MEDAL OF COURAGE & LIFESAVING: Deputies rescue woman from man wielding knife

On March 16, 2019 at 11:46 a.m., deputies were dispatched to a residence in Laguna Niguel for a domestic violence call in which it was reported that a man struck a female but then the call abruptly ended.

Upon arrival, Deputies MacDonald and Skutvik were approached by a neighbor who said the couple’s children had run to his home, and their father was now holding a knife to the throat of their mother.  At the same time, Deputies Prado and Rombough arrived on scene.  As the four deputies approached the residence, they could hear crying coming from inside the house.   

The deputies entered the house through the open front door and made their way to second floor master bedroom.  From the doorway, they could see the suspect seated on the bed pinning the female victim to the wall.  The suspect had a six-inch knife in his hand and the deputies could see blood on both the suspect and victim.  Deputies entered the room with their guns drawn and ordered the suspect to drop the knife.  He refused to drop the knife and told the deputies, “Shoot me.”

The victim’s face was the only part of her body they could see.  The suspect reached over his shoulder with the knife, positioning it even closer to the neck and upper torso of the victim. Deputies tased the suspect, causing him to drop the knife, and took the man into custody.

The victim was rescued, and both were evaluated by paramedics and received treatment for their wounds. 

The deputies were honored at this year’s ceremony with the Medal of Courage and the Medal for Lifesaving.

MEDAL OF COURAGE & LIFESAVING: Saved juvenile from jumping off a bridge

On June 15, 2019 at approximately 1 a.m., Aliso Viejo deputies were dispatched to Alicia Parkway and California State Route 73 reference a juvenile who was threatening to jump from an overpass into oncoming traffic. 

Deputy Yannizzi was the first deputy to arrive on scene.  Recognizing the juvenile’s perilous position, he immediately engaged the young lady in conversation.  Within minutes, Deputies Perkins, Munguia, Byrne and Sergeant Steinle arrived. 

As Deputy Yannizzi continued to talk to the distraught juvenile, Deputies Perkins, Munguia and Byrne all reached through the chain link fencing and grabbed a piece of her clothing.  Together they pulled the young lady taut against the fence.  The juvenile struggled to get away saying, “Let me go.”

Sergeant Steinle retrieved bolt cutters from his patrol vehicle and began cutting a hole in the fence around the victim while the deputies temporarily restrained her.  As soon as the hole was big enough, Deputy Byrne reached through the fence and grabbed firmly onto the young lady’s arm, trapping it against the inside of the fencing. 

Sergeant Steinle continued cutting the fence until there was a hole large enough for him to attempt the rescue.  Working as a team, the deputies held onto the young lady’s clothing and simultaneously held onto Sergeant Steinle’s legs so that he could lean outside the safety of the fence and grab the young lady.  With one swift motion, Sergeant Steinle wrapped his arms around the juvenile and the team helped pull them both off the ledge and through the opening in the fence.  The juvenile was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. 

The deputies were honored at this year’s Medal of Valor ceremony.

On January 20, 2019 deputies were involved in a use of force in the city of Dana Point. The use of force was determined to be within policy. Link to responsive records- https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/UOF/UOF.19-002545.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.

• Read more about 19-002545 Use of Force

SAN CLEMENTE, Ca. (September 23, 2020): A deputy-involved shooting occurred today in the city of San Clemente at approximately 1:15 p.m. 

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On April 3, 2019 deputies were involved in a use of force in the city of Stanton. The use of force was determined to be within policy. Training issues were identified and corrective action was addressed. Click here for responsive records 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.

• Read more about 19-012649 Use of Force

On January 20, 2018 deputies were involved in a use of force in the city of Mission Viejo. The use of force was determined to be within policy. Training issues were identified and corrective action was addressed. Click here for responsive records 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.

• Read more about 18-002766/18-001203 Use of Force

On May 17, 2018 SWAT was involved in a use of force in the city of Anaheim. The use of force was determined to be within policy. Click here for responsive records 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.

• Read more about 18-019895 Use of Force

On April 12, 2018 deputies were involved a use of force in the city of Santa Ana. The use of force was determined to be within policy.  Click here for link to responsive records 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.

• Read more about 18-014708 Use of Force

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Ca. (Sept. 22, 2020) – Distracted driving is a dangerous and illegal behavior the Sheriff’s Department is working to deter drivers from doing. On Thursday, Sept. 24, deputies will focus their efforts on drivers that are talking, texting, using an app or any other action on their phone that is not hands-free and violates California’s cell phone law. A violation is subject to a $162 fine for the first offense, and at least $285 for a second offense.

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Forensic History: How the OC Crime Lab helped evidence mount against serial killer Randy Kraft

On a non-descript stretch of freeway during a routine traffic stop, one of the nation’s most prolific serial killers was caught. 

Randy Kraft, convicted of murdering 16 men but suspected of having more than 60 victims, was arrested at about 1 a.m. May 14, 1983 after California Highway Patrol Officers observed him swerving on the 5 Freeway in Mission Viejo.

A failed sobriety test landed him in handcuffs, but the motionless body of the man in the passenger seat was the beginning of the end for a man who terrorized Orange County’s freeways, picking up unsuspecting hitchhikers only to torture and murder them.

“How’s my friend?” Kraft reportedly asked the officers who pulled him over that night; his tone composed and emotionless. 

The officers tried to rouse the man they thought was sleeping but when they removed the jacket covering the passenger, they discovered the man was dead. The victim was a 25-year-old Marine corporal who had hitched a ride with Kraft to meet friends at a party.

Kraft is believed to have killed more than 60 men in at least three states from 1971 to 1983. He earned the moniker, “The Scorecard Killer” for the morbid catalog of his victims’ names he scrawled on a white sheet of paper.  Others called him “The Freeway Killer” -- a nod to his M.O. Kraft was known for targeting young male hitchhikers, many times along the freeway. After torturing then killing his victims, he discarded their bodies near freeway interchanges, in parking lots and, at times, in remote locations.

Five years into his killing spree, Orange County deputies responded to a remote area in Silverado Canyon where they found a murdered young man with shards of glass from a vodka bottle littered around his body.

Pieces of the bottle were collected and forensic scientists with the Orange County Crime Lab methodically fit together the dozens of jagged fragments. After reconstructing what remained of the bottle, they were able to collect fingerprints.

Those fingerprints were later matched to Randy Kraft after his 1983 arrest.

This critical piece of evidence helped build the case against Kraft, who was convicted in May 1989. The 75-year-old currently remains on death row at San Quentin state prison.