SANTA ANA, CA – Following a high-profile incident where an off-duty officer pulled his gun on a teen at a skate park, attorneys Eric Traut and Connor Traut have reached a settlement of $195k agreed to at the July 13 Orange County Board of Supervisors closed session in Santa Ana.
The Deputy’s conflict with the teen in 2019 at Ralphs Skate Court in San Clemente was caught on video.
The original complaint was against a Sherriff’s Deputy, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the County of Orange for negligence, assault, civil rights violations and emotional distress. [Filing: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1zgnzji6dyoi3y8/Chance%20Complaint.pdf?dl=0]
Says Eric Traut of the agreement, “The family is pleased that this chapter in their son’s life has come to an end and that some justice was served.”
Having tried over 100 civil jury trials, attorney Eric Traut successfully represents people who have been personally injured by violence and threats of violence. He served as one of the attorneys representing the families of victims of the infamous “Seal Beach Shootings” in 2011 committed by Scott DeKraai.
ABOUT ERIC V. TRAUT: Eric Traut distinguished himself early as one of the top trial attorneys in Southern California when he was recognized as the youngest winner of the prestigious Trial Lawyer of the Year award in the history of the Orange County Trial Lawyer Association. Eric has handled high-profile cases that have resulted in appearances on Good Morning America, Fox News, Court T.V., and ABC’s “Primetime.”
ABOUT CONNOR J. TRAUT: Connor Traut is a personal injury attorney with Traut Firm who currently serves as a mayor of a local city. He previously worked as a mediator and judicial law clerk with the Superior Court of California.
ABOUT TRAUT FIRM: Partners of Traut Firm have litigated cases for a combined 70 years, serving as plaintiff’s attorneys primarily in areas of personal injury, wrongful death, vehicle accidents, assaults, and animal attacks. http://trautfirm.com
Category Archives: OC Sheriff
In-custody death of an inmate at the Theo Lacy Facility
SANTA ANA, Ca. (July 2, 2021) – A 39-year-old male inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died Thursday evening at a local hospital. The death is not believed to be related to the Covid-19 pandemic and the investigation is ongoing.
The inmate was booked into Orange County jail in June 2021 by the Sheriff’s Department on suspicion of cruelty to a child. He was located in his cell unresponsive around 11 a.m. on June 24, 2021 and deputies performed lifesaving measures. He was subsequently transferred to the hospital, where he remained until his death.
Preliminarily, there does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.
A Santa Ana man died at the O.C. Intake Release Center of a suspected suicide
SANTA ANA, Ca. (June 1, 2021) –A 32-year-old male inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died the evening of May 30, 2021 of a suspected suicide.
The inmate, Robert Martin of Santa Ana, was booked into jail in May 2021 by the Costa Mesa Police Department on suspicion of attempted murder, domestic violence, cruelty to a child, false imprisonment and a probation violation. He was located in his cell around 7 p.m. and deputies and medical staff attempted lifesaving measures. The inmate was pronounced deceased by the Orange County Fire Authority at approximately 7:45 p.m.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.
A woman who lost her baby while at the OC Jail will get a $1.5 M settlement
The O.C. Supervisors agreed to pay a $1.5M settlement with Ciera Stoetling, a woman who lost a baby when it was born while she was in custody at the Orange County Jail. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office in June concluded there was no wrongdoing involved in the death of Stoelting’s baby.
Stoetling was jailed on May 12, 2018, when she lost her baby. She alleged in a Federal lawsuit that she told the jail officials that she was pregnant and was having contractions on May 11, 2018. She pressed an emergency button for help and no one responded to her plea.
A jail nurse then allegedly refused to have Stoetling to a hospital because of a “lack of staff.” Instead Stoetling was taken to a jail infirmary and, amazingly, was told to drink eight cups of water a day on a Saturday and that she could finally see a doctor by Monday. That Sunday was Mother’s Day.
That advice proved deadly as Stoetling ended up giving birth to the baby as she was sitting on the toilet in her cell. The baby died at childbirth.
Stoetling’s lawsuit will be dismissed after she approves the settlement.
DUI driver arrested in Santa Ana after a police pursuit and a collision
On Saturday, April 24, 2021 at 8:22 PM, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange Police Department were in pursuit of a white pick-up truck. During the pursuit, a collision occurred between the truck and a van at 2300 N. Tustin Avenue.
Orange County Fire Authority personnel responded and began to treat the occupants of both vehicles. The occupants of the van were transported to an area hospital with major injuries.
The preliminary investigation has revealed the truck was being pursued south on Tustin Ave approaching Santa Clara Ave. The van was traveling west on Santa Clara Ave at Tustin Ave. As the van proceeded into the intersection on a green traffic signal, it was struck by the truck.
The driver of the truck was arrested at the scene for felony DUI and evading by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The Santa Ana Police Department’s Collision Investigations Unit (CIU) is handling the investigation. Anyone possibly having information about this collision is asked to contact Cpl. W. Hadley at (714) 245-8216 or the Santa Ana Police Department’s Traffic Division at (714) 245-8200.
Suspected assault of an OC Jail inmate by a Deputy under investigation
SANTA ANA, Ca. (April 21, 2021): Today, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department submitted a case to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office regarding a deputy suspected of assaulting an inmate in the Orange County Jail.
On Thursday April 1, 2021, a deputy working in the mental health-housing module at the Intake Release Center was serving an inmate with a disciplinary notice for a jail rule violation. The deputy requested the inmate sign the notice through the cell door hatch. The inmate refused to sign the notice and instead, extended his arms through the open hatch on the door. The inmate refused to bring his arms back inside the cell, preventing the deputy from securing the hatch. The deputy left and returned a short time later with two other deputies so they could assist in gaining voluntary compliance from the inmate.
The deputies approached the inmate and again requested his compliance to bring his hands back inside the cell. When the inmate refused, a deputy is suspected of throwing hot water on the inmate’s arm. During a later security check, the inmate told another deputy that he was injured from the incident and requested medical assistance. The inmate had visible injuries and was provided medical attention.
The following day, on April 2, three deputies from the Intake Release Center were placed on administrative leave. An internal criminal investigation was immediately launched, and led to the case submitted today to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
“I am absolutely intolerant of this behavior,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “Deputies working in the Orange County Jail are responsible for providing care and safety for the inmates in our custody, not causing harm or injury. Unfortunately, the actions of one can reflect on the many, but I want to make it clear that this is not indicative of the conduct of deputies inside the Orange County Jail. I have reiterated to our personnel that anything that even resembles this type of inexcusable behavior will not be allowed, and that anyone who goes beyond their training and Department policy will be held fully accountable. We have completed a criminal investigation and submitted it to the District Attorney’s Office for a prosecutorial decision. It is my expectation that the District Attorney will review this case in a timely manner to determine if charges are warranted.”
The Department will continue its internal affairs investigation to determine whether policy violations were committed, which is a separate process from the criminal investigation. The names of the three deputies are not being released at this time due to protections provided under state law.
Man convicted of escaping from the O.C. Jail and kidnapping a cab driver
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The first of three inmates charged with carrying out an elaborate escape from the Orange County Men’s Central Jail along with two other inmates in 2016 has been convicted of the escape and kidnapping of a 72-year-old cab driver to help aid in the escape. The three escaped inmates were the targets of a statewide manhunt that lasted more than a week.
Bac Tien Duong, 48, was convicted by a jury of one felony count of escape by a prisoner and one felony count of kidnapping. The jury failed to reach a verdict on one felony count of taking of a vehicle.
He faces a maximum sentence of eight years and eight months in state prison. He is scheduled to be sentenced on May 14, 2021.
On January 22, 2016, Duong is accused of escaping from the Orange County Men’s Central Jail along with inmates Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu after spending several weeks cutting through jail vents in order to access the jail’s plumbing tunnels and climb up on the jail’s roof.
Duong and the other two inmates are accused of using jail sheets to rappel down the side of the jail. Later that day, Duong called an unlicensed taxi service he located in a Vietnamese-language periodical, and 72-year-old Long Ma arrived to drive the three escapees to various points in Orange County and Rosemead. At various points, Duong held the cab driver at gunpoint.
Over the next few days, the three escapees and the abducted cab driver drove to various locations around California, ending up in San Jose.
On January 29, 2016, Duong drove with Ma back to Southern California. Duong arranged to turn himself in at a Santa Ana auto shop and after dropping Duong off at the auto shop, Ma drove away.
Nayeri and Tieu were captured in San Francisco the next day after a man recognized the two escapees from media reports. Then -Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer presented Matthew Hay-Chapman with a $100,000 reward for providing the information that led to the capture of Nayeri and Tieu.
When he escaped, Duong was facing charges for attempted murder with a 25-life gun-use enhancement, assault with a firearm, first-degree burglary, and discharging a firearm at an inhabited dwelling. His trial is still pending on those charges.
Nayeri was sentenced in October to two consecutive terms of life without the possibility of parole along with another seven years to life for kidnapping and torturing a marijuana dispensary owner. After the commission of those crimes in October of 2012, Nayeri fled to the country of Iran, before traveling to the Czech Republic where he was arrested and extradited to the United States.
Nayeri and Tieu are still awaiting trial on the jail escape.
Deputy District Attorney Jake Jondle of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.
The OC Sheriff arrested a suspect in a string of bank robbers in four counties
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.
Traffic stop leads to a large drug bust in Irvine
O.C. Sheriff narcotics investigators seized thousands of illicit pills, drugs, guns and cash after a traffic stop in South Orange County.
At about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the city of Irvine, which resulted in the discovery of illicit pills stamped as known prescription medication. Investigators collected 40,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and 10,000 counterfeit Xanax pills containing fentanyl.
The roadside seizure led to the issuance of a warrant to search the suspect’s Irvine residence where investigators collected additional substances including two pounds of the hallucinogenic psilocybin, 29 grams of cocaine, and 800 THC vape cartridges. An additional 6,515 pills of illicit Adderall containing methamphetamine and 10,100 illicit Xanax pills containing fentanyl also were found at the residence, along with two handguns, one assault rifle, and about $124,000 in cash.
The 24-year-old man was booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of felony possession of narcotics for sale, felony transport of narcotics for sale, and felony possession of controlled substances for sale.
Limited visiting at the OC Jails resumes
SANTA ANA, Ca.: The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has resumed limited visiting at the Orange County jails, as of Friday, March 26.
Due to successful COVID-19 mitigation efforts in the jails and the County of Orange being designated as a “red tier” county, the Sheriff’s Department has established visiting protocols keeping the safety of those in custody, Department personnel, and visitors a top priority.
“We understand the value of visitation and know those in our custody and their loved ones have been impacted over the last year as we navigated the challenges of COVID-19,” said Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes. “We look forward to reinstating visiting in a way that is safe for all.”
The Sheriff’s Department temporarily suspended visiting in March 2020 based on recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in consideration of the Sheriff’s Department’s COVID-19 prevention efforts.
Over the last year, the Department routinely assessed the feasibility of safely reintroducing visiting days. With COVID-19 considerations in place, inmates will now be able to schedule one visit a month.
The Sheriff’s Department will continue to reassess procedures to determine further expanding visiting practices.
VISITING PROCEDURES
Visiting at all facilities is by appointment only. No walk-ups will be accepted. Members of the public wishing to visit an inmate must call and make an appointment at the facility the inmate is housed at currently. The phone numbers to schedule a visit at each facility are listed below.
Newly booked inmates under mandatory 14-day quarantine and those housed in medical isolation or quarantine will not be eligible for visitation.
When calling to schedule, it is recommended to have the booking number of the inmate you wish to visit. Booking numbers can be searched through the online database link here: Inmate Information. Visitors should be prepared to provide a contact phone number in case of housing changes or other incidents occur that may affect the visit.
Two adults and two minors will be permitted to visit any one inmate.
All facilities will require face coverings and have screening procedures in place. Face coverings will not be provided. Non-compliance will result in denial of a visit.
SCHEDULING A VISIT
To schedule a visit, call the facility of the inmate you wish to visit from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Visiting hours are Friday-Monday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Para hacer una cita para visitar, llame de Lunes a Viernes de las 8am – 5pm.
Intake Release Center- 550 North Flower Street, Santa Ana CA 92703
· IRC Scheduling number: 714-647-6050
· Visitors with a scheduled appointment will line up outside the Intake Release Center lobby and maintain physical distance
· The IRC lobby will be limited capacity for those with ADA considerations
· More information: IRC Visiting
Central Jail Complex- 550 North Flower Street, Santa Ana CA 92703
· Central Jail Scheduling number: 714-647-4543
· Visitors with a scheduled appointment will line up outside the Intake Release Center lobby and maintain physical distance
· The IRC lobby will be limited capacity for those with ADA considerations
· More information: Central Jails Visiting
Theo Lacy Facility- 501 The City Dr. S, Orange, CA 92868
· Theo Lacy Facility Scheduling number: 714-935-6202
· Appointments must be made 24-72 hours in advance
· Visitors with a scheduled appointment will line up outside the lobby and maintain physical distance
· The Theo Lacy Facility lobby will be limited capacity for those with ADA considerations
· More information: Theo Lacy Visiting
An O.C. inmate died after a suspected suicide
SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 15, 2021) – A 41-year-old male inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died yesterday evening at approximately 7:45 p.m. of a suspected suicide.
The man was booked into the Orange County Jail by the Cypress Police Department on Aug. 18, 2020, on multiple charges including attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and mayhem.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will continue to evaluate protocols and procedures to ensure the highest level of care is provided to those in custody.
No additional information will be released at this time.
OC Sheriff’s Deputy charged with filing a false police report and perjury
SANTA ANA, Calif. – An Orange County Sheriff’s deputy who served as a field training officer has been charged with two felonies in connection with filing a false police report under his trainee’s name and forging a victim’s signature.
Chad Matthew Renegar, 30, has been charged with one felony count of filing a false police report and one felony count of perjury. He faces a maximum sentence of 4 years and 8 months in state prison if convicted on all charges.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on March 24, 2021 at the Central Justice Center in Department C55.
Renegar has worked for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for eight years. He is currently on administrative leave.
On May 16, 2019, Renegar was assigned to work in the city of Rancho Santa Margarita as a field training officer for a newly assigned patrol deputy.
The training officer and trainee responded to a call from a woman who reported her license plate had been stolen. Despite the woman telling the two deputies her license plate had been stolen in Santa Monica, which is outside of the jurisdiction of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, the deputies had the woman sign a CHP form to report her stolen license plate.
A sergeant later rejected the report because of the out-of-county location of the crime. Renegar is accused of instructing the trainee to change the location of the theft to Rancho Santa Margarita. When she didn’t, Renegar is accused of typing the report for her under her name, filling out a second CHP form and changing the location to Rancho Santa Margarita, and forging the victim’s name.
“Maintaining trust and accountability between law enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect has never been more important,”said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Dishonesty among the ranks of our law enforcement jeopardizes that trust and it will not be tolerated.”
Deputy District Attorney Jake Jondle of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.
An inmate died at the O.C. Central Men’s Jail this morning
A 42-year-old male inmate housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana died today at approximately 7:47 a.m. of a suspected suicide.
The man was booked into the Orange County Jail by the Orange Police Department on Nov. 8, 2018, on multiple charges including attempted murder and a parole violation.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.
Positive COVID-19 cases in the O.C. Jail are decreasing
SANTA ANA, Ca. (February 5, 2021): The Sheriff’s Department has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the Orange County Jail system in the last month as a result of the department’s robust mitigation efforts. On January 5, 2021, 1,109 general population inmates were COVID-19 positive. As of the morning of February 5, 2021, nine general population inmates are COVID-19 positive.
“Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be challenging for everyone, and the Orange County Jail system has not been immune from this challenge,” said Don Barnes, Sheriff-Coroner. “Although in December we saw an outbreak in our facilities, we remained steadfast with our strict health and safety protocols, which have proven to be successful throughout the year. This has been accomplished without releasing serious and violent offenders who may pose a danger to Orange County residents.”
Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Custody Operations Division and the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Corrections Health Services (CHS) have worked collaboratively to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the Orange County Jail system. These mitigation efforts include regular temperature checks of staff and inmates, mandatory masks for staff and inmates, regular testing, diligent hygiene and cleaning practices, release of low level sentenced offenders, pausing public visiting and halting non-essential services.
“We are confident that our efforts will result in the continued successful mitigation of COVID-19 in our jails,” Barnes said. “We will continue to meet the challenges of navigating this pandemic with the health and safety of our staff, contract partners and inmates remaining our top priority.”
The O.C. inmate who died of COVID-19 this week was accused of killing his mother
The O.C. inmate who died at the O.C. Jail intake center this week was Ah Le Fang, a 37-year-old man, who was in jail while he was awaiting trial on charges of killing his mother and wounding her boyfriend in 2017.
Fang died on Thursday of medical complications after testing positive last month for COVID-19, according to the O.C. Sheriff’s Department. Fang tested positive for COVID-19 in December and was hospitalized on Jan. 6. He is the second person incarcerated in Orange County jails to have died of COVID-19.
Fang’s mother called the Fullerton police to report she was being attacked, on Aug. 15, 2017. The responding police officers found her outside her apartment complex at 134 S. Pritchard Ave., suffering from a stab wound to her abdomen. Her boyfriend also had a stab wound to an arm.
Fang’s mother and her boyfriend were taken to a local hospital, where she passed away.
Fang pleaded not guilty way back in 2018 and he was awaiting a jury trial that was scheduled for this July.
The O.C. Sheriff’s Department says that 2,270 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19. Currently there are sixty-one O.C. inmates who are dealing with the virus.
In December, an O.C. Superior Court judge ordered Sheriff Barnes to release half of the O.C. inmates after the ACLU filed a lawsuit accusing Barnes of not doing enough to protect medically vulnerable inmates during the pandemic.