Tag: Southern California OC News

Missing Woman, 94, Body Found in San Juan Capistrano

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif.—Orange County sheriff’s investigators confirmed Tuesday that the body of a woman found in San Juan Capistrano Monday was that of a 94-year-old woman who went missing last week. Coroner’s officials confirmed that the deceased person is Shirley “Jean” Airth, who was last seen leaving her home for one of her regular…


Capistrano Unified Terminates Superintendent’s Contract ‘Without Cause’ in Split Vote

Capistrano Unified School District Superintendent Kirsten Vital Brulte will leave her position by the end of the year, following a 4–3 vote by school board members during a Dec. 21 special meeting. The decision was made “without cause,” the board’s President Krista Castellanos said during the meeting. Castellanos, along with Trustees Gary Pritchard, Michael Parham,…


Former Vineyard Anaheim Church Members Sue ‘Dwelling Place’ Pastors for Fraud

Former members of Anaheim’s Vineyard Church—now The Dwelling Place—are suing the church’s senior leaders for fraud, claiming they split the church from the Vineyard network and took control over the church and its $62 million assets under false pretenses. For more than 40 years, Vineyard Anaheim Church had been a pillar of the Orange County…


Elderly Woman in Westminster Thwarts Robbery Attempt With Pepper Spray

WESTMINSTER, Calif.—An elderly woman foiled an attempted robbery of her purse by squirting the armed perpetrator with pepper spray while taking a Christmas morning stroll in Westminster, authorities said Dec. 26. “Luckily, the suspect did not shoot the victim and instead fled the scene on his bicycle,” said Sgt. Alan Aoki of the Westminster Police…


Orange County’s 500 Homeless Deaths Honored by Interfaith Service

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif.—At the Lutheran Church of the Cross, local faith leaders from Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam, gathered Dec. 21 to pay homage to the hundreds of homeless individuals who died in Orange County in 2022, starting with singing “Amazing Grace.” “We remember with dignity and respect the names of those who died on…


Orange County’s 500 Homeless Deaths Marked by Interfaith Service

LAGUNA WOODS, Calif.—At the Lutheran Church of the Cross, local faith leaders from Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism, and Islam, gathered Dec. 21 to pay homage to the hundreds of homeless individuals who died in Orange County in 2022, starting with singing “Amazing Grace.” “We remember with dignity and respect the names of those who died on…


Garden Grove Appoints New Chief of Police

Deputy Chief Amir El-Farra will officially begin his new role as the Chief of Police for the City of Garden Grove, California, on Jan. 1, 2023, to replace the retiring Tom DaRé. El-Farra, a 27-year law enforcement veteran, began serving the city as an officer at the Garden Grove Police Department in 2008 after previous…


Shots Fired Outside the South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa

COSTA MESA, Calif.—Costa Mesa police are investigating an incident of shots fired outside the South Coast Plaza. The gunfire took place in the parking lot outside the Nordstrom store around 9:30 p.m. Dec. 22, according to Costa Mesa police spokeswoman Roxi Fyad. It’s possible the shooting took place during an attempted robbery when the intended…


Shots Fired Outside South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa

COSTA MESA, Calif.—Costa Mesa police are investigating an incident of shots fired outside the South Coast Plaza. The gunfire took place in the parking lot outside the Nordstrom store around 9:30 p.m. Dec. 22, according to Costa Mesa police spokeswoman Roxi Fyad. It’s possible the shooting took place during an attempted robbery when the intended…


Man Arrested in 8-Car Crash in Anaheim

ANAHEIM, Calif.—A 36-year-old man was behind bars Dec. 23 on suspicion of triggering a DUI eight-car crash that killed a woman in Anaheim. The crash occurred about 2:15 p.m. Dec. 22 at Magnolia Avenue and Ball Road, according to Anaheim police Lt. Shane Carringer. Luis Javier Garcia Pedroza of Anaheim was booked on suspicion of…