New Santa Ana | Category Archives: Huntington Beach

Man fatally shot in Westminster and left in a van at an Arco in Fountain Valley

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Westminster Leave a comment

41-year-old Donald Joshua Ratzlaff of Huntington Beach was shot to death on Sunday at an Arco gas station at 10975 Edinger Ave., in Fountain Valley.

Westminster police officers were initially called early on Sunday, at 4:10 a.m., to an apartment complex at the 15200 block of Magnolia Street after getting reports of shots fired. However the responding officers did not find anything and cleared the call.

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Twenty minutes later Fountain Valley police officers responded to reports of a gunshot victim in a white van at the Arco gas station.

The victim was identified as Ratzlaff.

The van’s driver ran off before the police officers arrived, leaving behind Ratzlaff’s body.

The Fountain Valley police contacted their counterparts in Westminster and were able to piece together the facts, showing that there was an argument at the Westminster apartment complex before the gunshots were heard.

Anyone with information on the shooting should contact Detective M. Pierson of the Westminster Police Department at 714-548-3759, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or by logging on to occrimestoppers.org.

Two O.C. men heading to prison for stealing $1.9M from cryptocurrency investors

Posted on August 2, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Justice Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, California – Two Orange County men each were sentenced today to federal prison terms for conning more than 2,000 investors into purchasing a cryptocurrency that purportedly provided exclusive access to a profitable trading program, and then using most of the $1.9 million raised to line their own pockets.

Jeremy David McAlpine, 26, of Fountain Valley, was sentenced to 36 months in federal prison by United States District Judge Cormac J. Carney. In a separate hearing today, Judge Carney sentenced Zachary Michael Matar, 29, of Huntington Beach, to 30 months in federal prison. Judge Carney scheduled a September 26 restitution hearing in this case.

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McAlpine and Matar each pleaded guilty in August 2021 to one count of securities fraud.

In 2017, McAlpine and Matar founded Dropil Inc., a Belize-based company operating out of Fountain Valley. Dropil provided and managed investments in digital assets including a cryptocurrency called DROPs that McAlpine and Matar developed. McAlpine and Matar were also primarily responsible for the development of Dropil’s digital asset trading program, an automated trading bot called “Dex,” which could be used exclusively with DROPs.

McAlpine and Matar induced investors to purchase DROPs by making false claims about DROPs, the functionality and profitability of Dex, and the number of investors and volume of investment in DROPs that had purportedly already been achieved and that purportedly enhanced – through the operation of supply and demand – the value of DROPs. Dex was said to provide an “expertly managed portfolio balancing algorithm [that] manages risk,” according to information published on Dropil’s website. The DROP tokens were said to “ensure privacy while also offering added value and exclusivity.” Dropil further promised that Dex’s trading would generate profits that would be distributed as additional DROP tokens every 15 days.

Beginning in late 2017, McAlpine and Matar began an unregistered offer and sale of DROPS on Dropil’s website. In January 2018, the defendants launched an initial coin offering (ICO) for the sale of DROPs, again through Dropil’s website, which continued through March 2017. Neither McAlpine, Matar nor Dropil was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a broker or dealer.

To induce investors to purchase DROPs, McAlpine and Matar made a series of false statements to investors in a “White Paper” published on Dropil’s website and on its Twitter account, promoting the cryptocurrency’s supposed success. Among other false statements, the White Paper asserted that trading with Dex would produce average annual returns of between 24% and 63% depending on the “risk profile” selected by the investor.

In response to investigative subpoenas from the SEC, the defendants manufactured fake Dex profitability reports, giving the false appearance that Dex was operational and profitable. Defendants also fabricated an investor spreadsheet for the SEC that purported to show that Dropil had successfully raised $54 million from 34,000 investors both foreign and domestic. In fact, the ICO raised under $2 million from fewer than 2,500 investors. McAlpine also provided false sworn testimony to the SEC about the amount of money raised in the ICO, as well as about Dex and its purportedly profitable trading activity.

In total, the defendants obtained approximately $1,896,657 from 2,472 investors through the sale of approximately 629 million DROPs. McAlpine and Matar used the invested money as promised to fund disbursements to themselves and their associates.

In sentencing memoranda, prosecutors argued that the defendants’ “offenses were serious and troubling: They caused significant financial harm to an extremely large number of victims and entailed efforts to derail law enforcement’s attempts to root out and address wrongdoing.”

As part of the settlement of a separate civil case brought by the SEC, Dropil Inc., McAlpine and Matar in July 2021 agreed to permanent injunctions barring further fraudulent conduct and prohibiting them from directly or indirectly participating in the offer, purchase, or sale of digital securities.

The FBI investigated this matter.

Assistant United States Attorney Ranee A. Katzenstein, Chief of the Major Frauds Section, prosecuted this case.

O.C. personal trainer gets life in prison for executing a man and a woman he thought was his ex

Posted on June 8, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, OCDA Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Huntington Beach personal trainer was sentenced today to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole plus 54 years to life for executing a man he suspected of having a romantic relationship with his former girlfriend and shooting and killing a woman who resembled his ex-girlfriend inside the man’s Newport Beach condo on April 20, 2019.

It took jurors just hours to convict Jamon Rayon Buggs, 47, of Huntington Beach, last month of two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of attempted first-degree burglary, and a sentencing enhancement of personal discharge of firearm causing death.

Buggs also had a prior strike for an assault on a police officer.

Family members of the two murder victims, Darren Partch and Wendi Sue Miller (pictured above), applauded as Buggs was led out of the courtroom.

“The judge ruled that the defendant was treated fairly at every stage of the proceeding, from charging to conviction to the sentence of life without the possibility of parole for executing two innocent people in cold blood,” said Orange County District Attorney Spitzer. “Darren and Wendi were killed for absolutely no reason. The monster who shot them in the head did not care about their lives or the lives that were shattered into a million pieces the second he pulled the trigger. Even after he killed Darren and Wendi he tried to keep carrying out his plan to kill everyone one his list. Life without the possibility of parole is what we asked for and thankfully the judge agreed and refused to show a coldblooded killer mercy. He will die in prison. Justice was served.”

Miller’s mother and her 21-year-old daughter Cambria gave victim impact statements thanking the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the Irvine and Newport Beach Police Departments, and the Sheriff’s Department for their efforts in successfully prosecuting the case.

Miller’s daughter Cambria described how the loss of her mother devastated her life and the life of her brother, leaving them without a loving mother to attend their recitals, graduations, and weddings. Darren Partch’s mother had a statement read on her behalf that described the love between her and her son and the catastrophic effect her son’s death has had on her emotional and physical health. She talked about a loving son who called her daily and the lunch and dinner dates that they will no longer be able to share.

Partch, 38, of Newport Beach, and Miller, 48, of Costa Mesa were found shot to death inside a residence in the 2100 block of East 15th Street in Newport Beach in the early morning hours of April 21, 2019.

Partch had been previously threatened by Buggs on two prior occasions to stay away from his girlfriend. Partch said did not have a relationship with the woman but nevertheless agreed to stay away from her. There is no evidence that Miller, who had given Partch a ride home after meeting him a few hours prior, had any interaction with Buggs prior to the murders.

In the weeks leading up to the murders, Buggs was conducting computer searches to find information on Partch, including his cell phone number, current and former addresses, and photographs. Cell phone data also placed Buggs at Partch’s former and current residences numerous times, including the night Partch and Miller were murdered.

Eighteen hours after the murderers, Buggs attempted to break-in to the Irvine apartment he wrongly believed belonged to a chiropractor he suspected was also having a relationship with his ex-girlfriend. A woman in her living room spotted him and as Buggs climbed down from the balcony he fired a shot from the gun he was carrying. Police recovered the bullet and set up a surveillance of the Irvine complex. The next night Buggs, who matched the burglary suspect’s description, drove up in his Camaro.

Buggs was arrested following a high-speed pursuit and a multi-hour search through a residential neighborhood. A gun was located during the search that was later matched through ballistics to the murders of Partch and Miller and the shooting in Irvine. DNA matched Buggs to the weapons and bullets.

The defense argued this was a case of mistaken identity because Buggs’ ex-girlfriend had blonde wavy hair like Wendi Miller and the murders were committed in a dark room in the middle of the night, making it difficult for Buggs to distinguish if the woman he was shooting was his ex-girlfriend.

Smash and grab robbers attacked jewelry stores in Santa Ana and H.B. today

Posted on May 22, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

Four male suspects robbed the Don Roberto’s Jewelry Store located at 1619 West 17th Street at 1:09 p.m. today, and were able to escape with perhaps as much as $17,000 worth of jewelry, according to the SAPD.

Fortunately the SAPD was later able to track down and arrest three of the suspects after they stopped a vehicle that the robbers were in. The fourth suspect is still on the lam.

The store’s workers did not let the robbers into the store, so the thieves instead turned their attention to the window display cases, smashing them and taking the contents.

A similar robbery happened earlier in the day on Sunday at about noon at Princess Bride Diamonds, a jewelry store in the Bella Terra shopping center in Huntington Beach.

The suspects parked at the jewelry store’s parking lot, at an outdoor mall, in a Honda, according to a witness. That witness also saw three or four people wearing ski masks and carrying hammers get of the car. One of the suspects was also holding a backpack with a camouflage print design.

The suspects tried to ransack the store but two store employees rushed the suspects and fought them, even knocking one of the suspects to the ground. Another worker struck a suspect with a chair during the fracas.

You can see the video of the fight online on the store’s Instagram account. The Instagram post notes “We fought back and are ok.” Fortunately they were not able to get anything thanks to our awesome team.”

Two other Orange County jewelry stores were hit with smash-and-grabs last month. Thieves used hammers to break open glass display cases at the Kay Jewelers in the Westminster Mall on April 4, and another branch of Kay Jewelers at the Brea Mall on April 15. About $200,000 worth of merchandise was taken in each of those robberies. There were at least 35 smash-and-grab jewelry store robberies in California since May of 2021 as of mid-April. Gangs are suspected to be involved in these attacks.

O.C. personal trainer convicted of murder for shooting a couple at a condo

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Huntington Beach personal trainer was convicted today of two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders for executing a man he suspected of having a romantic relationship with his former girlfriend and shooting and killing a woman who resembled his ex-girlfriend inside the man’s Newport Beach condo on April 20, 2019.

Jamon Rayon Buggs, 47, of Huntington Beach was also convicted with one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, one count of attempted first-degree burglary, and a sentencing enhancement of personal discharge of firearm causing death.

Buggs, who has a prior strike for an assault on a police officer, faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 3, 2022.

Darren Donald Partch, 38, of Newport Beach, and Wendi Sue Miller, 48, of Costa Mesa were found shot to death inside a residence in the 2100 block of East 15th Street in Newport Beach in the early morning hours of April 21, 2019.

“Darren Partch and Wendi Miller were executed at the hands of a jealous ex-boyfriend who was hunting for the woman he was obsessed with. This was not a heat of passion crime; this was a systematic and methodical plot to exact revenge and eliminate his rivals – real or perceived,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Tragically, Darren and Wendi were two innocent people who were not involved with Mr. Buggs and had no responsibility for the relationship issues he had with his ex-girlfriend; yet they paid the ultimate price with their lives. Even after he realized the woman he killed was not his ex-girlfriend, he continued working his way down his hit list to eliminate his rivals. And he would have kept hunting and killing if he hadn’t been arrested.”

The SAPD helped the Irvine Police to track down and arrest two robbery suspects

Posted on January 29, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Santa Ana Leave a comment

Irvine, Calif. (Jan. 28, 2022) – Yesterday, the Irvine Police Department (IPD), with the assistance of the Santa Ana Police Department and the Garden Grove Police Department, arrested 28-year-old Allan Hoang of Monterey Park following a robbery at an Irvine restaurant on January 19, 2022. The Huntington Beach Police Department (HBPD) arrested an additional suspect, 25-year-old Alanmichael Babauta of Westminster, on January 20, 2022, while driving a stolen vehicle.

On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at about 11:07 a.m., an employee from “All That Barbecue” at 15333 Culver reported a robbery. The suspects entered the restaurant through the rear door, armed with loaded handguns, and demanded all employees gather in the bathroom. One suspect stayed with the employees, demanding their wallets and cell phones, while the second suspect checked for money in the safe and cash register. After finding the safe and cash register empty, the two fled out the rear door, taking the victims’ property with them.

Suspect #1 was described as Hispanic/Asian/Pacific Islander, 20-40 years-old, dark complexion, 5’5”-5’8,” medium build, dark buzz cut hair, zipped hoodie, dark colored sunglasses, missing his left eye.

Suspect #2 was described as a white or Asian male, 20-40 years-old, light complexion, 5’6”-5’9,” medium build, wearing a baseball cap, colored sunglasses, dark colored unzipped hoodie with a cross body tote.

Follow up investigation lead to the identification of Babauta as suspect #1 and Hoang as suspect #2. At the time of Hoang’s arrest, a silver semi-automatic handgun was recovered from his person, similar to the one used during the robbery. In addition, he was in possession of property belonging to the victims. Hoang was an employee of the robbery location in 2017.

Barbauta and Hoang were arrested for robbery, kidnapping, burglary, false imprisonment and conspiracy. They are suspected of committing similar crimes throughout Orange County.

If you have any information related to this investigation, please contact Detective Nate Ridlon at 949-724-7494 or email: nridlon@cityofirvine.org.

Since its incorporation in 1971, Irvine has become a nationally recognized city, with a population of 307,670 that spans 66 square miles and is recognized as one of America’s safest and most successful master-planned urban communities. Top-rated educational institutions, an enterprising business atmosphere, sound environmental stewardship, and respect for diversity all contribute to Irvine’s enviable quality of life. This family-friendly city features more than 16,000 acres of parks, sports fields and dedicated open space and is the home of Great Park. For more information, please visit cityofirvine.org.

O.C. man Phuc Hoang arrested for an attempted murder in Torrance

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, Vietnamese Leave a comment

In early November, 2021, Torrance Patrol Officers responded to the area of 23500 block of Pennsylvania for a call of shots fired. During their initial investigation, officers discovered the victim was assaulted (pistol-whipped) by the suspect, and while fleeing the assault was shot at by the suspect.

The suspect fled the scene prior to officer’s arrival. Detectives from our Crimes Persons Section immediately began their investigation and were able to identify the suspect, Phuc Hoang, age 55 from Orange County.

As Detectives continued their investigation, they partnered with the United States Marshals Service to locate
and apprehend Hoang for attempted murder.

On January 3rd, 2022, the United States Marshals Service was able to locate Hoang in Huntington Beach and take him into custody without incident. Patrol Officers transported Hoang to the Torrance Police Station for booking on an attempt murder charge.

Detectives from our Crimes Persons Section were able to get a felony filing for Attempt Murder, Shooting at an Inhabited Dwelling, Assault with a Firearm, and Residential Burglary with a Person Present against Hoang from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. Hoang is currently in custody pending the preliminary hearing.

This partnership will continue to grow stronger with the United States Marshals Service as the rise in violent crime increases in Los Angeles County. We are committed to working with our federal partners to support our victims of violent crime and assist them in seeking justice. The Torrance Police Department continues to encourage the community to be vigilant of any criminal activity. “See Something, Say Something.”

Deputy OCDA who opposed vaccine mandates dies of COVID-19 at age 46

Posted on January 3, 2022 by Editor Posted in Disease, Huntington Beach, OCDA, Republican Party, Todd Spitzer 39 Comments

O.C. Deputy District Attorney Kelly Ernby, age 46, has passed away after developing COVID-19. Ernby was a Huntington Beach resident and a past Republican candidate for the State Assembly. She was also very active as a volunteer in the OC GOP. She spoke out often on Twitter against government mandates requiring people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

OCDA Todd Spitzer responded to her passing on Facebook:

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is utterly heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Deputy District Attorney Kelly Ernby.
Kelly was an incredibly vibrant and passionate attorney who cared deeply about the work that we do as prosecutors – and deeply about the community we all fight so hard to protect.
Her enthusiasm was contagious and she invested every ounce of her enthusiasm into her work safeguarding Orange County as part of our Environmental Protection team.
Kelly joined the Orange County District Attorney’s Office in 2011, specializing in environmental and consumer law. She previously worked for Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher where she practiced from 2002 to 2011.
She authored or co-authored several publications, including the “Environmental Prosecution Manual: Public Nuisance Enforcement Chapter” for the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) in 2017. District Attorneys from across California honored Kelly for her prosecutorial contributions in environmental law, presenting her with an award for “Significant Contributions to Environmental Enforcement” in 2019.
The work of a prosecutor is not one that you can simply turn off at the end of the day. It is that passion and unwavering dedication to protecting our communities and fighting for victims that binds us together in the pursuit of justice.
It was an absolute privilege to fight the good fight alongside Kelly. Her passion and her shining light will be forever missed.

Garden Grove Man charged with a hate crime after punching an elderly store clerk

Posted on December 14, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Garden Grove, Hate, Huntington Beach, OCDA Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A Garden Grove man has been charged with a hate crime in connection with repeatedly punching a 71-year-old man working in a Huntington Beach liquor store. The defendant is accused of making a disparaging remark about immigrants.

Ralph Stanford Davis III, 51, of Garden Grove has been charged with one felony count of inflicting injury on an elder adult, one felony violation of civil rights causing violent injury, and a felony hate crime enhancement. He is also charged with unlawful tampering of a vehicle for spitting at and punching the vehicle of another customer outside of the store.

Davis is scheduled to be arraigned today in CJ1. He is currently being held at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange.

He faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison if convicted on all counts.

On December 12, 2021, Davis is accused of making derogatory statements about the clerk’s nationality before punching him in the face as the clerk attempted to close the store’s security gate.

“This clerk should be able to earn a living without living in fear of being randomly attacked because of his nationality,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “I have made the prosecution of hate crimes a priority. My Hate Crimes Unit will do everything it can to hold these haters accountable and send a strong message that engaging in hate-motivated violence is a crime – and it will be prosecuted.”

Deputy District Attorney William Ha of the Hate Crimes Unit is prosecuting this case.

Rally for climate action set for Oct. 23 in Huntington Beach

Posted on October 19, 2021 by Editor Posted in Beaches, Environment, Huntington Beach Leave a comment

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) North OC – Southeast LA County and Reform & Sustain Youth Group members will lead a rally at PCH and Main St. at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23. In the wake of the recent oil pipeline leak and closure of beaches, we seek to rally support for a swift and just transition away from carbon-based energy sources to protect our future from the growing number of climate-related disasters. It’s time to address the existential threat of climate change with actions that recognize the scale of the crisis.

During the rally, we’ll hear from:

Loraine Lundquist, physicist/climate activist/LA City Council candidate.
Amber (Davis) Stoffel, representative from Amigos de Bolsa Chica, who will speak to the impact of the oil spill on the Bolsa Chica Wetlands as well as the status of cleanup efforts.

As the U.S. Congress debates climate action during this budget cycle, and as the world prepares to meet for the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference, we invite all who are concerned to lift up their voices, learn about solutions and ask our local, national and global leaders to go big with their climate response.

Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL) North OC – Southeast LA County and Reform & Sustain Youth Group members represent over 400 concerned individuals in Orange County who are committed to building nonpartisan consensus for climate action. We seek to build inclusive communities and work with our elected officials to make climate change a bridge issue so we can commit to durable solutions that put us on a path to net-zero emissions by 2050.

Click here to register for the rally.

Orange County oil spill health advisory

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Editor Posted in Beaches, Health and Medical, Huntington Beach, OC Health Care, Orange County Leave a comment

(Santa Ana, CA) – In response to the coastal oil spill that occurred Saturday, the OC Health Care Agency’s (HCA), County Health Officer, Dr. Clayton Chau issued a health advisory today to recommend those who may have encountered the contaminated materials to seek medical attention.

“The effects of oil spills on humans may be direct and indirect, depending on the type of contact with the oil spill. People may come in direct contact with oil and/or oil products while walking in a contaminated area (e.g., beach). An initial irritation will be obvious. Additionally, contaminants may be absorbed through the skin. Even when an oil sheen may not be visible, dispersed and dissolved oil contaminants may exist in the water,” stated Dr. Chau. “Please contact your family physician or call 911 if you are experiencing adverse symptoms. Currently, we are asking residents to please refrain from participating in recreational activities on the coastline such as swimming, surfing, biking, walking, exercising, gathering, etc.”

According to the HCA’s Environmental Health Division, spilled oil can pose a skin contact concern and it contains volatile components that can evaporate in the air. Depending on their concentration, such air pollutants may travel by the wind and aerosols. Petroleum products contain toxic chemicals such as benzene and aromatic hydrocarbons. Prolong exposure with these chemicals may cause health issues.

Symptoms reported from excessive exposure to oil or dispersants commonly include the following:

Skin, eye, nose and throat irritation
headache
dizziness
upset stomach
vomiting
cough or shortness of breath

Inhalation of toxic oil vapors or other aerosolized oil compound particles from wind-blown waves can cause these side effects. The elderly, children, and folks with respiratory diseases such as asthma will be more susceptible to adverse side effects from inhaling the oil vapors. Please contact your family physician or call 911 should you experience these symptoms from contacting or inhaling the oil vapors.

The HCA, in coordination with local, state and federal authorities will continue to monitor and keep you informed. In addition to the immediate impact on air pollution, we advise against consuming seafood from personal fishing off the beaches.

For general inquiries regarding health-related questions regarding this oil spill, please call (714) 834-2000.

What you need to know about the oil spill that has reached the O.C. coastal beaches

Posted on October 3, 2021 by Editor Posted in Beaches, Environment, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Public Safety Leave a comment

Orange County beaches were closed today on what should have been a great day to go to the beach because an oil spill reached our shores.The spill, reportedly caused by a pipeline leak, poured some 126,000 gallons of oil into coastal waters.

Officials say there is a 5.8-mile-long oil plume running from the Huntington Beach Pier to Newport Beach. The new incident echoes a 2015 oil pipeline leak north of Santa Barbara that resulted in major fines and felony charges.

“This oil spill is a tragic reminder that offshore drilling is a devastating threat to our coast and its wildlife,” said Miyoko Sakashita, director of the Center for Biological Diversity’s Oceans program. “I’ve seen the aging oil platforms off Huntington Beach up close, and I know it’s past time to decommission these time bombs. Even after fines and criminal charges, the oil industry is still spilling and leaking into California’s coastal waters because these companies just aren’t capable of operating safely. The only solution is to shut this dirty business down.”

Beta Offshore is responsible for the spill and is working with the Incident Management Team. Huntington Beach is closed from the seapoint to the Santa Ana River. The City of Huntington Beach has deployed over 2,000 feet of protective booms at 7 wetland locations.

The last day of the Pacific Airshow was canceled because of the spill.

TO ASSIST WITH ANIMAL RESCUE, contact the HB Wetlands at at (714) 374-5587.- TO ASSIST WITH FUTURE CLEANUP EFFORTS, visit cleanups.surfrider.org.– FOR QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SPILL, call the City of Huntington Beach hotline at 714-374-1702.

An armed Hispanic suspect was shot by police in Huntington Beach

Posted on September 26, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, OC Sheriff 7 Comments

An unidentified Hispanic armed man was shot by Huntington Beach police officers yesterday at about 3:15 p.m. on the sand, just south of the Huntington Beach Pier and near the pathway.

The O.C. Sheriff’s Department has since identified the suspect as Ronnie Andrew Garcia, 43.

The suspect, who was white t-shirt and jean shorts, was seen running away from three police officers as he passed under the pier.

Police shot the suspect when he failed to comply with “multiple commands” to stop.

There were hundreds of people at the beach at the time of the shooting. The U.S. Open of Surfing is currently underway at the beach this weekend, but at the time of the shooting the competition for the day had already ended.

Garcia was hospitalized. He ended up dying at the hospital.

The police officers waited for about 30 seconds with their guns still drawn on the man after they shot him. They then acted to remove items from him and tended to his wounds.

Black Lives Matter of Huntington Beach is calling for the officers involved to be held accountable although we still don’t know why the police targeted the suspect.

Racist hate speech directed at Supervisor Do and New H.B. City Councilwoman Rhonda Bolton condemned

Posted on August 16, 2021 by Editor Posted in Andrew Do, Hate, Huntington Beach, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. (August 13, 2021) – Last week, our community bore witness to a torrent of racist and xenophobic rhetoric directed towards Chairman Andrew Do, who is of Vietnamese descent, at the Board of Supervisors meeting. The speaker’s tirade was filled with anti-Asian tropes a true picture of the too commonplace hate activity taking place in our country today. Similarly, the first Black woman to be appointed to the Huntington Beach City Council, Rhonda Bolton, was welcomed by jeers and hateful comments by members of the public.

In a recent Statement of Solidarity, the OC Human Relations Commission committed to continuing its mission to “seek out causes of tension and conflict, discrimination and intolerance and attempt to eliminate those causes.” To do the difficult work of promoting respect, equity, and tolerance – the Commission believes it too must condemn and denounce all types of hate speech and racism. When an individual is a victim of hate, it is not only an attack on that one person but an entire community. No one should have to experience this type of vitriol regardless of who you are, skin color, language you speak, where you are from, who you love, or your religious beliefs.

Our country is reeling from the devastating effects of a pandemic that surges on. Our communities of color continue to survive the social and racial injustice and inequities that the pandemic uncovered and exposed. If there was ever a time for unity, it is now. If there ever was a time for respect and empathy, it is today. Orange County Human Relations Commission challenges all residents to look beyond our differences and celebrate the diversity that exists in Orange County. And next time hate knocks at our door – let us rally together and loudly shut it out with a resounding, “Not here, not today, not ever.”

If you have been a victim or know someone who has been a victim of a hate crime or hate incident, please call your local law enforcement agency. Additional ways to report, call our confidential hotline 714-480-6580 or report via our online portal at https://www.ochumanrelations.org/hatecrime/report/.

Suspect from Hawthorn arrested for burglarizing homes in Orange County

Posted on July 25, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Huntington Beach, Los Angeles County Leave a comment

Jonatan Jose Medina-Mejia, of Hawthorn, was arrested earlier this week in connection with a series of residential burglaries that took place in Huntington Beach after an investigation led by the H.B.police detectives and Special Investigation Unit.

The investigation into Medina-Mejia is ongoing as detectives have reason to believe he is responsible for additional burglaries in Orange County.