New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: OC Sheriff

Suspect in O.C. church shooting identified, additional details of investigation released

Posted on May 16, 2022 by Editor Posted in Churches and Religion, Crime, Guns, OC Sheriff, Orange County Leave a comment

SANTA ANA Ca, (May 16, 2022): OC Sheriff investigators today released additional details about the 68-year-old man arrested on suspicion of entering a Laguna Woods church and shooting multiple victims during a lunch banquet, including evidence that points to a methodical plan devised by the suspect to carry out his crimes.

On Sunday, May 15, 2022, investigators arrested David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas, on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after he entered Geneva Presbyterian Church in the 24000 block of El Toro Road and fired multiple rounds, striking six victims. At the time of the shooting, members of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, which has had a space at the church since 2009, were having a lunch banquet

to welcome a pastor who had recently returned from Taiwan.

Five victims sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The sixth victim, identified as Dr. John Cheng, 52, of Laguna Niguel, sustained multiple gunshot wounds when he intervened and tackled the suspect, allowing other church members to detain the suspect. The victims also were able to tie his legs with extension cords and confiscate two handguns from the suspect. Dr. Cheng, who was attending the lunch banquet with his mother, was pronounced deceased at the scene.

“Dr. Cheng was a loving family man, dedicated doctor and a beloved member of our community, and we send our deepest condolences to all who knew

him,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “There is no doubt that Dr. Cheng’s actions that day saved the lives of many other church members. He is a hero and will be remembered by this community as such.”

Deputies arrived at the scene, arrested the suspect and provided lifesaving measures until paramedics with the Orange County Fire Authority arrived to provide advanced critical care.

Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to the Southern California area on Saturday, May 14, 2022, and came to the church Sunday morning. During the lunch, the suspect is believed to have secured the doors to the building with chains and placed superglue into the keyholes. He then started shooting inside

the building.

Investigators located three bags strategically placed in the building containing various items, including additional ammunition and four Molotov cocktail-type devices. The incendiary devices were collected by the OC Sheriff Hazardous Devices Section and will be analyzed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

OC Sheriff investigators worked with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to serve a search warrant on the suspect’s residence. Investigators currently are processing multiple items of evidence, including electronic devices. In addition, evidence was collected from the suspect’s

vehicle, which was located in the church parking lot.

Based on preliminary findings of the investigation, evidence collected, and statements from the suspect, investigators were able to connect the suspect to the shooting. It also was determined the suspect was upset about political tensions involving China and Taiwan.

“It appears this tragic incident was fueled by politically motivated hate, and that is something we do not tolerate,” Barnes said. “Orange County is a community that celebrates diversity and takes pride in being a place people feel safe to worship, work and live. While someone from outside our community has attempted to diminish these ideals through an act of violence,

we remain united in our commitment to tolerance and acceptance.”

Additional evidence is still being processed and the investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Department continues to work with the Orange County Fire Authority, ATF, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) on this incident.

A transient died at the O.C. Intake Release Center in Santa Ana

Posted on April 21, 2022 by Editor Posted in Anaheim, Crime, homeless, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (April 21, 2022) – On Wednesday, April 20, 2022, an inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died at the jail.

The inmate, Nicholas Brown, 28, a transient, was booked into jail on April 9, 2022 by the Anaheim Police Department for elder or dependent adult endangerment along with assault and battery.

The man was pronounced deceased at the jail shortly after he was found unresponsive in his cell on Wednesday morning. He was housed alone at the time, and his death does not appear to be suspicious. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology and an independent autopsy.

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 Theo Lacy inmate arrested in Westminster died on Sunday

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange, Orange County, Westminster Leave a comment

ORANGE, Ca. (April 19, 2022) – On Sunday, April 17, 2022, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died at the hospital.

The inmate was booked into jail on April 6, 2022, by the Westminster Police Department for criminal threats and vandalism. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Orange County Coroner’s Division.

The man was pronounced deceased at the hospital after being transferred to the hospital for a medical issue shortly after midnight on Sunday. His death does not appear to be suspicious. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology and an independent autopsy.

A man arrested on molestation charges died at Theo Lacy

Posted on April 19, 2022 by Editor Posted in Cochino Alert, Crime, Irvine, OC Sheriff Leave a comment

ORANGE, Ca. (April 19, 2022) – On Saturday, April 16, 2022, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died at the hospital.

The inmate, Larry Esquivel, 61, of Irvine, was booked into jail on September 21, 2020, by the Irvine Police Department for child molestation charges.

The man was pronounced deceased at the hospital after being transferred to the hospital for a medical procedure. His death does not appear to be suspicious. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology and an independent autopsy.

Man arrested for committing burglaries and thefts in O.C. and other counties

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff 1 Comment

person wearing metal handcuffs — Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com

SANTA ANA, Ca. (April 15, 2022): Orange County Sheriff’s investigators have arrested a 58-year-old man wanted for committing multiple burglaries, thefts and identity theft across four counties in Southern California.

Douglas Allen Schlichting, 58, was arrested on April 13, 2022 outside his home in the 300 block of Plaza Serena in the city of Ontario.

Schlichting was identified as the suspect in multiple crimes committed between January 2022 and March 2022 in Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita and Yorba Linda. In these cases, he is suspected of stealing victims’ personal items, including credit cards that were fraudulently used to purchase items such as jewelry, home goods and gift cards.

Schlichting also is suspected of committing similar crimes in other cities in Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and San Diego counties.

Cases in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction are as follows:

Lake Forest

· At approximately 2:30 p.m. on March 26, 2022, a 55-year-old man living in the 26000 block of Vista Terrace in Lake Forest reported his wallet was stolen from his vehicle and his credit card was later charged multiple times. The reported loss was $4,000, which included cash and $848 in fraudulent credit card purchases.

Mission Viejo

· At 10:50 a.m. on March 20, 2022, employees at Presbyterian Church of the Master located at Oso and Marguerite parkways reported personal items of four employees had been stolen. The victims lost $540 in cash and there was another $1,725 in fraudulent purchases charged to the victims’ credit cards.

· At approximately 10:45 a.m. on March 27, 2022, a 55-year-old woman reported fraudulent activity on her credit card totaling $517.77. She reported the crime at Mission Viejo Police Services and told investigators she did not know where or when her credit card was stolen.

Rancho Santa Margarita

· At approximately 10:30 a.m. on January 20, 2022, a manager at Pet Supply in the 22000 block of El Paseo reported a man entered the employee locker area and stole cash and personal items valued at $1,000.

Yorba Linda

· At 11:50 a.m. on January 11, 2022, a 71-year-old woman reported that on January 10, 2022 her credit card and $1,000 in cash had been stolen from her purse at St. Martin de Porres Church in the 19000 block of Yorba Linda Boulevard. Her credit card had been fraudulently charged $808.

· At nearly 3 p.m. on February 1, 2022, a 57-year-old woman reported that on January 22, 2022 at the Pope John Paul II Polish Center in the 3900 block of Rose Drive a man stole $1,100 in cash and two credit cards from her purse. Her credit cards were later charged $3,128 in fraudulent purchases.

The investigation is ongoing and investigators believe there may be additional cases involving Schlichting. Anyone who can provide additional information can call OC Sheriff Dispatch at 714-647-7000 or anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

O.C. investigators release new forensic rendering to identify 1983 Jane Doe

Posted on March 17, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, Orange County Leave a comment

Santa Ana, Ca. (March 17, 2022): Orange County Sheriff’s investigators have released an updated forensic rendering of a 1983 Jane Doe in an effort to identify the woman and possibly generate new leads on her homicide case.

In April 1983, children discovered a human skull in a culvert while playing in the area of Canada and Old Trabuco roads in what is now the city of Lake Forest. An excavation was performed and approximately 70 percent of a female’s human remains were discovered.

Based on preliminary anthropological analysis, it is believed Jane Doe was 18-24 years old, Black or possibly mixed-race, about 5’3” to 5’6”, with a slight build. They also determined she had a distinctive front tooth with a gold crown on the left lateral incisor. Although the official cause of death is listed as undetermined, homicide is suspected.

In 1983, Jane Doe was compared to several reported missing persons without success and eventually the case ran cold.

Investigators revisited the case in 2018 after convicted serial killer Samuel Little confessed to targeting Black females between 1970 and 2005 in multiple states. Little was a long-haul truck driver who admitted to killing 93 women, including 13 in California, over the 35-year span. Little died in 2020 in California State Prison, Los Angeles County. Despite concerted efforts by investigators, no plausible link between Jane Doe and Samuel Little could be established and the case again went cold.

The Sheriff’s Department in 2019 partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to produce a forensic rendering of Jane Doe, which used a computed tomography (CT) scan of the victim’s remains to determine facial features. The image was widely circulated, however no new information was developed.

Refusing to give up on identifying Jane Doe, Sheriff’s investigators have now partnered with forensic artist Carl Koppelman to develop an updated rendering based on evidence evaluation, which depicts Jane Doe with longer hair and the top she was believed to be wearing at the time of her death. It also includes a detailed sketch of her distinctive tooth.

Anyone who recognizes Jane Doe or may have information on her case is asked to contact Investigator Bob Taft at 714-647-7045 or email coldcase@ocsheriff.gov. Anonymous tips may be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

O.C. church volunteer arrested for sexual assault of a minor

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Editor Posted in Churches and Religion, Cochino Alert, Crime, Garden Grove, OC Sheriff, Westminster 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 9, 2022): On Wednesday, March 2, members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Detail arrested Terry Lyn Myers, 65, of Garden Grove, for felony aggravated sexual assault.

He is currently in custody at the Orange County Jail. Myers is booked on charges related to a suspected sexual assault of a minor that occurred in the 1990s.

Myers has been a volunteer at multiple churches in Orange County. He was a volunteer at Grace Community Church, formerly known as Nutwood Church, in Garden Grove from 1995-2013. Since 2013, Myers has been volunteering at MidCities Baptist Church in Westminster.

Due to the suspect’s role at these churches and his access to children, investigators believe there may be additional victims.

Anyone with information regarding possible additional victims or with information they believe may assist in this investigation is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7419, or submit an anonymous tip to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

An inmate at the Theo Lacy Facility died on Monday

Posted on March 8, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County Leave a comment

ORANGE, Ca. (March 8, 2022) – On Monday, March 7, 2022, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died of unknown causes.

The decedent is Joshua James Campos, 28. He was booked into jail on March 4, 2022 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on a solicitation charge.

In the evening of March 7, 2022, Campos was found unresponsive in his cell. Deputies and correctional medical staff attempted life-saving measures.

Who do you support for the O.C. Board of Supervisors in District 2?

He was pronounced deceased at the Theo Lacy Facility at approximately 11:45 p.m. Preliminarily, there are no suspicious circumstances. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology testing and an independent autopsy.

Former OC Sheriff’s Deputy gets four months of jail after stealing credit cards from a dead woman

Posted on February 28, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, OCDA, Orange County Leave a comment

Remember the disgraced former Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy, Steve Hortz, who got caught stealing from dead victims? The 43-year-old crooked deputy from San Dimas pleaded guilty but his sentence was on the light side.

Hortz was sentenced to four months in jail for stealing the credit cards of dead victims he came across while on the job. He was placed on two years of formal probation and must report to jail by June 3.

Hortz pleaded guilty on Feb. 22 to single felony counts of burglary and grand theft and single misdemeanor counts each of burglary, identity theft and grand theft by embezzlement.

Hortz stole three credit cards from a woman in Yorba Linda after he conducted a welfare check on August 19, 2020 and found her dead inside her home. Hortz ended up using the stolen cards to make thousands of dollars worth of unauthorized online purchases. Fortunately most of the purchases were declined. He was charged with those crimes back in September.

Who do you support for the O.C. Board of Supervisors in District 2?

Hortz did something similar a month prior when he responded to a home on Via Angelina Drive in Yorba Linda to conduct another welfare check. The man who owned that home was found dead inside from what was later determined to be natural causes.

Hortz ended up retuning to the man’s house, including once while on duty and in uniform, to steal $27,000 worth of guns and other items. But his actions were recorded by surveillance cameras.

The probate attorney handling the dead man’s estate called the OC Sheriff’s department to report that a law enforcement officer may have stolen items from the home. They began an investigation and he was arrested on Sept. 10, 2020. He later resigned from the department in lieu of termination effective Sept. 30, 2020.

If a resident who was not a law enforcement officer did the same things that Hortz was convicted of how much time would he end up spending in prison?

Multi-agency ‘Operation Red Zone’ resulted in 56 human trafficking arrests in Orange County

Posted on February 18, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, OCDA, Orange County, SAPD Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 18, 2022): Fifty-six suspects were arrested and 16 victims were recovered, including two juveniles under the age of 16, as part of an extensive multi-jurisdictional human trafficking enforcement operation conducted February 9 through February 12 in Orange County.

The Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center coordinated Operation Red Zone in partnership with 11 local law enforcement agencies, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the US Department of Homeland Security to identify victims of human trafficking and hold their perpetrators accountable.

“We sent a message loud and clear that human trafficking will be met with swift action in Orange County,” said Don Barnes, Sheriff-Coroner. “Through inter-department collaboration, we deployed substantial investigative resources across the county and were able to make a significant number of arrests. Most importantly two young victims have been brought to safety and resources were offered to other victims.”

“Human traffickers know that if they come to Orange County, we are going to find them, we are going to arrest them, and we are going to prosecute them. Proactive investigations like this allow law enforcement agencies to contact vulnerable victims of sex trafficking who might have otherwise never been able to escape their traffickers and receive valuable victim services that can help them heal and every arrest we make and every case we file serves as a message to human traffickers everywhere: don’t come to Orange County,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “Every human trafficker we take off the street prevents vulnerable victims from ever becoming trafficking victims.”

The more than four dozen arrests included men ages 20 to 55 from Orange and Los Angeles counties. Charges included human trafficking, pimping and pandering, solicitation for sex, and narcotics. In addition, one unregistered handgun was recovered.

Agencies conducted multiple operations utilizing investigative techniques most impactful for their specific city. This included undercover operations, investigation into online-based sex solicitation websites and investigations into known problematic businesses.

Individuals identified as victims were connected with services through Waymakers, a victim-assistance program that provides immediate crisis intervention to provide emergency shelter, transportation and necessities such as food and clothing to victims of human trafficking. Juvenile victims are connected to services through the Orange County Social Services Agency.

The Operation Red Zone agencies are:

• Anaheim Police Department
• Buena Park Police Department
• Costa Mesa Police Department
• Fountain Valley Police Department
• Fullerton Police Department
• Garden Grove Police Department
• Huntington Beach PD
• US Department of Homeland Security
• Irvine Police Department
• Laguna Beach Police Department
• Orange County Sheriff’s Department
• OC District Attorney’s Office
• Santa Ana Police Department
• Westminster Police Department

Additional information on agency-specific operations can be obtained by contacting participating agencies’ Public Information Officers. If you are a victim of human trafficking or suspect human trafficking activity in your community, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888. Anonymous tips can be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

About the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center

The Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) is located in Orange County, California. The OCIAC fusion center was formed in 2007 to meet the need for information sharing among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and other public safety disciplines.

As a fusion center, OCIAC serves as a focal point within the local environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between the federal government and state, local, tribal, territorial (SLTT) and private sector partners.

Direct responsibility for the overall policy and direction of OCIAC rests with the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner in close coordination with the Orange County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff’s Association (OCCPSA).

The car stolen from Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong was found in El Modena

Posted on February 10, 2022 by Editor Posted in automobiles, Costa Mesa, Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange, Orange County Leave a comment

Costa Mesa police detective Lopez, acting on tips from the public, asked the O.C. Sheriff’s Department to look for a vehicle that was stolen from Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong in the unincorporated area of El Modena in the City of Orange. The vehicle was found abandoned at that location.

No arrests have been made in this incident and no other items that were stolen have been recovered. Those items include two electric guitars and an amp.

Armstrong reacted to the vehicle’s recovery on Instagram: “False alarm.. turns out I forgot where I parked it… KIDDING! Truth is the person that stole it left it parked. Joy ride? Maybe.. who knows. We live in desperate times. Thank god It’s all in one piece. No damage. Thank you thank you to everyone that searched for my Chevy. 🙏🙏🙏.. love you all.”

Between Friday afternoon, Feb. 4, and Saturday morning, Feb. 5, it is suspected that unknown individuals made entry into a commercial business at the 1100 block of Victoria Street in Costa Mesa.

The suspects stole items of high value including two electric guitars, an amp, and a white, 2-door 1962 Chevrolet Nova with a license plate #BPN888.

Anyone with information on this burglary is asked to contact Costa Mesa Police Detective Joe Lopez at 714-754-4873.

O.C.’s first Homeless Death Review Committee commissioned by the OC Sheriff

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Editor Posted in homeless, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Jan. 26, 2022): Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes announced today that he has commissioned the County’s first Homeless Death Review Committee to review deaths of people experiencing homelessness in Orange County.

Sheriff-Coroner Barnes is commissioning the committee through the Orange County Coroner’s Office, a division of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The Homeless Death Review Committee, consisting of technical experts from both the public and private sectors, will explore the root causes of the reviewed deaths and determine what, if any, factors contributing to the deaths were preventable.

While the Sheriff’s Department and Orange County Coroner’s Office have tracked deaths of people experiencing homelessness for many years, the Homeless Death Review Committee will provide an extensive and in-depth review. Based on this review, the committee will develop an independent report with recommendations to Sheriff-Coroner Barnes and policymakers to find solutions that assist in reducing the number of preventable deaths of people experiencing homelessness.

“Addressing the impacts of homelessness remains a top priority for the Sheriff’s Department and our County partners,” said Sheriff-Coroner Barnes. “This Review Committee presents an opportunity to make data-driven policy decisions that will ultimately result in lives saved and an enhanced quality of life for our community.”

A Mortality Review Committee is a recommended best practice by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council. Several jurisdictions have employed the use of these committees to assist in developing policies aimed at reducing preventable deaths.

The Orange County Homeless Death Review Committee will be comprised of representatives from the Orange County Coroner’s Office, the Orange County Health Care Agency, the County of Orange Social Services Agency, the Hospital Association of Southern California, the Orange County Medical Association, multiple experts in providing direct service to individuals experiencing homelessness, and at least one municipal law enforcement agency. The committee will hold its first meeting in the spring of 2022.

O.C. Crime Laboratory recognized for implementing national forensic standards

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 19, 2022): The Orange County Crime Laboratory, a division of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department, was nationally recognized as a “Registry Implementer” for its high-quality standards and practices in forensic science by the National Institutes of Science and Technology-sponsored Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).

OSAC recognizes crime labs that meet rigorous standards as defined in their Registry. The Registry is a repository of technically sound standards and best practices for forensic laboratories, and covers a broad spectrum of forensic disciplines including DNA, Toxicology and Digital Evidence.

According to OSAC, these standards can “improve consistency across forensic science disciplines, ensure confidence in the accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of laboratory results, and positively increase the impact of admissibility and expert testimony in courts of law.”

The Crime Lab is one of 70 labs across the nation recognized as a “Registry Implementer” for adopting standards as outlined by OSAC.

“The OSAC standards process is critically important for the national forensic community, and this collaborative approach involved a significant amount of work by our personnel over the last few years,” said Bruce Houlihan, Director of the Crime Lab. “As a laboratory with many diverse disciplines and services, our goal was to implement all Registry standards applicable to these disciplines.”
Implementation of the OSAC standards involved building on the lab’s current accreditations with the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

“Our personnel worked hard to meet OSAC’s standards while maintaining high quality and productivity,” Houlihan said. “Applying sound scientific principles to the collection, evaluation and interpretation of physical evidence is the core of our mission, and we remain committed to providing excellent service to the residents of Orange County.”

The OC Sheriff promoted two Assistant Sheriffs

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Editor Posted in OC Sheriff, Orange County Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 14, 2022): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department today promoted 33 personnel, including two Assistant Sheriffs.

Assistant Sheriff Jeff Puckett will oversee the Department’s Custody Operations Command, one of the largest jail systems in the country. This includes managing collaborative efforts with community partners for inmate programming focused on re-entry services and adopting an integrated services approach for inmates with mental health and substance use disorders.

Assistant Sheriff Andrew Stephens will oversee the Investigations and Special Operations Command, which includes the Investigations Division, Orange County Crime Lab, Orange County Coroner, Special Operations, and Emergency Management.

“Assistant Sheriffs Puckett and Stephens have a demonstrated history of effective and innovative leadership in their tenure with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and I look forward to the contributions they will make in their respective commands,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “They embody what it means to serve with integrity, humility and a genuine care for the men and women of this department and the residents of Orange County.”

Thirty-one additional personnel also were promoted today including seven investigators, ten sergeants, eight lieutenants, and six commanders.

Assistant Sheriff Jeff Puckett

Assistant Sheriff Puckett joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1998 as a Sheriff’s Special Officer before becoming a deputy in 1999. He has served as a patrol deputy and investigator and held multiple specialty assignments including SWAT, Tactical Apprehension Team, and the Sheriff’s Response Team.

Assistant Sheriff Puckett has served in leadership positions in the Custody, Training, and Patrol commands. Most recently, he served as the Southwest Operations Division Commander, overseeing operations for seven contract cities, the traffic office and the Behavioral Health Bureau.

He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Chapman University, a master’s degree in emergency services administration from California State University, Long Beach, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Class #279.

Assistant Sheriff Andrew Stephens

Assistant Sheriff Stephens joined the Department in 1993 as a deputy sheriff where he worked in custody operations before transferring to patrol to serve the city of Lake Forest. As a deputy, he earned several specialty assignments including Field Training Officer, Critical Incident Response Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Special Enforcement Team and Directed Enforcement Team.

In leadership roles, Assistant Sheriff Stephens has served in the Custody, Professional Services, Patrol Operations, and Investigations commands. He was promoted to Commander in 2019 and assigned to investigations, which included the Criminal Investigations Bureau, Special Investigations Bureau, and the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center. Most recently, Assistant Sheriff Stephens served as the Training Division Commander, overseeing approximately 300 recruits a year at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy and the daily operations of the Sandra Hutchens Regional Law Enforcement Training Center.

Assistant Sheriff Stephens has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California Coast University and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

A stabbing occurred in unincorporated Orange County this afternoon

Posted on January 9, 2022 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange, Orange County Leave a comment

Orange County Sheriff Deputies arrived at N. Olive Ave. near E. Main St. in the unincorporated area of Orange Olive investigating a stabbing at about 1 pm. today.

The victim has been transported to the hospital with serious injuries.

Please avoid the are while deputies attempt to locate the suspect.

The stabbing occurred in a light industrial area just north of Lincoln Ave.