Dana Point, Ca. (April 17, 2024): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, April 19, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Dana Point.  

DUI Checkpoints are placed in locations based on collision statistics and frequency of DUI arrests. Deputies will be looking for signs of alcohol and/or drug impairment, with deputies checking drivers for proper licensing.

The Sheriff’s Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” If you take prescription drugs, particularly those with a driving or operating machinery warning on the label, you might be impaired enough to get a DUI. Marijuana can also be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs, and can result in a DUI.

In 2019, 1,066 people were killed in alcohol-involved crashes on California roads. 

The Sheriff’s Department offers these reminders to ensure you have a safe night of fun that doesn’t involve a DUI:

• Always use a designated sober driver – a friend who is not drinking, ride-share, cab or public transportation – to get home.
• See someone who is clearly impaired try and drive? Take the keys and help them make other arrangements to find a sober way home.
• Report drunk drivers – Call 911.
• Hosting a party? Offer nonalcoholic drinks. Monitor who are drinking and how they are getting home. 

Getting home safely is cheap, but getting a DUI is not. Drivers caught driving impaired and charged with DUI can expect the impact of a DUI arrest to be upwards of $13,500. This includes fines, fees, DUI classes, license suspension and other expenses, not to mention possible jail time.

Funding for this checkpoint is provided to the Sheriff’s Department by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

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MIDWAY CITY, Calif. (March 22, 2024) The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is seeking the public’s assistance to provide additional information about a kidnapping that occurred in Midway City.

On Friday, March 15, 2024, a woman living near the area of Hunter Lane and Madison Avenue in Midway City reported a possible kidnapping. Deputies responded to the area and confirmed through interviews and evidence at the scene that an assault and kidnapping did occur. 

During the investigation that followed, investigators learned the victim: Tony Lam (9-14-62), spent time at two different restaurants during the evening hours of March 14, 2024, prior to arriving to the area of his kidnapping in the early morning hours of March 15, 2024.  Those restaurants were the “LV Restaurant & Lounge” in Westminster and the “171 Sky Restaurant” in Garden Grove. 

Upon Lam’s return to his residence, he was confronted by a masked male in the driveway of his home.  Shortly thereafter, he was assaulted and driven away from the area in a vehicle that was not his own.

Using investigative techniques, Sheriff’s Investigators successfully identified two of the individuals responsible for Lam’s kidnapping: Nhan Chin Nguyen (10-20-74) & Phi Hung Nguyen (9-4-70).  Both have since been arrested and booked into custody at the Orange County Sheriff’s Intake & Release Center in Santa Ana.  At the time of their arrests, Lam was not located and his whereabouts was not revealed by either Nguyen.

Since March 15th, 2024, Sheriff’s Investigators have been unsuccessful in their attempts to locate Lam.  Lam has also not been in contact with any of his family, friends, or coworkers.

The Sheriff’s Department is asking anyone with information related to Lam or his kidnapping to contact Sheriff’s Dispatch at 714-647-7000. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 15, 2024):  The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, in partnership with the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), is launching a new program to better serve those experiencing homelessness or mental health disorders. 

Starting in early March of 2024, the Sheriff’s Department will triage non-violent and non-criminal behavioral health and homeless-related calls for service to determine if they can be diverted to OC Links, the 24-hour, 7 days a week Behavioral Health Line, an entry point for the OC HCA’s continuum of care providing information, referral, linkage, screening, homeless outreach, and dispatching of mobile crisis response teams. 

Dispatchers, using a series of intake questions, will triage calls to determine if a deputy response is required. If the call is determined to be non-violent and non-criminal, dispatch will transfer the caller to OC Links, where they will be connected with a trained navigator.

“When an individual is experiencing homelessness or a mental health crisis, our goal is always to provide the most effective response possible,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “This diversion program allows us to connect individuals in need of expert behavioral health support with the best resources.” 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department receives about 10,000 calls for service each year involving mental health, individuals experiencing homelessness, and similar crises. OC Links provides specifically trained navigators who specialize in connecting individuals experiencing mental health disorders, homelessness, or substance use disorders with appropriate behavioral health services and field outreach. OC Links dispatches counselors to non-violent and non-criminal calls instead of deputies, allowing deputies to be more readily available for in-progress crimes and proactive policing. 

If additional assistance is needed or requested, deputies and/or fire personnel will be dispatched. 

"This partnership between the Orange County Sheriff's Department and OC Health Care Agency exemplifies our commitment to providing comprehensive support for individuals in crisis,” said Dr. Veronica Kelley, Director of Behavioral Health Services at OC Health Care Agency. “By integrating law enforcement and behavioral health expertise, we can better address the complex needs of our community."

The Sheriff’s Department continues to deploy its Behavioral Health Bureau teams in partnership with OC HCA Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT), responsible for proactively contacting and supporting those experiencing mental health crises and homelessness in the community, and connecting individuals with resources including housing programs, counseling services, and other support services.   

The public can access OC Links 24/7 by calling (855) 625-4657 or (855) OC Links.

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• Read more about In-Custody Death - March 11, 2024

On Monday, March 11, 2024, an Orange County Jail inmate housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Module B died at the Orange County Global Medical Center, Santa Ana. The decedent was a 36-year-old Hispanic male who was awaiting trial.  The decedent's manner and mode of death are awaiting final determination by the Orange County Coroner.

• Read more about In-Custody Death - March 8, 2024

On Friday, March 8, 2024, an Orange County Jail inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Module Q died while inside custody. The decedent is a 46-year-old white male who was awaiting to be transferred to Riverside County Sheriff’s custody.  The decedent's manner and means of death are awaiting final determination by the Orange County Coroner.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 11, 2024) – On Monday, March 11, 2024, an inmate housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana died at a local hospital.

The 36-year-old inmate was booked into jail on March 6, 2024, by the Santa Ana Police Department for drug related offenses and possession of a firearm.  The inmate’s name is being withheld pending notification to next of kin.

The inmate was pronounced deceased at the hospital after being transferred there on the evening of March 10 for a medical issue. 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.  

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ORANGE, Ca. (March 9, 2024) – On Friday, March 8, 2024, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died in jail.

The inmate was booked into jail on March 7, 2024, by the Anaheim Police Department for a parole violation. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Orange County Coroner’s Division.

In the evening of March 8, 2024, the inmate was found unresponsive in his cell. Deputies and correctional medical staff attempted life-saving measures. He was pronounced deceased at the Theo Lacy Facility at approximately 6:40 p.m. Preliminarily, there are no suspicious circumstances. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology testing 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.  

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In January of 2020, a deputy was found to be dishonest in the performance of duty.  The employee was terminated in February of 2022.

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/SF-Dishonesty/Sustained%20Findings%20of%20Dishonesty.20-077.zip

• Read more about 20-077 Sustained Dishonesty

In September of 2016, deputies were involved in a use of force at the Central Women's Jail in Santa Ana.  The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued. 

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/SF-Unreasonable%20or%20Excessive%20Force/Sustained%20Findings%20Excessive%20Force.16-145.zip

• Read more about 16-145 Use of Force

In August of 2016, deputies were involved in a use of force at the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana.  The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued. 

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/SF-Unreasonable%20or%20Excessive%20Force/Sustained%20Findings%20Excessive%20Force.16-122.zip

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