Police Press Release

DATE: October 20, 2020

SUBJECT: Arrest for convicted felon in possession of stolen handgun, convicted felon in possession of AR-15 style rifle, convicted felon in possession of ammunition/high capacity magazines, and possession of illegal narcotics.

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 12021 Harbor Blvd.

DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: October 17, 2020 at 7:21 PM

SUSPECTS: ZERMENO, Luis A. 25-years-old, Fullerton
HAFFENER, Jessica L. 50-years-old, Carpinteria
MAGALLON, Abraham 45-years-old, Santa Ana

NARRATIVE:
On 10-17-2020 at 7:21 PM Garden Grove Police Officers were patrolling the parking lot of the Delta Hotel located at 12021 Harbor Blvd. There has been an increase of criminal activity in this area because of the low vacancies in the resort district. Officers observed a parked Hyundai displaying license plates belonging to a BMW. Three subjects were loitering near the vehicle and after seeing the police, they drove off.

The GGPD officers stopped the vehicle to investigate the improper display of the license plates. The car was driven by a female later identified as HAFFENER who is a convicted felon on active AB109/PRCS supervision. The right front passenger was identified as ZERMENO who is a convicted felon on active parole and has a gang affiliation. The back seat passenger was identified as MAGALLON who is on active AB109/PRCS supervision for a prior felony robbery conviction and has a gang affiliation.

During the stop, ZERMENO ran from the police and was taken into custody a short distance away. After handcuffing him, officers located a loaded 9mm firearm concealed on his person. The handgun was reported stolen from another county. ZERMENO was also in possession of a large quantity of methamphetamine and heroin.
HAFFENER rented several rooms at the Delta Hotel. Officers located an AR-15 type rifle, rifle ammunition, high capacity magazines, and illegal narcotics while searching the rooms.

MAGALLON was in possession of methamphetamine on his person and was issued a citation.

ZERMENO and HAFFENER were booked at Orange County Jail. The arrest is being investigated by the Garden Grove Police Department Gang Unit.

Officers will continue to conduct high visibility patrol and enforcement in the resort area to deter criminal activity.

Carl Whitney, Lieutenant
Professional Standards Division / PIO
O: 714.741.5786 W/C: 714.741.5871
24 Hour: 714.741.5704

PRESS RELEASE

DATE: August 26, 2020

SUBJECT: Armed Robbery of a person- Seeking additional victims

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 12061 Garden Grove Blvd.-parking lot

DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: August 21, 2020 at 0625 am

VICTIM: Male adult- Loss was cash

SUSPECT: Unknown- described as male Hispanic adult, 6’-0”, 175 lbs
Fled in a dark colored older model Toyota Camry

NARRATIVE:

Video Link: http://bit.ly/GGPDRobbery

On 8-21-20 at approximately 0625 AM an armed robbery occurred at the Garden of Eden Bookstore located at 12061 Garden Grove Blvd. A male suspect confronted the victim in the parking lot and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at him. The suspect took money from the victim and ran away. The suspect went to an adjacent parking lot and drove off in an older model dark colored Toyota Camry.

The victim described the suspect as a Male Hispanic, 6’0”, and 175 lbs. He was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with the word “Cali” written on the front. He was armed with a black handgun.

Employees at the business provided a photo of a person of interest and believe he is the same suspect responsible for this robbery and additional unreported robberies at the same location. In the previously unreported crimes, customers from the business have been robbed in the parking lot. The person of interest photo shows a male adult with a shaved head standing next to a bicycle.

If you have been a victim of a robbery or have information about the identity of the suspect, please call Detective Franks at the Garden Grove Police Department at 714) 741-5836. Case #20043848

Carl Whitney, Lieutenant
Professional Standards Division / PIO
O: 714.741.5786 W/C: 714.741.5871
24 Hour: 714.741.5704

Public Notice

Date: August 13, 2020

SUBJECT: Garden Grove Police Department is seeking public comments for law enforcement CALEA Accreditation on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020.

LOCATION: Virtual online public meeting via ZOOM / separate public call-in session

The Garden Grove Police Department is a nationally accredited law enforcement agency through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA®). In 1988, the Garden Grove Police Department was the first California agency to be accredited by CALEA. Our agency has successfully completed CALEA reaccreditation every three years to maintain this continuous award. The Garden Grove Police Department is scheduled for a virtual site-based assessment as part of a program to achieve its 10th national accreditation by verifying they meet professional standards.

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies requires agencies to comply with state-of-the-art standards in four basic areas: policy and procedures, administration, operations, and support services.

As part of the virtual site-based assessment, the Garden Grove Police Department invites agency employees, and members of the public to offer comments by telephone:
• CALEA Assessors will take public comments.
• Please call 1-757-262-8200 on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 from 11am-1pm.

Additionally, department employees and members of the community are invited to offer comments at a public information session that is being hosted via an online Zoom meeting. The online meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, August 19th, 2020 from 1pm-2pm.
• CALEA Assessors will take public comments during the online meeting.
• From your computer, please visit: https://ggcity-org.zoom.us/j/98555239973
Meeting ID: 985 5523 9973
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Meeting ID: 985 5523 9973
Find your local number: https://ggcity-org.zoom.us/u/aCiVm3ixF

Telephone comments as well as comments at the online session are limited to 5 minutes and must address the agency’s ability to comply with CALEA’s standards. A copy of the Standards is available at the Garden Grove Police Department. Individuals may contact Accreditation Manager Lieutenant Carl Whitney at 714-741-5786 for further information. The department’s policy and procedures are posted at https://ggcity.org/police

Anyone wishing to submit written comments about the Garden Grove Police Department’s ability to comply with the standards for accreditation may send them to the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement, Inc. (CALEA®) 13575 Heathcote Blvd., Suite 320, Gainesville, Virginia 20155 or www.calea.org.

Carl Whitney, Lieutenant
Professional Standards Division / PIO
O: 714.741.5786 W/C: 714.741.5871
24 Hour: 714.741.5704

PRESS RELEASE

DATE: August 12, 2020

SUBJECT: Child Drowning

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: 13000 block of Simmons Ave

DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: August 12, 2020 at 8:55 AM

VICTIM: Male two year old child, Resident of Garden Grove

NARRATIVE:

On August 12, 2020 at 8:59 AM, officers from the Garden Grove Police Department responded to the above location reference a child drowning. Upon officers’ arrival, they located a non-responsive two year old child. Orange County Fire Authority arrived and rendered aid. The victim was transported to a local hospital.

During the investigation, it was discovered a two year old child had drowned in the backyard pool. It was learned that the mother, father, and small child live in the back house while the homeowner lives in the main house. The child exited the back home and walked through the open pool gate falling into the pool. The homeowner was awakened when the child’s father came in looking for the child. They went out into the backyard and discovered that the child was in the pool unconscious. CPR was immediately started until they were relieved by OCFA paramedics. The child was taken to a local hospital where he is currently in ICU. This investigation is on-going.
Prepared by Sergeant J. Centeno

Carl Whitney, Lieutenant
Professional Standards Division / PIO
Garden Grove Police Department

carlw@ggpd.org
Desk: 714.741.5786
W/C: 714.741.5871

PRESS RELEASE

DATE: August 12, 2020

SUBJECT: Fraud / Grand theft Arrest

LOCATION OF OCCURRENCE: Euclid St / Trask Ave

DATE/TIME OF OCCURRENCE: August 11, 2020 / 9:36 AM

SUSPECT: Nguyen, Man Jordan, 47-years-old, resident of Garden Grove

NARRATIVE:

Garden Grove Police Detectives have been investigating a grand theft case for the past several months where Nguyen was identified as a suspect. A Garden Grove homeowner signed a contract with Nguyen and gave him $4000 in October-November 2019. The homeowner alleged Nguyen said he was a licensed architect and was also a current member of the City of Garden Grove Planning Commission. The contract was for blueprints and to have them submitted for final approval with the City. The victim alleged Nguyen said he would be able to get the plans pushed through and approved because of his position on the City of Garden Grove Planning Commission.
The homeowner said the contracted work was never performed and plans were never submitted to the City for approval. The homeowner’s repeated attempts to resolve the matter were never answered. The Garden Grove Police Department was contacted and a crime report was filed in April 2020.

Detectives learned Nguyen is not a California licensed architect nor has he ever been licensed to perform architect work in California. Nguyen received $4000 for architect work that was never completed and submitted. Based on this investigation, Nguyen was arrested by detectives on 8-11-2020. He was booked at Orange County Jail.
At the time of this investigation Nguyen was a member of the City of Garden Grove Planning Commission. Commission positions are volunteer positions and are appointed by Garden Grove City Council members. The Planning Commission reviews proposed development projects and participates with developing and maintaining the City’s General Plan, and makes recommendations to the City Council on plans, policies, standards, and design guidelines for development of land uses consistent with the goals of the City (GGMC 2.24.100).
During the regular City Council meeting on 08/11/2020, Commissioner Nguyen was removed from his position by the City Council.
Garden Grove Police Detectives are seeking additional victims that may have had similar involvements with Nguyen. Please contact Detective Stroud at 714-741-5840.

Prepared by Rich Burillo, Lieutenant

Carl Whitney, Lieutenant
Professional Standards Division / PIO
O: 714.741.5786 W/C: 714.741.5871
24 Hour: 714.741.5704

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2020

The Orange County Chiefs' of Police and Sheriffs Association represents the interests of law enforcement across our County. We are deeply committed to serving our diverse and dynamic community with integrity, professionalism, and compassion. We understand how the unjust actions of even a single officer in any jurisdiction can impact the public’s trust in law enforcement as a profession.

California, and more specifically Orange County, leads the nation as a model for 21st Century Policing. We have a rich history of prioritizing community engagement, building partnerships and engaging with our private and faith-based community leaders in our approach to serving Orange County’s three million residents. Many of us host Community Police Academies, coordinate Community Emergency Response Teams, participate on interfaith councils, set up police-private security partnerships, and create programs for youth and school safety.

Our Orange County community-oriented policing philosophy is the cornerstone of our success. During this pivotal time in our nation’s history, it is more important than ever to strengthen our existing partnerships, cultivate new relationships, and affirm our commitment to building meaningful and trusting relationships with our youth. It is also critical we are positioned to recruit, hire and train service-minded peace officers with strong moral character that reflect our diverse community.

Central to our discussion should be the issue of public trust. To that end, many of us have recently shared our departments’ use of force policies with our respective communities. We are committed to procedures that are not only in accordance with the law but also instill confidence in the public and promote transparency. The sanctity of human life is paramount. Every person has a right to be free from excessive use of force, and deadly force may only be used when necessary in defense of human life. Our Association has a long history of working together to adopt standardized protocols, providing for greater consistency, while sharing resources to enhance service to all Orange County residents.

We mandate intervention and reporting on the part of all law enforcement officers who witness excessive force or other misconduct. De-escalation has served as the foundation of our continual training for many years. Unlike many states, California mandates training in the areas of racial and cultural diversity, crisis intervention, and interpersonal communications. Typically, law enforcement agencies in Orange County exceed the minimum standard each year, dedicating a substantial portion of our budgets to providing our law enforcement professionals with additional training in related areas, such as procedural justice and implicit bias.

The overwhelming majority of law enforcement officers strive to do what is right and just each and every day. Of course, in every profession, there is always room for growth and improvement. While we are proud of our accomplishments and the inroads we have made in our respective communities, we will not rest. Learning and improvement must be continual. Now is the time for empathic listening and collaboration with our community and lawmakers as we move towards positive change that promotes mutual trust, public confidence and community safety.

For another important message from Orange County Chiefs’ of Police and Sheriff’s Association, please see video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHWUtZj7mk8.

Have you seen this missing adult?******

PARKS is a 27-year-old autistic male with the mental capacity of a 13-year-old. PARKS can communicate, likes to hug and touch, and enjoys helping homeless individuals. PARKS frequents Pioneer Park, in Garden Grove, and other locations with transient groups. PARKS was last seen Thursday, 6-4-20, at approximately 1300 hours, leaving his residence to go to the park. He was last seen wearing a white tee shirt, blue jeans and yellow boots. His hair is cut short, resembling the most recent photo, listed above. Since the pandemic lockdown, PARKS believes family does not want him to have friends, not understanding the lockdown or social distancing.
If you know PARKS whereabouts, please contact GGPD Detective Desbiens at 714-741-5810

This weekend is Memorial Day Weekend, and as we slowly travel down the road to reopening, the Garden Grove Police Department encourages everyone to listen to advice from public health officials and be responsible during these trying times.

To help protect you and your family, the Garden Grove Police Department will have officers on patrol over the Memorial Day Weekend looking for drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

“This Memorial Day weekend will be much different than years before due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Police Chief Tom DaRé said. “But when it comes to protecting your family and getting around, it doesn’t mean we have to get complacent. If you plan on drinking, stay at home.”

Pandemic or no pandemic, it is never okay to drive under the influence of alcohol. Remember, a DUI does not just mean alcohol: some prescription medications or over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. Always follow directions for use and read warning labels about driving or ”operating heavy machinery,” which includes driving a car. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

While the state is relaxing stay-at-home orders, the Garden Grove Police Department advises the public to avoid large gatherings for Memorial Day Weekend and practice physical distancing measures, when feasible, by staying at least six feet away from others.

The COVID-19 crisis has brought out the good in many people. Unfortunately, it has also brought out the worst in some. There are scammers that will take advantage of people's fears. They use phishing emails, robocalls or social media to spread misinformation to ask for donations, sell a product or get your personal information. With stimulus and unemployment checks due to go out, it creates more opportunities for these crooks.

• Only use trusted sources for information and updates on the crisis. For local updates go to https://coronavirus.egovoc.com/ or http://ggcity.org/coronavirus
• Don't trust emails or texts (even from a known source) that only has a short message and a link, just a link, or requires "immediate action".
• There is currently no cure for COVID-19. Don't believe anyone claiming they have it.

Robocalls:

• The Federal government will not ask you to pay a fee or processing charge to receive your stimulus check.
• You will not need to provide your social security number, bank account or credit card number to receive payment.
• Government agencies, healthcare providers, and utility companies will not solicit payments over the phone or text.

COVID-19 Test Scams:

• There are no commercially available in-home COVID-19 tests that you can buy and there is no vaccine, yet.
• Don't trust anyone who is at your door, claiming they can test you or your home for COVID-19.

Donation Scams:

• Verify the organization you are donating to is a real charity, who has registered with the government.
• Ask how your money will be used and pay with a credit card for security and tax record purposes.
• Don't make donations via gift cards or money orders.

Mail thefts:

• Check your mailbox regularly throughout the week.
• Sign up for direct deposit, whenever possible.
• Shred anything with your personal information on it, before throwing it out.
• Check bank statements regularly for fraudulent activity.
• Pay bills online or place directly into a Post Office box, INSIDE the Post Office.