Tue. Nov 5th, 2024
Stephen Taylor Scarpa

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2018

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER FOR DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS AND COLLIDING WITH OFF-DUTY COSTA MESA FIRE & RESCUE CAPTAIN

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged today with ­­­­­murder for driving under the influence of drugs and colliding with off-duty Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue Captain Mike Kreza, who was cycling in Mission Viejo.

Defendant: Stephen Taylor Scarpa, 25, Mission Viejo

Charged today with:

  • One felony count of murder

Maximum Sentence: 15 years to life in state prison

Arraignment on Nov. 6, 2018, time to be determined at Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana

Captain Mike Kreza with Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue

Circumstances of the Case

  • On Nov. 3, 2018, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Scarpa is accused of driving a van eastbound on Alicia Parkway near Via Burgos in Mission Viejo while under the influence of multiple controlled substances.
  • The defendant is accused of driving into the bike lane, onto the sidewalk, and striking cyclist 44-year-old Mike Kreza, an off-duty Captain and 18-year veteran of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue, who was rendered unconscious with severe head and body trauma.
  • Witnesses called 911 and emergency medical responders transported Kreza to a local hospital in critical condition.
  • The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) Major Accident Reconstruction Team investigated this case and located several prescription medications in Scarpa’s vehicle.
  • An OCSD drug recognition expert evaluated Scarpa and arrested the defendant at the scene.
  • On Nov. 5, 2018, Captain Mike Kreza died at the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the collision, leaving behind a wife and three young girls.

Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Daniel Feldman, Homicide Unit

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author avatar
Art Pedroza Editor
Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

By Art Pedroza

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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