana, SAUSD, Vince Sarmiento 1 Comment

The City of Santa Ana Tweeted today that Mayor Vince Sarmiento and the City Council grieves deeply for the tragic loss of 9-year-old Hoover Elementary School student Matthew Farias, who was killed with three others in the recent mass shooting in Orange.

The Santa Ana City Council will adjourn their next meeting, on Tuesday, April 6, in memory of Matthew.

Matthew was a third-grade student at Hoover Elementary in Santa Ana, which is slated to become a charter high school next year. Matthew wanted to help people, enjoy nature and be happy.

Matthew’s father, Rafael, told ABC News that Matthew, his only child, had aspirations of being an astronaut or a police officer. He also said that Matthew had a big heart and was very affectionate. Matthew loved soccer, riding his bike and games of tag, his favorite. He loved his dog, Ruby, a boxer. And he loved playing video games on his Xbox.

The last thing Rafael Farias remembers hearing from his son, Matthew, were the words the little boy told him every day: “I love you, Daddy,” according to the O.C. Register.

Matthew would typically finish his schoolwork around 1:30 p.m. and his mother would then take him to daycare. But on some days, when his mom, Blanca Ismeralda Tamayo, figured she would not be finished in time to fetch their son before his daycare closed at 6 p.m., she would take him with her to the office, Farias told the Register. He thinks that’s why Matthew was at the site of the shooting.

Farias said he tried to work jobs with flexible hours so he and Matthew could spend more time together. Farias was building an accessory dwelling unit in his backyard, a financial legacy intended for Matthew.

The SAUSD, in our estimate, should consider renaming Hoover after Matthew, in his memory, or at least erect a memorial there to honor him.

The victims of the mass shooting in Orange have been identified

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Guns, Orange Leave a comment

The identities have been confirmed for the four victims killed in Wednesday’s tragic incident at 202 W Lincoln. Those deceased include 28 year-old Genevieve Raygoza, 50 year-old Luis Tovar, 9 year-old Matthew Farias and 58 year-old, Leticia Solis Guzman, according to the Orange Police Department. The 9-year-old boy’s mother Ismeralda Tamayo is believed to be the lone survivor of the shooting. She remains in the hospital in critical condition.

Thalia Tovar, the daughter of Luis Tovar, and sister of Genevieve Raygoza, has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for for funeral services and medical expenses for all the families affected.

Thalia’s statement from her GoFundMePage:

We are so deeply saddened by the loss of our father, sister, and close family friends. We can use any and all support during this time. We are hoping to raise enough to help all of the families because my dad wouldn’t have had it any other way. – Vania Tovar (Daughter to Luis & Sister to Genevieve)
Genevieve Arlene Raygoza was an amazing mother, wife, sister, daughter, aunt, and loving friend. She leaves behind two beautiful boys who will be looked after by their father, Armando Raygoza. She had a smile that could light up any room and a caring nature of putting other’s needs before hers. Although her life ended prematurely, she made a huge impact in the lives of those who were fortunate to call her a loved one or a friend. She will be greatly missed, but her memory will live on in our hearts forever. We love and miss you, Gen! – Armando Raygoza (Husband to Genevieve).

In related news, Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez, the suspect in this week’s mass shooting in Orange, is facing several felony charges per our previous article posted earlier today.

The SAPD seized two assault rifles while making gang-related arrests this week

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

The SAPD had another busy week, with several notable gun-related arrests, including:

Directed Patrol & AB 109 Unit conducted a probation check of a known gang member. A fully loaded assault rifle, 7.62 ammunition, numerous shotgun rounds and a small amount of narcotics were seized.

A patrol officer developed information regarding a convicted felon and active gang member in possession of firearms. Gang Detectives assisted the officer in obtaining a search warrant for his residence. Metropolitan Division Detectives served the warrant and detained the suspect without incident. During the search of the residence, detectives seized a loaded AR-15 rifle and narcotics.

While attempting to contact two gang members on probation, one of the subjects fled from Gang Detectives toward his apartment holding his waist area. Detectives chased after him and saw the subject hand an object to a family member. The subject was detained just outside his apartment. A semi-automatic 9mm firearm wrapped in a handkerchief was recovered from the apartment.

The OC Sheriff arrested a suspect in a string of bank robbers in four counties

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Banking, Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County Leave a comment

ALISO VIEJO, Ca. (April 2, 2021) – Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested a man suspected of a series of recent bank robberies across Southern California.

At approximately 2:40 p.m. on March 10, 2021 a male suspect committed a bank robbery in the 26000 block of Aliso Creek Road in the city of Aliso Viejo.

Upon investigation, it was determined the suspect was involved in a series of bank robberies in February 2021 and March 2021 in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties. The suspect targeted banks in grocery stores. He would pass his cell phone to the teller, which contained a note demanding money and indicating the suspect was armed.

Orange County Sheriff’s investigators wrote multiple search warrants and their work led to identification of the suspect. Kyle Marquise Adlam, 24, was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail on Wednesday, March 31, on suspicion of robbery.

Twin YouTube stars plead guilty to charges involving fake Irvine bank robberies

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, OCDA 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – Twin brothers who star in YouTube videos featuring pranks on unsuspecting people pleaded guilty to misdemeanor false imprisonment and reporting false emergencies in connection with a pair of fake bank robberies in Irvine that resulted in their Uber driver being held at gunpoint by police. The Uber driver was not involved in the prank.

Alan and Alex Stokes, 23 of Irvine, had been each charged with one felony count of false imprisonment effected by violence, menace, fraud, or deceit and two misdemeanor counts of falsely reporting an emergency in connection with the October 15, 2019 pranks.

They each faced a maximum sentence of five years in jail if convicted on all counts.

The guilty pleas were in exchange for a judge reducing the felony false imprisonment charge to a misdemeanor. Prosecutors objected on the record and in a trial brief to the court’s offer to reduce the felony charge to a misdemeanor.

The Stokes brothers were each sentenced to 160 hours of community service, one year formal probation, and ordered to pay restitution. The judge also ordered the brothers to stay away from the University of Irvine – the location of one of the crimes – and to stop making videos that mimic criminal behavior.

On October 15, 2019, at about 2:30 p.m., the Stokes brothers are accused of being dressed all in black, wearing ski masks, and carrying duffle bags full of cash as they pretended they had just robbed a bank while their videographer filmed it.

They ordered an Uber and when they got in the vehicle the Uber driver, who was unaware of the prank, refused to drive them. A bystander witnessed this, believing the two men had just robbed a bank and were attempting to carjack the Uber driver.

Irvine police arrived and ordered the Uber driver out at gunpoint. He was released after police determined he was not involved.

Police issued a warning to the Stokes brothers about the dangerousness of their conduct and let them go.

Four hours later the Stokes brothers performed the same kind of prank on the campus of the University of California, Irvine. Police again received emergency calls regarding a potential bank robbery.

“These crimes could have easily resulted in someone being seriously hurt or killed,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “An active bank robbery is not a casual police response and these police officers were literally risking their lives to help people they believed were in danger. It is irresponsible and reckless that these two individuals cared more about increasing their number of followers on the internet than the safety of those police officers or the safety of the innocent Uber driver who was ordered out of his car at gunpoint.”

Deputy District Attorney Laila Nikaien of Special Prosecutions prosecuted this case.

Suspect in the mass shooting in Orange charged with 4 counts of murder and 3 counts of attempted murder

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Fullerton, Guns, OCDA, Orange Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man accused of shooting and killing four people, including a 9-year-old boy, and attempting to kill three more people Wednesday evening after chaining the gates of an Orange business complex closed has been charged with multiple counts of murder and attempted murder. The suspect suffered gunshot wounds after opening fire on two Orange police officers.

Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez, 44, of Fullerton has been charged with four felony counts of murder, one felony count of attempted murder, and two felony counts of attempted murder of a police officer.

Gaxiola has also been charged with four felony enhancements of the personal discharge of a firearm causing death, one felony enhancement of the personal discharge of a firearm causing great bodily injury, one felony enhancement of premeditation, one felony enhancement of the personal use of a firearm, one felony enhancement of the personal discharge of a firearm.

Prosecutors are also alleging the special circumstance of multiple murders. Gaxiola is eligible for the death penalty.

On Wednesday, March 31, around 5:34 p.m. a 911 caller reported a man shooting into a business at 202 W. Lincoln Avenue in the City of Orange.

Police arrived minutes later to find the gates to the business’ courtyard had been locked with a bicycle cable-type lock, preventing officers from accessing the property. A man, later identified as Gaxiola, is accused of shooting at the two officers, who returned fire. Gaxiola was wounded.

Officers used bolt cutters to cut the locks and found four people who had been shot to death within the business complex, including a 9-year-old boy. A man and two women were also found dead. A third woman was wounded and taken to a hospital where she remains in critical but stable condition.

The identities of the victims have not been released pending notification of next of kin. Gaxiola and all the adult victims had both personal and business connections to each other.

Gaxiola remains hospitalized in critical but stable condition. He is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon from his hospital bed with the hearing livestreamed from Department C5.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is continuing to investigate the officer-involved shooting that occurred during this incident as is standard with officer-involved shootings and custodial deaths involving the Orange Police Department. The legal conclusions and any relevant body-worn camera footage will be published on the District Attorney’s website at www.orangecountyda.org once the investigation is completed.

“Our hearts are shattered into a million pieces as the community mourns the loss of four innocent lives, including a young boy, as a result of the horrific events that unfolded Wednesday evening and we pray for the recovery of the sole survivor,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The taking of the life of another human being is the most serious of crimes and the slaughter of multiple people while they were essentially locked in a shooting gallery is nothing short of terrifying. We ask our sworn police officers to answer calls for help and race into dangerous situations. Thankfully the police officers who answered the call that day escaped injury. The residents of Orange County can rest assured that the District Attorney’s Office is taking every possible step to ensure that every aspect of this case and the subsequent officer-involved shooting is thoroughly reviewed and that justice will be served for each and every victim.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Mena Guirguis of the Homicide Unit is prosecuting this case.

The SAPD is searching for a female robbery suspect

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

On January 2, 2021, a crime occurred in the 1800 block of W. 18th Street.

Through investigative leads, it was determined that Mariell Vargas was involved in a crime relating to a robbery and a false imprisonment case.

Vargas also has two outstanding probation warrants.

Anyone with information on Vargas’ whereabouts is asked to contact Detective Corporal P. McClaskey at (714) 245-8390.

Fullerton man identified as the suspect in yesterday’s mass shooting in Orange

Posted on April 1, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Fullerton, Guns, Orange 7 Comments

Aminadab Gaxiola Gonzalez, a 44-year-old resident of Fullerton, has been identified as the suspect who allegedly conducted a mass shooting in Orange yesterday that resulted in the deaths of a man, two women and a a 9-year-old boy at an Orange business complex. The 9-year-old is believed to be the son of one of the victims who worked at the business. The child apparently died in his mother’s arms.

Gonzalez was shot in the head and hand and remained hospitalized in critical but stable condition on Thursday. Gonzales is believed to have been injured when Orange police officers fired their weapons at him as they responded to the shooting incident however it is also possible that he shot himself.

If convicted, Gonzalez would be eligible for the death penalty, according to OCDA Todd Spitzer, who has said that this will be treated as a special circumstance case.

The Orange Police Department stated that the attack was not a random one. All of the victims knew the suspect through either a business or personal relationship. The shooting happened at two business suites belonging to Unified Homes, a real estate business that specializes in mobile homes. The shooting was reportedly inside one of the multiple business suites in the building but spread to a courtyard area.

Police officers found a backpack they believe belonged to the suspect that contained pepper spray, handcuffs and ammunition.

Orange police officers were called at around 5:30 p.m. because of shots fired at a business at 202 W. Lincoln Avenue.

When the Orange police officers arrived at the scene, they found that the front and back wrought iron gates had been locked from the inside, with a bicycle-type cable lock, which meant they were not able to get into the premises in order to get to engage the suspect. The suspect shot at the responding police officers and they returned fire, from outside the gate.

The identities of the victims were not released because authorities are still working to notify the next of kin. Relatives with questions about loved ones who may have been victims of the shooting should contact the Orange Police Department.

Update from the Orange Police Dept. as of 3:00 p.m:

Reference the 9-1-1 calls and officer response time: We received five initial 9-1-1 calls. The first caller to OPD Dispatch was at 5:34:51 in which a male was reported to be shooting into a building across the street. The first Orange Police Officer on scene was at 5:36 p.m., which was under two minutes. Shots were reported to have been fired by officers within minutes of their arrival.

Regarding the suspect: Investigators have established the suspect arrived at the location in a rental car which has been located in the parking lot of 202 W. Lincoln Ave. The suspect is believed to have been living out of a motel in Anaheim.

We have obtained video footage from inside the business location which shows the suspect inside. The video is not available for release at this time, however a still image is available. The Orange County Crime Lab is currently at the location processing the scene. The identities of the victims are not yet confirmed. We will provide the identity of the victims as soon as they are available. We feel for the families who believe their loved ones may be one of the victims. Investigators will remain on scene throughout the day and likely into the night until the investigation is complete by the Orange County Crime Lab and the Orange County Coroner’s Office. The identities of the victims will be released in collaboration with the Orange County Coroner’s Office as soon as the information becomes available.

If anyone has any information about the incident, please call Orange Police Department at 714-744-7444.