Lake Forest, Ca. (June 7, 2025): Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Monday, June 9, in the City of Lake Forest 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.
Dana Point, Ca. (May, 31, 2025): Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Monday, June 2, 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.
San Juan Capistrano, Ca.(May 23, 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.”
Pull over to a safe parking spot if you have an important phone call or need to program directions. Before driving, 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.
DANA POINT, Calif. (May 20, 2025): Today, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department released a Critical Incident Video depicting the deputy-involved shooting that occurred on March 28, 2025, in Dana Point, Ca.
In order to foster greater public trust with the community we serve, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will publish Critical Incident Videos about incidents in which the actions of department members in the performance of their duties are likely to have a significant impact on the Department, community, citizens, or any other person, and/or incidents involving the use of deadly force or force resulting in serious physical injury.
Critical Incident Videos offer a clear and concise overview of the incident with relevant video, audio, photographs and information to give context to what occurred preceding, during and immediately after a critical incident. The videos will contain the factual circumstances as they are known at the time. No conclusions will be drawn about whether or not deputies acted in a manner consistent with our policies, and in accordance with the law, until all facts are known and the investigations are complete.
Per protocol, the investigation of the deputy-involved shooting will be handled by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Yorba Linda, Ca. (May. 17, 2025). – Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra officers on patrol Monday, May 19, in the City of Yorba Linda 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.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (May 13, 2025) OC Sheriff investigators have identified an Oregon John Doe believed to be a victim of serial killer Randy Steven Kraft.
In November 2023, OC Sheriff Cold Case investigators identified a deceased John Doe found in unincorporated Laguna Hills in 1974 as Michael Ray Schlicht, 17, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Michael was long believed to be a victim of Kraft.
In early 2024, investigators began looking through the Kraft investigation to find evidence related to Schlicht. While searching, investigators found evidence related to a 1980 John Doe from Oregon, who was also presumed to be a victim of Kraft. Further research indicated the Doe was still unidentified and no evidence existed.
John Doe was found deceased early in the morning on July 18, 1980, along Interstate 5 outside Woodburn, Ore. He had been strangled, and alcohol and diazepam were found in his system. Kraft is believed to have kept a list of his victims on what is known as his “scorecard,” and this John Doe is believed to be “Portland Elk.”
Investigators believe Kraft is responsible for six homicides in Oregon and two in Michigan, in addition to his presumed California victims, which are believed to be more than 60. Kraft was sentenced to death in 1989 after a 10-month trial for the murder of 16 men. Investigators learned that evidence for all out-of-state victims was sent to OC Sheriff during the trial.
OC Sheriff investigators contacted the Oregon State Police (OSP) Cold Case Unit to notify them about the located evidence and offered to attempt to identify the Doe using investigative genetic genealogy (IGG). OC Sheriff cold case homicide investigators are trained in the application of IGG and have identified several Does using the method, including Michael Schlicht.
OSP agreed and a blood sample for the Doe was sent to Parabon Nanolabs, which developed a genetic profile. In January 2025, the profile was uploaded to GEDmatch, a publicly available DNA database that allows law enforcement use, and investigators began building the Doe’s family tree.
In early February 2025, investigators identified a possible candidate for the Doe. OSP and OC Sheriff collaborated to contact several of his close family members.
DNA samples were collected from a woman believed to be the Doe’s half-sister and a man believed to be his nephew. These DNA samples were used to positively identify the decedent as 30-year-old Larry Eugene Parks. Larry was last seen by family in Pensacola, Fla. in 1979. Family members described Larry as a “drifter” with no known ties to Oregon.
Oregon State Police Cold Case Unit is conducting the investigation into Larry’s homicide.
Laguna Hills, Ca. (May 10, 2025): A deputy-involved shooting occurred this morning in a commercial parking lot in Laguna Hills.
On Saturday, May 10, at 8:03 a.m., deputies responded to a disturbance call in the area of Ridge Route Drive and Moulton Parkway, Laguna Hills. Multiple callers stated that a male subject with two knives was seen in the area.
A deputy located a male subject. The subject moved towards the deputy, armed with a knife, and a deputy-involved shooting occurred.
The male subject was provided medical aid at the scene and was transported to a local area hospital, where he is in critical condition.
There were no other suspects involved in the initial call for service or the deputy-involved shooting. No deputies were injured during the incident.
Per protocol, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office will handle the investigation of the deputy-involved shooting. Deputies in Laguna Hills are equipped with body-worn cameras. 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.
DANA POINT, Calif. (May 7, 2025) On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, shortly before 12 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a single-vehicle traffic collision on Dana Point Harbor Drive in Dana Point. Deputies arrived and discovered that a pickup truck with six juveniles struck a tree.
The juvenile driver, 16-year-old Rebecca Cespedes of Dana Point, was found deceased at the scene. The other five juveniles were transported to local hospitals. Three juveniles (one female and two males) are in critical condition but are expected to survive. Two juveniles (one female and one male) sustained minor injuries. All juveniles are students at Dana Hills High School. It is currently unknown if drugs, alcohol, or speed contributed to this traffic collision.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating the collision. If anyone has additional details that may assist investigators or witnessed this traffic collision, they are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Bureau at 949-425-1860. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
ANAHEIM, Calif. (May 4, 2025) On Sunday, May 4, 2025, at about 2:40 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a shooting at the Canyon RV Park at Featherly Park near the intersection of Gypsum Canyon and the 91 freeway.
Deputies secured the scene, and the Orange County Fire Authority and Anaheim Fire treated and transported three male adults with gunshot wounds to the hospital. The suspect was one of the men transported with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A fourth victim was treated at the scene for minor injuries sustained after he was hit by a vehicle.
We believe there was a dispute between the suspect and one of the victims earlier in the day. The suspect then returned to the Canyon RV Park and attempted to hit the victim with his vehicle. He then exited the car and began shooting before turning the gun on himself.
Initial information leads us to believe this was a personal dispute suspect and victims knew one another. This is not believed to be an act of terrorism.
The area is secure and there is no known threat to the community.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.
STANTON, Calif. (May 3, 2025) On Friday, May 2, 2025, at about 11 p.m., Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the report of a traffic collision involving multiple vehicles at the intersection of Magnolia Avenue and Pacific Avenue in Stanton. Deputies arrived and discovered that a Dodge sedan and a Toyota van had been involved in an apparent head-on collision, striking an unoccupied parked vehicle.
The driver of the van, Hoanh Thanh Ngo, 55, of Stanton, succumbed to his injuries sustained in the collision and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The driver of the Dodge, James Anthony Deleon, 30, of Irvine, fled the scene on foot. He was detained a short time later and was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence with a prior conviction and booked into the Orange County Jail for CPC 187(a) – Murder, and CVC 23153(a) – DUI Causing Injury.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Major Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) is investigating the collision. If anyone has additional details that may assist investigators, or witnessed this traffic collision, they are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Bureau at 949-425-1860. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
