MISSION VIEJO, Ca. (April 19, 2021) – Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Thursday, April 22, 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. (April 13, 2021): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will have extra deputies out on patrol Saturday, April 17, in the city of San Juan Capistrano looking for violations made by drivers and motorcyclists that increase the risk of crashes.

With nearly 900,000 registered motorcycles in the state, many roads 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.

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                

OC Sheriffs investigate shooting in Laguna Hills 

LAGUNA HILLS, Ca. (April 8, 2021): Today, a shooting in the city of Laguna Hills left one victim with a non-life threatening gunshot wound and three juvenile suspects arrested.

Orange County Sheriff’s dispatch received a call at 12:23 p.m. of a possible gunshot victim near Dinosaur Park at the 25000 block of Alicia Parkway. Deputies responded to the park and located one victim with a gunshot wound, a male Hispanic in his 40s. The victim was provided immediate medical assistance and transported to a local hospital by the Orange County Fire Authority. 

Additional responding deputies located three subjects attempting to flee the area. After a short foot pursuit, deputies detained the male juvenile subjects. The juveniles are believed to be involved in the incident, and will be booked into juvenile hall. Their identities will not be released at this time.

During the investigation, it was determined that the shooting occurred in the Via Lomas neighborhood near the park. The victim then left the area on foot and walked to the park, where concerned citizens called Sheriff’s dispatch. Deputies located the original incident scene in the nearby neighborhood and it was secured and processed for evidence by the Orange County Crime Lab. 

Based on initial witness statements, it was originally believed there was a fourth outstanding suspect. Patrol deputies, Investigators, K9 unit, Air Support, SWAT and Reserve deputies conducted a thorough search of the area. It is believed that all suspects are in custody at this time. 

A vehicle believed to be involved was located at the park and searched. No weapon was located in the vehicle, and the vehicle will be processed by the Orange County Crime Lab.

This incident may be gang-related, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Gang Enforcement Team is leading the investigation. The investigation is ongoing. 

If you have information to assist the investigation, call Sheriff’s Dispatch at 714-647-7000 or anonymous tips can be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS (1-855-847-6227) or online at occrimestoppers.org. 

We appreciate the patience from the community with the large incident scene and ongoing investigation.

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SANTA ANA, Ca. (April 6, 2021): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department encourages drivers to give the phone a break and focus on the road.

Throughout the month of April, the Sheriff’s Department will have additional deputies on patrol specifically looking for drivers who violate the state’s hands-free cell phone law.

“Anything that pulls a driver’s attention from the road, especially a phone, puts everyone at risk,” said Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes.  “We want you to be safe while driving, which means keeping your focus on the road.”  

According to the 2020 California Statewide Public Opinion Survey, more than 75% of surveyed drivers listed “Distracted Driving because of TEXTING” as their biggest safety concern.

Under current law, drivers are not allowed to hold a phone or other electronic device while behind the wheel. Drivers under 18 are not allowed to use a phone for any reason, including hands-free.

If you need to make a call or send a text, pull over and park at a safe location. Drivers should silence their phones or put the phone out of reach, such as the glove box or trunk.

Funding for distracted driving 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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NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OC Sheriff’s investigators arrest Southern California serial bank robbery suspect

ALISO VIEJO, Ca. (April 2, 2021) – Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested a man suspected of a series of recent bank robberies across Southern California.

At approximately 2:40 p.m. on March 10, 2021 a male suspect committed a bank robbery in the 26000 block of Aliso Creek Road in the city of Aliso Viejo.

Upon investigation, it was determined the suspect was involved in a series of bank robberies in February 2021 and March 2021 in Orange, Los Angeles, Ventura and San Diego counties. The suspect targeted banks in grocery stores. He would pass his cell phone to the teller, which contained a note demanding money and indicating the suspect was armed.

Orange County Sheriff’s investigators wrote multiple search warrants and their work led to identification of the suspect. Kyle Marquise Adlam, 24, was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail on Wednesday, March 31, on suspicion of robbery.

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Narcotics investigators seized thousands of illicit pills, drugs, guns and cash after a traffic stop in South Orange County.  

At about 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 31, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the city of Irvine, which resulted in the discovery of illicit pills stamped as known prescription medication. Investigators collected 40,000 counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine and 10,000 counterfeit Xanax pills containing fentanyl.

The roadside seizure led to the issuance of a warrant to search the suspect’s Irvine residence where investigators collected additional substances including two pounds of the hallucinogenic psilocybin, 29 grams of cocaine, and 800 THC vape cartridges. An additional 6,515 pills of illicit Adderall containing methamphetamine and 10,100 illicit Xanax pills containing fentanyl also were found at the residence, along with two handguns, one assault rifle, and about $124,000 in cash.

The 24-year-old man was booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of felony possession of narcotics for sale, felony transport of narcotics for sale, and felony possession of controlled substances for sale.

The Sheriff’s Department Working to Curb Distracted Driving

Stanton, Ca. (April 23, 2021) – Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Monday, April 26, 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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