Police Press Release
Assault With a Deadly Weapon
DATE: May, 17th, 2024
SUBJECT: PC 245(A) (2) Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Firearm)
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 11500 Block of Fredrick Drive
DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: 5-17-2024/ 7:02 AM
VICTIM: Names Withheld Male, Hispanic residents of Garden Grove
SUSPECT: CARR, AUDREY 4-13-79
NARRATIVE: On May 17th, at 7:O2 AM, officers from the Garden Grove Police Department responded to the location reference a neighborhood dispute over a construction remodeling project. The suspect was upset at the construction crew working on the project and exited her residence armed with firearm. The suspect fired one round into the air and pointed the firearm at the construction crew. The suspect barricaded herself in her residence and refused to exit. The Garden Grove Police Department Special Weapons and Tactics team responded. After several hours of negotiations with the suspect she was taken into custody without further incident. A search warrant was executed at the location and a firearm was recovered. CARR was booked into Orange County Jail for the listed charge.
If you are a witness with any information about the incident you are asked to contact Detective Nikolic at 714 741-5877 or Garden Grove Police Department Investigations at 714-741-5800.
Sexual Assault
DATE: April 19th, 2024
SUBJECT: Lewd and Lascivious acts with a Child-PC 288(a)
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: Boys & Girls Club, 9860 Larson, Garden Grove
DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: August 2014- Initial incidents. Suspect arrested 4/19/2024
VICTIM #1: Female, approximately 7-8 years old at the time of incident
VICTIM #2: Female, approximately 6 years old at the time of incident
SUSPECT #1: Elijah Domminic Barrera, DOB 8-12-1994 (approximately 20 years old at the time of incident)
NARRATIVE:
On Friday, April 19, 2024 at approximately 12:16 P.M., Garden Grove Police Department Detectives arrested Elijah Barrera for 2 counts of Lewd and Lascivious acts with a Child that stemmed from two separate incidents occurring in August 2014.
In March of 2023 GGPD was contacted by a victim who was inappropriately touched by a Boys & Girls Club counselor back in 2014. The victim had not previously disclosed or reported the incident.
Through follow up investigation GGPD Detectives located a second victim who identified Barrera. Additional information was obtained that corroborated the victim’s statements.
An arrest warrant was obtained and GGPD Detectives located Elijah Barrera in the City of Orange. He was later booked into Orange County Jail on 2 counts of PC 288(a) - Lewd and Lascivious acts with a Child.
Due to the circumstances of this case, GGPD Detectives believe there may be additional victims of Elijah Barrera. If you are a victim, or know someone who is, please contact Detective Adam Nikolic at 714-741-5877 or email him at AdamN@ggcity.org.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
DATE: March 28, 2024
SUBJECT: PC 245 – Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Shooting)
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 14200 Block of Corporate Drive
DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: March 28, 2024 at 10:12 A.M.
VICTIM #1: Male, Adult, 31 years old, resident of Garden Grove
VICTIM #2: Male, Adult, 28 years old, resident of Stanton
SUSPECT #1: Unknown Male
SUSPECT VEHICLE: Dark SUV
NARRATIVE:
On Thursday, March 28, 2024 at approximately 10:12 A.M., officers were
dispatched to the 14200 block of Corporate Drive reference a drive by shooting.
Officers arrived and learned the incident began in a neighboring city as a road
rage incident. The suspect followed the victim until they arrived at the above
location. The victims parked their car and upon exiting, the suspect drove up
and began shooting. Both victims sustained non-life threatening injuries and
one was treated at a nearby hospital, the other refused medical attention. The
suspect fled in his vehicle and is still outstanding.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Detective N.
Lazenby at (714)741-5818 or email him at nlazenby@ggcity.org.
Amber Alert- Kidnapping / Victim & Suspect Located
DATE: February 21, 2024
SUBJECT: Amber Alert- Kidnapping / Victim & Suspect Located
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 13101 Harbor Blvd
DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: February 21, 2024 at 11:16 A.M.
VICTIM #1: Harmony, 2 y/o, Female, Black, 2’ tall, 40lbs, Black hair, Brown eyes, last seen wearing a purple dress
VICTIM #2: Adult, Los Angeles County CPS Social Worker, name withheld
SUSPECT #1: Ileane Shelton (Biological Mother), 21 years, Female, Black, 5’2”, 180lbs, Brown hair, Brown eyes, last seen wearing a gray jacket, black tank top, black pants
SUSPECT #2: Male, Black, dark gray hoodie, red pants, black shoes
SUSPECT #3: Older Male, Black, last seen wearing dark clothing & driver of vehicle
SUSPECT VEHICLE: White, Toyota Rav 4
NARRATIVE:
On Wednesday, February 21, 2024 at approximately 11:16 A.M., officers were dispatched to 13101 Harbor Blvd. reference an assault inside the business. Officers arrived and learned a social worker brought the victim to Chuck E. Cheese to have a supervised visit with her mother, Shelton. (Suspect #1). Immediately after the three met up inside the business, a second suspect arrived inside and immediately pepper sprayed the social worker. SHELTON then grabbed the victim and fled the scene with suspect #2. Officers learned there was a third suspect who was the driver of the getaway vehicle, a white Toyota Rav 4. All three suspects and the victim were seen leaving the parking lot in the Rav 4.
Officers and GGPD Detectives began investigating all possible leads and issued an AMBER ALERT through the California Highway Patrol.
Through investigative leads, help from the public and cooperation from several law enforcement agencies, Harmony was located safe and in good health. In addition, SHELTON and another male were located and detained for the criminal investigation. All three were located at a transit center (bus/train station) in Palm Springs. At this time, GGPD Detectives are trying to determine if the male subject detained was involved in the initial incident. The investigation is still ongoing to identify and locate any additional suspects involved in this incident.
- * * UPDATE * * *
SUSPECT #2 Identified: Kweli Murphy 5-2-2002 (Pepper Spray Suspect)
The suspect who pepper sprayed the social worker has been identified as Kweli Murphy and was arrested last night as a result of his involvement in the kidnapping. GGPD Detectives are still trying to identify Suspect #3 and ascertain his involvement in this case. Both Murphy and Shelton were booked into Orange County Jail.
If you have any information regarding this case, please contact Detective J. Franks at 714-741-5836 or email him at JimF@ggcity.org.
GGPD and GGUSD Highlight Zero Tolerance for School Threats
On Tuesday, August 16, 2022, the Garden Grove Unified School District (GGUSD) Board of Education, district administrators, as well as Garden Grove Police Department (GGPD), Fountain Valley Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s and Fire Departments, Santa Ana Police Department and Westminster Police Department representatives met in a closed session meeting to discuss school threats and the safety measures in place, to protect students and staff. Following the meeting, a joint statement was issued to highlight Garden Grove Unified School District and Garden Grove Police Department’s zero-tolerance policy for school threats.
“School safety is our highest priority. We have absolutely zero tolerance for anyone who makes a comment that threatens a student, group of students or school community. When a threat occurs, whether or not it is found credible, we will investigate and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”
“Too often, students think they are being funny when making threatening social media posts. All threats shared on social media will be investigated by the police to determine if the threat is credible. Even if the threat is determined non-credible, the student making the threat will be subject to disciplinary action.”
“It is also illegal to post or repost an alleged threat on social media, before the information has been reported and investigated. Posting and spreading false rumors about threats causes unnecessary fear, a disruption of the school day, and wastes valuable resources. Knowingly sharing a (real or fake) threat can also result in the person being arrested and charged with felony offenses, including false report of emergency and intent to terrorize, which include being sent to juvenile hall and a fine up to $10,000.00.
The appropriate response when coming across an alleged threat is to, report it to a school administrator or call 9-1-1, immediately. By properly reporting threats, the protocols in place can be swiftly implemented to quickly determine credibility of the threat.”
“Garden Grove Police Department has five dedicated School Resource Officers (SROs) who work full-time to protect Garden Grove schools. GGUSD continues to work closely with GGPD and other local law enforcement agencies to develop crisis response plans to best ensure our campuses remain the safest place for our students to learn.”
To anonymously report a crime or concerning incident, like threats, including those to a teacher or school administrator, call WeTip at 1-800-782-7463.
See below for a PSA video from GGPD and GGUSD regarding making school threats.
Two Orange County Cold Case Murders Solved Through Multi-Agency Effort Using Investigative Genetic Genealogy
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Victims’ family members speak on cold cases recently solved using Investigative Genetic Genealogy
Orange County, Calif. – The cold case murders of two Orange County women have been solved as a result of a joint Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG) investigation by the Garden Grove Police Department, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. This is the second Garden Grove cold case murder that has been solved with the help of the Orange County District Attorney’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy unit in the last year.
On May 21, 1987, Shannon Rose Lloyd, 23-years-old, was found deceased in a bedroom she rented in the city of Garden Grove. An autopsy revealed that Lloyd was sexually assaulted and died by means of strangulation. All leads were pursued, but the case went cold.
In 2003, the Orange County Crime Lab linked Lloyd’s homicide with a 1989 Orange County Sheriff’s Department cold case homicide. The body of Renee Cuevas, 27-years-old, was found along Lambert Road near the El Toro Marine base in the morning hours of February 19, 1989. Detectives refused to give up the search for the killer.
It wasn’t until 2021 that the Orange County District Attorney’s Investigative Genetic Genealogy team identified a possible suspect – Reuben J. Smith, a Las Vegas man who had committed suicide in 1999 at the age of 39. A year before committing suicide, in July 1998, Smith was arrested in Las Vegas for sexual assault and attempting to kill a third woman. DNA evidence from Smith’s arrest and the DNA profile found at the crime scenes of Lloyd and Cuevas’s homicides were a positive match.
“The evil in him. I know if I didn’t fight, I was going to die” said the surviving victim from the 1998 attack. The victim, who did not want her identity disclosed, said “It was horrible. The things that he did, the things that he said. He told me he was going to kill me.” She fought back and was able to escape, but this attack still haunts her to this day.
Tom Lloyd, who is Shannon’s older brother, described Shannon by saying, “she was tough. She wasn’t scared of much.” Tom added, “It’s hard for me to fathom how anyone can take another person’s life and just discard them.” Tom is grateful for all the hard work by everyone involved in the solving of his sister’s murder.
“The advancements in DNA science and the work of the IGG unit has been instrumental in solving our second cold case homicide within the past twelve months,” said Garden Grove Police Chief Tom DaRé. “I know with our continued partnership with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, we will be able to solve many more cold cases and bring closure to the family members of these victims.”
“The outcome of these cases reflects Orange County law enforcement’s dedication to seeking answers and solving complex crimes,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Corner. “It reinforces our commitment to the community that no matter how much times passes, we remain steadfast in our pursuit of justice and the work to bring closure to the victims’ families.”
“The loved ones of Renee Cuevas and Shannon Lloyd have the answers to the question they have been asking for more than three decades,” said Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer. “The justice that every victim deserves was hidden away in DNA, but with advances in IGG technology combined with the relentless dedication of generations of detectives and the talented prosecutors and forensic scientists at the District Attorney’s Office, we now know who killed Renee and Shannon. Justice does not have an expiration date. Whether a crime happened
forty years ago or four minutes ago, the residents of Orange County can have confidence that the law enforcement in this county will not rest until justice is served.”
Reuben J. Smith lived in Orange County in the 1980’s before moving to the Las Vegas area. Anyone with additional information about Smith’s activities when he was living in Orange County is asked to call Garden Grove Police Detective T. Ramirez at 714-741-5839 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.
Mario Martinez, Lieutenant
mariom@ggcity.org
Desk: 714.741.5786
W/C: 714.741.5871
Criminal assault charges filed against Garden Grove Police Officer
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: June 9, 2021
SUBJECT: Criminal assault charges filed against Garden Grove Police Officer
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: City of Garden Grove
DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: June 9, 2021 / 12:00 PM
VICTIM(s): Withheld, (2) Adult males
NARRATIVE:
This morning, the Orange County District’s Attorney’s Office announced the filing of criminal charges against Garden Grove Police Officer Kevin Dinh for several misdemeanor counts of assault and battery while performing his duties as a police officer.
Officer Dinh has been employed by the Garden Grove Police Department for 12 years and is currently on administrative leave pending the outcome of the internal investigation. At the time of the incident, Officer Dinh was assigned to patrol.
In October 2020, the Garden Grove Police Department learned of the misdemeanor assault when another police officer, who was present, reported the inappropriate use of force to a supervisor. Officer Dinh was immediately placed on administrative leave and a criminal investigation was initiated.
The Garden Grove Police Department conducted an intensive criminal investigation and found two separate incidents involving Officer Dinh, where inappropriate use of force occurred. The findings were submitted to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for their review and based on the investigation conducted by the Garden Grove Police Department, criminal charges were filed. The Garden Grove Police Department has fully cooperated with the District Attorney’s Office with this investigation.
“We will not tolerate this behavior on any members of our community. Everyone will be treated with dignity and respect,” said Garden Grove Police Chief Tom DaRe.
Any inquiries regarding the criminal investigation should be made to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.
Although we believe these are isolated incidents, if there are any other victims, we encourage them to contact the Garden Grove Police Department Detective Bureau at (714) 741-5800.
Homicide Arrests
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: May 25, 2021
SUBJECT: Homicide Arrests
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 11999 Harbor Blvd - Hyatt Regency
DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: January 17, 2021 at 3:47AM
VICTIM: Eddie Barajas (age 28), resident of Stanton
SUSPECT(s): Enrique Torres (age 19), resident of Los Angeles
Agustin Cortez (age 31), resident of Hawthorne
NARRATIVE:
On January 17th 2021, at approximately 0348 AM, officers from the Garden Grove Police Department responded to the Hyatt Regency Hotel, in reference to a gunshot victim. When officers arrived, they located the victim, a 28 year old male Hispanic from Santa Ana, with a single gunshot wound to his head. After the shooting, the suspect fled the area on foot into a parking lot, and his identity is not known at this time. The incident occurred in a lobby hallway, on the west side of the hotel. The victim was transported to a local hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The victim’s personal information is not being released at this time.
This investigation is on-going and any witnesses with any information about the incident are asked to contact the Garden Grove Police Department, Detective Lopez at 714-741-5818.
UPDATE:
On January 17, 2021, at 3:48 AM, Garden Grove Police Officers responded to the Hyatt Regency located in the City of Garden Grove regarding a gunshot victim. The victim, later identified as 28 year old Eddie Barajas, was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. During the investigation it was learned the homicide was gang related. All subjects involved in this incident fled the area.
Within the following weeks, GGPD Detectives were able to locate witnesses that assisted with identifying the suspects as Los Angeles gang members. On May 18, 2021, at 5:00AM, a multi-location search warrant was executed in Los Angeles County that led to the arrest of suspects Enrique Torres and Agustin Cortez for PC 187(a), homicide with Gang Enhancements.
Fatal Traffic Collision
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: March 16, 2021
SUBJECT: Fatal traffic collision
LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: Euclid Street and Orangewood Avenue
DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: March 12, 2021 at 2:12 AM
SUSPECT(s): Mendoza, Joseph (24 y/o), LKA: Paramount, CA
Fernandez, Sal (34 y/o), LKA: Reseda, CA
UPDATED INFORMATION:
Regarding the fatal traffic collision that occurred on Friday, March 12, 2021, all parties have been positively identified and their next of kin have been notified. The decedents in the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck are as follows:
- Mendoza, Joseph (24 y/o)
- Fernandez, Sal (34 y/o)
Fernandez was currently on Parole and Mendoza was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) out of Los Angeles, County, and they both had extensive criminal histories. After the truck was removed from the pool, a catalytic converter, power saw, and power saw charger were located inside the truck. In addition to these items, a loaded handgun was located inside the truck.
ORIGINAL NARRATIVE:
On Friday, March 12, 2021, at 2:12 AM, a Garden Grove Police Officer observed a vehicle (Dodge Ram truck) driving at a high rate of speed through the parking lot of the Resort area, Chapman Avenue and Harbor Boulevard. The truck exited the parking lot onto Chapman Avenue, where it continued to drive at a high rate of speed. The officer activated his red lights and siren in an attempt to catch the truck as it traveled westbound on Chapman Avenue. The truck continued driving at a high rate of speed when it was involved in a traffic collision with another passenger vehicle at the intersection of Euclid Street and Orangewood Avenue.
As a result of the collision, the truck hit a block wall and came to rest upside down in a residential swimming pool. The Orange County Fire Authority responded to render aid. The driver of the truck was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver of the passenger vehicle was transported to a local hospital, where he later was pronounced deceased. The names of the drivers are not being released at this time.
At approximately 11:30 AM, the truck was removed from the swimming pool and a male passenger was also found deceased in the truck.
The California Highway Patrol is handling the traffic collision investigation.
Mario Martinez, Lieutenant
Professional Standards Division / PIO
O: 714.741.5786 W/C: 714.741.5871
24 Hour: 714.741.5704
Death of Lt. John Reynolds from COVID-19 complications
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: January 17, 2021
SUBJECT: Death of Lt. John Reynolds from COVID-19 complications- EOW 01-17-2021
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Lt. John Reynolds from COVID-19 complications. Lt. Reynolds was 59-years-old, and passed away early this morning in the hospital. John had been valiantly fighting the virus since the end of November.
Lt. John Reynolds has been employed with the Garden Grove Police Department for over 25 years. Prior to joining the Garden Grove Police Department, John was a probation officer with the Orange County Probation Department for nine years. John was a dedicated public servant who loved his career and loved serving his community.
John had a very successful career working a variety assignments. Some of John’s assignments included working patrol, gang officer, SWAT, undercover investigator, and Sergeant assigned to the Youth Services Unit. John was promoted to lieutenant in 2018 and was assigned as a Watch Commander.
John loved serving the youth of our community. He served as an executive board member and past president of the Garden Grove Boys and Girls Club and he was an active volunteer with the Kiwanis Club of Greater Garden Grove. Some of his many awards included being named Officer of the Year in 2005 and 2006, recipient of the Garden Grove Medal of Merit for his work with the Garden Grove Unified School District in 2014, and the Garden Grove Chamber of Commerce “Man of the Year” in 2019.
John’s passing leaves a void and pain in our hearts. He is survived by his wife Jena, two adult daughters, and his 18-month old son. Please keep John and his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Carl Whitney, Lieutenant
Professional Standards Division / PIO
O: 714.741.5786 W/C: 714.741.5871
24 Hour: 714.741.5704