New Santa Ana | Tag Archives: OC Sheriff

DUI driver arrested in Santa Ana after a police pursuit and a collision

Posted on April 25, 2021 by Editor Posted in Alcohol, Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange, Santa Ana, SAPD Leave a comment

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.

The OC Sheriff arrested a suspect in a string of bank robbers in four counties

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Banking, Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County Leave a comment

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

Posted on April 2, 2021 by Editor Posted in Drugs, Irvine, OC Sheriff Leave a comment

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

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Editor Posted in OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Editor Posted in OC Sheriff, OCDA, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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

Posted on February 5, 2021 by Editor Posted in Disease, OC Sheriff, Santa Ana Leave a comment

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 OCDA reduced or dismissed charges in 67 cases due to OC Sheriff’s Department shenanigans

Posted on January 14, 2021 by Editor Posted in Crime, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, OCDA, Santa Ana, Todd Spitzer Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s Office has completed its review of the Sheriff’s Evidence Booking Audit.

In mid-November 2019, District Attorney Todd Spitzer became aware of the extent of evidence booking issues within the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) and the existence of department-wide internal audits. District Attorney Spitzer had not been made aware of the extent of these audits previously and only became aware of the matter on November 15, 2019 when he was informed about it from a local newspaper reporter. Although OCSD believes the OCDA should have known, the OCDA questions why the Sheriff’s Department made it so difficult to understand the extent of the issues with evidence booking.

Upon learning of the full extent of the audits, District Attorney Spitzer immediately requested additional information from the Sheriff’s Department about potentially impacted criminal cases to ensure that the District Attorney’s Office was able to “identify any and all cases handled by the OCDA where a defendant’s due process rights may have been negatively impacted by having evidence collected but not booked.”

District Attorney Spitzer also directed two senior prosecutors to oversee the office’s response. Because of the deficiencies in the Sheriff’s audit, District Attorney Spitzer ordered a hand-search of all cases resulting in a conviction over a three-year period – from March 2015 to March 2018 – to determine if there were cases where evidence was collected but not booked.

A total of 22,289 cases were reviewed by a joint team of OCSD and DA investigators
3,639 notifications made to defense attorneys in potentially impacted cases (both active and closed cases)
Charges were reduced or dismissed in 67 cases
Two former OCSD deputies have been convicted of a misdemeanor and a third former deputy is awaiting trial on a felony charge of filing a false police report
All DNA profiles related to potentially impacted cases identified in the Sheriff’s Department evidence booking audit will be expunged from the OCDA DNA database

The OCDA reports on the Sheriff’s Department Evidence Booking Issues can be found here.

Former O.C. Sheriff’s Deputy convicted after stealing a credit card from a suspect

Posted on January 10, 2021 by Editor Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Orange County Sheriff’s deputy pleaded guilty today to filing a false police report in connection with taking a credit card from a suspect. She later gave the card to her son who then used it.

Angelina Cortez, 41, was charged in September with one felony count of filing a false police report. An Orange County Superior Court judge reduced the charge to a misdemeanor today over the objection of prosecutors. The judge sentenced Cortez to 120 hours community service and one year informal probation. She had faced a maximum sentence of three years in jail if convicted.

Cortez was assigned to a training officer on November 19, 2018 when she and her training officer responded to a call of a man stealing wine and batteries from a San Clemente 7-Eleven store. Cortez is accused of taking the theft suspect’s credit card, putting it in her uniform shirt pocket and later giving it to her son, who then used it. The card was never booked into evidence.

“The public must be able to trust that law enforcement officers will carry out their duties lawfully,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “When the law is broken by the very people who are entrusted to enforce it, the integrity of the entire criminal justice system is compromised. We will not allow the rule of law to be abused by someone in a position of power who chooses to prey on the vulnerable.”

Former O.C. Deputy Sheriff indicted for stealing guns and burglarizing the home of a deceased man

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Editor Posted in Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy has been indicted by a grand jury on multiple felonies in connection with breaking into the Yorba Linda home of a man he found dead during a welfare check this summer. The 12-year veteran was captured on home surveillance video returning to the home several times, including once while on duty and wearing his Sheriff’s uniform, to steal guns and other items from the home.

Steve Hortz, 42, of San Dimas, was indicted on three felony counts of second degree burglary and two felony counts of grand theft of a firearm in connection with breaking into the deceased man’s Yorba Linda home.

Hortz is scheduled to be arraigned on the grand jury indictment on January 26, 2021. He faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in state prison if convicted on all charges. Hortz resigned in lieu of termination effective September 30, 2020.

Hortz responded along with two other Sheriff’s Department employees to a home on Via Angelina Drive in Yorba Linda on July 20, 2020 to conduct a welfare check. The homeowner was found deceased of what was later determined to be natural causes.

Hortz is accused of returning to the home in uniform on July 27, 2020 and breaking into the home while he was on duty. He is also accused of returning to the home on two more occasions – on August 10, 2020 and August 16, 2020 – shortly before he was scheduled to work and stealing items from the home, including a total of 15 firearms.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department initiated an investigation after the probate attorney handling the deceased homeowner’s estate reported that a law enforcement officer may have stolen items from the home.

Hortz was arrested on September 10, 2020 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“I am so angry and beyond disappointed. This act in and of itself has done so much damage to the public perception of law enforcement and the timing could not be more detrimental,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The community must be able to trust those who wear the badge and have complete confidence that they are there to protect and serve the community rather than exploit that trust to rob the very people they are sworn to safeguard.”

Deputy District Attorney Laila Nikaien of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.

COVID-19 has infected over 100 O.C. jail inmates

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Editor Posted in Disease, Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (December 10, 2020): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Custody Operations Division and OC Health Care Agency’s Correctional Health Services (CHS) have worked collaboratively to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the Orange County Jail system. Yesterday, two inmates in general population began exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms and tested positive, the remaining individuals in those housing areas were tested. That resulted in 72 additional inmates in general population that tested positive for COVID-19. The total COVID-19 positive inmates today in the Orange County Jail system is 102, with 28 new booking inmates and 74 general population inmates. The vast majority of the COVID-19 positive inmates are asymptomatic.

None of the inmates who have tested positive within the last two days have required hospitalization or advanced medical treatment. All inmates exposed to COVID-19 positive inmates will be quarantined for 14 days, and tested prior to the end of their quarantine.

Following a positive COVID-19 case in general population, CHS and Custody Operations conduct contact tracing to determine exposure. All exposed inmates are quarantined and tested, and their health status is monitored including symptom screening and temperature checks, with additional assessments conducted as warranted.

These cases come after an exhaustive effort by personnel from Custody Operations and CHS to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 in the jails. Working collaboratively with the CHS team, the Department implemented a series of changes to practices and procedures to mitigate the spread of the virus. Beginning in April, all new bookings into the Orange County Jail are quarantined from the general population for a minimum of 14 days. To help prevent the spread of the virus from the community into our jails, all quarantined inmates, including all new bookings, are tested before being integrated into general housing. Also, any inmate exposed to a COVID-19 positive person is medically quarantined and monitored for symptoms. If any inmate exhibits COVID-19 symptoms, they are also isolated and tested.

Patient education on infection prevention strategies is done at all healthcare encounters. In addition, screening procedures including a temperature check and symptom screening for all personnel and inmates entering an Orange County Jail began in March 2020.

“Just as we have seen COVID-19 cases rise in the community, we are now seeing that impact our jail,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “As we have successfully done before, we will implement multi-layered mitigation efforts to control the further spread of COVID-19 among inmates or personnel. Throughout the pandemic, we have gone beyond CDC guidelines and increased testing for inmates and employees. I am confident that the practices and procedures we have implemented in previous cases will bring cases back down to zero as we have before.”

To further prevent the spread of these cases, the Sheriff’s Department is working collaboratively with the courts to limit the number of inmates being transported to courthouses. COVID-19 positive inmates in isolation and quarantined inmates are not transported to court.

In total, 691 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 since the first positive inmate on March 24, 2020. Of those, only two inmates have been hospitalized for COVID-19 and none have died. 6,964 COVID-19 tests have been administered to Orange County Jail inmates since the start of the pandemic.

At the start of the pandemic, the average daily jail population count declined to 2,826 on May 11, 2020 at the height of active COVID-19 cases in the jails. That is less than half of the average daily population prior to the start of the pandemic. That number has steadily increased, and today sits at 3,628. This is well below the Orange County Jails’ capacity of 6,159.

The OC Sheriff implements measures to limit exposure to COVID-19

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Editor Posted in Don Barnes, OC Sheriff, Orange County, Santa Ana Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. – Effective immediately and until further notice, Sheriff Don Barnes issued directives for decreasing potential COVID-19 exposure to the community and department personnel.

“Our foremost responsibility is to keep the community safe,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “These precautionary measures will safeguard the health of the public who rely on our service and the members of the department who respond to their call.”

The following are immediate changes that are in effect until further notice:

• The front lobby of all Sheriff’s Department buildings and contract city police services substations will be closed to the public.
• All volunteer programs are suspended; this includes senior programs in contract cities, jail volunteers, and Explorer programs. Jail programs provided by staff will continue.
• Patrol deputies have been directed to utilize discretion in responding to calls for service that require social contact. Where possible, deputies will call reporting parties and take reports over the phone.
• Deputies will not be dispatched to, or respond to, calls for service to enforce compliance with face coverings, social gatherings, or stay-at-home orders only. Deputies will respond to calls for potential criminal behavior and for the protection of life and property.
• Personnel will not respond to non-injury traffic collisions unless vehicles are disabled in the roadway or creating a hazard.
• Public jail visiting remains suspended. Inmates are provided two free five-minute phone calls per week.
• Enhanced symptom screening for jail intake continues in coordination with the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Correctional Health Services. In addition to symptom screening prior to entry to the jail, all new bookings will be quarantined for 14 days and tested for COVID-19 prior to release to general population.
• All department tours and civilian ride-alongs are postponed.

“As we have seen by mitigating COVID-19 cases in our jails, abiding by public health guidelines is necessary to stop the spread of the pandemic in our community. I encourage residents to wear face coverings and social distance,” said Sheriff Barnes.

For the latest updates on COVID-19 in Orange County and additional health and safety information, visit occovid19.ochealthinfo.com/.

The OC Sheriff reiterates that he won’t enforce the COVID-19 orders

Posted on December 5, 2020 by Editor Posted in Santa Ana 3 Comments

SANTA ANA, Ca. (December 5, 2020): Below please find a statement from Sheriff Don Barnes.

“2020 has been a difficult year in many ways. The pandemic, civil unrest, and fires have affected us all. “Governor Newsom has announced new stay-at-home orders for much of California, including Orange County. The ever-changing nature of these orders and the increase of COVID-19 case numbers bring additional uncertainty and stress to California residents.

“Compliance with health orders is a matter of personal responsibility and not a matter of law enforcement. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will remain consistent in our approach. Orange County Sheriff’s deputies will not be dispatched to, or respond to, calls for service to enforce compliance with face coverings, social gatherings, or stay-at-home orders only. Deputies will respond to calls for potential criminal behavior and for the protection of life and property. Our actions remain consistent with the protections of constitutional rights.

“To put the onus on law enforcement to enforce these orders against law-abiding citizens who are already struggling through difficult circumstances, while at the same time criticizing law enforcement and taking away tools to do our jobs, is both contradictory and disingenuous.

“As we have done throughout this pandemic, we must remain diligent in preventing the spread of the virus by following public health recommendations, like wearing a face covering and practicing social distancing. Conversely, policy makers must not penalize residents for earning a livelihood, safeguarding their mental health, or enjoying our most cherished freedoms.

“The month of December is typically a time for celebrating. I know this year is different, but we do not need to cancel the spirit of the season. I encourage you to remake holiday traditions to accommodate public health guidelines, reach out to a neighbor, or help someone in need. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will continue our tradition of charitable efforts for those in need and our commitment to keep you safe during the holidays.

Former O.C. Sheriff’s Deputy charged with stealing guns and burglarizing the home of a dead man

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Editor Posted in Crime, OC Sheriff, Orange County 1 Comment

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A former Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy has been charged with multiple felonies in connection with breaking into the Yorba Linda home of a man he found dead during a welfare check. The 12-year veteran was captured on home surveillance video returning to the home several times, including once while on duty and wearing his Sheriff’s uniform, and taking guns and other items from the home.

Steve Hortz, 42, of San Dimas, has been charged with three felony counts of second degree burglary and two felony counts of grand theft of a firearm in connection with breaking into the deceased man’s Yorba Linda home.

Hortz is scheduled to be arraigned on October 13, 2020 at the West Justice Center in Department in W3 at 8:30 a.m. He faces a maximum sentence of four years and four months in state prison if convicted on all charges. Hortz resigned in lieu of termination effective September 30, 2020.

Hortz was arrested on September 10, 2020 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

“The failure of a single law enforcement officer to live up to his or her oath does not just tarnish that officer’s badge, it tarnishes the badge of the hundreds of thousands of honorable law enforcement officers who work day in and day out to protect and serve,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “When we call on law enforcement officers for help, we expect that they answer that call for help with the purest intentions to help those in need, not as an opportunity to scope out the situation in order to return later and victimize the very people they are sworn to protect.”

Deputy District Attorney Laila Nikaien of Special Prosecutions is prosecuting this case.