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Statement from Sheriff Barnes

Sheriff Hutchens

Statement from Sheriff Barnes on the passing of former Sheriff Sandra Hutchens 

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 4, 2021): Please see the statement below from Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.  
“It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of former Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.  In November 2012, Sheriff Hutchens was diagnosed with breast cancer.  She courageously fought this disease while still leading this department.  Her fight was successful for eight years.  Unfortunately, the cancer recently returned and Sheriff Hutchens passed this morning with her loved ones by her side." 

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Off-duty deputies save truck driver after roll-over crash

From left: Deputy Nauta, K-9 Rocky, and Sgt. Cruz

Two off-duty Sheriff’s Deputies’ quick actions helped save the life of a truck driver trapped in the cab of his vehicle after a roll-over crash.

 Sgt. Phil Cruz and K-9 Handler Deputy Adam Nauta were driving on the freeway in Artesia at about 1:30 p.m. on Monday, December 14, when they saw traffic abruptly stop and a plume of smoke rising from a nearby embankment on the 91 East and North 605 freeway interchange. 

 As the deputies got closer, they saw a blue semi-truck had rolled into the embankment, coming to rest on the driver’s side. Sgt. Cruz and Deputy Nauta jumped from their vehicle and ran down to the truck where they found the driver trapped and unresponsive. 

 With the distinct smell of diesel fuel getting stronger and smoke filling the interior, the deputies had to move quickly.

 Sgt. Cruz borrowed a golf club from another motorist who had stopped and smashed the passenger side window. The driver gained consciousness, but he was wedged in tight and couldn’t climb out.

 The deputies cut the driver’s seatbelt and pulled him from the vehicle. They carried the 59-year-old driver to safety and waited for medical crews to arrive. The driver was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

 We are grateful for the deputies’ actions that day and wish the driver a full and speedy recovery!

In-custody death of inmate from Theo Lacy Facility

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ORANGE, Ca. (December 18, 2020) –A 68-year-old male inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died this morning at 5 a.m. of medical complications after testing positive for COVID-19.
The inmate, Eddie Lee Anderson of River Ridge, LA, was booked into jail by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department on July 1, 2019 on suspicion of homicide. Anderson is suspected of the 1976 murder of Leslie Penrod Harris, and was identified in 2019 by the Orange County Cold Case Homicide Task Force.
Anderson tested positive for COVID-19 within the last week, and was transferred to a local hospital on December 13. He is the first Orange County Jail inmate to die from medical complications of COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic, 1,260 Orange County Jail inmates have tested positive for COVID-19.
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.
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OCSD Bloodhound Remi reunites missing woman with family

K-9 Remi

The windows were too dark to see in, but K-9 Remi knew what she was looking for was inside.

The floppy-eared bloodhound sniffed the silver car then stopped, her nose pressed against the door. Her handler, Deputy Assayag, knew this meant good news.

A patrol deputy used his flashlight to cut through the deep tint of the windows to find who they were looking for – a 70-year-old woman who had wandered from her home hours earlier.

A Mission Viejo man called the Sheriff’s Department at about 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 16, asking for help to find his wife. He had checked the house and the neighborhood and was unable to find her.

Patrol deputies began their search on the ground while Duke, the Sheriff’s Department patrol helicopter, circled above the homes near Jeronimo Road and Alicia Parkway. Deputy Assayag and Remi also were called in to help.

Shortly after beginning her search, Remi alerted to the parked car in the neighborhood to find the woman safe inside and sitting in the passenger seat. Deputies learned the vehicle, which was not related to the family, had been left unlocked.

Good girl, Remi!

We are grateful this team was able to safely reunite this woman with her family.

19-027020 Use of Force

On July 15, 2019 deputies were involved in a use of force in the unincorporated are of La Mirada.  The subject was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The use of force was determined to be within policy. Link to responsive records -  https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/UOF/UOF.19-027020.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.

19-005291 Use of Force

On February 9, 2019 deputies were involved in a use of force in the city of Rancho Santa Margarita. The use of force was determined to be within policy. Training issues were identified and corrective action was addressed. Link to responsive records- https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/UOF/UOF.19-005291.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.

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