SANTA ANA, Ca. (October 23, 2018) - The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) has partnered with the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana to produce Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to remind Orange County residents that OCSD does not enforce immigration laws while on patrol.

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (October 19, 2018) - Please see the link below to a video of Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens providing a statement regarding the use of force that occurred in Stanton on August 19, 2018.

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Every year, over 175 million Americans partake in Halloween festivities, with seven out of ten consumers planning to hand out candy. 41 million children ages 5 to 14 will go trick-or-treating.

As trick-or-treaters haunt the streets on Halloween, their risk of being injured by motorists increases greatly. Parents, children, and drivers must remain extra vigilant to prevent injuries and fatalities.

Children and Parents:
• Children under 12 should trick-or-treat and cross streets with an adult.
• Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Parents should remind children to watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
• Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Go with your children to the door of every home you visit. Never let your children enter a stranger’s home without permission. Only approach homes with lit porch lights, or ones that clearly are inviting trick-or-treaters.

Drivers:
• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on
Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day so you can spot children from greater distances.
• Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle.
• Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.

Costumes and Treats:
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and choose bright colored costumes to improve visibility.
• Choose face paint and make-up instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights in order to see better, as well as to be seen by drivers.
• Check treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them. Candy should be thrown away if the wrapper is faded or torn, or if the candy is unwrapped.
• Avoid using Halloween decorations with real flames. Instead, use battery-operated lights to illuminate your jack-o-lanterns. If you must use actual candles, never leave them unattended and keep them away from curtains.

Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators are looking for the owner of a 20-year-old white horse abandoned in unincorporated north Orange County.

At about 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, deputies along with OC Animal Care responded to a report of a neglected horse in the ravine near the 57 freeway and Tonner Canyon Road. When they arrived, they found the horse emaciated, abused and appearing to suffer from laminitis, an inflammation of the soft tissue of the foot that can cause lameness.

After several days of caring for the horse and assessing her condition, a veterinarian determined the horse needed to be euthanized because her injuries were too severe and she was suffering.

The horse was equipped with a red halter, indicating it belonged to someone. OCSD investigators are working the case and are asking anyone who can identify this horse to contact OCSD North Investigations at 714-647-7083.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (October 10, 2018)- On October 9, 2018, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Highway Interdiction Team initiated a traffic stop for vehicle code violations on the northbound I-5 freeway between Orange and San Diego counties. The driver, Miguel Patron, 41, Ensenada, identified himself, stated he was a police officer in Mexico and handed the deputy his police identification. Patron was extremely nervous and several criminal indicators were identified by the deputy conducting the traffic stop.

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LAKE FOREST, Ca. (October 2, 2018) - On Monday October 1, 2018, at 5:50 am deputies responded to a call of unknown trouble at the Forest Glen apartments on Farthing Street in Lake Forest. A resident saw a male collapsed outside in a courtyard with significant wounds and called the Sheriff’s Department. The male, a Hispanic man in his twenties, was pronounced deceased at the scene and a homicide investigation began. The identification of the victim is pending notification of next of kin.

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LAKE FOREST, Ca. (September 26, 2018) - The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a suspect who robbed a Lake Forest bank on Monday September 24, 2018.

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In honor of National Forensic Science Week, the Orange County Crime Lab wants to educate the public on the many ways our work impacts the county and makes a difference in the life of the citizens we serve.

Making sense of what gets left behind is the crux of the work of the OC Crime Lab.

The lab provides law enforcement agencies vital leads to help investigate potential suspects. Often the only thing left at crime scenes are items left by the perpetrator, and evidence is collected for possible linking of the perpetrator to the crime scene. These items – from the microscopic to the massive -- help forensic scientists understand what has occurred.

The Criminalistics Bureau provides scientific processing of major crime scenes, firearms & tool mark evidence, and trace evidence. The evidence that is collected and analyzed from major crime scenes helps detectives understand exactly what occurred.

Forensic personnel utilize their skills to evaluate evidence such as firearms, bullets, bullet holes, bloodstain patterns, fibers and fire debris. We can associate a bullet collected at an autopsy to a suspect's gun, determine a possible path where the shot originated, use evidence to link a suspect to a crime scene, analyze arson debris to suggest the kind of explosive or accelerant used, and our trained scientists evaluative and interpret various types of bloodstain patterns to determine a sequence of events. Used directly in court and the legal system, our work advocates for the evidence, and speaks without bias.

In honor of National Forensic Science Week, the Orange County Crime Lab wants to educate the public on the many ways our work impacts the county and makes a difference in the life of the citizens we serve.

Making sense of what gets left behind is the crux of the work of the OC Crime Lab.

The lab provides law enforcement agencies vital leads to help investigate potential suspects. Often the only thing left at crime scenes are items left by the perpetrator, and evidence is collected for possible linking of the perpetrator to the crime scene. These items – from the microscopic to the massive -- help forensic scientists understand what has occurred.

The Criminalistics Bureau provides scientific processing of major crime scenes, firearms & tool mark evidence, and trace evidence. The evidence that is collected and analyzed from major crime scenes helps detectives understand exactly what occurred.

Forensic personnel utilize their skills to evaluate evidence such as firearms, bullets, bullet holes, bloodstain patterns, fibers and fire debris. We can associate a bullet collected at an autopsy to a suspect's gun, determine a possible path where the shot originated, use evidence to link a suspect to a crime scene, analyze arson debris to suggest the kind of explosive or accelerant used, and our trained scientists evaluative and interpret various types of bloodstain patterns to determine a sequence of events. Used directly in court and the legal system, our work advocates for the evidence, and speaks without bias.

In honor of National Forensic Science Week, the Orange County Crime Lab wants to educate the public on the many ways our work impacts the county and makes a difference in the life of the citizens we serve.

With impaired driving becoming an increasing problem on Orange County’s roadways, the Crime Lab last year launched an initiative to test all drivers arrested on suspicion of DUI, regardless of the results of the breath alcohol test.

They provide drug and alcohol testing on driving under the influence samples; with more than 24 percent of Orange County DUI blood samples testing positive for THC - the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana. The laboratory maintains, calibrates, and trains all operators for all evidential breath alcohol testing instruments, providing the highest quality results for criminal court trials.

However, their work goes well beyond traffic-related cases.  

The laboratory also provides testing in suspected drug-facilitated sexual assault and death investigations with state of the art technology for more than 325 drugs including over the counter medications, prescription drugs, and illicit controlled substances. 

They aid investigators in assessing suspected clandestine drug manufacturer and conduct all chemical analysis on narcotics throughout the county; anything from the testing of methamphetamine, heroin, cocaine, fentanyl and counterfeit pills. The Orange County Crime Lab makes a difference in your life by providing advanced, comprehensive drug and alcohol testing of the highest quality.