Across the nation, the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities and claim new victims every day, including here in Orange County.

The most dramatic change law enforcement has seen in this recent epidemic has been the introduction of fentanyl – a highly potent synthetic opioid that is strong enough to cause an overdose with as little as 2 milligrams.

Since January, OCSD narcotics teams have intercepted 12.5 kilograms of this deadly drug and arrested seven people attempting to sell and transport it. That amount is enough for roughly 6 million people – nearly twice the county’s population -- to fatally overdose.

Fentanyl does not discern whether the user is a first-timer or a long-time abuser.  It is impossible for an individual to know their limit with this drug, and there is no such thing as experimenting because one use could be enough to prompt the body to shut down.  

Fentanyl is that dangerous, and the numbers prove it.

According to the Orange County Crime Lab, from 2015 to 2016, the county saw a 100 percent increase in deaths attributed to fentanyl. Los Angeles County saw a 136 percent increase for that same time period.

In 2010, fentanyl was found in postmortem testing in 23 deaths. In 2017, that number jumped to 67 deaths, which could climb higher once all pending 2017 cases are cleared.  

For DUIDs: There were seven cases with fentanyl detected in 2016, but last year that number jumped to 44 cases.

Labeling this sharp increase in the use of opioids, specifically fentanyl, a crisis is not an overstatement.

The 12.5 kilograms seized by OCSD so far this year is from one division – albeit a very active one -- of a department that employs diverse programs to intercept illegal drugs and hold those trafficking them accountable.

In addition to narcotics teams and the Highway Interdiction Team, those responsible for the 12.5 kilograms seized, Operation Stonegarden tackles similar smuggling attempts on the water and the Regional Narcotics Suppression Program (RNSP) focuses on intervening in drug import attempts in a variety of ways, including by using air surveillance. Personnel working the airport and Orange County transit systems focus on catching any attempts to move narcotics in our county, while patrol deputies also make this effort a routine part of their shift.    

On the analysis side, the Orange County Crime Lab helps put the problem into context so law enforcement better understands the scope of the issue and can better deploy resources.

While the Sheriff’s Department actively and aggressively pursues those bringing fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the county, drug education in our community continues to be a critical prevention component.

The Sheriff’s Department is proud to partner with local schools through the work of Community Programs, Drug Liaison Officers, School Resource Officers and the Pepperdine Resource, Youth Diversion and Education (PRYDE) program. These programs are vital to educating youth and teens about the dangers of drugs, but these lessons must extend beyond the school campus.

Parents and community members can help by learning more about the dangers of fentanyl, and other opioids, and talking with children and teens about it. Start these talks early and have them often. Find valuable resources by visiting drugfree.org.

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department encourages you to take steps to protect yourself from cyber-attacks and fraud.

Cyber scammers use internet services or software to steal your identity, credit card information, or place malware on your computer.
Suspects of cybercrime use many different methods to solicit personal information from you by pretending to be government, police, and IRS officials.

Types of scams include:
• Text Phishing Schemes
• Online Employment Scams
• Tech Support Scams
• Telephone Taxes Due Scams
• Telephone Utilities Due Scams
• Item Listed for Sale Check Scams
• Warrant for Your Arrest Scams

Cybercriminals rely on the fact that most people do not change the default user names and passwords to gain access to your device. It only takes one such device on your network to corrupt the entire network.
Steps you can take to prevent cybercrime include:
• Use strong passwords
• Don’t send your password via email, chat, text or at all!
• Log off of unattended PCs
• Place secure passwords on mobile devices
• Set up two-step verification on your online accounts wherever possible
• Pay attention to the URLs of websites you visit
• Use a firewall and anti-virus software
• Frequently check your privacy and security settings, customize them with how much you want to share
• Always lock your screen when you’re finished using your computer, tablet, or phone

Visit http://www.ocsd.org/about_ocsd/staysafeoc/cyber_safety to learn more about Cyber Safety, Scams, and how to file a report in the event that you are a victim of a cybercrime.

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.

View PDF

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.

View PDF

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.

View PDF

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.

View PDF

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.

View PDF

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.