STANTON, Ca. (January 7, 2023): On Saturday, January 7, 2023, at around 12:45 a.m., deputies were called to the 7000 block of Katella Avenue in the city of Stanton regarding an assault.

Deputies arrived and discovered the victim, a man in his 40s, who appeared to have multiple stab wounds. He was quickly transported to a nearby hospital; however, the victim was later pronounced deceased.

OC Sheriff’s Homicide investigators responded and began their investigation. Based on the interviews conducted by investigators and the evidence at the scene, Mustafa Mohamedat Mohamed, 37, of Westminster, and Amro Mahmoud Abdelfattah Shahin, 37, of Santa Ana, were arrested and booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of murder.

Official identification of the victim is pending notification by the Coroner Division to next of kin.  

SANTA ANA, Ca. (December 29, 2022): Investigators are looking to identify a person of interest in the 1993 homicide of 61-year-old Alan Jay Schwalbe.

On Wednesday, August 11, 1993, deputies from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the 300 block of 22nd St in Unincorporated Costa Mesa and discovered Mr. Schwalbe stabbed to death in his home.

Although there appeared to be evidence of a struggle, no signs of forced entry were discovered, and it did not appear the location had been ransacked. 

Although the case was rigorously investigated and re-investigated over the years, Mr. Schwalbe’s case remained cold, but OC Sheriff investigators are again taking up the case.

“The technology used to process forensic evidence is continuously growing and expanding. Items that may have been undetectable just a few short years ago now have the possibility of being discovered and these discoveries can foster new investigative leads,” said Investigator Bob Taft, who has specialized in colds cases for the Sheriff’s Department for the past six years. “In addition to new technology, people’s friendships, alliances and associations change over time. People who may have been reluctant to come forward during the original investigation may feel more at ease coming forward now because of a change in these associations.”

After reviewing the case details and evidence that had been collected from the original crime scene, several items of evidence were re-submitted for additional forensic testing, with the hope new forensic technology could discover evidence that was previously undetectable. The results of this new analysis are still pending.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (714) 647-7055 or coldcase@ocsheriff.gov or Orange County Crime Stoppers at (714) 628-7675 or www.crimestoppers.org.

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Santa Ana, Ca. (Dec. 24, 2022) – On Friday, Dec. 23, 2022, an inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died at the hospital.

The decedent is Sean Conroy Whiting, 35, who was booked into jail on Dec. 21 by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for violation of a domestic violence restraining order.

Earlier in the day on Dec. 23, Whiting was transported to OC Global Santa Ana for a medical issue. He died at the hospital around 4:30 p.m. 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.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Ca. (Dec. 19, 2022): San Juan Capistrano Police Services and Sheriff’s Department Investigations are attempting to locate Shirley “Jean” Airth, 94, who was last seen leaving her home in San Juan Capistrano on foot.   

At approximately 5 p.m. on Dec. 18, San Juan Capistrano Police Services received a report that Shirley had left her home on the 32000 block of Via Buena in San Juan Capistrano and was last seen wearing a yellow and white shirt, black sweater with white sparkles, and using a black cane. Shirley is described as a female who is approximately 5’6”, 160 lbs, with light gray hair and hazel eyes.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Sheriff’s Department Dispatch at 714-647-7000.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Nov. 23, 2022): OC Sheriff Special Victims Detail investigators arrested a local high school teacher after finding a series of lewd text messages with an individual he believed was a minor.   

At approximately 7 p.m. on Nov. 18, North Patrol deputies received a report from a resident in unincorporated Santa Ana reference a video posted on social media. In the video, a male subject confronted the teacher alleging an inappropriate text message exchange with a minor.

The OC Sheriff Special Victims Detail investigated and determined the subject in the video posed as a minor to conduct the text message conversation. Investigators on Nov. 23 arrested Roger Kavigan, 55, of Long Beach, and booked him into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of contacting a minor with intent to commit sexual assault.

Investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with information is encouraged to call 714-647-4006. Anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

MISSION VIEJO, Ca. (Nov. 21, 2022): Proactive enforcement efforts in response to an increase in retail theft activity has resulted in the arrest of 14 suspects responsible for stealing nearly $43,000 in property during more than 52 retail theft incidents. 

Since Oct. 4, OC Sheriff’s Mission Viejo Police Services (MVPS) responded to an increased number of theft reports at major retail centers and recovered $25,000 in stolen property. In multiple incidents, organized retail theft groups are suspected of committing the thefts.  

“Leading in to the holiday season, MVPS has increased partnership efforts with private sector retailers, increased our operational deployment, and have undercover units working within the city’s shopping centers,” said Captain Christopher McDonald, Chief of Police Services for the city of Mission Viejo. “As a result, the apprehension of theft suspects and recovery of stolen property has increased significantly.” 

The Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center’s OC Shield, a public-private sector partnership program, also is focusing efforts on retail theft. Most recently, law enforcement and private sector representatives from Orange and Los Angeles counties discussed effective prevention and collaborative investigation strategies.

“Criminals look to capitalize on the busy holiday shopping season, and it is an issue for retailers across Orange County,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “While we proactively address retail theft in our communities in a variety of ways, we also need the community to partner with us.

“We encourage retailers to immediately report any theft and ask shoppers to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity.”

To report a retail theft call OC Sheriff Dispatch at 714-647-7000 or 949-770-6011. In an emergency or to report a crime in progress, call 9-1-1. For holiday safety information and resources visit ocsheriff.gov/staysafeoc.

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The Orange County Sheriff’s Department on Nov. 4 hosted the first countywide effort to rally the community in the fight against fentanyl.  

More than 500 people attended the Fighting Fentanyl Together Forum at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy, which featured law enforcement, clinicians and educators sharing information on topics spanning from statistics and trends to the biology of addiction to prevention strategies.

Turning first to education to emphasize the impact fentanyl has on the community, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes talked about the danger of counterfeit pills and the epidemic among youth using social media to experiment with narcotics.

“Our kids are unknowingly playing Russian roulette when they take these pills,” he said. “This is not specific to age, gender, socioeconomic status or race – it impacts everyone equally.”

Sgt. Brian Gunsolley, who leads the Sheriff’s Department drug education and prevention efforts, added the importance of building a culture of cooperation to address the fentanyl epidemic from all sides – education, prevention and enforcement.

“We need to think about what things we can put in place now to make sure our grandchildren are safe,” he said. “We need to consider long-term management and collaborative solutions so that we can prevent young people from going down that path.”

Part of the education component included helping the community better understand addiction, youth decision-making and brain development. Marshall Moncrief, CEO of Be Well OC, and Dr. Elizabeth Cauffman from the UCI Center for Psychology and Law shared the science behind these concepts to cultivate empathy and drive effective action.  

“The brain disease of addiction is complex and we need to understand that, and respect that,” Moncrief said. “If we’re going to make a difference, we need to do it together.”

Added Dr. Cauffman: “What you do matters. What you say matters. Kids are different and we need to take an approach that fits them in that developmentally appropriate way.”

Balancing the devastating realities of the fentanyl epidemic with hope for the future remained a focal point of the forum. Sharing personal stories of both loss and redemption painted a picture of the impact on local families.  

Dr. Veronica Kelley, Chief of Mental Health and Recovery Services for the Orange County Health Care Agency, shared her personal experience with her daughter, whom she almost lost to addiction and accidental fentanyl poisoning. Her candid presentation highlighted the stress and difficulty of navigating addition and the relief and joy that came when her daughter received the help she needed to live a healthy life.    

“Fentanyl kills. It kills those who are not addicted and it kills those with substance abuse, but recovery does happen,” she said. “When it comes to substance use and misuse or substance abuse, it takes all of us to make an impact.”

Bolstering education with resources and remaining collaborative is what the forum speakers say will help Orange County effectively address the fentanyl epidemic.

“There is a point in life that we can pivot and implement positive change,” Sheriff Barnes said. “I’d love for that to be on a national level, but it can start here at ground zero in our own community. We can give our children the opportunity to live a long and healthy life.”

Hon. Maria Hernandez, Assistant Presiding Judge of the Orange County Superior Court, closed the forum by calling on the audience to take the lessons learned and insight gained to be repeated and shared.  

“You are a solution,” she told the audience. “If you don’t go back and talk to the people you live with, work with, and teach then this is all for nothing.

“You have the ability to take your voice and make an impact.”

RESOURCES

OC Sheriff: Dangers of Fentanyl https://www.ocsheriff.gov/community/dangers-fentanyl

Be Well OC https://bewelloc.org/

Drug Enforcement Administration https://www.dea.gov/

County of Orange, Health Care Agency, Mental Health and Recovery Services https://www.ochealthinfo.com/services-programs/mental-health-crisis-recovery/mental-health

UCI Center of Psychology and Law https://psychlaw.soceco.uci.edu/

Alexander Neville Foundation https://anfhelp.org/

Partners for Wellness https://www.partners4wellness.org/

The Solace Foundation of Orange County https://www.solacefoundationofoc.org/

MISSION VIEJO, Ca. (Nov. 21, 2022): Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Wednesday, Nov. 23, 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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LAKE FOREST, Ca. (Nov. 17, 2022): Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Friday, Nov. 18, 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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LAGUNA HILLS, Ca. (November 10, 2022): Orange County Sheriff’s investigators are seeking the public’s assistance in locating three Olympic Games medals stolen during the course of a home burglary in Laguna Hills.

On Oct. 29, 2022, a residence in the 25000 block of Black Horse Lane was burglarized in the evening hours after suspect(s) stole a safe containing items including three Olympic Games medals. The gold, silver, and bronze medals belonged to an athlete who competed as part of the US Women’s Volleyball team in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games. The medals were being temporarily stored at the home in Laguna Hills when the burglary occurred.

Orange County Sheriff’s investigators are following all leads to identify the suspect(s) responsible for the burglary. No arrests have been made at this time.

If you have any information regarding the burglary or if you see someone in possession of an Olympic Games medal who does not have a valid reason to possess it, you are asked to contact OC Sheriff’s Southwest Investigations Bureau at 949-425-1900. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS (1-855-847-6227).

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***Photo of the stolen medals 

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, gold

Olympic Games Rio 2016, bronze

Olympic Games London 2012, silver