Tag: Southern California OC News

Innovative Thinking Hopes to Reduce Recidivism for Orange County’s Incarcerated Youth

Changes aimed at teaching skills and fostering leadership are underway at the Orange County Juvenile Hall to help youth with longer sentences, after a new California bill passed in 2021 increasing their time in such facilities to the age of 25. Previously, youth could only remain at such facilities until the age of 18 or…


2 Men Killed in San Juan Capistrano Crash

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.—Two men were killed and a third person was hospitalized in critical condition when the car they were in hit a tree in San Juan Capistrano. The driver—21-year-old Riley Hans Sullivan from the unincorporated community of Preston in Sonoma County—and a passenger, 19-year-old Rex Aziz Devenny of San Juan Capistrano, were killed…


California Man Gets 2 Years for Police Chase With 6-Year-Old Girl in Car

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 31-year-old man has been sentenced to two years in prison for leading police on a drug-fueled chase with a 6-year-old girl in the backseat of his vehicle, according to court records obtained Jan. 30. Police attempted to pull Kevin Gregory Ruff over Jan. 13 for a traffic violation, but he kept going,…


Man Gets 90 Days for Attacking Dog in Irvine

SANTA ANA, Calif.—A 36-year-old man was sentenced to 90 days in jail for breaking the neck of a Chihuahua who bit his finger while he was dog sitting, according to court records obtained Jan. 30. Mohammadreza Shojaei was also placed on one year of formal probation on Friday, according to court records. He was convicted…


Santa Ana Officials Say Police Union President Launches Recalls in Retaliation to Labor Agreement

Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem Jessie Lopez and Councilmember Thai Viet Phan were joined by local officials Jan. 30 on the steps of City Hall, saying they are being targeted by recalls launched by the city’s police union president. According to public filings with the state, initial paperwork for the establishment of recall committees have…


Anaheim Man Found Dead on Street Identified; Police Investigating

ANAHEIM, Calif.—Police Jan. 29 sought the public’s assistance with any information regarding the death of a 31-year-old man who was found unresponsive in the middle of a street in Anaheim. Paramedics rushed Rolando Delgadillo Gutierrez to a hospital, where the Anaheim resident was pronounced dead, said Anaheim Police Department Sgt. Jon McClintock. “Homicide detectives are…


Hundreds Mourn Orange County Public Defender’s Mysterious Death

Hundreds gathered around Plaza Square Park in Orange, California, on Jan. 26, to mourn friend, husband, and Deputy Public Defender Elliot Blair, who was found dead in Mexico while celebrating his first wedding anniversary Jan. 14. The glowing sticks in their hands gently illuminated the darkness in blue—one of Blair’s favorite colors—as if reminiscing about…


Man Killed By Hit-And-Run Vehicle in Laguna Beach Identified

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.—The name of a 39-year-old man who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run vehicle in Laguna Beach was released Sunday by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Officers were dispatched at about 2:50 a.m. Saturday to the 700 block of South Coast Highway located Xueyuan Zhang in the roadway, outside the crosswalk, the…


Man Killed in Laguna Beach Crash on South Coast Highway

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif.—A man was struck and killed Jan. 28 morning by a hit-and-run vehicle in Laguna Beach, authorities said. Officers were dispatched at about 2:50 a.m. Saturday to the 700 block of South Coast Highway located the man in the roadway, outside the crosswalk, the Laguna Beach Police Department reported. Paramedics pronounced him dead…


Orange County Authorities Seize Over 44,000 ‘Rainbow’ Fentanyl Pills in 2 Recent Incidents

Orange County Sheriff’s officials announced Jan. 26 that “rainbow” fentanyl was found for the first time in the department’s jurisdiction. Deputies confiscated 14,000 multi-colored fentanyl pills along with 2 kilograms of it in powder form and 10 pounds of methamphetamine from two locations in north Orange County, authorities said. The bust marks the first time,…