ORANGE, Ca. (Jan. 17, 2025) – On Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died at a local area hospital.
The 51-year-old inmate was booked into the Orange County Jail on Jan. 6, 2025, by the Anaheim Police Department for the charges CPC 422(a) – Criminal Threats, CPC 417 – Brandishing a Weapon, and CPC 148(a)(1) – Resist, Delay, or Obstruct an Officer. The inmate’s name is being withheld pending notification to next of kin.
On Jan. 17, while housed at the Theo Lacy Facility, it was determined the inmate needed to be transported to the hospital for a medical issue. At approximately 10:02 a.m. the same day, the inmate was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Preliminarily, there are no suspicious circumstances. A final cause of death will be determined following an independent autopsy and toxicology.
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.
SANTA ANA, Calif. (Jan. 17, 2025): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is pleased to announce the closure of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into the use of custodial informants, which began in December of 2016. The Sheriff’s Department also entered into an “Agreement for the Sustainability of Custodial Informant Reforms” with the DOJ.
In October of 2022, the DOJ released its report documenting findings from their investigation into the use of custodial informants by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office from 2007-2016. After the release of the DOJ report, the Sheriff’s Department voluntarily provided the DOJ with materials reflecting the changes and safeguards the Department implemented. The DOJ reviewed the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s current policies and procedures and confirmed them to be constitutional. These proactive reforms have cemented constitutional protections for the use of custodial informants inside Orange County jail facilities.
“Since 2016, we have worked diligently to implement comprehensive reforms regarding custodial informants. This Agreement provides a framework for the DOJ to validate those efforts and establish our policies and practices to be among the best in the nation,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. Under the Agreement, the matter will close after the DOJ validates the Department’s practices have been sustained for six months.
By addressing past issues and implementing reforms, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the DOJ have collaborated to assure public confidence in the use of informants in the Orange County criminal justice system. This Agreement is an opportunity for the DOJ to publicly validate that the Sheriff’s Department is sustaining its constitutional policies and procedures. “We took the initiative to immediately begin setting up systems to uphold inmates’ constitutional rights while ensuring effective investigations inside a correctional facility. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s steadfast dedication to address constitutional issues in the jails before an Agreement with the DOJ fosters trust, accountability, and integrity in our criminal justice system,” said Sheriff Barnes.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department provided the DOJ full access to all documents, facilities and personnel during the DOJ’s investigation. The joint effort by the Sheriff’s Department and the DOJ in reaching the Agreement, highlights the culmination of years of hard work and dedication by the men and women of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
“It is encouraging to receive unprecedented DOJ recognition for the landmark improvements and reforms OC Sheriff has established,” said Mary Izadi, Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Constitutional Policing Advisor. “The Agreement does not require any changes or enhancements to our existing internal processes. We anticipate the validation by DOJ to conclude by midyear,” said Izadi, who has also been identified as the Validation Coordinator.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department demonstrates its dedication to continuously protecting the constitutional rights of those within the Orange County criminal justice system by committing to ongoing training, auditing, and transparency measures.
“We are proud to set a standard for law enforcement agencies nationwide regarding the use of custodial informants. Our extensive safeguards go above and beyond constitutional requirements and even exceed those found in the Federal Bureau of Prisons,” said Sheriff Barnes.
For more information on the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s custodial informant reforms, please visit our website at www.ocsheriff.gov.
ORANGE, Ca. (Jan. 13, 2025) – On Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, an inmate housed in the Correctional Medical Services wing of a local hospital died.
42-year-old James Rudolph Jones III was booked into jail on Jan. 11, 2025, by the Buena Park Police Department for a probation violation.
During the booking process, it was determined Jones needed to be transported to the hospital for further medical treatment. On Jan. 12, at approximately 11:57 a.m., Jones was pronounced deceased. Preliminarily, there are no suspicious circumstances. A final cause of death will be determined following an independent autopsy and toxicology.
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.
Rancho Santa Margarita, Ca. (Jan. 29, 2025): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, Jan. 31, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Rancho Santa Margarita.
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.
MISSION VIEJO, Calif. (Jan. 1, 2025) On Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, at approximately 1:43 a.m., Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to an injury traffic collision near the intersection of Marguerite Parkway and Pueblonuevo Drive in the city of Mission Viejo. Deputies arrived and discovered a Chevrolet Malibu and a Toyota Camry had been involved in a head-on collision.
Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears the Chevrolet Malibu was driving the wrong way in southbound lanes of Marguerite Parkway and collided with the Toyota Camry head-on. The adult female driver of the Camry was transported by paramedics to a local area hospital where she was pronounced deceased. The driver and a passenger of the Chevrolet Malibu were also transported to a local area hospital to be treated for injuries related to the collision.
The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu, Geraldine Caicedo-Perez, 26 years old, was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and booked into the Orange County Jail for CPC 191.5(a) – Gross Vehicular Manslaughter.
The identity of the victim, a female in her 60s, is being withheld pending the Coroner Division’s next of kin notification.
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.
ALISO VIEJO, Ca. (Dec. 31, 2024): Captain Ryan Buhr has been selected as the new Chief of Aliso Viejo Police Services. He began his new assignment Friday, Dec. 27.
“I look forward to serving alongside the men and women who remain dedicated to providing exceptional policing services to the city of Aliso Viejo,” Captain Buhr said. “I am grateful for the opportunity to bring my experience and leadership to contribute to this dynamic and hardworking team.”
Captain Buhr joined the Sheriff’s Department In 2004 and served in a variety of roles as a deputy, including working in custody, on patrol in the city of Lake Forest and as a K-9 handler and team leader. In November 2017, he promoted to investigator where he was assigned to the South Narcotics Investigations team.
Captain Buhr earned the rank of sergeant in January 2022 and was first assigned to supervising deputies at the Theo Lacy Facility. He worked as the training sergeant, developing briefing and patrol training curriculum.
He then served as a patrol sergeant in Laguna Hills before being assigned as the North Directed Enforcement Team (North DET) supervisor. As the North DET sergeant, Captain Buhr was responsible for working cases involving career criminals and violent offenders and addressing specific community concerns. He also served as the Sheriff’s Department’s subject matter expert on burglary tourism, presenting to various state and federal leaders.
Most recently, Captain Buhr served as a lieutenant with the Custody Operations Division, managing day-to-day operations in the jail facilities.
Captain Buhr has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and numerous accreditations in a variety of law enforcement disciplines, including narcotics and specialized supervisory and incident command systems certifications.
When not working, Captain Buhr enjoys spending time with his family, camping, golfing and supporting his children’s sports.
ORANGE, Ca. (Dec. 30, 2024) – On Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died.
45-year-old Anthony Creston Brown of Cerritos was booked into jail on Dec. 27, 2024, by the La Palma Police Department on a warrant out of Los Angeles County for CPC 484 – Theft. Another booking charge of CPC 4573.8 – Possessing Drugs/Paraphernalia in Prison/Jail was added by La Palma PD during the booking process.
On the afternoon of Dec. 29, Brown was found unresponsive in his cell. Deputies and correctional medical staff attempted life-saving measures. Brown was pronounced deceased at the Theo Lacy Facility at approximately 4:31 p.m. Preliminarily, there are no suspicious circumstances. A final cause of death will be determined following an independent autopsy and toxicology.
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.
In August of 2017, a deputy was involved in a use of force at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana. The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued.
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In March of 2017, a deputy was 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.
