Two men are in custody after keen observation by an Orange County Sheriff’s deputy interrupted a commercial burglary in progress.
At approximately 2:45 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4, a deputy was conducting a patrol check in the business area of Lake Forest Drive and Rockfield Avenue in the city of Lake Forest when he noticed a woman sitting in a vehicle parked outside a business.
As the deputy approached the vehicle, he saw the door to WaBa Grill was ajar and there were two men wearing masks inside. The deputy called for assistance and multiple units responded to surround the building.
The suspects attempted to escape by smashing the rear glass door of the business, but deputies were there to take them into custody.
Lavone King, 29, of Long Beach, was arrested on suspicion of felony commercial burglary and a parole violation. He currently is being held at the Orange County Jail and is not eligible for bail. Martin Peoples, 28, of Palmdale, was arrested on suspicion of felony burglary and is also being held at the Orange County Jail. His bail is set at $120,000.
Whitney Finlayson, 32, of Adelanto, also was booked into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of burglary and has posted bond.
“These arrests are a great example of proactive policing by our deputies,” said Cmdr. Dave Sawyer, who oversees field operations for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. “The Sheriff’s Department actively works to stop crime and arrest people who choose to break the law.”
SANTA ANA, Ca. (November 9, 2018) - In June 2018, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) became aware of an issue with attorney-client privileged phone calls between inmates and their attorneys. In July 2018, the contractor who provides phone service to inmates in the OCSD jails, Global Tel Link Corporation (GTL), revealed that due to human error by a GTL employee, 1,079 inmate telephone calls to numbers that should have been designated as “do not record” were erroneously recorded by the contractor.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (Nov. 7, 2018) – Please see the statement below from Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. “I congratulate Sheriff-elect Don Barnes on a well-earned victory! He is the right person for the job and will be ready to lead the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on day one.”
STANTON, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2018) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will step up bike and pedestrian safety enforcement operations in the city of Stanton on Monday, Nov. 12, with focused enforcement on collision-causing factors involving motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (Nov. 2, 2018) - The Orange County Sheriff’s Department – OC Crime Lab has been awarded a $316,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for training and enhanced DUID testing.
Across the nation, the opioid crisis continues to ravage communities and claim new victims every day, including here in Orange County.
The most dramatic change law enforcement has seen in this recent epidemic has been the introduction of fentanyl – a highly potent synthetic opioid that is strong enough to cause an overdose with as little as 2 milligrams.
Since January, OCSD narcotics teams have intercepted 12.5 kilograms of this deadly drug and arrested seven people attempting to sell and transport it. That amount is enough for roughly 6 million people – nearly twice the county’s population -- to fatally overdose.
Fentanyl does not discern whether the user is a first-timer or a long-time abuser. It is impossible for an individual to know their limit with this drug, and there is no such thing as experimenting because one use could be enough to prompt the body to shut down.
Fentanyl is that dangerous, and the numbers prove it.
According to the Orange County Crime Lab, from 2015 to 2016, the county saw a 100 percent increase in deaths attributed to fentanyl. Los Angeles County saw a 136 percent increase for that same time period.
In 2010, fentanyl was found in postmortem testing in 23 deaths. In 2017, that number jumped to 67 deaths, which could climb higher once all pending 2017 cases are cleared.
For DUIDs: There were seven cases with fentanyl detected in 2016, but last year that number jumped to 44 cases.
Labeling this sharp increase in the use of opioids, specifically fentanyl, a crisis is not an overstatement.
The 12.5 kilograms seized by OCSD so far this year is from one division – albeit a very active one -- of a department that employs diverse programs to intercept illegal drugs and hold those trafficking them accountable.
In addition to narcotics teams and the Highway Interdiction Team, those responsible for the 12.5 kilograms seized, Operation Stonegarden tackles similar smuggling attempts on the water and the Regional Narcotics Suppression Program (RNSP) focuses on intervening in drug import attempts in a variety of ways, including by using air surveillance. Personnel working the airport and Orange County transit systems focus on catching any attempts to move narcotics in our county, while patrol deputies also make this effort a routine part of their shift.
On the analysis side, the Orange County Crime Lab helps put the problem into context so law enforcement better understands the scope of the issue and can better deploy resources.
While the Sheriff’s Department actively and aggressively pursues those bringing fentanyl and other illegal drugs into the county, drug education in our community continues to be a critical prevention component.
The Sheriff’s Department is proud to partner with local schools through the work of Community Programs, Drug Liaison Officers, School Resource Officers and the Pepperdine Resource, Youth Diversion and Education (PRYDE) program. These programs are vital to educating youth and teens about the dangers of drugs, but these lessons must extend beyond the school campus.
Parents and community members can help by learning more about the dangers of fentanyl, and other opioids, and talking with children and teens about it. Start these talks early and have them often. Find valuable resources by visiting drugfree.org.
October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department encourages you to take steps to protect yourself from cyber-attacks and fraud.
Cyber scammers use internet services or software to steal your identity, credit card information, or place malware on your computer.
Suspects of cybercrime use many different methods to solicit personal information from you by pretending to be government, police, and IRS officials.
Types of scams include:
• Text Phishing Schemes
• Online Employment Scams
• Tech Support Scams
• Telephone Taxes Due Scams
• Telephone Utilities Due Scams
• Item Listed for Sale Check Scams
• Warrant for Your Arrest Scams
Cybercriminals rely on the fact that most people do not change the default user names and passwords to gain access to your device. It only takes one such device on your network to corrupt the entire network.
Steps you can take to prevent cybercrime include:
• Use strong passwords
• Don’t send your password via email, chat, text or at all!
• Log off of unattended PCs
• Place secure passwords on mobile devices
• Set up two-step verification on your online accounts wherever possible
• Pay attention to the URLs of websites you visit
• Use a firewall and anti-virus software
• Frequently check your privacy and security settings, customize them with how much you want to share
• Always lock your screen when you’re finished using your computer, tablet, or phone
Visit http://www.ocsd.org/about_ocsd/staysafeoc/cyber_safety to learn more about Cyber Safety, Scams, and how to file a report in the event that you are a victim of a cybercrime.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (October 23, 2018) - The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) has partnered with the Mexican Consulate in Santa Ana to produce Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to remind Orange County residents that OCSD does not enforce immigration laws while on patrol.
SANTA ANA, Ca. (October 19, 2018) - Please see the link below to a video of Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens providing a statement regarding the use of force that occurred in Stanton on August 19, 2018.
Every year, over 175 million Americans partake in Halloween festivities, with seven out of ten consumers planning to hand out candy. 41 million children ages 5 to 14 will go trick-or-treating.
As trick-or-treaters haunt the streets on Halloween, their risk of being injured by motorists increases greatly. Parents, children, and drivers must remain extra vigilant to prevent injuries and fatalities.
Children and Parents:
• Children under 12 should trick-or-treat and cross streets with an adult.
• Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to the left as possible.
• Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Parents should remind children to watch for cars that are turning or backing up.
• Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Walk, don’t run, across the street.
• Go with your children to the door of every home you visit. Never let your children enter a stranger’s home without permission. Only approach homes with lit porch lights, or ones that clearly are inviting trick-or-treaters.
Drivers:
• Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on
Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
• Anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day so you can spot children from greater distances.
• Remember that costumes can limit children’s visibility and they may not be able to see your vehicle.
• Reduce any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
Costumes and Treats:
• Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and choose bright colored costumes to improve visibility.
• Choose face paint and make-up instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
• Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights in order to see better, as well as to be seen by drivers.
• Check treats for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them. Candy should be thrown away if the wrapper is faded or torn, or if the candy is unwrapped.
• Avoid using Halloween decorations with real flames. Instead, use battery-operated lights to illuminate your jack-o-lanterns. If you must use actual candles, never leave them unattended and keep them away from curtains.
