San Clemente, Ca. (Mar. 29, 2023): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, Mar. 31, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of San Clemente.  

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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LAGUNA NIGUEL, Ca. (March 25, 2023): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra deputies out on patrol Monday, March 27, in the city of Laguna Niguel looking for violations made by drivers and motorcyclists that increase the risk of crashes.

With nearly 900,000 registered motorcycles in the state, many road users are going places without the same protections as drivers.  Motorcycle riders are 28 times more likely to die in a crash than vehicle occupants. 

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

Motorcyclist:

•           Always wear a DOT compliant helmet and protective gear like gloves and leather clothing

•           Consider adding reflective tape to your clothing to make it easier for other drivers to see you

•           Keep your lights on at all times, 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, or between large vehicles like big rigs and motor homes

All motorcycle riders, regardless of skill level, are encouraged to enroll in the California Motorcyclist Safety Program. Information and training locations are available at http://www.californiamotorcyclist.com or by calling 1-877 RIDE-411 (1-877-743-3411).

Funding for motorcycle safety enforcement operations are 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. (Mar. 22, 2022) – At 4:44 p.m. on Mar. 21, 2023, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 27000 block of Ruisenor in the city of Mission Viejo due to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies detained a suspect, evacuated the house, and discovered a 22-year-old man who sustained a gunshot wound. The victim was identified as Noah Christian Aguilar from Mission Viejo. Aguilar was pronounced deceased by the Orange County Fire Authority at the scene. The suspect and victim were roommates.

This incident is being investigated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Detail. The suspect, Michael Guy Levy, 22, of Mission Viejo, was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of homicide. The firearm believed to be the weapon used was collected at the scene.

If anyone has any specific details, they are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.

LAKE FOREST, Ca. (Mar. 15, 2023): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, Mar. 17, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Lake Forest.  

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.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 9, 2023): Captain AJ Patella has been selected as the new North Patrol Bureau Captain.

The North Patrol Bureau Captain serves as the Chief of Police Services for the city of Villa Park and the county’s north unincorporated areas. Captain Patella also will manage public safety services for major county events, including the Orange County Fair, and various festivals and events at Orange County parks.

“North Patrol offers unique opportunities in law enforcement, providing for the safety of more than 70,000 residents who call the area home, and also protecting those who visit and enjoy many major events in Orange County throughout the year,” Captain Patella said. “Having previously served the North Patrol communities, I am honored to be selected and look forward to contributing to the future successes of the bureau.”

Captain Patella joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1999 as a Sheriff’s Special Officer, working at the James A. Musick Facility. In 2003, he became a deputy sheriff, serving in Custody Operations then Patrol Operations. He worked in North Patrol, where he served as a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE), Field Training Officer and as the Administrative Deputy, coordinating public safety services for various special events.

He was promoted to sergeant and worked a variety of assignments, including Custody Operations and the Professional Services Command, where he was assigned to Internal Affairs then the Carry Concealed Weapon (CCW) Unit.

Captain Patella promoted to Lieutenant in 2020 and was assigned to the Central Jails Division as the Watch Commander before serving as the Department Commander, managing day-to-day patrol operations for the department. Most recently, he served as Captain of the Behavioral Health Bureau, overseeing a multi-disciplinary team committed to assisting the homeless population and those with mental health needs through a robust program that includes proactive engagement and resource distribution.

In addition, Captain Patella has extensive specialized law enforcement training in Critical Incident Response, Mobile Field Force, Incident Command Systems and Special Event Management and Operations. He will begin his new assignment Friday, March 10.

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 3, 2023): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department on Wednesday, Feb. 22, promoted 18 personnel in a ceremony held at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy, including a new Commander.

Commander Kirsten Monteleone will be assigned to Southeast Operations, overseeing the cities of Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Rancho Santa Margarita, and the county’s south unincorporated areas. She also will lead the School Mobile Assessment and Resource Team (SMART), Field Training Bureau, the South Directed Enforcement Team and General Crimes Investigations.

She assumed her new role Feb. 24.

“Commander Monteleone’s work ethic and dedication to public service is reflected in the way she leads,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “Those attributes combined with her operational experience and skill set will serve the communities of Southeast Orange County very well.”

Commander Monteleone joined the department in 1999 and first served in Custody Operations then Patrol Operations, working in the cities of Laguna Niguel and Dana Point. Other assignments in her tenure include the Field Training Bureau and SAFE (Strategy. Accountability. Focus. Evaluation.). Upon promoting to Lieutenant in 2019, she was assigned to the Theo Lacy Jail as the Watch Commander. 

For the last four years, Commander Monteleone served as the Chief of Police Services for the city of Dana Point, responsible for providing public safety services to more than 34,000 residents.

Commander Monteleone has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a bachelor’s degree in German from California State University, Fullerton and a master’s degree in Emergency Services Administration from California State University, Long Beach.

Four investigators, eight sergeants and five lieutenants also were promoted and began their new assignments on Feb. 24.

“Each promotee serves as a leader in this organization and I look forward to the positive impacts they will have on the community,” Sheriff Barnes said.  

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LAKE FOREST, Ca. (March 1, 2023) – At 1:50 a.m. on March 1, 2023, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 22000 block of Bellcroft Drive in Lake Forest for an unknown trouble call. When deputies arrived, they located a woman in her 70s with multiple stab wounds inside the residence. The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene. A woman in her 30s and a man in his 70s, both residents of the home, were detained at the scene.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau responded to investigate. At this time, it is suspected that the woman in her 30s is responsible for the murder of the woman in her 70s, who is her mother. The name of the victim is being withheld at this time while the Orange County Coroner positively identifies her. The suspect, Courtney Baker, 32, of Lake Forest, has been booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of homicide. The man in his 70s was determined to be the informant and is not believed to be involved in the incident, at this time.

If anyone has additional details that may assist investigators, they are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at 714-647-7000. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS. 

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 27, 2023): Orange County’s first Homeless Death Review Committee issued its inaugural report today, reviewing deaths of people experiencing homelessness in 2021. The report’s findings show that deaths among people experiencing homelessness have risen substantially over the last decade, from 103 in 2012 to 395 in 2021, and that the leading cause of death is drug-related, with fentanyl as a factor in 144 of the deaths.

The Coroner Division of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department led the Homeless Death Review Committee, commissioned by Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes in January 2022. The Committee includes broad representation of technical experts from county agencies, municipal police departments, hospitals, and non-profits.  The Committee has met multiple times since March 2022 to explore the root causes of homeless deaths to determine what, if any, factors contributing to the deaths were preventable.

In addition to the increase in the total number of deaths among people experiencing homelessness, the Committee found that accidental deaths became the leading manner of death in 2020, surpassing natural deaths. Of the 235 accidental deaths, 76 percent were drug-related, with fentanyl as a factor in more than three-quarters of the drug-related deaths. The Committee also looked at the number of decedents with at least one experience in the Orange County Jail, finding that 309 of the 395 had at least one episode in custody within the last five years.

“The findings by the Homeless Death Review Committee are telling, and it’s clear that we have challenges ahead to reduce the number of deaths among people experiencing homelessness,” said Sheriff Barnes. “The rise in the number of deaths of people experiencing homelessness is concerning. Most troubling is the significant increase we are seeing in fentanyl-related deaths.

“We continue to enhance efforts to address the fentanyl epidemic and provide critical resources to those trapped in addiction. It will be imperative that we also look at the clear correlation between incarceration of people experiencing homelessness and work to increase the number of people taking advantage of programs while they are in custody.

“In addition to drug-related death increases, the rates of suicide and homicide among individuals in this population are significantly higher than national averages. What this demonstrates is people experiencing homelessness are subject to higher rates of crime and suicide. Mental illness among people experiencing homelessness may be a contributing factor to suicides. During the Committee’s review of 2022 data, I will ask that they review and present recommendations on these two areas of concern.” 

The Committee provided recommendations based on their findings. Chief among the recommendations is for legislation to be enacted to enable full sharing of data, allowing the committee to complete a case-by-case review of each death instead of relying on aggregate data. To rectify this barrier, Sheriff Barnes is sponsoring legislation authored by Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, AB 271, which will permit data sharing among mortality review committees.

“Going forward the Homeless Death Review Committee will continue to meet and identify opportunities to reduce preventable deaths,” said Sheriff Barnes. “I appreciate the Committee’s commitment to the value of each life and know that their work will result in a positive difference.”

Click here to read the Report on 2021 Orange County Homeless Deaths.

DANA POINT, Ca. (Feb. 21, 2023): Captain Todd Hylton has been selected as the new Chief of Dana Point Police Services. He will begin his new assignment Friday, Feb. 24.

“Having previously served the city of Dana Point, I look forward to returning in this new capacity and sharing my experience with the community,” Captain Hylton said.  “I am humbled and honored to lead the dedicated team that works hard daily to create a safe place to visit and live.”

Captain Hylton joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2004 and worked as a deputy in Custody Operations and Patrol Operations. He first served in unincorporated North Orange County then the city of Yorba Linda, where he started the city’s first Explorer Division for youth interested in a career in law enforcement.

He was promoted to sergeant where he worked a variety of assignments, including Custody Operations and Court Operations, before being a field supervisor in the city of Dana Point.  As a sergeant, he also worked in the Mutual Aid Bureau, Internal Affairs, and as the department’s Public Information Officer.

Captain Hylton promoted to Lieutenant in 2022 and was assigned to the Theo Lacy Jail as the Watch Commander.  Most recently, he served as the jail’s Special Projects Lieutenant.

In addition, Captain Hylton has extensive specialized law enforcement training in Critical Incident Response, Mobile Field Force, and Incident Command Systems. He also is well-versed in special event management and crisis communications strategy and management. 

He has a bachelor’s degree in legal studies from the University of California, Berkeley and currently serves as an instructor at Rancho Santiago Community College.

Captain Kirsten Monteleone, Dana Point’s current Chief of Police Services, is being promoted to Commander of Southeast Operations, overseeing the cities of Lake Forest, Mission Viejo and Rancho Santa Margarita, and the county’s south unincorporated areas. She also begins her new assignment Feb. 24.

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (February 9, 2023): Today, Thursday, February 9, 2023, at about 6:30 a.m.,
the Orange County Sheriff’s Department was notified by the Riverside County Sheriff’s
Department of a tragic traffic collision in the city of Lake Elsinore involving one of our own
deputies. Our deputy sustained traumatic injuries due to the single vehicle collision and was later
pronounced deceased at the scene.

Please refer to the following statements from the Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, and San
Juan Capistrano Mayor Howard Hart for further information:

Statement from Sheriff Barnes:
“Our hearts break with the news of the death of our fallen brother, Deputy Brian Haney. On behalf
of the entire family at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, our thoughts and prayers are with
his family and friends in recognition and honor of Brian.
“Brian was hired by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on August 19, 2016. He served
courageously with us for six years. Brian performed his duties at the Theo Lacy Facility and San
Juan Capistrano Police Services, where he was a member of the Critical Incident Response Team
(CIRT). His brothers and sisters in our department described him as a quick learner, hard worker,
and team player. He was known for his infectious smile, humorous and timely wit, and love for his
peers.

“Most importantly, Brian was a beloved husband to his wife, Leslee, and new father to their one-
month-old son, Cole.

“Brian earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Criminal Justice. Brian also was a member of
the Air Force Reserve as a Senior Airman.

“Our focus will be on Brian’s loved ones who lost a husband, a father, a brother, and a son this
morning. We are also focused on our department family who are recovering from our loss of a
partner.”

Statement from Mayor Howard Hart:
“On behalf of both my family and the Council, I’m both shocked and deeply saddened to learn of
the loss of one of our finest, Deputy Brian Haney, this morning. I am especially devastated to
learn that he leaves behind a loving wife and a newborn baby to whom he was returning home
when this terrible accident occurred. I know my San Juan Capistrano neighbors will join me in
prayers of comfort and support for Deputy Haney’s family and loved ones.”