SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 19, 2022): The Orange County Crime Laboratory, a division of the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department, was nationally recognized as a “Registry Implementer” for its high-quality standards and practices in forensic science by the National Institutes of Science and Technology-sponsored Organization of Scientific Area Committees (OSAC).

OSAC recognizes crime labs that meet rigorous standards as defined in their Registry. The Registry is a repository of technically sound standards and best practices for forensic laboratories, and covers a broad spectrum of forensic disciplines including DNA, Toxicology and Digital Evidence.

According to OSAC, these standards can “improve consistency across forensic science disciplines, ensure confidence in the accuracy, reliability, and reproducibility of laboratory results, and positively increase the impact of admissibility and expert testimony in courts of law.”

The Crime Lab is one of 70 labs across the nation recognized as a “Registry Implementer” for adopting standards as outlined by OSAC.

"The OSAC standards process is critically important for the national forensic community, and this collaborative approach involved a significant amount of work by our personnel over the last few years,” said Bruce Houlihan, Director of the Crime Lab. “As a laboratory with many diverse disciplines and services, our goal was to implement all Registry standards applicable to these disciplines."

Implementation of the OSAC standards involved building on the lab's current accreditations with the American National Standards Institute National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 

“Our personnel worked hard to meet OSAC’s standards while maintaining high quality and productivity,” Houlihan said. “Applying sound scientific principles to the collection, evaluation and interpretation of physical evidence is the core of our mission, and we remain committed to providing excellent service to the residents of Orange County.”

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UPDATE Jan. 15, 2022, 8:30 p.m.- The Tsunami Advisory has been lifted for Orange County. Beaches, harbors and piers have reopened. Although no significant coastal flooding occurred there is a high likelihood of strong currents and waves dangerous to persons in or near the water.  These strong currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boaters and coastal structures and may continue for several hours. Residents are encouraged to exercise caution when in the water. Thank you to the community for your patience during this event.  

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Jan. 15, 2022): A Tsunami Advisory has been issued by the National Tsunami Warning Center for the U.S. West Coast, including the San Diego County and Orange County coast. A volcanic eruption near the Tonga Islands of the South Pacific has generated a tsunami. 

The first waves are expected to arrive in Orange County at approximately 7:55 a.m. Orange County beaches, harbors and piers are closed at this time until further notice, please check with your local city regarding closures. 

Although no significant coastal flooding is expected, some areas could experience dangerous currents and tidal surges due to this tsunami along beaches and in harbors and marinas. The impact of this tsunami will be stronger than normal currents and possible higher than normal tidal surges along the beaches. Residents are encouraged to stay out of the water. 

There will be strong outgoing tidal currents at the same time the tsunami arrives. The combined effect could produce very strong currents in harbors and bays. A Tsunami event is a series of waves that can last for several hours. The first wave is usually not the strongest. 

Local Coastal Officials are monitoring the situation and directing all persons in the coastal areas to: 

• Stay off the beaches and out of the harbors and marinas
• Do not go to the shore to observe the tsunami.
• Do not return to the coast until local emergency officials indicate it is safe to do so.
• Boat operators, where time and conditions permit, move your boat out to sea to a depth of at least 180 feet
• Local officials will determine when areas are safe to open
• Contact your local jurisdiction for more specific information

Do not call 9-1-1 unless you have a life-threatening emergency.

The Orange County Emergency Operations Center has been activated to a level three to monitor conditions and assist affected jurisdictions.

In July of 2015, a deputy was involved in an officer involved shooting in the City of Laguna Woods. No injuries resulted from the OIS, the shooting was determined to be within policy. The case was investigated and criminal charges were filed.

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/OIS/OIS.15-161289.zip

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

In December of 2007, a deputy was involved in an officer involved shooting in the City of Aliso Viejo. 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.07-252765.zip

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

In September of 2021, deputies were involved in a use of force in the City of Yorba Linda. The Use of Force was determined to be within policy.  

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/UOF/UOF.21-030459.zip

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 14, 2022): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department today promoted 33 personnel, including two Assistant Sheriffs.

Assistant Sheriff Jeff Puckett will oversee the Department’s Custody Operations Command, one of the largest jail systems in the country. This includes managing collaborative efforts with community partners for inmate programming focused on re-entry services and adopting an integrated services approach for inmates with mental health and substance use disorders.

Assistant Sheriff Andrew Stephens will oversee the Investigations and Special Operations Command, which includes the Investigations Division, Orange County Crime Lab, Orange County Coroner, Special Operations, and Emergency Management.

“Assistant Sheriffs Puckett and Stephens have a demonstrated history of effective and innovative leadership in their tenure with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and I look forward to the contributions they will make in their respective commands,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “They embody what it means to serve with integrity, humility and a genuine care for the men and women of this department and the residents of Orange County.”

Thirty-one additional personnel also were promoted today including seven investigators, ten sergeants, eight lieutenants, and six commanders.

Assistant Sheriff Jeff Puckett
Assistant Sheriff Puckett joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1998 as a Sheriff’s Special Officer before becoming a deputy in 1999. He has served as a patrol deputy and investigator and held multiple specialty assignments including SWAT, Tactical Apprehension Team, and the Sheriff’s Response Team.
Assistant Sheriff Puckett has served in leadership positions in the Custody, Training, and Patrol commands. Most recently, he served as the Southwest Operations Division Commander, overseeing operations for seven contract cities, the traffic office and the Behavioral Health Bureau.

He has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Chapman University, a master’s degree in emergency services administration from California State University, Long Beach, and is a graduate of the FBI National Academy, Class #279.

Assistant Sheriff Andrew Stephens
Assistant Sheriff Stephens joined the Department in 1993 as a deputy sheriff where he worked in custody operations before transferring to patrol to serve the city of Lake Forest. As a deputy, he earned several specialty assignments including Field Training Officer, Critical Incident Response Team, Crisis Negotiation Team, Special Enforcement Team and Directed Enforcement Team.

In leadership roles, Assistant Sheriff Stephens has served in the Custody, Professional Services, Patrol Operations, and Investigations commands. He was promoted to Commander in 2019 and assigned to investigations, which included the Criminal Investigations Bureau, Special Investigations Bureau, and the Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center. Most recently, Assistant Sheriff Stephens served as the Training Division Commander, overseeing approximately 300 recruits a year at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy and the daily operations of the Sandra Hutchens Regional Law Enforcement Training Center.

Assistant Sheriff Stephens has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from California Coast University and is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (December 29, 2021): Investigators are looking to identify a person of interest in the 1980 homicide of 15-year-old Kerry Patterson.

Kerry was last seen on June 26, 1980 walking in the area of Parks Junior High School in the 1700 block of Rosecrans Avenue in Fullerton. Investigators believe she was heading toward her home in the 1700 block of Peacock Lane. She was last seen wearing loose-fitting blue pants, white Vans and either a white T-shirt or Hawaiian print blouse. Kerry also was wearing a yellow pendant necklace that said #1. 

On December 27, 1980, remains were found in a field near Tonner Canyon and the 57 freeway in Brea. The remains were later identified as Kerry Patterson.

Over the years, investigators have continued to pursue the case and work to establish new leads.  

In January 2020, an individual came forward with information about a man believed to be in the area at the time of the Kerry’s disappearance. That individual was able to provide a description and a composite sketch was created.

Investigators are looking to identify this person of interest because it is believed he may have valuable information that may assist in the case.

If anyone can identify this individual or provide any information on Kerry Patterson’s disappearance please contact Investigator Bob Taft at 714-647-7045 or coldcase@ocsheriff.gov. Anonymous tips can be submitted to OC Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Date, 2021): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department – OC Crime Lab has been awarded a $117,000 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 testing of all blood samples collected in DUI investigations for the presence of drugs, regardless of the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and research related to oral fluid toxicology testing.

“Drug-impaired driving poses a substantial threat to our community and we are committed to holding accountable those who choose to put others at risk,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “This funding plays an important role in helping us deliver on that mission.” 

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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SANTA ANA, Ca. (December 23, 2021) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Unit, in partnership with the DNA Doe Project, have released a newly updated image in hopes of identifying a John Doe found in Trabuco Canyon nearly 25 years ago.

On Dec. 13, 1996, Coroner Division and OCSD Homicide Investigators responded to reports of human remains found in a wilderness area east of Trabuco Creek Road in the unincorporated area of Trabuco Canyon. At the time, it was estimated the remains had been there up to two years, with environmental factors affecting their condition. Investigators believe the decedent went missing sometime in 1995 or 1996.

Based on initial anthropological estimates from 1996, it was believed this unknown male subject was around 15-19 years old, approximately 5’2” to 5’8” with a medium build. An odontologist’s report, which showed the decedent’s teeth were in poor condition, was submitted to a Department of Justice database. He was given the name John Doe as investigators worked to learn his identity.

In 2020, the Coroner Division partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in an attempt to generate leads that might deliver an identification. In 2020, a computed tomography (CT) scan of the skull was created and submitted to NCMEC, which used the latest reconstruction techniques to develop renderings of what John Doe may have looked like. With the new information, NCMEC modified their initial sketch from 2019 to produce a new likeness that reflects the suspected Latin American decent of John Doe.

In 2020, the Sheriff’s Department partnered with the DNA Doe Project in an attempt to identify the subject. Based on further genetic testing, it is believed the subject is likely from a remote/rural area in Latin America due to the very low threshold of genetic matches.

In September 2021, a new team of volunteers was brought onto the case by DNA Doe Project Case Managers that are specialists in Spanish Language databases. In conjunction with this renewed effort, a forensic artist affiliated with the DNA Doe Project has provided an additional rendering of the unidentified subject. Anyone who has any information about John Doe can contact the Orange County Coroner Division at 714-647-7400 or coroner@OCSheriff.gov, reference case number 96-07901-MU.

STANTON, Ca (January 11, 2022) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be conducting a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Friday, January 14, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. at an undisclosed location in the city of Stanton.

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 2018, 1,235 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.