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.

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.

DNA evidence often can be a critical component to solving crimes or identifying suspects, bringing closure to victims and their families.

From blood left at a crime scene, the potential perpetrator of a homicide can be identified. With evidence collected from a sexual assault kit, forensic scientists can provide corroboration needed to prosecute a rape case. When someone’s house gets broken into and rifled through, the Crime Lab can help identify the offender with only a few skin cells left behind.

Through the use of DNA testing, the Orange County Crime Laboratory aids law enforcement investigations throughout the county, and sometimes beyond, so that dangerous individuals can be taken off of the streets.

On April 16, 2018, at approximately 1:15 p.m., an autistic adult male used the men’s restroom at the San Juan Capistrano Public Library. 

Just after the victim entered the restroom, an unknown male entered the restroom carrying papers and a manila envelope. The unknown male sexually assaulted the victim while he was using the restroom. 

Surveillance video shows the victim exit the restroom, followed by the suspect.  The victim reported the crime to staff, who called the Sheriff’s Department. 

The suspect is described as a male, about 180-200 lbs., approximately 5’9” wearing blue jeans, black tennis shoes, and a white long-sleeved shirt with an American flag on the front.

 If you have any information pertaining to this suspect, please contact Investigator Hernandez at 714-647-7464 or OCSD Dispatch at 949-770-6011. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

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.

We all know the importance of making a good impression. Lucky for Orange County residents, Crime Lab personnel are experts at the practice.   

Making a positive impression is the hallmark of the Identification Bureau, which consists of CSI Forensic Specialists, Latent Comparison, Latent Processing, Impression Evidence, PhotoLab and the Evidence Control Unit.

Every scene has a cryptic story to tell, and the Identification Bureau is critical to deciphering the narrative.

Whether early in the morning, late at night, on a holiday or over the weekend, the team is busy documenting crime scenes using a variety of techniques such as photography, sketching, fingerprint analysis and comparison, and evidence collection. From figuring out who burglarized a home to uncovering clandestine drug labs to identifying a  potential murder suspect, the ID Bureau often is a key component in solving the case.

A 24-year-old man is in custody on suspicion of murder after a March 2017 traffic collision that killed a 33-year-old woman.  

At approximately midnight on March 25, 2017, deputies responded to reports of an injury traffic collision on Alicia Parkway at Althea Avenue in the city of Mission Viejo.  Upon initial investigation, it appeared the driver of a 2005 Hyundai Elantra turned left to go southbound on Althea Avenue as the driver of Chevrolet Camaro was traveling eastbound on Alicia, and the vehicles collided in the intersection.

The Elantra driver, Mission Viejo resident Judith Noval, was unconscious at the scene and was taken to a local hospital. Noval never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead on April 25, 2017.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Division investigated the case and determined the driver of the Camaro was traveling at an excessive rate of speed, which caused the collision. Further investigation found the driver previously had been charged for driving in excess of 100 mph and had stated in court his awareness of the dangers of driving at such a high rate of speed.

Investigators with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department arrested 24-year-old Afiff Kevin Doaifi on Sept. 13 on suspicion of murder. He is being held at the OC Jail on $1 million bail and is expected to appear in court on Monday, Sept 1

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.

Dating back to the late 19th century, fingerprinting served as one of the pioneering practices of forensic science. Matching and maintaining millions of fingerprint images remains an important tool to help law enforcement agencies identify suspects and solve pending cases.

Everyone arrested in Orange County must have their fingerprints recorded and saved in databases at the county, state and federal levels.  Given that no two fingerprints are alike, this practice helps connect criminals to current crimes, previous arrests and potentially crime committed in other jurisdictions.  

The Orange County Crime Lab provides police departments with equipment to electronically capture fingerprints, palm prints, and booking photos, which are all shared with state and federal law enforcement agencies.

The fingerprint database dates back to the 1950s, and continues to evolve today. Soon deputies and officers patrolling the streets will be able to capture a fingerprint from someone they come in contact with on patrol and, with no more information than that, find out who they are and if they have a record.

LAKE FOREST, Ca. (Sept. 5, 2018) – Members of the Orange County Sheriff’s DUI Enforcement Team will hold a DUI and Driver’s License Checkpoint this weekend to stop and arrest alcohol and drug-impaired drivers as part of the department’s ongoing traffic safety campaign.

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Every year, thousands of pounds and millions of dollars’ worth of illegal drugs are confiscated during investigations throughout Orange County.

But when the case has closed and there is no longer any legal reasons to keep these narcotics, where do they go?

Several times a year, personnel from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department participate in what’s called a “drug burn.”

The narcotics are gathered up, loaded into a truck and taken to an undisclosed location where they are incinerated. The drugs are burned at such an intense heat, the facility’s smoke stack releases virtually no smoke.

The Sheriff’s Department on Aug. 28 participated in a drug burn of more than 2,400 pounds of drugs with a street value of $13.2 million.

That’s a lot of work by the Sheriff’s Department to pull harmful substances off Orange County streets!

Take a look at what was burned on this most recent operation:

Cocaine: 478.8 pounds

Methamphetamine: 260.2 pounds

Heroin: 501.2 pounds

Marijuana: 233.7 pounds

Prescription drugs: 361.6 pounds

Miscellaneous: 575.6 pounds

With 13contract cities and Orange County’s unincorporated areas, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for the safety of students and staff for more than 125 public and private schools.

While sound tactics and strategy for how to handle violence on school campuses have been in place for many years, the Sheriff’s Department recently launched a new standardized program that will help law enforcement and districts better prepare for, and potentially prevent, critical incidents on campus. 

This summer, the OCSD launched APT – Assess, Prepare, Train – to create a cohesive and comprehensive approach to campus safety.