LAKE FOREST, Ca. (Oct. 3, 2023): Today, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department released a Critical Incident Video depicting the deputy-involved shooting that occurred in Lake Forest, Ca., on August 20, 2023.

The Critical Incident Video is available for viewing at https://youtu.be/fvQf9bR6OSQ.

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.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (October 2, 2023) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Detail, is re-sharing images of a John Doe found in Trabuco Canyon nearly 25 years ago in the hope to generate new leads and identify the decedent.

The department, in partnership with the DNA Doe Project, first released the images in 2020 and then again in 2021.  

On Dec. 13, 1996, the Coroner Division and OC Sheriff Homicide Investigators responded to reports of human remains found in a wilderness area east of Trabuco Creek Road in the unincorporated area of Trabuco Canyon. At the time, it was estimated the remains had been there up to two years, with environmental factors affecting their condition. Investigators believed the decedent went missing sometime in 1995 or 1996.

Based on initial anthropological estimates from 1996, it was believed this unknown male subject was around 15-19 years old, approximately 5’2” to 5’8” with a medium build. An odontologist’s report, which showed the decedent’s teeth were in poor condition, was submitted to a Department of Justice database. He was given the name John Doe as investigators worked to learn his identity.

In 2020, the Coroner Division partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in an attempt to generate leads that might deliver an identification. In 2020, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the skull was created and submitted to NCMEC, which used the latest reconstruction techniques to develop renderings of what John Doe may have looked like. With the new information, NCMEC modified their initial sketch from 2019 to produce a new likeness that reflects the potential Latin American descent of John Doe.

The Sheriff’s Department in 2020 partnered with the DNA Doe Project in an attempt to identify the subject. Based on further genetic testing, it is believed the subject is likely from a remote/rural area in Latin America due to the very low threshold of genetic matches.

In September 2021, a team of volunteers was brought onto the case by DNA Doe Project Case Managers who are specialists in Spanish Language databases. In conjunction, a forensic artist affiliated with the DNA Doe Project provided an additional rendering of the unidentified subject. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, in partnership with the DNA Do Project, is again seeking any information that may help identify this individual.  Anyone who has any information about John Doe can contact the Orange County Coroner Division at 714-647-7400 or coroner@OCSheriff.gov, reference case number 96-07901-MU.  

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (Sept. 29, 2023): Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators have arrested two men on suspicion of multiple felonies after they used a distraction scheme to steal $50,000 from an elderly woman. 

At approximately 11 a.m. on Sept. 19, a 79-year-old woman drove to a bank on Bolsa Chica Street in the city of Huntington Beach.  She withdrew $50,000 in cash and placed the money into an envelope, returned to her car and left the bank. 

The victim returned home at approximately 12 p.m. and was approached by a suspect who asked for directions to a local hospital. While the victim was distracted, a second male suspect reached through her right rear window and stole the envelope from her purse.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s North Investigative Unit and Directed Enforcement Team diligently pursued numerous leads, which led to the arrest of Ionut Marius Andrei, 42, and Stefan Romero Oprea, 38, both of Riverside. They were booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of felony grand theft, conspiracy to commit a crime and theft of an elderly person.

Investigators were able to link Andrei and Oprea to another incident in the city of Lake Forest where they approached a 72-year-old male who had recently withdrawn over $5,000 in cash and had returned home.  The victim stated he was approached in his garage by a male who asked for directions to a hospital.  After the suspect had left, the victim returned to his car to retrieve the money from the center console, and it was gone.

Investigators believe there are additional victims and encourage anyone who may have experienced a similar crime to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-1829. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

This type of crime has a slang term known as “bank jugging.”  Suspects pay close attention to bank customers, including ATM users, or check cashing stores to observe if the customer withdrew cash.  

The suspect/s will follow the potential victim after they leave the bank and either confront and distract them at a secondary location or attempt to break into their car to steal the money, if left parked and unattended.  Some suspects might even be demanding when attempting to take the money. 

To avoid becoming a victim, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and limit distractions, especially cell phones. If possible, avoid carrying large amounts of cash and instead seek alternative ways to transfer funds.  If you believe you are being followed from a financial institution, immediately call 9-1-1. Keep in mind, high-end stores including electronics, jewelry and accessory retailers also are potential targets for criminals. 

If you have been a victim of “bank jugging” or any type of theft or fraud it is important to immediately report it to local law enforcement.   

SANTA ANA, Ca. (September 20, 2023): – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, will test its emergency mass notification system, AlertOC, with a test emergency alert.

For those who have signed up for AlertOC, the notification will be sent to subscribers’ mobile devices, home phones and e-mails.

The test will replicate a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional emergency requiring thousands of numbers to be called simultaneously across Orange County. This is the 12th annual regional test of the system and will include 15 participating cities, as well as the county’s unincorporated areas.

“Signing up for AlertOC is an important step in emergency preparedness and planning,” said Michelle Anderson, Director of Emergency Management for the Sheriff’s Department. “We hope to engage more members of our community to make sure they are ready for an emergency that could occur in our area with little-to-no warning.” 

Disasters, such as wildfires and debris flow events, often occur rapidly, forcing evacuations and road closures to neighborhoods.

AlertOC, the county’s mass notification system, is a critical link for residents to immediately learn of any required actions, such as evacuating their homes during an imminent emergency.  It also enables the county to inform our residents during ongoing incidents, such as a pandemic or other health emergencies. 

The distinctive feature of AlertOC is the ability for individuals to register multiple contact methods and addresses. Subscribers can submit landlines, cell phones and e-mail addresses into the system. By registering multiple contacts, the system can more effectively reach residents.

For more information or to register alternate phone numbers or e-mail addresses, visit AlertOC.gov.

Mission Viejo, Ca. (October 11, 2023): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, October 13, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Mission Viejo.  

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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Aliso Viejo, Ca. (Sep. 17, 2023): Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Tuesday, September 19, deputies will focus their efforts on drivers that are talking, texting, using an app or any other action on their phone that is not hands-free and violates California’s cell phone law. A violation is subject to a $162 fine for the first offense, and at least $285 for a second offense.

Distracted driving comes in many forms, but cell phones remain the top distraction. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,450 people were killed in 2016 due to distracted drivers. A 2018 observational survey by Fresno State and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) found nearly 5 percent of California drivers were using their phone illegally behind the wheel, either by talking on or using their phone without a hands-free device.

In this day and age, it is natural instinct to answer the phone or read a text, but the focus for drivers should be on the road. Other distractions include eating, grooming, talking to passengers, using GPS, adjusting the radio, taking off a jacket, or reaching for an object on the floor.

If you have an important phone call or need to reprogram your navigation system, pull over to a safe parking place. To resist the urge of using your phone, either silence it or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

Funding for this distracted driving enforcement operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Yorba Linda, Ca. (September 9, 2023): Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Monday, September 11, deputies will focus their efforts on drivers that are talking, texting, using an app or any other action on their phone that is not hands-free and violates California’s cell phone law. A violation is subject to a $162 fine for the first offense, and at least $285 for a second offense.

Distracted driving comes in many forms, but cell phones remain the top distraction. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 3,450 people were killed in 2016 due to distracted drivers. A 2018 observational survey by Fresno State and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) found nearly 5 percent of California drivers were using their phone illegally behind the wheel, either by talking on or using their phone without a hands-free device.

In this day and age, it is natural instinct to answer the phone or read a text, but the focus for drivers should be on the road. Other distractions include eating, grooming, talking to passengers, using GPS, adjusting the radio, taking off a jacket, or reaching for an object on the floor.

If you have an important phone call or need to reprogram your navigation system, pull over to a safe parking place. To resist the urge of using your phone, either silence it or put it somewhere you can’t reach.

Funding for this distracted driving enforcement operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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San Juan Capistrano, Ca. (September 11, 2023): – The Sheriff’s Department will take part in a bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operation aimed at educating bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians on traffic laws, rules, and responsibilities.

On Wednesday, September 13, deputies will be looking for violations made by bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians that put roadway users at risk. These violations include drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, failing to stop for signs and signals or any other dangerous violation.

Deputies will also look for pedestrians who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way. Bike riders will be stopped when riding on the wrong side of the road, not complying with stop signs and signals, or other violation of the same traffic laws that apply to them as drivers.

Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising at an alarming rate. In 2016, 138 bicyclists and 867 pedestrians were killed on California roads. Pedestrian fatalities are up nearly 33 percent from 2012, and the number of bicyclists killed are up nearly 25 percent over the past five years.

People walking should only cross the street using crosswalks or intersections, preferably with a stop sign or signal. People on foot should also look for cars backing up and avoid darting between parked cars, make eye contact with drivers and wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.

Drivers should wait for pedestrians to cross the street, avoid distractions like using a cell phone, and be courteous and patient. All bike riders are reminded to always wear a helmet; helmets are required by law for those under 18. Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow moving vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Department supports the new OTS public awareness campaign, “Go Safely, California.” To find out more about ways to go safely, visit gosafelyca.org.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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Mission Viejo, Ca. (September 18, 2023): – The Sheriff’s Department will take part in a bicycle and pedestrian safety enforcement operation aimed at educating bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians on traffic laws, rules, and responsibilities.

On Wednesday, September 20, deputies will be looking for violations made by bicyclists, drivers and pedestrians that put roadway users at risk. These violations include drivers speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, failing to stop for signs and signals or any other dangerous violation.

Deputies will also look for pedestrians who cross the street illegally or fail to yield to drivers who have the right of way. Bike riders will be stopped when riding on the wrong side of the road, not complying with stop signs and signals, or other violation of the same traffic laws that apply to them as drivers.

Bicycle and pedestrian fatalities are rising at an alarming rate. In 2016, 138 bicyclists and 867 pedestrians were killed on California roads. Pedestrian fatalities are up nearly 33 percent from 2012, and the number of bicyclists killed are up nearly 25 percent over the past five years.

People walking should only cross the street using crosswalks or intersections, preferably with a stop sign or signal. People on foot should also look for cars backing up and avoid darting between parked cars, make eye contact with drivers and wear bright clothing during the day and reflective materials or use a flashlight at night.

Drivers should wait for pedestrians to cross the street, avoid distractions like using a cell phone, and be courteous and patient. All bike riders are reminded to always wear a helmet; helmets are required by law for those under 18. Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow moving vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Department supports the new OTS public awareness campaign, “Go Safely, California.” To find out more about ways to go safely, visit gosafelyca.org.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (Sep. 6, 2023): September is Pedestrian Safety Month in California and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department encourages everyone on our roads to care for one another and keep pedestrians safe from crashes and injuries.

Based on data projections from the Governors Highway Safety Association, 7,508 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2022, the highest number since 1981. In California, pedestrian deaths account for more than 25% of all traffic deaths.

“There’s a lot happening on our roads, and everyone deserves to get to their destination safely.” Sergeant Kyle Ishii said, “Drivers need to be aware of people who are walking. Please slow down and never drive impaired. We all have places to go, so let’s remember that safety is a shared responsibility.”

To promote the safety of people walking, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct  traffic safety operations on September 7th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 18th, and 21st focused on the most dangerous driver behaviors that put the safety of pedestrians at risk. These violations include speeding, making illegal turns, failing to yield and running stop signs or signals. 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department offers safe driving and walking tips, including staying off the phone when behind the wheel or walking.

Drivers

•           Do not speed, and slow down at intersections. Be prepared to stop for pedestrians at    marked and unmarked crosswalks.

•           Avoid blocking crosswalks while waiting to make a right-hand turn.

•           Never drive impaired.

Pedestrians

•           Be predictable. Use signalized crosswalks where drivers may anticipate foot traffic.

•           Watch for approaching vehicles and practice due care crossing the street. At 30 mph, a driver needs at least 90 feet to stop.

•           Make it easier for drivers to see you at night – wear light colors, reflective material and use a flashlight.

•           Be careful crossing streets or entering crosswalks at night or on busier streets with higher speed limits.

Share your thoughts about pedestrian safety by participating in the Go Safely Movement, a call-to-action traffic safety survey from the California Office of Traffic Safety. Take the survey at gosafelyca.org.

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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