| Orange County California - Sheriff's Department

Orange County Crime Lab Awarded Competitive Grant from CHP’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program (CTFGP)

July 12, 2021

SANTA ANA, Ca. (July 12, 2021) –The Orange County Crime Laboratory Division (OC Crime Lab) of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has been awarded a competitive grant in the amount of $467,700 for Laboratory Automation and Efficiency Improvement from the California Highway Patrol’s Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program. Through this unique and first-time funding opportunity, the OC Crime Lab will purchase robotic instrumentation for sample preparation and screening. Funds will also be used for training and validation of the state-of-the-art instrumentation. All Orange County Law Enforcement will benefit from improved testing capabilities and quicker evidence analysis turn-around times.

The OC Crime Lab is an established leader in Driving Under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) toxicology forensic testing and expert testimony. This additional funding source will be utilized to expand our capabilities with the goal of improving roadway safety.

With the passage of Proposition 64, The Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use Marijuana Act (AUMA), in 2016 California voters mandated the state set aside funding for the California Highway Patrol to disperse to local governments and qualified nonprofit organizations for the education, prevention, and enforcement of impaired driving laws pursuant to Revenue and Taxation Code Section 34019. The purpose of the Cannabis Tax Fund Grants Program is to provide alternative funding sources to augment, but not supplant, current activities and programs.

In-custody death of inmate from Theo Lacy Facility

July 2, 2021

SANTA ANA, Ca. (July 2, 2021) – A 39-year-old male inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died Thursday evening at a local hospital. The death is not believed to be related to the Covid-19 pandemic and the investigation is ongoing.

The inmate was booked into Orange County jail in June 2021 by the Sheriff’s Department on suspicion of cruelty to a child. He was located in his cell unresponsive around 11 a.m. on June 24, 2021 and deputies performed lifesaving measures. He was subsequently transferred to the hospital, where he remained until his death.
Preliminarily, there does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.

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.

Registered Nurse Suspected of Sexual Elder Abuse and Sexual Assault

June 30, 2021

SANTA ANA, Ca. (June 30, 2021): On Wednesday, June 30, at approximately 10:30 a.m., members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Detail arrested Paul Alden Miller, 56, of San Clemente, for sexual elder abuse and sexual battery. He is currently in custody at the Orange County Jail with bail set at $100,000.

Miller has been a registered nurse for approximately 6 years. He was employed at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo when the sexual assaults occurred. In March 2021, a 22-year old female reported she was sexually assaulted by Miller while in the emergency room receiving medical care at Providence Mission Hospital. In April 2021, a 68-year old female reported she was also sexually assaulted by Miller at the same location. In June 2021, a 56-year old female reported she was sexually assaulted by Miller at Providence Hospital.

Miller was employed at Providence Mission Hospital from January 2017 to April 2021. He was employed at El Centro Regional Medical Center from January 2016 – January 2017. Miller also worked at Sharp Hospital – Chula Vista from December 2014 – May 2015. Investigators feel there may be additional victims and are asking for the public’s help.

Anyone with information regarding possible additional victims or with information they believe may assist in this investigation is asked to contact the Orange County Sheriff’s Department at (714) 647-7419, or submit an anonymous tip to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

Sheriff’s Department Completes ABC Grant focused on reducing alcohol-related harm

June 25, 2021

SANTA ANA (June 25, 2021) The Orange County Sheriff’s Department has completed a $97,500 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) to battle alcohol-related harm.

Funds were used to conduct enforcement efforts focused on establishments that contribute to alcohol-related calls for service including underage drinking, drunken driving, public drunkenness, and assaults.

“This was important to the county in order to increase protection for youth and to hold accountable problem locations that have contributed to alcohol-related crime,” said Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Don Barnes.

The grant was one of nearly 50 awarded in California to local law enforcement agencies through ABC’s Alcohol Policing Partnership Program (APP). The grant program has helped strengthen local law enforcement efforts by combining the resources of local police officers and ABC agents. ABC agents have expertise in alcoholic beverage laws and help communities reduce alcohol-related harm.

“The program improves the quality of life in neighborhoods,” said ABC Director Eric Hirata. “We’ve seen a real difference in the communities where the grant program resources have been invested.”

The APP Program was created in 1995 to build relationships between ABC and local law enforcement agencies. The program is designed to put bad operators out of business, keep alcohol away from minors and bring penalties such as fines, suspensions or revocations against businesses that violate the law.

The funds were used to reduce the number of alcoholic beverage sales to minors, obviously intoxicated patrons, illegal solicitations of alcohol, and other criminal activities such as the sale and possession of illegal drugs.

The APP Program has distributed approximately $50 million to local law enforcement to combat alcohol-related harm.

ABC is a department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.

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In-custody death of inmate from Theo Lacy Facility

June 17, 2021

SANTA ANA, Ca. (June 17, 2021) –A 30-year-old male inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died the evening of June 16, 2021 of unknown causes.

The inmate, Andrew Curcio of Costa Mesa, was booked into Orange County Jail on June 15, 2021 by the Costa Mesa Police Department for a parole violation. He was located unresponsive in his cell around 8 p.m. on June 16, 2021 and deputies and medical staff attempted lifesaving measures. The inmate was pronounced deceased at the jail by the Orange Fire Department at approximately 8:30 p.m.

Preliminarily, there does not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.

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.

20-015326 Use of Force

On May, 13, 2020, deputies were involved in a Use of Force in the unincorporated area of the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park. The Use of Force was determined to be within policy.

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/UOF/UOF.20-015326.zip