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Category Archives: Westminster

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Former Westminster Police civilian investigator facing felony charges for fudging her timesheets

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former civilian investigator for the Westminster Police Department has been charged with 15 felonies for lying on her timesheets and claiming to have worked hundreds of hours that she never worked. The theft was discovered by the Westminster Police Department and turned over to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Nadia Arlett Alvarez Poblete, 26, of Huntington Beach, has been charged with one felony count of grand theft by an employee and 14 felony counts of presenting a false claim.

She faces a maximum sentence of 12 years and four months in state prison if convicted on all counts. She is scheduled to be arraigned at the Stephen K. Tamura Justice Center in Department w12 on February 8, 2022.

Alvarez is accused of fraudulently altering her timesheets to reflect that she worked twice the amount of hours she had actually worked. A supervisor in the Westminster Police Department Crimes Against Persons Unit noticed Alvarez was often not at her workstation during her assigned shift and would leave well before her shift was over.

Westminster police confirmed Alvarez had been paid for 566 hours that she did not work between January 6, 2021 and October 22, 2021, costing the City of Westminster a total of $12,106.74.

Alavarez is no longer employed by the Westminster Police Department.

“The trust that the public must have in its law enforcement agencies does not rest solely with the uniformed officer,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The public’s confidence rests in the professionalism and ability of every person employed by that agency, from the front counter staff to the chief and everyone in between. Thankfully, the Westminster Police Department recognized the untruthfulness by one of its employees and took immediate action to put a stop to it and protect precious taxpayer dollars.”

Deputy District Attorney Patrick Spires of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

Colorado woman arrested for the alleged hit and run killing of a Westminster man

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Saleena Isabelle Carra, from Colorado, a 24-year-old woman, was arrested on suspicion of murder for what the Westminster Police Department has deemed was an intentional hit-and-run collision that killed Oscar Sandoval in Westminster on Jan. 3.

The Arvada Police Department, in Colorado, was contacted by the Westminster Police Department on Jan. 6. Carra lived at a residence in the Arvada area where she was arrested. The suspect vehicle was also located at the Arvada residence and impounded as evidence.

Sandoval, a 41-year-old resident of Westminster, was killed at the 6500 block of Walt Street on Jan. 3, in Westminster. The Westminster Police were initially searching for the driver of an older model gray or black Jeep Grand Cherokee who struck Sandoval at his residence.

The Westminster Police felt Sandoval’s death was a hit-and-run as it seemed that he was intentionally struck by the vehicle.

The vehicle found at Carra’s residence had endured extensive damage, including a missing driver’s side headlight housing that was recovered at the scene.

Carra was booked into the Jefferson County Jail on suspicion of murder. She will eventually be extradited to California.

Westminster police still have not identified that there was any connection between Carra and Sandoval. The investigation is ongoing.

The Westminster Police are trying to identify a woman who may be connected to a homicide

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Westminster Police Detectives are asking the public to help to identify a woman whose picture was found on a cell phone who may be connected to the homicide of a man that was found dead in a Westminster driveway on Monday.

The woman has a tattoo on her right hand and she may have another tattoo on her left breast. The police also believe that she could be between the ages of 18 and 30.

The police have not revealed why they think the woman is connected to the fatal crash involving a black Jeep Grand Cherokee and a man who was found dead in a driveway at the 5600 block of Walt Street early on Monday, Jan. 3.

That crash was thought to be a hit-and-run collision but has since been deemed a homicide.

Detectives are currently looking for an older model gray or black Jeep Grand Cherokee with custom chrome wheels and a roof rack. The driver’s side headlight housing was recovered at the scene and is missing from the vehicle. There is possible extensive damage to the front and rear passenger side and a broken taillight

Westminster Police asked anyone who recognizes the woman to contact Det. M. Lopez at 714-548-3773 or Det. M. Pierson at 714-548-3759. Tips can also be left with the watch commander at 714-548-3767.

A police pursuit ended in Santa Ana and the suspect had drugs and replica firearms in the vehicle

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Over the weekend, a Westminster Police Officer attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of Brookhurst/McFadden. The driver failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated – terminating in Santa Ana where the suspect collided into a curb and disabled their vehicle.

The suspect was taken into custody without incident. Officers located replica firearms and drugs inside the vehicle. The driver was arrested for felony evading and other charges, and was later booked at Orange County Jail.

The Fountain Valley Police Department thanked the Santa Ana Police Department, and Huntington Beach Police Departments for their assistance.

Westminster Mayor Tri Ta to run for the 70th State Assembly District

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Republican Mayor Tri Ta announced that he will run for the 70th Assembly District. AD70’s Asian population makes up 40% of voters and is currently represented by Republican Janet Nguyen, who is running for the State Senate.

Tri Ta’s American Dream started when, seeking economic and political freedom, his family immigrated to the United States from Saigon, Vietnam. Within just a couple of years of arriving here, with hard work and determination, Tri graduated from Cal State Los Angeles. He ran for, and won, his first term on the Westminster City Council in 2006. Tri Ta made history in 2012 when he became the first Vietnamese-American elected mayor in the United States.

“The potential to achieve the American Dream is slowly slipping away here in California,” said Ta. “Burdensome taxes, regulation, and COVID closures have driven thousands of good paying jobs and hardworking families out of our communities. I want to go to Sacramento to lower taxes, protect small businesses, and keep our communities safe so that future generations have the same opportunities I had to make a good life in this state.”

Tri Ta believes in the United States’ mission of uplifting the individual by expanding freedom and opportunity. He is fiscally conservative, opposed to defunding the police, supports a middle-class tax cut, and will always fight for small businesses. That’s why when Gavin Newsom unfairly accused nail salons of spreading COVID-19 he took action, defending the small businesses and employees that desperately needed to stay open in order to pay the bills. Tri’s life is an example of what the liberty of the United States can do to impact lives. In the Assembly, he will fight to make sure every American has these same opportunities… a fair shot… a level playing field.

The 70th District includes the cities of Garden Grove, Westminster, Fountain Valley, Stanton, and Los Alamitos as well as portions of Santa Ana, Huntington Beach, Rossmoor, Seal Beach, and Midway City. It is home to Orange County’s Little Saigon, where many Vietnamese political refugees settled in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. The district has a D+2 registration advantage, and Joe Biden won this sure to be competitive seat by 0.4% in 2020.

To learn more about Tri Ta and his campaign for the 70th District, visit tritaforassembly.com.

A man killed in Westminster this morning may have been a hit-and-run victim

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The Westminster Police are not yet sure if a man who was struck and killed in front of his some at the 6500 block of Walt Street was the victim of a hit and run or a homicide.

The man, thought to be in his 30’s, was found by the police in front of his home, after the police responded to a 5:30 a.m. call about a possible hit-and-run.

The incident happened south of Westminster Blvd. just north of Buckingham Park.

A vehicle stop in Westminster led to a big drug bust

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Over the Christmas holiday, Westminster police officers conducted a car stop for CVC violations in the area of Westminster Blvd and Newland St.

Officers searched the vehicle and located over 50 grams of crack cocaine, 15 grams of methamphetamine, numerous MDMA pills, and other items related to drug sales.

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

The Westminster police are trying to I.D. a suspect who tried to steal a pickup

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On Tuesday, July 13, 2021, at 0433 hrs., the pictured suspect removed the door handle and cut off the anti-theft lock from a ’95 Toyota pickup at 9011 McFadden Ave., in Westminster. The suspect left and returned at 0507 hrs. but was unsuccessful in stealing the vehicle.

Suspect 1: Male/Hispanic, 35-40, unshaven, medium build, blue mechanic/tow driver uniform with safety yellow stripes, blue ball hat

Suspect Vehicle: White, older model GMC Yukon

If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact Detective M. Ogawa at (714) 548-3799 or mogawa@westminster-ca.gov.

DUI Driver sentenced to 15 years to life for murder of off-duty Costa Mesa Fire Captain

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SANTA ANA, Calif. – A 28-year-old man was sentenced to 15 years to life today for hitting and killing an off-duty Costa Mesa fire captain who was riding his bicycle on a sidewalk in November 2018. The driver was under the influence of narcotics at the time.

Stephen Taylor Scarpa, 28, of Mission Viejo, was convicted of one felony count of second-degree murder for killing Mike Kreza, 44, of Mission Viejo, on September 8, 2021.

On November 3, 2018, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Scarpa was driving eastbound on Alicia Parkway in Mission Viejo when he drove off the road near Alicia Parkway and Via Burgos. He crossed over the bike lane and onto the sidewalk where he struck Kreza who was riding his bicycle.

Scarpa had been driving home from a party in Westminster, at which he’d taken unprescribed “downers” lorazepam and benzodiazepines and reportedly hadn’t slept for two days.

Kreza, who spent 18 years as a firefighter with the Costa Mesa Fire Department, was taken to a local hospital where he died two days after being hit. Scarpa admitted to driving after having spent the prior three days ingesting controlled substances.

As a student at Esperanza High School in Anaheim, Scarpa participated in the “Every 15 Minutes” program hosted by the Brea Police Department and the Anaheim Fire Department to warn students about the dangers of driving under the influence. As part of the program, Scarpa was selected to be one of the students “killed” by an impaired driver. He was removed from the classroom, his obituary was read to his fellow students, and he was taken to an off-site location with the other students “killed” by impaired drivers to hear testimonials from people whose lives had been impacted by driving under the influence collisions. The District Attorney’s Office used that program experience to prove that Scarpa understood the dangers of driving under the influence and its potentially deadly consequences.

Kreza’s wife, his three daughters, and his sister gave victim impact statements in court today, describing how their lives have been devastated by his death, including his youngest daughter talked about having to take a teddy bear to school to comfort her until she got better, but that she never got better.

“Mike Kreza’s wife and his three young daughters have to live every day with the pain of his loss, and the pain they bravely expressed during their victim impact statements should haunt the defendant forever,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Nothing will bring Mike back, but I can only hope that his story – and the pain his family has to live with every day – prevents someone from making the same deadly decision to get behind the wheel while drunk or high on drugs.”

Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Feldman of the Homicide Unit prosecuted this case.

On Monday, Aug. 26, 2019, the California State Senate approved Resolution SCR 21 to name a portion of the 55 Freeway after Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Captain Mike Kreza, who was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding his bike off duty in November of 2018.

The freeway will be named the Costa Mesa Fire Captain Michael Kreza Memorial Highway from 19th Street in Costa Mesa to MacArthur Boulevard.

Man convicted of fatally stabbing another meth smoker at a Walmart store in Santa Ana

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A jury convicted Joshua Dean Smith, a 26-year-old man, of fatally stabbed Dennis Quan Tran, a 41-year-old from Westminster, as they smoked meth behind a Walmart store in Santa Ana after the victim made a pass at him.

Smith was convicted of second-degree murder, and a sentencing enhancement for the personal use of a deadly weapon. He is set to be sentenced on Jan. 21, and is facing 16 years to life in prison.

The fact that Smith killed Tran, at the Walmart located at 3600 W. McFadden Ave. in Santa Ana, was never in question but the jury had the option of going with lesser charges of manslaughter. Smith’s defense lawyer also argued that the killing was in self-defense.

Smith and his girlfriend were living at sober living facilities in the area. On the day of the attack Smith ended up at the Walmart after he missed a few buses as he was trying to get back to his sober living facility. He was trying to charge his cell phone at the Walmart. He intended to wait at the store until the early morning when his girlfriend could come get him.

Walmart surveillance video shows Smith entering the store just past 11:34 p.m. on Dec. 17, 2016. Tran appears in the video as he approaches Smith. The two then went behind two tractor trailers for just over a half hour. Tran had asked Smith if he wanted to go smoke meth with him, according to the prosecutor.

Tran’s toxicological report showed he had meth, amphetamines and Ecstasy in his system.

As they were smoking meth Smith said that Tran brought up the idea of engaging in a sex act with him. Smith rejected the proposition. He told Tran he did not “swing like that.” But Tran then replied that “nobody does until they need some dope.”

Tran then allegedly got “grabby” and Smith reacted by stabbing him 31 times.

Tran was unarmed at the time of the attack.

Smith then went through Tran’s pockets and took his money and his meth. He later told his girlfriend that he was surprised that Tran only had $15 on him.

Smith later threatened to kill his girlfriend if she told the police about his role in Tran’s murder. He allegedly laughed about the killing when the topic came up in ensuing months.

Smith’s luck ran out when a manager of the sober living home where his girlfriend was staying called the police to report Smith as a suspect. The girlfriend also made an anonymous call to the police.

A man tried to kidnap two women in Westminster on Wednesday night

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An unidentified man tried to kidnap two women in separate incidents in Westminster earlier this week according to the Westminster Police Dept.

The man, described as 30 to 50 years old and driving an early 2000’s white Chevrolet Suburban, saw the two women near Hoover Street and Garden Grove Boulevard. This happened north of the 22 Freeway just West of Beach Blvd.

One of the women was able to run away as the man stopped and got out of his SUV.

A second woman was then spotted by the suspect but she was not able to get away. He grabbed her and put her in the passenger seat of his vehicle. Fortunately she was able to escape and get away before he drove off.

The incident happened on Wednesday at about 6 p.m.

The women said that the suspect’s SUV was damaged on the front and had a tow hitch.

The women did not know each other. They just happened to be in the same area when the suspect initiated contact.

The Westminster Police Department asks that anyone with information about the suspect to call them at 714-548-3212. Anonymous tips can be submitted at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Five people were possibly overcome by Fentanyl at a park in Westminster

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The Westminster Police Department received a call about an unconscious person near a public restroom at Sigler Park, located in Westminster, on Saturday, Nov. 13, at about 6 p.m. But when the police officers arrived they found not just one person down – in total there were five people who were unresponsive.

The responding Westminster police officers suspected the victims had overdosed on drugs. They administered Narcan, which introduces Naloxone to victims of Opiod overdoses via their nose.

When the OCFA paramedics arrived they took the victims to local hospitals where they remained today.

An OCFA Hazmat team was also dispatched to the park, which was evacuated, to assist with the cleanup of the suspected drug residue.

Why five people were taking opioids at a public park is a question the police did not address in their press release.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. It is a major contributor to fatal and nonfatal overdoses in the U.S, according to the CDC.

Free OC Job & Workforce Development Fair set for Oct. 23

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Supervisor Andrew Do is hosting a free event to help OC residents to explore new careers and find jobs on Oct. 23 from 9 am to 12 noon, at the Asian Garden Mall – Phuoc Loc Tho, located at 9200 Bolsa Ave, in Westminster.

The Orange County One-Stop Mobile Unit will provide employment services and hands-on interactive experiences with the tools and skills used in various careers.

This is a very good opportunity for high school seniors. There are seven trade unions (building and construction) coming to this Workforce Development Fair on Saturday to talk to anyone interested in learning a trade/apprenticeship. This is great for those high schoolers who don’t want to go to college and instead want to learn a trade.

Questions? Call 714-834-3110 or email first.district@ocgov.com.