On Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, an inmate who was housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died at OC Global Medical Center in Santa Ana. The inmate, Juan Vasquez Pulido, 38, no known residence, was booked into jail on Feb. 5, 2025, by the Anaheim Police Department for drug related offenses. The same day, Pulido was the victim of an assault by another inmate while on the booking loop of the Intake Release Center. On Feb. 21, Pulido died while at the hospital. The decedent's manner and means of death are awaiting final determination by the Orange County Coroner.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 21, 2025) – On Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, an inmate who was housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died at a local hospital.
The inmate, Juan Vasquez Pulido, 38, no known residence, was booked into jail on Feb. 5, 2025, by the Anaheim Police Department for drug related offenses. The same day, Pulido was the victim of an assault by another inmate, Irving Josue Morales, 23, while on the booking loop of the Intake Release Center.
The assault occurred in a holding cell while both inmates were waiting to be housed. Deputies located Pulido unconscious in the holding cell and provided medical aid before he was transported to the hospital by paramedics. At the hospital, Pulido was placed into a medically-induced coma. On Feb. 21, Pulido died while at the hospital.
Initially, Morales was charged with CPC 664/187 – Attempted Murder. However, as a result of Pulido’s death, additional charges for Morales may be considered by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
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.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 20, 2025): Orange County Sheriff’s investigators are seeking information after uncovering new leads in the homicide of Maritza Glean Grimmett.
Maritza, long-referred to as Jane Doe, was positively identified in March 2024, reinvigorating investigative efforts to solve her decades-old homicide.
Investigators have identified two persons of interest in the case: Maritza’s ex-husband, Howard Grimmett, and his current wife, Isabel “Terry” Cruz-Grimmett. They are also seeking additional information from the public that may help solve Maritza’s murder. Maritza’s remains were discovered in April 1983 in a culvert in the area of Canada and Old Trabuco roads in what is now the city of Lake Forest.
Investigators shared multiple forensic renderings over the years and also worked with private and federal partners in an attempt to identify Maritza. Despite years of investigative genealogy, media outreach and social media posts, she remained unidentified for more than 40 years.
Investigators were able to establish a distant genetic relative who in November 2023 suggested posting Maritza’s forensic rendering to a Facebook group dedicated to identifying missing women from the 1970s and 1980s.
A month later, a woman contacted investigators saying she believed the photographs could be her missing mother. In March 2024, investigators positively identified Maritza and began piecing together her story.
They learned that Maritza, a Panamanian native, married US Marine Howard Grimmett in the summer of 1978 and gave birth to a daughter. In late 1978, the family moved to the United States and lived in Columbus, Ohio then in Millington, Tenn.
In July 1979, the couple began divorce proceedings and Howard later married Isabel “Terry” Cruz. Howard Grimmett subsequently moved to California, leaving Maritza in Tennessee. Maritza told her sister she was going to California and her family never heard from her again.
Investigators are actively investigating Maritza’s homicide and are interested in any details that might help establish how and when Maritza arrived in California. They also are interested in speaking with former military service members who may have seen Maritza at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station between late 1979 and April 1983.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to email the cold case homicide team at 714-647-7055 or coldcase@ocsheriff.gov. Anonymous tips may be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org. To read more about Maritza’s story visit the OC Sheriff’s Cold Case Website at ocsheriff.gov/coldcases.
SAN CLEMENTE, Ca. (Feb. 11, 2025): Captain Justin Chevalier has been selected as the new Chief of San Clemente Police Services, assuming command on Friday, Feb. 7.
“I am humbled and honored to step into this role and continue serving the San Clemente community with dedication and professionalism,” Captain Chevalier said. “My goal is to strengthen public safety, foster community partnerships, and ensure that our city remains a safe and welcoming place for all.”
Captain Chevalier brings nearly two decades of law enforcement experience with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, having served in diverse assignments across custody operations, court operations, patrol, and investigations. His career began with patrol in San Clemente, where he developed a deep understanding of the city's unique public safety needs. He later served on the South Gang Enforcement Team, focusing on gang suppression through strategic enforcement, intelligence gathering, and proactive community engagement.
In 2017, Captain Chevalier promoted to investigator within the Special Investigations Bureau – Special Operations Unit, where he led complex investigations in collaboration with local, state, and federal agencies. His leadership continued as a sergeant in multiple assignments, including Custody Operations, Yorba Linda Police Services, and the Special Investigations Bureau, where he managed cutting-edge technology-based investigations and oversaw critical law enforcement programs.
Most recently, Captain Chevalier served as Watch Commander at the James Musick Facility, overseeing daily operations, leading teams of sergeants and deputies, and managing facility logistics. His breadth of experience, combined with his leadership and strategic planning skills, makes him well-suited to lead San Clemente Police Services.
Captain Chevalier holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Phoenix. He has earned numerous law enforcement certifications, including homicide and narcotics investigations and incident command systems.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Captain Chevalier enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, working out, and supporting his children in their sports and activities.
On Sunday, February 9, 2025, an Orange County Jail inmate housed in the Correctional Medical Services wing of a local hospital died while inside custody. The decedent, a 72-year-old Asian male was in-custody for CPC 664/187 – Attempted murder, CPC 451(a) – Arson causing great bodily injury, CPC 451(b) – Arson to inhabited structure/dwelling, and CPC 451(a)(1) – Aggravated arson with a prior. The decedent's manner and means of death are awaiting final determination by the Orange County Coroner.
ORANGE, Ca. (Feb. 10, 2025) – On Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, an inmate housed in the Correctional Medical Services wing of a local hospital died.
The 72-year-old inmate was booked into jail on Mar. 9, 2019, by the Westminster Police Department for CPC 664/187 – Attempted murder, CPC 451(a) – Arson causing great bodily injury, CPC 451(b) – Arson to inhabited structure/dwelling, and CPC 451(a)(1) – Aggravated arson with a prior. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Orange County Coroner’s Division.
On Sept. 9, 2022, it was determined the inmate needed to be transported to the hospital for further medical treatment where he remained hospitalized until Feb. 9. On Feb. 9, at approximately 9:17 a.m., he was pronounced deceased. Preliminarily, there are no suspicious circumstances. A final cause of death will be determined following an independent autopsy and toxicology.
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.
On Saturday, February 1, 2025, an Orange County Jail inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Module J died while inside custody. The decedent, 44-year-old Christopher Joseph Donnelly of Anaheim, was a white male in-custody for a probation violation. The decedent's manner and means of death are awaiting final determination by the Orange County Coroner.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 1, 2025) – On Saturday, February 1, 2025, an inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died in jail.
The 44-year-old inmate was booked into jail on July 9, 2024, by the Newport Beach Police Department for driving under the influence and a probation violation. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Orange County Coroner’s Division.
On the morning of February 1, 2025, the inmate was found unresponsive in his cell at the Intake Release Center in Module J. Deputies and correctional medical staff attempted life-saving measures, along with responding members of the Orange County Fire Authority. He was pronounced deceased at the Intake Release Center at approximately 8:54 a.m. Preliminarily, there are no suspicious circumstances. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology testing 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.
DANA POINT, Calif. (Feb. 1, 2025) On Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at about 6:15 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a traffic collision involving two vehicles at the intersection of Golden Lantern and Stonehill Drive in Dana Point. Deputies arrived and discovered a Land Rover SUV and a Ford Transit van had been involved in a head-on collision.
Based on preliminary investigation, the Land Rover was traveling westbound on Stonehill Drive and turned left against a red arrow signal in front of the Ford Transit van traveling eastbound on Stonehill Drive.
The driver of the Transit van was transported to a local area hospital where he was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. A passenger of the Transit van, Melvin Joseph Weibel, 88, of Dana Point, succumbed to his injuries sustained in the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Land Rover, Serene Francie Rosenberg, 48, of Dana Point, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence with three prior convictions and booked into the Orange County Jail for CPC 187(a) – Murder, and CVC 23153(a) – DUI Causing Injury.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating the collision. If anyone has additional details that may assist investigators, or witnessed this traffic collision, they are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Bureau at 949-425-1860. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (Jan. 27, 2025): Please see the statement below from Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes regarding federal immigration enforcement.
“As the debate about immigration and local law enforcement’s role has increased with the new presidential administration, I have been asked by members of the media and the community to clarify the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s role in immigration enforcement and whether our current practices will change.
“Securing the border and enforcing immigration law are important responsibilities of the federal government. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department does not enforce federal immigration law. It is not part of our primary mission, and we remain focused on violations of state and local laws.
“The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will provide for your safety and respond to your calls for service regardless of your immigration status. We do not, and never will, ask the immigration status of victims, witnesses, suspects or those who call to report crimes. We enforce state and local laws equally, without bias, and without concern for your citizenship. That has not and will not change.
“The crisis at our southern border has put our nation at risk. I have been a strong advocate for changes in policy and increased federal resources to address this threat. As the federal government fulfills this responsibility, it is important that local peace officers remain focused on the enforcement of state and local law.
“California state law hinders our ability to fully communicate with federal law enforcement partners on shared threats posed by criminal offenders who are in violation of immigration law. Sheriffs are limited under California Senate Bill 54 to only communicate with ICE regarding the release of criminal offenders from our custody facilities under very limited circumstances. I have chosen to cooperate with ICE to the fullest extent provided by the law in order to prevent serious offenders from returning to the communities they have preyed upon.
“You are safe to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department when you need help. We will remain vigilant in protecting our communities and providing public safety services for all residents of Orange County.”
