LAGUNA HILLS, Calif. (May 9, 2026) the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Saturday, May. 11, 2026 in the City of Stanton looking specifically for violations made by drivers and motorcycle riders. 

The top primary crash factors for motorcycles are unsafe speed, improper turning, right-of-way violations, driving under the influence and unsafe lane changes. Speeding is the most common factor, accounting for nearly a third of all crashes in the state.

To help protect you and your family, keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

• Always check twice for motorcycles in your mirrors and blind spots.
• Use your signal when changing lanes.
• Never follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance.
• When at an intersection, allow enough space before turning.

Motorcyclists

• Always wear a DOT compliant helmet and protective gear.
• Consider adding reflective tape to make it easier for other drivers to see you.
• Always keep your lights on, even during the day.
• Don’t assume drivers see you: signal well in advance before changing lanes and watch for turning vehicles.
• Although lane splitting is legal, the practice is not encouraged at high speeds in free-flowing traffic.

In accordance with Assembly Bill 481, the Orange County Sheriff's Department will hold a community meeting on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. in the County Administration Building South’s Conference Center located at 601 N. Ross St., Santa Ana, CA 92701. 

The community will have an opportunity to gather information about AB 481 and ask questions of Sheriff’s Department personnel. For additional information about AB 481, please visit: https://ocsheriff.gov/about-ocsheriff/policies/ab-481?fbclid=IwY2xjawJzYCZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHp98gT58JEu-Elv0uLB9XWsogMaUkkLYrkaOpeeXIzHnyPHopiIoMbPGZ8BT_aem_JVyYEh8xIaoKGBEP7Q0U1g   

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (April 24, 2026): On Friday, April 24, 2026, a deputy-involved shooting occurred on a residential street in Lake Forest.

On Friday, April 24, 2026, around 2:30 a.m., deputies responded to a call regarding a disturbance near Antonio Parkway and Cow Camp Road in Rancho Mission Viejo. The caller stated that his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend, a male in his 20s, was at the residence causing a disturbance. When the informant opened the door, he saw the suspect reach for his waistband. The informant closed the door, and the suspect left the area before deputies arrived. The informant reviewed home security footage and saw the suspect in possession of a handgun. Neither the informant nor the girlfriend was injured at this time.

At around 3:45 a.m., deputies located the suspect in a vehicle at Rimgate Park in the city of Lake Forest. When deputies attempted to contact the suspect, he drove away. Deputies followed him a short distance before he stopped his vehicle and ran toward deputies. A deputy-involved shooting occurred. A large knife and a handgun were recovered at the scene. 

The suspect was struck multiple times. Deputies provided medical aid at the scene. The Orange County Fire Authority arrived and continued medical aid before transporting him to the hospital where he remains in critical condition. 

Per protocol, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office will handle the investigation of the deputy-involved shooting. Relevant audio and video from the incident will be released in accordance with the law and in consultation with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Seat Belt Safety Campaign Runs Through Memorial Day

SANTA ANA, Calif. (May. 11, 2026) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reminds travelers to always buckle up and secure children in the right car seats when visiting friends and family. 

This year’s Click It or Ticket campaign runs from May 18 to 31. During this time, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have additional officers on patrol actively looking for drivers and passengers who are not wearing seat belts. This includes vehicles in which children are not secured in child safety seats or the appropriate safety seats for their age.

“Our priority is protecting the people in our community. Wearing a seat belt or properly securing children in car seats or a booster seat gives everyone a better chance of surviving a crash,”Traffic Bureau Sergeant Kyle Ishii said. “We want every trip – short or long – to end safely, so please buckle up, every time.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2023, 10,484 people killed in crashes in the U.S. were not wearing a seat belt. In California, there were 780 unrestrained people killed in crashes that same year, including 24 children. Additionally, unrestrained child fatalities in California increased by 4.3 percent from 2022 to 2023.

California law requires all children under 2 years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat, unless the child is 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall. Once a child reaches these milestones, all children under the age of 8 years are still required to be secured in a car seat or booster seat. Children under the age of 8 may not ride in the front seat unless the vehicle is not equipped with a rear, forward-facing seat. Children 8 and older, or who are at least 4 feet 9 inches tall, may be secured by a booster seat, but at a minimum must be wearing a properly fitted safety belt.

Parents and caregivers are encouraged to keep children in the proper rear or forward-facing seat as long as possible and use the “Five-Step Test” to determine if their child is big enough to safely use a seat belt without a booster seat.

The Orange County Health Care Agency car seat safety program offers free inspections and help to install your car seat. For more information about the car seat safety program, contact OC Health at CarSeatProgram@ochca.com or visit their website OC Health.  A resource guide is available to locate your nearest Child Passenger Safety (CPS) Technician, some of which offer low-cost or no cost car seats.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

SANTA ANA, Calif. (May. 01, 2026) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is reminding drivers to always look twice for motorcycles. With the arrival of warmer weather, more motorcycles are taking to the roads, making it essential for everyone to stay alert to help reduce crashes and save lives. 

“Motorcyclists are out in greater numbers as the weather warms, and we’re reminding everyone to share the road, Traffic Bureau Sergeant Kyle Ishii said. “Most crashes involving motorcycles happen when drivers simply don’t see them. Taking a few extra seconds to look twice can prevent a tragedy.”

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 6,335 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2023, representing 15 percent of total highway fatalities for that year. In California, 583 motorcyclists were killed in 2023.

Throughout the month, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra deputies on patrol for enforcement related to motorcycle safety.

To help protect you and your family, keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

• Always check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.

• Do not follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance.

• If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful. Be sure that the rider is turning before moving ahead.

Motorcyclists

• Always wear a U.S. DOT-compliant helmet with eye protection.

• Wear leather or other sturdy clothing such as a jacket, pants, boots with nonskid soles and gloves. Add reflective strips or decals to your clothing and motorcycle to make it easier for other drivers to see you.

• Ride defensively. Don’t assume a driver can see you. Avoid riding in a driver’s blind spot. 

• Always keep your lights on, even during the day.

Lastly, both drivers and riders should never drive/ride distracted or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (May. 01, 2026) – From children riding to school to older adults staying active and healthy, bicycling is both a pastime and a mode of transportation for thousands of Californians. May is National Bicycle Safety Month and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department is urging everyone to be alert to keep bicyclists safe.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,166 people killed while riding a bike on U.S. roads in 2023, and an estimated 49,489 bicyclists were injured. In California, there were 145 bicyclists killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2023.

“It is important that we keep our bicyclists safe, as they do not have the same protections as drivers and passengers,” said Traffic Bureau Sergeant Kyle Ishii. “People of all ages use bicycles to commute to school, work, and other activities. Bicyclists, like all road users, have the right to safe streets. We encourage drivers and bicyclists to look out for one another and practice safe habits so we may all go safely.”

To help keep people biking or walking safe, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct traffic safety operations throughout the month focused on driver behaviors that put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk, such as speeding, making illegal turns, failure to yield right of way and stop sign/red light running.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department suggests the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers: 

Drivers

• Slow down and follow the speed limit. Be careful traveling through intersections.

• Look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn or opening a car door near streets or bike paths.

• Be patient when traveling behind a bicyclist and give them space when passing. California law requires drivers to change a lane, when possible, to pass bicyclists and always pass with at least 3 feet of space. 

• Never drive distracted or impaired.

Bike Riders

• Use lights at night.

• Although not required for riders 18 and older, always wear a properly secured helmet. Helmets significantly reduce the chance of a head injury in the event of a crash.

• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

• Yield to pedestrians, just as a driver would. Pedestrians have the right-of-way within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections. 

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (April 16, 2026): On Thursday, April 16, 2026, shortly before 4 p.m., deputies were called to the area of Toledo Way and Ridge Route Drive for a pedestrian struck by an e-bike. 

When the deputies arrived, they located an 81-year-old victim with life-threatening injuries.  He was transported to the hospital and is currently in critical condition.

The suspect fled the area, and the “e-bike” was determined to be an electric motorcycle designed for off-highway use.  Witnesses were able to give a description of the suspect, who was suspected of driving recklessly at the time of the crash.  The suspect was quickly identified, and a search warrant was served at a nearby residence in the city of Lake Forest.  A 14-year-old male was subsequently arrested and booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall for charges related to the incident.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team is investigating the traffic collision. 

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at ocsheriff.gov/occrimestoppers.

SANTA ANA, Calif. (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. Per PC 851.93(d)(2) his charges will not be listed. 

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.  

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif. April 22, 2026 – On April 24, 2026, the Orange County Sheriff’s will conduct an enforcement operation focused on drivers suspected of violating the hands-free cell phone law.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

“A driver’s focus should be on the road, not their phone,” Sergeant K. Ishii said. “That text, phone call, email or social media post is not worth the risk to yourself and other people on the road.” 

If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. April 15, 2026 – On April 17, 2026, the Orange County Sheriff’s will conduct an enforcement operation focused on drivers suspected of violating the hands-free cell phone law.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or electronic communications device while operating a vehicle. This includes talking, texting, or using an app. Using a handheld cell phone while driving is punishable by a fine. Violating the hands-free law for a second time within 36 months of a prior conviction for the same offense will result in a point being added to a driver’s record.

“A driver’s focus should be on the road, not their phone,” Sergeant K. Ishii said. “That text, phone call, email or social media post is not worth the risk to yourself and other people on the road.” 

If you have an important phone call or need to program directions, pull over to a safe parking spot. Before driving, either silence your phone or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.