SANTA ANA, Calif. (April 30, 2025) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is encouraging everyone to be alert to keep bicyclists safe. With the arrival of warmer weather, more people are biking for commuting, exercise or recreation, making it essential for all people to look out for one another and save lives. 

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 1,105 people killed while riding a bike in 2022, and an estimated 46,195 bicyclists were injured.

“Bicycling is a great means of transportation and recreation, and everyone deserves to ride to their destination safely,” Sergeant Kyle Ishii said. “Whether you are behind the wheel or on two wheels, we all share the responsibility to move safely on our roads.”

To help keep people biking or walking safe, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct traffic safety operations throughout the month focused on driver behaviors that put bicyclists and pedestrians at risk, such as speeding, making illegal turns, failure to yield right of way and stop sign/red light running.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department suggests the following safety tips for bicyclists and drivers: 

Drivers

• Slow down and follow the speed limit. Be careful traveling through intersections.

• Look carefully for bicyclists and pedestrians before making a turn or opening a car door near streets or bike paths.

• Be patient when traveling behind a bicyclist and give them space when passing. California law requires drivers to change a lane, when possible, to pass bicyclists and always pass with at least 3 feet of space. 

• Never drive distracted or impaired.

Bike Riders

• Use lights at night.

• Although not required for riders 18 and older, always wear a properly secured helmet. Helmets significantly reduce the chance of a head injury in the event of a crash.

• Bicyclists must travel in the same direction of traffic and have the same requirements as any slow-moving vehicle.

• Yield to pedestrians, just as a driver would. Pedestrians have the right-of-way within marked or unmarked crosswalks at intersections. 

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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SANTA ANA, Calif. (April 30, 2025) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department is reminding drivers to always look twice for motorcycles. With the arrival of warmer weather, more motorcycles are taking to the roads, making it essential for everyone to stay alert to help reduce crashes and save lives. 

“Motorcycles may be difficult to spot, so be extra careful before changing lanes,” Sergeant Kyle Ishii said. “A simple double take can make a life-saving difference. Motorcycle riders do not have the same protections drivers and passengers do. Let's all do our part to keep each other safe out there.”

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, there were 6,218 motorcyclists killed in traffic crashes in 2022, representing 15 percent of total highway fatalities for that year. In California, 634 motorcyclists were killed in 2022, an increase of 3.8 percent from 2021.

Throughout the month, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct traffic safety operations throughout the month focused on driving behaviors that put motorcyclists at risk.

To help protect you and your family, keep the following tips in mind while driving or riding:

Drivers

• Always check mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes.

• Do not follow a motorcycle too closely. Always keep a safe distance.

• If you see a motorcycle with a signal on, be careful. Be sure that the rider is turning before moving ahead.

Motorcyclists

• Always wear a U.S. DOT-compliant helmet with eye protection.

• Wear leather or other sturdy clothing such as a jacket, pants, boots with nonskid soles and gloves. Add reflective strips or decals to your clothing and motorcycle to make it easier for other drivers to see you.

• Ride defensively. Don’t assume a driver can see you. Avoid riding in a driver’s blind spot. 

• Always keep your lights on, even during the day.

Lastly, both drivers and riders should never drive/ride distracted or under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

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

Mission Viejo, Calif. (April 26, 2025): On Friday, April 25, 2025, at around 7:30 p.m., deputies were called to an apartment complex on La Glorieta in the city of Mission Viejo reference a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Deputies arrived and rendered aid to the victim. The Orange County Fire Authority arrived and transported the victim to the hospital where he was pronounced deceased. The victim has been identified as Miguel Joaquin Mata, 39, of Mission Viejo. 
Deputies established a perimeter and located the suspect, Sean Jeffery Williams, 55, of Mission Viejo. Williams is a resident of an apartment near the victim, though it is unknown at this time what led to the shooting. 
OC Sheriff’s Homicide investigators responded and began their investigation. Based on the interviews conducted by investigators and the evidence at the scene, Williams was arrested and booked into Orange County Jail on suspicion of homicide. No further information will be released at this time.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.
 

Dana Point, Ca. (May 7, 2025): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OC Sheriff) will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, May 9, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Dana Point.

DUI checkpoint locations are determined based on data showing incidents of impaired driving-related crashes. The primary purpose of DUI checkpoints are to promote public safety by taking suspected impaired drivers off the road.

“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Sgt. Kyle Ishii said. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improve traffic safety.”

OC Sheriff reminds the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

Drivers charged with a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, as well as a suspended license.

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

In accordance with Assembly Bill 481, the Orange County Sheriff's Department will hold a community meeting on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 1 p.m. in the County Administration Building South’s Conference Center located at 601 N. Ross St., Santa Ana, CA 92701. 

The community will have an opportunity to gather information about AB 481 and ask questions of Sheriff’s Department personnel. 

More information about AB 481 can be found HERE.  

DANA POINT, Ca. (April 14, 2025): Captain Frank Gonzalez has been selected as the new Chief of Dana Point Police Services. He will begin his new assignment on Friday, April 18.

“Being selected as the Dana Point Chief of Police Services is both an honor and a great responsibility,” Captain Gonzalez said.  “I look forward to working alongside an exceptional team and serving an engaged community where safety is a shared priority.” 

Captain Gonzalez joined the Sheriff’s Department in 2006 and served in Custody Operations before working patrol in North Operations. In 2016, Captain Gonzalez was assigned to the Tactical Training Center, where he instructed personnel on various topics including driving tactics, less-lethal tactics and active shooter response. That same year, he joined the Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) as an ancillary assignment, providing critical support during dynamic incidents, including high-risk warrant services and barricaded suspect calls. 

Captain Gonzalez was promoted to sergeant in 2019 and was assigned to the Intake Release Center, where he worked in the custody Behavioral Health Bureau to provide services in collaboration with the OC Healthcare Agency to incarcerated persons with mental health or substance use disorders. 

Captain Gonzalez was then assigned as a patrol sergeant for North Operations and, in 2020 as an ancillary duty, was selected to lead CNT. He became the Behavioral Health Bureau sergeant in 2022, leading the operational team tasked with proactively engaging those experiencing homelessness and individuals with mental health needs.   

Captain Gonzalez was selected as the Sheriff’s Department’s Public Information Officer in 2023, where he served as the liaison to the media and spokesperson for the agency. 

He was promoted to lieutenant in 2024 and was assigned to the James A. Musick Facility. Most recently, he served as Captain for Court Operations, overseeing daily public safety services for the county’s justice centers.  

He has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Management and also serves as a Sheriff’s Department instructor for courses including crisis intervention, crisis negotiations and effective law enforcement communications.  

Captain Gonzalez’s predecessor, Captain Todd Hylton, was selected to lead the Real-Time Operations Center, which uses a wide range of technologies to effectively and safely respond to incidents. 

• Read more about In-Custody Death – April 8, 2025

On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, an inmate who was housed at the Intake Release Center in Santa Ana died while in custody. The decedent, Luis Carlos Olivas JR a 42-year-old Hispanic male, was in custody for PC 3056 – Parole Violation. The decedent's manner and means of death are awaiting final determination by the Orange County Coroner.

Mission Viejo, Ca. (April 10, 2025): On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at around 2 p.m., deputies were called to the 27000 block of Camden in the city of Mission Viejo. A family member called after she found her 21-year-old brother, Cristopher Bahenabaylon, bleeding on the couch in their apartment. Deputies arrived and immediately rendered aid to the victim who was suffering from an apparent stab wound to his chest. Orange County Fire Authority arrived and pronounced Cristopher deceased.

Deputies established a perimeter and found physical evidence which led to the detention of a juvenile Hispanic male who lived in the same apartment complex.

OC Sheriff’s Homicide investigators responded and began their investigation. Based on the interviews conducted by investigators and the evidence at the scene, the juvenile male was arrested and booked into the Orange County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of murder. No further information will be released at this time.

Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Orange County Sheriff's Department at (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855- 847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org

Laguna Woods, Ca. (April 10, 2025): On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victim’s Detail (SVD) investigators arrested Robert Mario Perri, 66, Laguna Woods, in connection with multiple incidents of indecent exposure.

In April 2025, SVD investigators were notified of multiple incidents of indecent exposure in Laguna Woods. Multiple elderly victims reported the incidents to Laguna Woods security personnel, and three victims filed formal reports with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

During the investigation, SVD investigators identified the suspect and discovered Perri used his white convertible Ford Mustang to follow his victims to their residence. He would then return to the residence and expose himself to the victims later.

Perri was booked into the Orange County Jail on charges of indecent exposure.

SVD Investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Detail at (714)-647- 7419 or (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips can be sent to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org

Unincorporated Santa Ana, Ca. (April 9, 2025): On Thursday, April 3, 2025, Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victim’s Detail (SVD) investigators arrested Anthony Oscar Alcala, 28, Huntington Beach, following allegations he had sexual relationships with two juvenile females between 2017-2023.

In Feb. 2025, SVD investigators were contacted by an organization aimed at reducing sexual assaults on athletes. The victims were subsequently contacted, and an investigation ensued. Both victims alleged Alcala, while working as a wrestling coach at El Modena and Foothill High Schools, groomed and had sexual relationships with them.

During the investigation, SVD investigators discovered Alcala had a prior employment as a coach at a private wrestling club in Placentia, Premier Wrestling (formerly known as Somar Wrestling).

Alcala was booked into the Orange County Jail on multiple felony charges including sexual intercourse with a minor.

Due to Alcala’s access to juveniles, SVD investigators believe there may be additional victims. Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Detail at 714-647-7419 or Dispatch at 714-647-7000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.