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Crews Battle 3-Alarm Fire at Santa Ana Building; Blaze Started After Explosion, Source Says

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Firefighters were making “excellent progress” against a third-alarm building fire in Santa Ana that left one person injured on Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

Firefighters battled a third-alarm blaze in Santa Ana on Aug. 7, 2018. (Credit: KTLA)

Firefighters battled a third-alarm blaze in Santa Ana on Aug. 7, 2018. (Credit: KTLA)

The blaze began shortly after 1:50 p.m. in the 2100 block of South Yale Street, the Orange County Fire Authority tweeted.

The building caught fire after a burning car ignited a gas tank, which resulted in an explosion, the source said. The blaze further spread to several trailers.

The Fire Authority has not confirmed the cause of the blaze, tweeting only that it was still under investigation.

About 75 firefighters from multiple agencies responded to the scene as the flames ripped through the structure, sending a tall column of smoke high into the sky that was visible miles away, Sky5 aerial video showed.

Around 2:35 p.m., they moved to a defensive position and all personnel were pulled out of the gutted structure, the agency tweeted.

By that point, flames could no longer be seen in the building as firefighters doused the building with water from multiple hoses, according to the aerial footage.

A tweet sent around 3:15 p.m. indicated firefighters were making “excellent progress” in the firefight.

One person, a civilian, was later confirmed to be have been injured in the blaze. He or she was transported to a hospital in unknown condition, according to the Fire Authority.

No additional information was immediately available.

KTLA’s Jennifer Thang contributed to this story. 


O.C. High School Volleyball Coach Accused of Having ‘Unlawful’ Sex With Girls on Campus: Prosecutors

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A high school volleyball coach in Santa Ana who was arrested after allegedly having sex with students has been charged, the Orange County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday.

Omar Rojas is shown in a photo released by the Santa Ana Police Department on Aug. 7, 2018.

Omar Rojas is shown in a photo released by the Santa Ana Police Department on Aug. 7, 2018.

Omar Rojas faces six counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, four counts of oral copulation and two counts of sexual penetration by foreign object of a minor, a DA's office news release stated. All 12 counts are felonies.

He could receive a sentence of up to 11 years and four months in prison if convicted as charged, prosecutors said.

An arraignment was expected to take place sometime Tuesday.

Rojas, 28, has worked the past several years as a coach at Century High School and -- more recently -- was employed as a safety officer for the Santa Ana Unified School District, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

District police alerted authorities of allegations that Rojas had sex with several students who were 17 years old at the time.

Providing more details about the case on Tuesday afternoon, prosecutors clarified that there were three alleged victims: two were 17 and one was 15 at the time. They also revealed that the incidents under investigation occurred starting in 2013 and ending in 2016.

Rojas was employed as the Century High volleyball coach when he allegedly had unlawful intercourse with a 15-year-old girl between Oct. 1, 2013 and Oct. 31, 2013, according to the DA's release.

Two years later -- also between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31 -- Rojas is accused of engaging in unlawful sex and orally copulating a 17-year-old girl, prosecutors said.

The following year, between March and October, Rojas is accused of having unlawful intercourse with a 17-year-old girl; in that case he is also suspected of sexually penetrating the teen with a foreign object and orally copulating her, according to the DA's office.

Further, he is alleged to have engaged in the illegal sexual activity on campus, and had the students excused from class to meet him for that purpose, the release stated.

Rojas confessed after being arrested on suspicion of multiple sexual assault charges last Friday, police said. His bail was set at $1 million.

The alleged victims are no longer students at the school, police said.

Investigators believe Rojas may have victimized others, according to police and prosecutors.

Anyone with information contact Detective Nick Vega at 714-245-8368 or nvega@santa-ana.org or Supervising Investigator Eric Wiseman at 714-347-8794. Anonymous tips can also be left by calling Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

3 Men Charged With Sex Trafficking of 2 Teenage Girls in Orange County

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Three men are facing human trafficking charges and other criminal counts after allegedly victimizing two teenage girls, bringing them from Northern California to Orange County to exploit and prostitute them, the O.C. District Attorney’s Office said Friday.

The three suspects are Rafael Montano, 18; Ivan Ulises Zamora, 18; and Jonathan Deanda, 19, the DA’s office said. Both Montano and Deanda are from the NorCal city of Pittsburg while Zamora is from Oakland.

They were arrested on Monday after police were able to locate one of the two victims on a street in Santa Ana. On Thursday, they were charged with several criminal counts and two of the men could receive life sentences if convicted.

The men are accused of finding a 17-year-old girl through social media and then driving her and a 16-year-old girl from Pittsburg to Orange County to make them do sex work, according to prosecutors.

Montano allegedly grabbed the 17-year-old by the neck, strangling her and forcing her to prostitute herself when she tried to go home, prosecutors said. Deanda allegedly drove the same girl to an area of Orange County that’s known for prostitution and human trafficking.

Montano and Zamora also stand accused of “supervising” the girl “while she engaged in commercial sex,” the DA’s office said in a news release. They would then collect the money she earned, prosecutors said.

On Monday, police officers contacted that victim along a Santa Ana street. She was identified by authorities as a victim of human trafficking.

Police then found the hotel where the three suspects were staying, where they came across the second victim, a 16-year-old girl, according to prosecutors.

The three men were arrested at the scene.

Montano and Zamora each face two counts of trafficking a minor, two counts of pandering with a minor over 16 years old by procuring, pimping of a minor and attempted pimping of a minor. There has also been a sentencing enhancement of trafficking by force or fear filed by the DA’s office.

If convicted, they could be sentenced to life in state prison.

Meanwhile, Deanda faces two counts of trafficking of a minor, two counts of pandering with a minor over 16 years old by procuring, pimping of a minor and attempted pimping of a minor. If convicted, he faces up to 14 years and eight months in state prison.

No further information has been released by the DA’s office.

Man Found Fatally Shot After Reports of Possible Carjacking, Kidnapping at Santa Ana Gas Station: PD

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A 34-year-old man who may have been kidnapped or carjacked while pumping gas in Santa Ana Tuesday morning was found shot to death a few blocks away, police said.

The incident began when the victim, Hugo Sanchez Jr. of Santa Ana, went to get gas at the Shell station near the intersection of East Edinger Avenue and South Grand Avenue about 1:47 a.m., according to a Santa Ana Police Department news release.

Sanchez was seen pumping gas when he was approached by two male Hispanics, and an altercation ensued, said police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

The victim then got back into his vehicle -- a late 90s Ford pickup truck -- and drove off with the two men, Bertagna said.

It's still unclear if he got into the vehicle willingly or was forced. Police had received reports of a possible carjacking or kidnapping, and that's what prompted officers to respond to the Shell station, according to the release.

An employee at a local business told KTLA he saw the two perpetrators in another vehicle. One of them, who had a gun, got out and confronted Sanchez, who was behind the wheel in his own car, the worker said.

The employee said at some point, Sanchez ran away, during which the gunman shot him in the back.

After Sanchez dropped to the ground, the assailant went over and fired three more shots at close range before another car came and picked him and the other man up, according to the employee.

The employee said the entire incident was captured on surveillance video, but the footage has not been released.

Sanchez's body was later discovered outside his vehicle near the intersection of Grand and East Wilshire avenues, just a few blocks from the station.

He had been fatally shot at some point between the gas station and where his body was found, Bertagna said.

The two men seen getting into the truck with the victim were not found at the scene. It was unclear if they fled on foot or had their own vehicle nearby, Bertagna said.

Authorities are trying to determine a motive for the shooting and are not sure if the victim knew his attackers.

Before police released Sanchez's name, an individual who identified himself as an old friend of the victim's said he had been helping his family look for him.

The person said the family heard about the murder and was afraid Sanchez was the victim. He said he had not seen his friend for a while, but that his lasting memory of him was that he was always with his young daughter, whom he said was about 8 or 9 years old.

Detectives were reviewing surveillance video from the gas station in their search for the killers.

Grand Avenue was closed temporarily from Edinger Avenue to nearby Century High School during the investigation.

The closure was “going to be an issue” for students trying to get to school Tuesday, Bertagna said.

Drivers were asked to enter on the east side of the campus from McFadden Avenue to the north.

Anyone with information on the shooting was asked to call the Police Department at 714-245-8390 or Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Parolee Crashes Into Glass Window, Critically Injuring Himself, While Running Away From Officers in Santa Ana: Police

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A man being pursued on foot by police officers collapsed and lay bleeding in the middle of a Santa Ana street after he injured himself by running into a window on Thursday, officials said.

The 34-year-old man was wanted on suspicion of violating the terms of his parole, according to Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna. Authorities have not released his name.

The man was in a strip mall on Grand Avenue just south of the 22 Freeway, on the border of Santa Ana and Orange, when he was spotted by Orange police officers shortly before 2 p.m.

The man began running when the uniformed officers got out of an unmarked car, police said, and they began chasing him.

As the parolee ran past Buccaneer Pizza, at 2757 N. Grand Ave., he somehow collided with the window, shattering it and critically injuring himself, authorities said.

That's when Santa Ana police were called to the scene, because others in the area heard the glass break and thought it was gunshots, according to Bertagna.

After that, however, the parolee continued to flee, leaving a trail of blood behind him. He ran through a Del Taco parking lot and onto Grand Avenue, where he collapsed, officials said.

Footage from the scene showed shoes and other clothing had been discarded in the Del Taco parking lot, which was taped off as detectives combed the scene.

According to witnesses, the man appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Patrick O'Donnell, who was eating at the Del Taco, said it appeared he lost "quarts of blood" but still tried to evade police after being cut by glass shards.

"Two officers (were) behind about 3 feet, and he alone went into the street and got real dizzy and almost was collapsing," he told KTLA. "That's when they got to him and put him on the ground."

Numerous officers began rendering aid to the man, who was bleeding profusely from his torso and arm, O'Donnell said.

Keith Hodges, who was with O'Donnell, said he retrieved towels from his van at the request of an officer so they could be used to stem the bleeding.

Paramedics responded and the man was hospitalized. He remained in critical condition follow surgery Thursday but was expected to survive, officials said.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident, and no further details were available.

Police Seek Info on Woman Caught on Video Vandalizing Statues at Buddhist Temple in Santa Ana

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Officials are investigating the vandalism of several statues at a Buddhist temple in Santa Ana, and believe a woman caught on surveillance video in the incident could be someone who has previously targeted the place of worship.

Huong Tich Temple, at 4821 W. Fifth St., has suffered about $25,000 worth of damage after marble statues in its courtyard were defaced twice this month, on Aug. 5 and 9, said Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

Police have identified Trang Tau Pham, a woman previously convicted of vandalizing the same temple, as a person of interest in the case.

Trang Tau Pham, 46, is seen in a booking photo provided by the Santa Ana Police Department.

Pham has a documented record of attacking multiple Buddhist temples, according to Bertagna.

While detectives haven't confirmed that Pham is the woman with dark-colored hair seen on surveillance footage this month, Bertagna said she does have a similar appearance.

"At this point, based on the characteristics of the suspect in the video, they match those of this individual," he said. "We can't say that it's her, but she is a person of interest for us."

In both the most recent incidents, a woman was seen using some sort of instrument to damage a total of eight statues at the temple. The previous incidents were captured on security cameras as well.

In 2016, Phan was arrested and accused of stealing three statues from the Chua Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhist temple, located at 1924 W. Second St. She subsequently pleaded guilty to charges including a hate crime, malicious damage and theft, Bertagna said.

Phan was released from custody last July after serving about 1.4 years in jail, the corporal said.

Before that, she had also been sentenced for vandalizing the Huong Tich Temple by throwing bottles at the statues between Dec. 16, 2014 and Jan. 6, 2015.

Because authorities don't have a residence on record for Phan, they're seeking the public's help in locating her so that she can be interviewed.

"Obviously, this is a place where people go to worship their faith," Bertagna said. "It's an important case to us. It's important to our community. We need it to stop."

According to the corporal, Phan frequents the west end of town. Anyone with information on her whereabouts can contact Santa Ana Police at 714-245-8665.

2 People Rescued From House Fire in Santa Ana: Report

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Two people were transported to local hospitals after being rescued from a burning structure in Santa Ana on Friday night, officials said.

An image from Sky5 shows firefighters on the scene of a structure fire in Santa Ana on Aug. 17, 2018. (Credit: KTLA)

An image from Sky5 shows firefighters on the scene of a structure fire in Santa Ana on Aug. 17, 2018. (Credit: KTLA)

The fire was reported shortly before 10 p.m. in the 1000 block of North Olive Street, according to the Orange County Fire Authority. Aerial video from Sky5 showed fire personnel focusing on a house located in that neighborhood.

A fire captain said firefighters encountered flames and smoke coming from the home, the Orange County Register reported. The fire was knocked down, and both people were rescued, the Fire Authority tweeted.

One of the rescued individuals was listed in critical condition, while the second person had minor injuries, officials stated. Their identities were not released.

The structure was searched and no one else was found inside, according to another tweet.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, the newspaper reported.

18-Year-Old Killed in Stabbing at Santa Ana Outdoor Party: Police

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An 18-year-old died after police found him and another teenager stabbed on the street while responding to reports of an unsanctioned outdoor party in Santa Ana, authorities said Sunday.

The incident happened around midnight in a commercial area at the cul-de-sac of 2000 South Eastwood Ave., according to the Santa Ana Police Department. The teen killed was identified as Andrew Loera of Santa Ana.

Officers arrived at the scene as a big group of partygoers was leaving, the agency said.

Witnesses alerted police about the victims, who were found with apparent stab wounds, according to investigators.

Paramedics responded and transported the victims to a trauma center, where Loera was declared dead at 1:08 a.m. The other teenager, who has not been identified, was last listed in stable condition, the Police Department said.

A Facebook page for a little league team called OC Spartans Soccer Academy identified Loera as a past member of the team, saying he played from the time he was 11 years old until he was 14 or 15. The page requested donations that could go toward the funeral expenses Loera's family will have to pay.

Detectives have not determined a motive, the agency added.

Anyone with information can call police at 714-245-8390 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

 


‘Strangest Call of the Weekend’: Police Find Snake in Santa Ana Home; Owner Sought

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Police are trying to track down the owner of a python after the snake was found slithering inside a Santa Ana home over the weekend, spurring the “petrified” residents to call for help.

Officer Collins responded to the 900 block of South Main Street in the early morning hours of Saturday after dispatchers received a report of a python in the bathroom, Santa Ana Police Department Cpl. Anthony Bertagna told KTLA on Monday.

Collins, who has personal experience with snakes, was able to capture the serpent, much to the residents’ relief, Bertagna said.

They expressed gratitude and appreciation to the officer after he got them out of the terrifying situation, the corporal added.

Santa Ana police tweeted about the incident on Monday morning, calling it the department’s “strangest call of the weekend.”

The tweet included a tongue-in-cheek photo of the snake in handcuffs being held by Collins.

Police said they were looking for the snake’s owner, but didn’t provide additional information. It was unclear how exactly the python got into the home.

KTLA’s Jennifer Thang and Juan Flores contributed to this story. 

 

 

 

FBI Seeks Public’s Help Finding O.C. Man Kidnapped During Business Meeting in San Gabriel; $175K Reward Offered

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Federal investigators said Monday they are seeking the public's assistance in identifying the individuals involved in the disappearance of a car salesman who was abducted in broad daylight in San Gabriel more than a month ago.

Ruochen "Tony" Liao, 28, is believed to have been abducted by three men in two separate vehicles from the San Gabriel Square shopping center the evening of July 16, Gene Kowel, the assistant special agent in charge at the FBI's Los Angeles office, said in a press briefing.

Ruochen “Tony” Liao, 28, is seen in undated photos released by the FBI on Aug. 20, 2018.

Ruochen “Tony” Liao, 28, is seen in undated photos released by the FBI on Aug. 20, 2018.

Liao is a Chinese national who has lived in Santa Ana for several years after originally coming to the U.S. to attend college. He was living in the U.S. on a visa and ran a business selling high-end vehicles, Kowel said.

Family attorney Matthew Lombard said Liao was abducted during a meeting he'd arranged with business associates.

Investigators have developed several "working theories" to explain his disappearance, Kowel said. "One theory is that this could be the result of a business dealing, but it could also be a robbery."

Bystanders reported seeing him being kidnapped from the shopping center at 140 W. Valley Blvd. around 7:30 p.m. Liao was driven away by a man in a dark-colored minivan, which was accompanied by a dark SUV carrying another two men.

"We do know that some of the individuals he was involved with may not have been the most reputable," Kowel said. "However, at this point, we have not yet confirmed the motivation for this kidnapping."

A man known only as "David" who was involved in the kidnapping of a businessman in San Gabriel is seen in a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department composite sketch released by the FBI on Aug. 20, 2018.

A man known only as "David" who was involved in the kidnapping of a businessman in San Gabriel is seen in a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department composite sketch released by the FBI on Aug. 20, 2018.

Only one of the men was actually seen by a witness, who provided a description to Los Angeles County sheriff's investigators. That man has been identified as "David," Kowel said, though nothing more is known about him.

Detectives are hoping to learn more about that suspect. He's described as a Chinese man about 35 to 40 years old who is about 6 feet tall and speaks Mandarin.

David does appear to be someone Liao may have been acquainted or had some sort of relationship with, Kowel said, noting that they weren't meeting up as strangers.

Shortly after he disappeared, Liao's family in China received calls demanding $2 million in ransom. However, the initial demand was not followed up, and the caller has made no further contact in the month since, Kowel said.

Both the FBI and the victim's family are offering a reward in the case. The FBI has attached $25,000 to information that could lead to Liao's recovery, alive or deceased, while his family has put up another $150,000 for information leading to his safe return.

The two suspect vehicles involved in the abduction of a businessman in San Gabriel are seen in surveillance images released Aug. 20, 2018, by the FBI. The van on the left was believed to carry the victim and one suspect, while the SUV on the right carried two suspects.

The two suspect vehicles involved in the abduction of a businessman in San Gabriel are seen in surveillance images released Aug. 20, 2018, by the FBI. The van on the left was believed to carry the victim and one suspect, while the SUV on the right carried two suspects.

"We're negotiable with the reward that we're willing to pay for this," family attorney Lombard said. "He's a deeply loved person by his family. He's their only child, and they're very, very concerned for him."

Investigators did not publicize Liao's case before because they were working leads that media attention could have jeopardized, but now they're hoping the public can provide new information to advance the investigation, Kowel said.

"Our hope is that Tony is still alive, and we're operating under the premise that he is still alive, which is why this reward and this publicity is so crucial to the case," he said. "However, we do become concerned, as these cases progress, the chance of someone remaining alive can diminish."

Liao, 28, is described as being about 5 feet 6 inches and weighing around 140 pounds with black hair and black eyes. Detectives believe he's still in the U.S.

Anyone with information can contact the FBI's L.A. field office at 310-477-6565. Anonymous tips can be submitted via the agency's website at tips.fbi.gov.

Family Remembers ‘Loving’ 18-Year-Old Killed at Santa Ana Street Party as Investigators Search for Leads

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Family members are speaking out about the 18-year-old fatally stabbed during an unauthorized street party in Santa Ana over the weekend as police continue to search for a suspect in the case.

Andrew Loera was set to start classes at Santa Ana College this week, with the goal of eventually becoming a police officer. He had even just purchased a used car to get himself to and from school, his older sister, Arisdelssy Loera, told KTLA.

But his life was cut short around midnight on Sunday, when he and a friend were attacked at a gathering in the cul-de-sac at 2000 South Eastwood Avenue. The street party, held in an industrial area, was organized on social media, his sister said.

Andrew Loera, at center-right in cap and gown, stands with his family, including sister Arisdelssy to his left, in an undated photo posted to a GoFundMe page.

Andrew Loera, at center-right in cap and gown, stands with his family, including sister Arisdelssy to his left, in an undated photo posted to a GoFundMe page.

Arisdelssy said she was told there was some sort of argument, "which led to (Andrew) and his friend being stabbed by a group of 10 or more people."

Police have not released information on what led up to the violence. As officers arrived at the unsanctioned event that night, fleeing partygoers notified them that there were injured teens at the end of the cul-de-sac.

Both Andrew and his friend were taken to the hospital. Andrew died there, while his friend has since been released.

Arisdelssy said dealing with his death has been "really hard, because I never imagined this happening. I never imagined my world where he wouldn't be there."

She described her younger brother as a big teddy bear. "He was loving, he was caring," she said.

On a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for his memorial costs, Arisdelssy wrote that he was also a "great athlete and student with great aspirations for his future."

In addition to Arisdelssy, Andrew leaves behind his mother, a little brother and a little sister, the latter of whom he was like a father figure to.

"I left to Santa Cruz a couple years ago to go to school, and he took on the parent role for my little sister," Arisdelssy told KTLA. "He made sure she got to bed on time, and he was pretty responsible."

Investigators have been scouring industrial complex where the party occurred for clues that could lead them to Andrew's killer, but a suspect has yet to be identified in the case.

Anyone with information can contact Santa Ana homicide detectives at 714-245-8390. Anonymous tips may be submitted via O.C. Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.

Golden State Killer Trial Will Be Held in Sacramento; Suspect Faces 13 New Charges

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Suspected Golden State Killer Joseph James DeAngelo will be tried on multiple murder counts in a single trial in Sacramento, California, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Authorities say DeAngelo, 72, committed a series of killings, rapes and other crimes over 11 years, from 1975 to 1986, in Northern and Southern California. Law enforcement officials nicknamed the perpetrator the Golden State Killer, who was also known as the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker.

Prosecutors in six counties filed an amended felony complaint in Sacramento Superior Court that combined the previous cases against DeAngelo in those counties. Those charges include 13 counts of murder with special circumstances, including murder committed during the course of a burglary and rape, prosecutors said.

The amended complaint also includes 13 new charges of kidnapping to commit robbery, with sentencing enhancements for using a firearm and a knife during those alleged crimes, authorities said.

"We are unified, and we are committed to delivering justice to the victims of the Golden State Killer and their loved ones, who for far too long have had justice elude them," Ventura County District Attorney Gregory Totten told reporters.

Totten said the amended complaint "reflects the sheer criminal breadth, the geographic scope and the generational impact of this very significant case."

Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley said consolidating all cases would provide a better opportunity for a speedy trial.

"Criminal justice doesn't feel just to those who have waited decades for justice," Dudley said.

DeAngelo's attorney, public defender Diane Howard, could not be reached on Tuesday.

Howard said on Monday she was concerned about her client getting a fair trial.

"I just want to make sure that my client is tried where he can get a fair trial," she said.

The defense could seek a venue change.

Usually cases are tried where alleged crimes occur, said Frank Ochoa, a former superior court judge in Santa Barbara County.

"The defense would have to make a strong showing," Ochoa said. "The defense could make a motion for a change of venue arguing that the defendant cannot get a fair trial in any of the jurisdictions (where the alleged offenses occurred) due to too much publicity."

DeAngelo is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday.

The former police officer, Vietnam veteran and mechanic was a reclusive neighbor in Citrus Heights, a town about 16 miles northeast of Sacramento, residents said.

Decades after the killings terrified communities throughout California, authorities tracked down DeAngelo using data from a genealogy website where people submit their DNA results in hopes of tracking down relatives and ancestors.

DNA from a crime scene was matched to genetic material from a relative who was registered on genealogy sites, and authorities later obtained a discarded sample of DeAngelo's DNA, leading to his arrest in April.

DeAngelo is being kept in isolation in the Sacramento County Jail. Authorities are concerned he could be a target because he is accused of committing rape and murder, according to Sacramento County Sheriff Department Sgt. Shaun Hampton.

"It's just like we had to protect Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. He was here. Because of his notoriety, all the people he hurt and killed, we had to keep him in a cell by himself," Hampton said.

Woman in Custody as Officials Investigate Vandalism at Buddhist Temples in O.C.

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A woman previously convicted for vandalizing Buddhist temples in Orange County was again taken into custody after similar recent incidents in Santa Ana and Garden Grove, officials announced Wednesday.

Police suspected Trang Tau Pham as the person behind a string of vandalism incidents that resulted in about $25,000 in damages at Santa Ana's Huong Tich Temple in August.

Officers took her into custody after multiple statues at the temple were targeted as recently as Tuesday, O.C. officials announced at a news conference.

Pham was released in July after serving nearly a year and a half in jail, Santa Ana Police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna previously said. She pleaded guilty to charges including hate crime after taking three statues from the Chua Truc Lam Yen Tu Buddhist temple, according to authorities.

Before that, Pham was sentenced for vandalism after throwing bottles at statues in the Huong Tich Temple between December 2014 and January 2015, according to authorities.

The woman received treatment at a state hospital for about six months after being deemed mentally incompetent to stand trial in a prior case, according to O.C. District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.

Although Pham was already in custody, investigators believed that there could be other culprits targeting places of worship in the area and were investigating the incidents as possible hate crime.

Donation boxes and flowers were taken in some of the temples, said Andrew Do, chairman of the O.C. Board of Supervisors.

Officials urged the public to report all cases of vandalism, no matter how small.

Rackauckas called the incidents an "attack to our core values."

"We don’t take those concerns lightly," Do said.

 

 

Police Fatally Shoot Suspect Wanted in Connection With Killing That Followed Possible Kidnapping at Santa Ana Gas Station

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Santa Ana police identified a suspect in a bizarre killing that followed a possible kidnapping or carjacking at a gas station earlier this month, but once officers located the suspect on Thursday an incident occurred, and they shot and killed him, officials said.

Police have not released the name of the fatally shot suspect, but Cpl. Anthony Bertagna said the Orange County District Attorney's Office issued a warrant for his arrest on suspicion of murder after the case was presented to prosecutors Thursday.

The man was accused of killing 34-year-old father Hugo Sanchez Jr., who was shot dead a few blocks away from the Shell station on Edinger Avenue on Aug. 14.

Investigators previously said Sanchez may have been carjacked or kidnapped by two men while pumping gas in the early morning hours.

Sanchez was involved in an altercation with the two Hispanic men, who had approached him, before getting into his late 90s Ford pickup with them and driving away. At the time, police were unsure whether Sanchez had drove away with them willingly, and they did not provide an update on that part of the investigation Thursday.

A witness told KTLA he saw one of the men shoot Sanchez in the back as he was running away, before firing three more rounds from a close range. Another car then came to pick up the two assailants, the bystander said.

Sanchez's body was found outside his truck near the intersection of Grand and East Wilshire avenues.

"Our homicide detectives got the case, they've been working the case ever since," Bertagna said. "Based on their investigation, including evidence such as video, they were able to identify the main suspect as well as another in this case, as well as a vehicle."

On Thursday, detectives' search for the main homicide suspect led them to a car wash near the corner of First Street at Cypress Avenue, where the vehicle involved was spotted.

There were two men in the car, which was sitting in the business' parking lot, Bertagna said.

Officials are still investigating what led up to the fatal use of force. Bertagna could only confirm that "something occurred" after police made contact that led at least one officer to open fire.

One of the men was struck — the one wanted on a murder warrant — and he died after being transported to the hospital, Bertagna said.

The second man was not injured. Police took him into custody and are interviewing him to determine whether he was possibly also involved in Sanchez's killing.

Several people at the car wash witnessed the incident and will also be interviewed, police said.

The vehicle they were in was impounded and will be processed as evidence.

Despite fatally shooting the main suspect, officers were still able to make an arrest in the case on Thursday, Bertagna said.

A warrant had also been issued for a second suspect, who was arrested in connection with Sanchez's death at a separate location, the corporal said.

Officials declined to release further details about the location and time of the arrest, and did not confirm what charges the second suspect was arrested on suspicion of.

75-Year-Old Man Accused of Molesting Developmentally Delayed 10-Year-Old in Santa Ana; Additional Victims Sought

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Francisco Ramirez, 75, is seen in a booking photo released Aug. 24, 2018, by the Santa Ana Police Department.

Francisco Ramirez, 75, is seen in a booking photo released Aug. 24, 2018, by the Santa Ana Police Department.

Investigators are asking any additional victims to come forward after a 75-year-old Santa Ana man who was arrested on suspicion of repeatedly sexually molesting a developmentally delayed minor indicated he may have abused others, police said Friday.

Francisco Ramirez allegedly abused a 10-year-old girl on multiple occasions last month at Jerome Park on McFadden Avenue, Santa Ana police said in a press release.

Ramirez volunteers across the street from the park at the Southwest Senior Center, officials said.

The girl was at the park with her parents when she became separated from them and wandered into the senior center garden, where Ramirez is accused of molesting her.

Other children were at the center and witnessed the abuse, then immediately notified the victim’s parents, according to police.

But by the time officials responded, Ramirez had left the area, and a suspect was not immediately identified, authorities said.

After detectives identified him as a suspect, Ramirez confessed to molesting the girl and also indicated he may have victimized other children, the Police Department said.

The suspect was being held on $1 million bail at the Orange County Jail.

Anyone with information on the case can contact Detective Nick Vega at 714-245-8368 or nvega@santa-ana.org. Anonymous tips may be submitted via O.C. Crime Stoppers at 855-847-6227.


O.C. Officials Erect Fencing Along County Waterways to Deter Homeless Encampments

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Orange County residents have mixed reactions to the installment of new metal barriers erected along flood channels aimed at restricting homeless encampments in areas such as Santiago Creek. Kareen Wynter reports for the KTLA 5 News at 1 on Aug. 30, 2018.

Man Arrested After Alleged Sexual Abuse of Minors in Santa Ana, Costa Mesa

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A man accused of sexually abusing multiple children over several years in Orange County was arrested Thursday, officials announced.

Javier Ortiz Pichardo was booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of child abuse, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

Pichardo, 45, according to O.C. Sheriff’s Department records, allegedly started molesting minors in 1999 while working as a cook at a Santa Ana restaurant called New China.

Investigators believed his first victim was a 7-year-old dining with a family.

Pichardo molested the child in the bathroom, then subsequently befriended the family and offered them food for free, according to detectives. At some point, he was allowed to pick up the victim from school, police said. The abuse continued for seven years until the family lost contact with the man, authorities added.

Police said they started looking into the case when the now 26-year-old victim saw Pichardo at a McDonald’s, took down his license plate number and called the authorities.

Detectives learned that Pichardo had been a suspect in a 2002 child annoyance case in Costa Mesa and a 2012 child molestation incident in Santa Ana.

“Neither case could be proven, so Pichardo was never arrested in these cases,” Santa Ana police said in a statement.

When officers arrested Pichardo on Thursday, they determined that he had been molesting a family member for nearly a decade, according to investigators.

He confessed to molesting the 26-year-old and the family member, police said. Authorities were revisiting the 2002 and 2012 cases.

Pichardo was being held on $1,000,000 bail.

Anyone with information could contact Detective Jessica Guidry at 714-245-8530, jguidry@santa-ana.org or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

Santa Ana Police Arrest Shoplifting Suspect Caught on Video Charging at Store Employees

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A shoplifting suspect caught on video charging at grocery store employees in a Santa Ana parking lot has been arrested, officials said Thursday.

Jose Oscar Prado, 32, was booked into jail on Wednesday and was being held on $50,000 bail, Orange County Sheriff's Department records showed.

At around 4 p.m. on June 17, Prado allegedly walked out of the Stater Bros. on 2603 W. 17th Street with a carton of items he did not pay for.

When he started placing the items into his truck, a woman got out of the vehicle and blocked employees who tried to retrieve the merchandise, according to the Santa Ana Police Department.

The agency said Prado "immediately charged at them and pinned one employee against a car."

Video of the encounter shows a bystander approach Prado and knock him to the ground.

The suspect and the woman eventually got into the truck and fled with the items, police said.

Authorities were searching for the bystander who struck Prado as a possible witness, according to officials.

KTLA's Nidia Becerra contributed to this story.

Santa Ana K-9 Helped Locate Guns, Ammunition at Convicted Felon’s Home: Police

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Santa Ana police on Saturday credited a K-9 with helping detectives discover and confiscate numerous guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition during a search of a convicted felon’s home.

Gang detectives seized eight firearms, more than 10,000 rounds of ammunition and body armor while conducting an investigation at the residence on Friday night, according to a tweet from the Santa Ana Police Department.

Officials credited K-9 Aslan with assisting in the discovery, noting the police dog helped them find some additional firearms and ammo.

The 4-year-old dog is trained in firearm detection, according to the tweet.

Police did not identify the convicted felon, saying only that the case will be sent to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for review.

No other information was immediately released about the incident.

Inmates Turn Unwanted Pets Into Service Animals With Help From O.C. Group

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Janette Thomas is all about second chances.

Nobody, in her view, is beyond redemption, including convicted criminals.

That’s why Thomas founded Cell Dogs, an Orange County group that rescues dogs from local shelters and pairs them with inmates who train them for adoption.

“The mission of our group is second chances for shelter dogs and people who have made poor choices in their lives,” said Thomas, 63, of Tustin.

Read the full story on LATimes.com.

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