FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Public Affairs Director Carrie Braun

CBraun@ocsd.org | C: 714-647-7042

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Feb. 12, 2021): Today the Orange County Sheriff’s Department released its first Critical Incident Video. The video depicts the deputy-involved shooting that occurred in Lake Forest, Calif. on June 24, 2020.

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 where 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.

“Critical incidents involving law enforcement demand the highest level of scrutiny and rightfully are a matter of public concern,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “The vast majority of the men and women in this department exceed the expectations of our community every day. Critical Incident Videos will provide an opportunity to see the actions of our deputies during the most difficult circumstances law enforcement officers encounter."

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sgt. Dennis Breckner – Public Information Officer
DBreckner@ocsd.org | C: 714-904-7042

In-custody death of inmate from Central Men’s Jail

SANTA ANA, Ca. (February 9, 2021) – A 42-year-old male inmate housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana died today at approximately 7:47 a.m. of a suspected suicide.

The man was booked into the Orange County Jail by the Orange Police Department on Nov. 8, 2018, on multiple charges including attempted murder and a parole violation.

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.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sgt. Dennis Breckner – Public Information Officer
DBreckner@ocsd.org | C: 714-904-7042

The Sheriff’s Department Working to Curb Distracted Driving

STANTON, Ca. (February 21, 2021) – Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Wednesday, February 24, 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sgt. Dennis Breckner – Public Information Officer
DBreckner@ocsd.org | C: 714-904-7042

The Sheriff’s Department Working to Curb Distracted Driving

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

On Monday, February 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sgt. Dennis Breckner – Public Information Officer
DBreckner@ocsd.org | C: 714-904-7042

The Sheriff’s Department Working to Curb Distracted Driving

STANTON, Ca. (February 15, 2021) – Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Thursday, February 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sgt. Dennis Breckner – Public Information Officer
DBreckner@ocsd.org | C: 714-904-7042

The Sheriff’s Department Working to Curb Distracted Driving

STANTON, Ca. (February 13, 2021) – Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Tuesday, February 16, 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sgt. Dennis Breckner – Public Information Officer
DBreckner@ocsd.org | C: 714-904-7042

The Sheriff’s Department Working to Curb Distracted Driving

STANTON, Ca. (February 6, 2021) – Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing.

On Tuesday, February 9, 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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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sgt. Dennis Breckner – Public Information Officer
DBreckner@ocsd.org | C: 714-904-7042

Mitigation efforts prove successful in decreasing the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Orange County Jail

SANTA ANA, Ca. (February 5, 2021): The Sheriff’s Department has seen a dramatic reduction in the number of positive COVID-19 cases in the Orange County Jail system in the last month as a result of the department’s robust mitigation efforts. On January 5, 2021, 1,109 general population inmates were COVID-19 positive. As of the morning of February 5, 2021, nine general population inmates are COVID-19 positive.

“Since early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be challenging for everyone, and the Orange County Jail system has not been immune from this challenge,” said Don Barnes, Sheriff-Coroner. “Although in December we saw an outbreak in our facilities, we remained steadfast with our strict health and safety protocols, which have proven to be successful throughout the year. This has been accomplished without releasing serious and violent offenders who may pose a danger to Orange County residents.”

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Custody Operations Division and the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Corrections Health Services (CHS) have worked collaboratively to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 within the Orange County Jail system. These mitigation efforts include regular temperature checks of staff and inmates, mandatory masks for staff and inmates, regular testing, diligent hygiene and cleaning practices, release of low level sentenced offenders, pausing public visiting and halting non-essential services.

“We are confident that our efforts will result in the continued successful mitigation of COVID-19 in our jails,” Barnes said. “We will continue to meet the challenges of navigating this pandemic with the health and safety of our staff, contract partners and inmates remaining our top priority.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Public Affairs Director Carrie Braun
CBraun@ocsd.org | C: 714-904-7042

OCSD to hold DUI checkpoint in San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano, Ca. (February 16, 2021) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, February 19, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of San Juan Capistrano.

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 2018, 1,235 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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An attempted traffic stop led to a multi-city pursuit ending with the arrest of two suspects who were driving an unreported stolen vehicle.

 At about 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 28, deputies attempted to stop a vehicle in the area of San Juan Creek and Valle roads in the city of San Juan Capistrano.

 The driver failed to yield, leading the deputies on a pursuit. The driver entered the 5 freeway northbound and exited in the city of Mission Viejo, driving for several miles before pulling into a neighborhood and exiting the vehicle.

 The suspects attempted to run and jumped into the backyard of a residence at the 22000 block of Calle Azorin, but deputies were able to quickly detain them.

 Christopher Dalessandri, 28, was arrested on suspicion of three felonies; wanton disregard for safety, receiving a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest, and three drug-related misdemeanors. He is being held on $50,000 bail and is expected to appear in court of Feb. 1.

 Danielle Castillo, 28, was arrested on suspicion of felony resisting arresting and receiving a stolen vehicle, and three misdemeanor drug charges. She is being held on $20,000 bail and is expected to appear in court Feb. 1.