Lake Forest, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2025): On Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, a deputy-involved shooting occurred in a commercial parking lot in Lake Forest.

On Thursday, August 7, 2025, deputies were notified of an incident involving the suspect, Ethan Chase Mull, 34, who was involved in a domestic violence incident. The incident was a domestic incident between Mull and a family member that occurred the prior day, August 6. Deputies also found that Mull had felony warrants for his arrest. These warrants included charges for theft, weapons, and narcotics-related offenses. 

At around 3 p.m., deputies located the suspect at a retail store in the area of El Toro Road and Trabuco Road in Lake Forest. When Mull exited the store, deputies attempted to detain him. Mull pointed a loaded handgun at deputies, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred involving one deputy.

Mull was struck and provided medical aid at the scene. He was transported to a local area hospital by the Orange County Fire Authority.

During the incident, a deputy was bitten by a police K9. The deputy received treatment and was released from the hospital. No other deputies were injured.

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.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (Aug 8, 2024): On Sunday, Aug 10, 2024, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will visit The San Clemente "Music Fiesta" to educate Festival goers on the importance of monitoring how much they drink and to “know your limit.” The “Know Your Limit” campaign will be from 11:00am to 9:00pm at the the San Clemente "Music Fiesta" specifically focusing near beer gardens, food and alcohol vendors, and craft beer events.

The “Know Your Limit” program is intended to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving, and how little it takes to reach the legal limit to drive a vehicle. It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08% or higher.

 The “Know Your Limit” program raises awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving and is an interactive way to show how much, or little, it can take to reach the legal limit to operate a vehicle. Officers will ask customers how many drinks they have consumed and whether they believe they are still able to drive safely. Officers will then invite volunteers to take a breathalyzer test to see if they are able to guess their blood alcohol content (BAC). Customers are provided information on alcohol intake and average BAC levels.

It is illegal for anyone 21 or older to drive with a BAC of .08% or higher.

According to the California Driver Handbook, it takes two drinks consumed within one hour by a woman between 120-160 pounds and three drinks by a man between 180-220 pounds to be over the legal limit of .08%. One drink is based on 1.5 oz. of liquor (40% alcohol), 12 oz. of beer (4.5% alcohol) or a 5 oz. glass of wine (12% alcohol). The BAC lowers at a rate of .01% for every 40 minutes between drinks.

“The goal is to help people understand the effects of alcohol so they can make smart decisions about how they get home,” Orange County Sheriff Department’s Regional Traffic Bureau Sergeant Kyle Ishii said, “It only takes a few drinks to impair, and that’s why it is important people know their limit.

”The average cost of a first-time DUI offense is approximately $13,500, accounting for vehicle impound fees, fines, attorney fees, auto insurance hikes and other penalties. Plan ahead and avoid the risk of a DUI by designating a sober driver.

Funding for the “Know Your Limit” program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Dana Point, Calif. (Sept. 03, 2025). – Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Friday, September 5th, in the City of Dana Point 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.

Mission Viejo, Calif. (Aug. 21, 2025): Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Saturday, August 23, in the City of Mission Viejo 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.

Laguna Hills, Calif. (Aug. 13, 2025): Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Friday, August 15, in the City of Laguna Hills 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.

Lake Forest, Calif. (Aug. 20, 2025) – On August. 22, 2025, 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.

Santa Ana, Calif. (July 09, 2025): Focused on eliminating driving behaviors that contribute to traffic-related fatalities on our nation’s roads, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) calls on drivers to recognize speeding as an aggressive driving behavior that endangers all road users and to put an end to it because Speeding Catches Up With You.  The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will partner with NHTSA for the Speeding Catches Up With You campaign for the month of July. 

Every year, thousands of people are injured or killed in speeding-related crashes across America. In 2023, there were 11,775 fatalities that involved speeding, accounting for 29% of that year’s traffic fatalities. That number represented a 3% drop from 2022, in which 12,157 speeding-related fatalities occurred. Speeders don’t just put themselves in danger of serious injuries and death, they put other road users, including passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists, at risk as well. Drivers have a shared responsibility to keep themselves and all road users safe. Obeying the legal speed limits and driving at a speed that is reasonable for road conditions is part of fulfilling that responsibility. Speed limits are put in place to reduce crashes and minimize a crash’s impact on the human body. Set through an engineering process, speed limits are no less important than the vehicle safety technology developed over the last decades. 

Those who speed choose to do so for different reasons, including lateness and traffic. Regardless, driving above the speed limit or too fast for road conditions is an active disregard for one’s safety, the safety of others, and the law. Like impaired driving, speeding is a selfish choice that can have deadly consequences. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve.

“A speeding-related crash can easily result in devastating injury or a fatality, because of the intense impact on the body,” explained Sergeant Kyle Ishii. “It may be thought of as falling from a multi-story building, with every 10 miles per hour representing one or multiple stories,” he said. 

Young drivers and motorcyclists have a higher chance of being involved in speeding-related crashes. In 2023, 37% of male drivers and 18% of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffic crashes were speeding. Thirty-six percent of all motorcycle riders involved in fatal crashes in 2023 were speeding. Motorcycle riders 21 to 24 years old involved in fatal crashes had the highest rate of speeding involvement at 51%. 

“We are urging everyone to commit to keeping our roads and town safe by obeying all speed limits,” said Sergeant Ishii. “Slowing down is the right choice. Ultimately, Speeding Catches Up With You.”

For more information, please visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding.

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (Aug. 7, 2025): Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Saturday, August 9, in the City of San Juan Capistrano, 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.

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (July 17, 2025): Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Saturday, July 19, in the City of San Juan Capistrano, 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.

San Clemente, Calif. (July 31, 2025): Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Saturday, August 2, in the City of San Clemente 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.