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).

***Photo of the stolen medals 

Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, gold

Olympic Games Rio 2016, bronze

Olympic Games London 2012, silver

Santa Ana, Ca. (November 7, 2022): Orange County Sheriff’s investigators have released an updated forensic rendering of a 2013 John Doe in an effort to identify the man and generate new leads on his homicide case.

On Dec. 24, 2013, the decedent’s body was found by a commercial fishing vessel approximately a mile off the coast of Newport Beach. At the time, investigators estimated the man was Caucasian or possibly Latin American. However due to the condition of the body, his ethnicity could not be confirmed.

Despite their investigation and efforts to identify the man, the case went cold.

OC Sheriff homicide investigators in October 2021 revisited the case and submitted DNA collected from a bone extraction technique to develop a genetic profile on the decedent. Based on this new genetic information, investigators believe the man is primarily of Chinese descent.

Sheriff’s investigators partnered with forensic artist Carl Koppelman to develop an updated rendering based on the genetic profile.

Anyone who recognizes John Doe or may have information on his case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at 714-647-7055 or email coldcase@ocsheriff.gov. Anonymous tips may be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

Santa Ana, Ca. (Nov. 6, 2022) – On Sunday, Nov. 6, 2022, an inmate housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died of complications related to a medical condition. The decedent is Roderick Dunning, 58. He was booked into jail on Feb. 21, 2022, from the Metropolitan State Hospital to have a competency hearing related to a robbery and assault on a peace officer charge.

On the morning of Oct. 20, 2022, Dunning was transported to OC Global Santa Ana for evaluation. He died at OC Global on the morning of Nov. 6, 2022. 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.  

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Nov. 4, 2022) – On Friday, Nov. 4, 2022, an inmate housed at the Men’s Central Jail in Santa Ana died at a local hospital.

The 59-year-old inmate was booked into jail on Oct. 30, 2021, by the Anaheim Police Department for multiple felony counts of child molestation.  The inmate’s name is being withheld pending notification to next of kin.

The inmate was pronounced deceased at the hospital after being transferred there this morning for a medical issue. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology 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.

Aliso Viejo, Ca. (Nov. 1, 2022): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, Nov. 4, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Aliso Viejo.  

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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SANTA ANA, Ca. (Oct. 19, 2022) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will test its emergency mass notification system, AlertOC, on Oct. 20 with a test emergency alert that will be sent to residents’ mobile devices. 

The test will replicate a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional emergency requiring thousands of numbers to be called simultaneously across Orange County. This is the 12th annual regional test of the system and will include multiple municipalities and the county’s unincorporated areas.

“We should all take action to prepare for emergencies and disasters that can affect our communities,” said Michelle Anderson, Director of Emergency Management for the Sheriff’s Department. “Our goal is to increase the overall number of individuals, families and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, school, and places of worship.

“We urge residents and businesses to prepare for the many hazards that threaten our daily lives and sense of normalcy – most often occurring in Southern California with little-to-no warning.”

Disasters, such as the state’s historic wildfires, often occur rapidly, forcing evacuations and road closures to neighborhoods. 

AlertOC, the county’s mass notification system, is a critical link for residents to immediately learn of any required actions, such as evacuating their homes during an imminent fire. AlertOC also enables the county to inform our residents during ongoing incidents, such as a pandemic or other health emergencies.  

The distinctive feature of AlertOC is the ability for individuals to register multiple contact methods and addresses. Registration of cell phone and alternate numbers dramatically increase the ability to reach the greatest number of community members within minutes. This enables landlines, cell phones and e-mail addresses to be incorporated into a single notification system.

Residents can do their part to prepare for emergencies by registering for AlertOC. For more information or to register alternate phone numbers or e-mail addresses, visit AlertOC.org.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Oct. 18, 2022): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department – OC Crime Lab has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) for training and enhanced drug impaired driving testing. 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will use the funding to facilitate the efficient testing of all blood samples collected in DUI investigations for the presence of drugs, regardless of the blood alcohol concentration (BAC).

“We continue to see the impacts of legalization of marijuana and the increase of opioid abuse in our community, including on our roadways,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner.  “Enhanced testing and training provided by this grant helps us hold accountable those who endanger our community by choosing to drive impaired.”

The prevalence of drug-impaired driving is increasing on our roadways.  Based on case derived data collected by the Orange County Crime Laboratory over 50% of drivers arrested for DUI in Orange County have at least one impairing drug in their system other than alcohol.

Illicit drugs and certain prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause impairment in an individual. These substances in combination with even a small amount of alcohol can cause a person to become unable to operate a motor vehicle safely.

“Drug-impaired driving is a significant problem in California,” OTS Director Barbara Rooney said. “Effective drug testing is needed to combat the rise in cases and assist in the prosecution of those who put lives at risk.”

 While alcohol remains the worst offender for DUI crashes, The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reminds drivers that “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.”  Prescription medications and marijuana can also be impairing by themselves, or in combination with alcohol, and can result in a DUI arrest. 

Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

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