In March of 2020, a deputy was found to use prejudice/discrimination in the performance of duty. Discipline was issued.
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STANTON, Ca. (June 29, 2022) – At 7:21 p.m. on June 28, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 7000 block of Lessue Avenue in the city of Stanton for unknown trouble. Upon arrival, deputies found a 49-year-old man and 76-year-old man in the street with gunshot wounds. Both men were transported to the hospital where the 49-year-old man, Juan Cristalinas, of Santa Ana, was pronounced deceased.
Multiple suspects fled the location prior to deputies’ arrival. Preliminary information indicates Mr. Cristalinas is a pizza delivery driver who may have stopped to assist the other victim during an assault. The relationship between the injured victim and suspects is under investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau and the North Gang Enforcement Team. Based on witness statements, the suspects are believed to be four Hispanic or white males.
Homicide investigators are actively seeking information in this case. If anyone has any information that may assist the investigation, they are asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous information may be provided through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
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San Juan Capistrano, Ca. (June 15, 2022) – Orange County Sheriff’s Investigators have arrested Yonic Montealvan-Saldivar, 19, for homicide. Montealvan-Saldivar is suspected to have shot and killed 32-year-old Jose Luis Ortiz Dejesus on Monday, May 30, 2022, in San Juan Capistrano.
Just after 9 p.m., deputies were dispatched to the 2600 block of Calle San Francisco for unknown trouble. The victim was found inside a residence with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced deceased by the Orange County Fire Authority at the scene.
The suspect fled the location prior to deputies’ arrival. Investigators were able to identify Montealvan-Saldivar as a person of interest. On June 10, 2022, at about 9 a.m., Montealvan-Saldivar was detained at the Calexico West Port of Entry in Calexico, CA by the US Customs and Border Protection as he was entering the United States. He was transferred to the custody of the Calexico Police Department and booked into the Imperial County Jail on a warrant. On June 13, 2022, Montealvan-Saldivar was returned to Orange County and booked into jail for homicide.
The Orange County Fire Authority and Orange County Sheriff's Department have released a joint statement reference a recent article in the Orange County Register.
STANTON, Ca. (June 2, 2022): Captain Charles Walters has been selected as the new Chief of Stanton Police Services. He will begin serving the city on Friday, June 3.
“I’m honored to have been selected to serve the residents of Stanton and I look forward to joining a team dedicated to providing exceptional law enforcement services to the community,” Captain Walters said.
Captain Walters joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2004 after graduating from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in sociology. He served as a deputy in Custody Operations, Patrol Operations, Training Division and in the Homeland Security Division as an operator on the SWAT team and a member of the Tactical Apprehension Team.
After promoting to Sergeant, Captain Walters was assigned to Custody Operations, the SAFE Division and then the Professional Standards Division, serving in the Internal Affairs Bureau. He then transferred to the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy where he was assigned as an Academy Tactical Sergeant, then as an Arrest and Control Technique Sergeant.
He became a jail Watch Commander as a Lieutenant in March 2019, then promoted to Captain of the OC Sheriff’s Special Operations Division, which provides specialized services during a variety of complex critical incidents. Captain Walters was charged with leading the department’s SWAT, K-9, Crisis Negotiation, Tactical Apprehension and Hazardous Devices teams.
Most recently, Captain Walters was assigned as the Chief of Police Services for Laguna Woods.
Captain Walters also has carried multiple ancillary assignments in his tenure, including serving as an instructor at Rancho Santiago Canyon Community College and as a mentor for OC Sheriff personnel, instilling valuable leadership lessons and preparing them for promotional opportunities.
When not working, Captain Walters dedicates his time to multiple local youth sports organizations, serving as a coach, board member and field maintenance volunteer.
MISSION VIEJO, Ca. (May 19, 2022): The City of Mission Viejo has selected Captain Christopher McDonald as its Chief of Police Services.
"I am honored and humbled to be selected to serve the residents of Mission Viejo.” Captain McDonald said. “I look forward to working with the community and continuing to provide the city with excellent law enforcement services."
Captain Christopher McDonald joined the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 1999. In his time with the Sheriff’s Department, he has served in Custody Operations, Patrol Operations, and in Investigations at the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center (OCIAC) and the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force.
As a supervisor, Captain McDonald worked in Custody Operations, the Crime Analysis Bureau, and as a patrol supervisor in the City of Stanton. Additionally, he has served an ancillary duty as part of the Crisis Negotiation Team. Most recently, Captain McDonald served as a Lieutenant at the Theo Lacy Facility, overseeing daily operations and special projects.
Captain McDonald has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Administration from National University.
Captain McDonald will begin serving the City of Mission Viejo on Friday, May 20.
SANTA ANA Ca, (May 19, 2022): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department reminds everyone taking a trip to visit friends or family over the Memorial Day Weekend to always buckle up and keep children in child safety seats.
This year’s Click it or Ticket campaign is from May 23-June 5. During this time, the Sheriff’s Department will have additional deputies on patrol actively looking for drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt. This includes vehicles where children are not secured in child safety seats.
“Wearing a seat belt should be an automatic for all drivers and passengers,” said OC Sheriff Sgt. John Hopkins. “It’s the safe thing to do, especially when it comes to securing children in child safety seats.”
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 10,893 people killed in crashes throughout the country in 2020 were not wearing seat belts. In California, 756 people killed in crashes in 2020 were not wearing seat belts, or nearly 20 percent of all traffic deaths in the state.
California law requires a child to be secured in a safety or booster seat until they are at least 8 or at least 4 feet, 9 inches tall. Children under the age of 2 must ride in a rear-facing seat unless the child weighs 40 or more pounds or is 40 or more inches tall.
California has a primary seat belt law, which allows law enforcement officers to ticket someone for not wearing a seat belt without committing another traffic violation.
Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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In September of 2020, deputies were involved in an officer involved shooting in the City of San Clemente. The case was investigated by the Orange County District Attorney's Office and no criminal charges were filed.
https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/OIS/OIS.20-031866.zip
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SANTA ANA Ca, (May 16, 2022): OC Sheriff investigators today released additional details about the 68-year-old man arrested on suspicion of entering a Laguna Woods church and shooting multiple victims during a lunch banquet, including evidence that points to a methodical plan devised by the suspect to carry out his crimes.
On Sunday, May 15, 2022, investigators arrested David Chou, 68, of Las Vegas, on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after he entered Geneva Presbyterian Church in the 24000 block of El Toro Road and fired multiple rounds, striking six victims. At the time of the shooting, members of the Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church, which has had a space at the church since 2009, were having a lunch banquet to welcome a pastor who had recently returned from Taiwan.
Five victims sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to local hospitals for treatment. The sixth victim, identified as Dr. John Cheng, 52, of Laguna Niguel, sustained multiple gunshot wounds when he intervened and tackled the suspect, allowing other church members to detain the suspect. The victims also were able to tie his legs with extension cords and confiscate two handguns from the suspect. Dr. Cheng, who was attending the lunch banquet with his mother, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
“Dr. Cheng was a loving family man, dedicated doctor and a beloved member of our community, and we send our deepest condolences to all who knew him,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “There is no doubt that Dr. Cheng’s actions that day saved the lives of many other church members. He is a hero and will be remembered by this community as such.”
Deputies arrived at the scene, arrested the suspect and provided lifesaving measures until paramedics with the Orange County Fire Authority arrived to provide advanced critical care.
Investigators believe the suspect may have traveled to the Southern California area on Saturday, May 14, 2022, and came to the church Sunday morning. During the lunch, the suspect is believed to have secured the doors to the building with chains and placed superglue into the keyholes. He then started shooting inside the building.
Investigators located three bags strategically placed in the building containing various items, including additional ammunition and four Molotov cocktail-type devices. The incendiary devices were collected by the OC Sheriff Hazardous Devices Section and will be analyzed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
OC Sheriff investigators worked with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to serve a search warrant on the suspect’s residence. Investigators currently are processing multiple items of evidence, including electronic devices. In addition, evidence was collected from the suspect’s vehicle, which was located in the church parking lot.
Based on preliminary findings of the investigation, evidence collected, and statements from the suspect, investigators were able to connect the suspect to the shooting. It also was determined the suspect was upset about political tensions involving China and Taiwan.
“It appears this tragic incident was fueled by politically motivated hate, and that is something we do not tolerate,” Barnes said. “Orange County is a community that celebrates diversity and takes pride in being a place people feel safe to worship, work and live. While someone from outside our community has attempted to diminish these ideals through an act of violence, we remain united in our commitment to tolerance and acceptance.”
Additional evidence is still being processed and the investigation is ongoing. The Sheriff’s Department continues to work with the Orange County Fire Authority, ATF, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) on this incident.
LAGUNA WOODS Ca, (May 15, 2022): Orange County Sheriff’s investigators have arrested a man suspected of entering a Laguna Woods church and shooting multiple victims during a lunch banquet.
At 1:26 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2022, deputies responded to reports of a man with a gun at Geneva Presbyterian Church in the 24000 block of El Toro Road. When deputies arrived, they found the congregants had detained the suspect by tackling him then tying his legs with extension cords.
Deputies located one deceased individual and five others who were injured. They immediately began lifesaving measures until paramedics with the Orange County Fire Authority arrived to provide advanced critical care. Five individuals were taken to local hospitals where they are being treated.
The identity of the decedent will be released pending official identification by the Coroner and notification next of kin.
The suspect, who is described as an Asian man in his 60s, was taken into custody and two firearms were recovered at the scene. The man is not believed to live in the area and investigators are working to determine his city of residence and whether he has any connections to the church or its congregants. The identity of the suspect will be released after he is booked into the Orange County Jail.
The investigation remains ongoing. The Orange County Fire Authority, the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are assisting in the incident