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Category Archives: Tustin

An O.C. Lyft driver allegedly crashed while asleep behind the wheel and a passenger died

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On April 4, 2021 at approximately 7:00 am, the Tustin Police Department responded to the area of Jamboree Road and Patriot Way regarding a major, solo vehicle traffic collision.

During the preliminary investigation, it was determined the involved driver, a LYFT driver, fell asleep behind the wheel while transporting a customer. The vehicle struck a light pole and caused traumatic injuries to the passenger ultimately resulting in death.

After an extensive investigation by the Tustin Police Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team, it was determined the driver, 30-year-old Andy Van Pham was driving with negligence resulting in the death of the victim.

On July 20, 2021 the Orange County Superior Court issued an arrest warrant for Pham.

After conducting surveillance, Pham was arrested without incident and booked into Orange County Jail for Vehicular Manslaughter with Ordinary Negligence.

Pham was fired from Lyft and the company said it would assist law enforcement authorities however it can.

Pham pleaded not guilty on Friday to the manslaughter charge, possession of drug paraphernalia, providing false information to a police officer, and making an unsafe turn or lane change,

Tustin ex-con gets 18 years to life in prison after setting fire to an apartment building

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Patrick Andrew Ceniceros, 61, of Tustin, is heading to prison for 18 years to life after being sentenced on Friday for setting a five-alarm arson fire last year at a Tustin apartment building killed a pet dog and displaced about 100 residents. He was given credit for 599 days in custody which means he will get out of prison even sooner.

Ceniceros pleaded guilty on May 24 to aggravated arson with property damage in excess of $8.3 million, arson of an inhabited structure, arson of property and cruelty to animals, all felonies. He also admitted sentencing enhancements for using an acceleration device in an arson.

He was previously convicted for attempted murder in October of 2009 in San Bernardino County, and served 8 years in prison for that crime.

Ceniceros set the fire when the residents were asleep, which could have killed many of the apartment’s residents. The fire was reported at about 3 a.m. at Chatham Village apartments at 15751 Williams St., near McFadden Avenue. The fire burned so intensely that it caused the apartment’s roof to collapse. The fire started on the first floor but quickly grew into the second floor and the attic. It took almost five hours for 120 firefighters to finally extinguish the arson fire.

Ceniceros has been in jail since Feb. 12, 2020, after he made incriminating statements when he was interviewed by OCFA investigators about the blaze.

The apartment building was considered to be a total loss even though some of the lower units were not burned as those units were damaged by the water and smoke.

Seven O.C. defendants charged with defrauding 79 victims with a mortgage and foreclosure scam

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Seven suspects are facing multiple felony charges for offering fraudulent mortgage foreclosure consulting and debt consolidations at offices in Tustin and in Santa Ana. In total they are alleged to have defrauded 79 victims out of about $247K. They were, allegedly, going after the most desperate and needy people in Orange County and then stealing from them.

The defendants include Natalie Nava, 36; Amir Khoshnevis, 35; Aaron Pierson, 33; Alejandra Orozco, 27; Maria De La Paz, 24; Payom Ilkhanipour, 34; and Ryan Pelzer, 30. They are each charged with multiple felony counts of conspiracy, money laundering and grand theft with sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime between $100,000 and $500,000.

The defendants all worked for Regional Community Services, according to the OCDA. They lied to their victims and offered fake low-interest mortgages then demanded advance payments before the mortgage modifications were approved.

The scam operated from April of 2018 to July of 2018. They wrapped up the operation when a local prosecutor called them and questioned the legality of their operation and services.

The defendants then shut the whole scam down which made it almost impossible for their victims to contact them.

Most of the defendants have been arrested except for Khoshnevis, Pierson and Pelzer, who are considered fugitives. The other defendants will be arraigned on Aug. 5.

The Tustin Police Dept. arrested two DUI drivers at their checkpoint on Friday night

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The Tustin Police Department’s Traffic Unit hosted an OTS DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday night at McFadden Ave west of Tustin Village Way.

As a result, two drivers were arrested for DUI. 13 citations were issued for unlicensed drivers, 2 for driving on a suspended license, and 10 for various hazardous vehicle code violations. Four vehicles were impounded.

Funding for the operation was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

OC Animal Care urges pet owners to keep animals safe during the 4th of July

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TUSTIN, Calif. (July 2, 2021) – The Fourth of July weekend is traditionally the highest intake time for animal shelters across the country. In preparation for the upcoming holiday, OC Animal Care presents residents with the following tips to ensure a safe and happy celebration for pets and their owners.

Provide a Safe Space for Your Pet Indoors

Fireworks are loud and sometimes frightening for pets which can lead to panic and possible fleeing. To ensure pets are comfortable at home, pet owners can create a safe space by:

• Keeping doors, windows, and curtains closed
• Designating a quiet room or crate for their pet
• Placing a sign on the door to prevent people from entering the pet’s room
• Playing calm music or “white noise” such as the television in the background to distract their pet from loud noises
• Giving their pet their favorite chew toy to keep them busy, such as a Kong stuffed with treats

Ensure Pet Identification Is Up to Date

Securing your pet with their collar and ID tag attached can make a difference if your animal escapes. Verify your pet’s name, phone number, and any important information such as medical conditions to ensure they are updated and current. Microchip your pet as an additional security measure in case your pet loses its collar and ID tag.

Tips if You Lose or Find a Pet

If you find a lost pet or your own goes missing, the following are actions you can take:

• Contact OC Animal Care at (714) 935-6848 to make a lost or found pet report
• Ask neighbors if they recognize the found pet or ask if they have seen your missing pet
• Post lost/found flyers in your neighborhood or on local lost/found pages on Facebook, Nextdoor, Pawboost, and other social platforms
• Contact your local vet office to see if your missing pet was brought in or take a found pet to a local vet office for a microchip scan

For more tips and resources to share online, visit ocpetinfo.com.

OC Animal Care is the largest municipal animal shelter in Orange County, taking in over 18,000 animals each year. It services 14 cities and all of the County’s unincorporated areas. OC Animal Care is guided by its strategic plan establishing progressive programs and policies to help the agency achieve its vision of a safe and compassionate community for all. For more information about OC Animal Care, please visit www.ocpetinfo.com and follow @ocanimalcare on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Guns, drugs and cash seized from two suspects by the Tustin Police

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Tustin Police Department officers were dispatched to a local electronics store regarding two suspicious subjects who were possibly engaged in thievery.

Officers contacted Anthony Francis and Clay Curfman outside the store by a truck and a motorcycle. The initial field investigation resulted in the arrest of Francis for possession of a concealed dirk or dagger and the arrest of Curfman for possession of drug paraphernalia.

During a search of the truck, officers located about 95 grams of fentanyl, over 15 grams of methamphetamine, over $25,000 in cash, a functional unserialized semi-automatic pistol, drug sales indicia, drug paraphernalia, and other illegal items.

Both Francis and Curfman were booked into Orange County Jail facing a myriad of felony and misdemeanor offenses.

The Tustin Police are trying to identify a victim of a crime

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The Tustin Police Department is trying to to identify the victim in an assault with a firearm investigation.

The victim was standing in front of a store when a suspect arrived and in his vehicle and pointed a handgun at him. The victim fled before the police arrived.

The Tustin Police have since arrested the suspect.

The Tustin Police Department is looking to identify the victim. If you recognize the victim please call Officer Smith at 714-573-3267.

There were fatal car accidents today in Tustin and in Costa Mesa

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A car accident claimed the life an an Irvine man this morning, Sunday, May 9, in Tustin.

The Tustin police responded to the accident scene at Moffett Drive, beneath the Jamboree Road underpass, at about 11:50 a.m.

The responding police officers found a vehicle with major front-end damage. Inside the vehicle they found a 67-year-old man who was unresponsive.

The driver was declared dead at the scene of the crash by responding paramedics. The police are withholding his name  pending the notification of relatives.

Tustin police investigators believe the vehicle was headed east when it crashed. At this time they do not suspect drugs or alcohol were involved in the collision. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

At about 1:54pm, the Costa Mesa Police Department responded to a fatal traffic collision at Bear & Sunflower involving 3 vehicles, including one rollover.

A 54-yr-old man has died at the scene. No other major injuries reported. Traffic was diverted. Residents were encouraged to find alternate routes and avoid the area.

The police did not announce the name of the accident victim.

Two armed suspects busted in Tustin for selling drugs

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Tustin Police Officers on patrol arrested two armed drug dealers. The police officers stopped a vehicle in the area of First Street and C Street, near Peppertree Park.

Resulting from the investigation, officers located a loaded 9mm handgun, nearly 200 grams of methamphetamine, heroin, fentanyl, prescription pills, drug sales indicia, and drug paraphernalia.

Cassandra Perez and Eric Dearborn were booked into Orange County Jail for a multitude of felony offenses.

Several vehicles were burned in a fire at a Tustin apartment complex carport

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Fire occurred in the 13900 block of Tustin East Dr. at a carport early in the morning on April 19. Tustin PD responded to the area assist the OCFA firefighters.

Numerous vehicles in the detached carport structure were fully engulfed in flames. OCFA quickly extinguished the blaze and arson was not determined to be at play. The firefighters were able to knockdown the fire before it could extend into the nearby apartments.

Preventing exposures (in this case the apartment) from catching fire is a top priority on every fire. No injuries & cause is under investigation.

Suspect arrested after a fatal DUI crash and a police pursuit near the Costco at the District in Tustin

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Pedro Pantoja Jr., a 29-year-old, was arrested by the Irvine Police on Sunday, April 18, after he was involved in a fatal car crash which he fled from eventually causing a second crash in Irvine.

The first crash happened at about 8:45 a.m. at the 2800 block of Park Ave., near the Costco at the District at Tustin.

David Kawashima, a 62-year-old man from Orange, was killed in the first crash. He died at the scene.

As the Tustin police were responding to that accident the suspect fled. A police pursuit began and it ended with another crash when the suspect north in the southbound lanes of Jamboree Road and collided with another vehicle north of Warner Avenue.

Pantoja Jr. was arrested by the Irvine police on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter, causing injury to his passenger while driving under the influence, vehicle theft, a parole violation and evading a police officer.

The Irvine police responded to the second crash scene after their help was requested by the Tustin police as the incident happened on the border of Irvine and Tustin.

Pantoja was hospitalized after he was arrested. A female passenger in the car he was driving was also hospitalized. There were no details given by the Irvine police regarding their injuries.

The Irvine police are requesting that anyone with information on the fatal crash please call Detective Roberto Solis at 949-724-7024. Anonymous tips can also be called in to the O.C. Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.

Irvine man faces hate crime charges after attacking a woman in Tustin

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On April 11, 2021 at approximately 10:42 am, Tustin Police officers were dispatched to the 1600 block of Valencia Avenue regarding a possible assault and battery. Officers contacted the victim and confirmed she had been assaulted by the suspect.

The victim informed officers the suspect made racial comments and punched her in the stomach. During the altercation, the victim pepper sprayed the suspect. The suspect fled the scene prior to the officers arrival.

The suspect was later located by officers and taken into custody without incident. The suspect has been identified as Jauhar Tajuddin Shuaib, a 42-year old resident of Irvine, California.

The suspect was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail for the following charges:

  • CPC 422.6(a): Hate Crime/Assault Based in Whole or In Part of the Victim’s Race;
  • CPC 245(a)(4): Assault with Force likely to Produce Great Bodily Injury;
  • CPC 647.6(a)(2): Sexually Motivated Annoyance;
  • CPC 241.2(a): Assault in a Public Park;
  • CPC 653b(a): Loitering about a Place Where Children Congregate;
  • CPC 415(1): Disturbing the Peace;
  • TMC 7112(h): Abusive or Profane Language Prohibited.

If anyone has any information or video regarding this incident or any unreported crimes that may be related to Shuaib, please contact Detective Eric Haug at 714-573-3246.

Felon arrested in Tustin on gun charges after a traffic stop

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A Tustin Police Department Patrol Officer conducted a traffic stop after observing a motorist in violation of the Vehicle Code in the area of 17th St & Prospect Ave.

He contacted the driver, Justin Hamill, a convicted felon from Oklahoma. Resulting from the investigation, officers located a loaded .45cal handgun in the vehicle.

Hamill was arrested for PC 29800(a) – Felon in Possession of a Firearm, PC 30305(a) – Felon in Possession of Ammunition, PC 25850(a) – Felon Possess Loaded Firearm in Public/Vehicle, and other offenses.

Hamill was booked into Orange County Jail.

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

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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.

Burglar arrested in Tustin with help from a live feed video camera

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Daniel Elizondo thought he might get away with breaking into a business in Tustin. However his image was captured by video surveillance cameras that happened to have a live feed. The cameras caught him breaking into the business and the business owner was able to contact the Tustin Police as the crime was in progress.

After being notified of the burglary, Tustin Police officers arrived on the scene and surrounded the involved business.

Elizondo was immediately detained by Tustin Police Officers as he exited the business. He was arrested for burglary and a felony ADW warrant. Elizondo was booked into the O.C. Central Jail.