Irvine News Blog

Irvine sex assault suspect arrested as he tried to flee to China

Posted on February 27, 2019 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, UCI Leave a comment

Irvine, Calif. (Feb. 27, 2019) – Irvine Police Department Detectives have arrested a sexual assault suspect who was caught trying to flee the country. Gaoyang “Gary” Li, 20, was apprehended at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, February 22. Detectives believe he was attempting to return to China.

The case against Li began on January 29, when a 16-year-old victim reported a sexual assault. The victim reported that on September 9, 2018, she met Li on the Chinese dating app Tan Tan. They had further communication on the WeChat app and agreed to meet. The victim reported that Li forced her to perform oral sex. On January 29, Li again contacted the victim via Tan Tan and demanded money under the threat that he would post a video of the sexual assault on social media and send it to the victim’s friends and family. Li is also suspected in another sexual battery case in Irvine.

On February 6, 2019, Li was located on the UCI campus and arrested. He was subsequently released from custody while further investigative follow-up was conducted. When Detectives learned of his plans to travel out of the country on February 22, they located and arrested him. He is being held at Orange County Jail on $1 million bail.

Irvine Police Detectives believe there may be other victims in this case. Anyone who believes they have been a victim is urged to contact Detective Gavin Hudson at 949-724-7168 or ghudson@cityofirvine.org. Victim identities will be kept confidential. IPD will provide translation services upon request.

Irvine man who embezzled millions for a Santa Ana school facing felony charges

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Editor Posted in Crime, Education, Irvine, News, Santa Ana Leave a comment

MAN EXTRADITED FROM SPAIN TO FACE FRAUD CHARGES FOR EMBEZZLEMENT OF $3.2 MILLION FROM CHARTER SCHOOL IN SANTA ANA

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was extradited from Spain to face fraud charges for embezzlement of $3.2 million in public funds from a charter school in Santa Ana. Emilio Vazquez, 61, Irvine, was charged on March 3, 2009, with one felony count of misappropriation of public funds, one felony count of forgery, seven felony counts of conflict of interest in a contract, two felony counts of grand theft, and sentencing enhancements for aggravated white collar crime over $500,000 and fraud or embezzlement over $500,000. Vazquez faces a maximum sentence of 19 years and eight months in state prison. He is in custody on $3.12 million bail and must prove the money came from a legal source before posting bail. Vazquez is scheduled for a continued arraignment on Feb. 22, 2019, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.

From 2002 to 2006, Vazquez was the executive director of Albor Charter School in Santa Ana. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) and Franchise Tax Board investigated this case following an audit in 2007. Charges were filed in 2009 and an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. Vazquez in the amount of $2 million dollars by the Orange County Superior Court on March 30, 2009.

Vazquez was located in Spain, and in September 2009, the U.S. Department of Justice submitted a request to Spain for his extradition. In April 2010, his extradition was approved for the above listed charges. While Vazquez was released on bail in Spain, he fled to China and was not surrendered to the United States.

Vazquez was deported from China to Spain in 2019 and surrendered to the United States Marshals pursuant to his extradition order. Vazquez arrived in Orange County on Feb. 8, 2019, and was booked into the Orange County Jail.

Deputy District Attorney Nick Miller of the Major Fraud Unit is prosecuting this case.

Santa Ana man arrested for allegedly attacking a cleaning woman in Irvine

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, Santa Ana, Tustin Leave a comment

Irvine, Calif. (Feb. 7, 2019) – The suspect in an attempted rape that occurred in the early morning hours Wednesday, February 6, is in custody. Irvine Police Department Detectives arrested Eduardo Godoy Gonzalez, 21, of Santa Ana at his workplace in Tustin on Thursday around 5 p.m. Gonzalez was in possession of a knife believed to be used in the attack at the time of his arrest. A replica Glock handgun was recovered at the scene.

Police were led to Gonzalez thanks to several tips from citizens who saw media coverage of the case.

On Wednesday around 1:20 a.m., the suspect entered an unlocked door of an office at 17877 Von Karman Ave. and approached a woman who was cleaning the facility. The suspect asked the victim in Spanish if she was the only one there. When she said yes, he made aggressive sexual comments to her and ordered her to have sex with him. When she refused and said she was going to call police, the suspect pulled out a handgun and pointed it at the victim, threatening her life.

He then pushed her into another room and forcefully tried to undress her. For four minutes, the victim is seen on video pleading for her life and fighting off the attacker.

Eventually, the victim was able to overpower the suspect and disarm him. The victim then ran for help in a nearby building.

The gun was found at the location and determined to be a replica Glock handgun. The victim also reported seeing a knife during the attack. She suffered injuries during the assault, including bruising to her arms, hands and breast and scratches to her face.

The investigation in the case is ongoing. Anyone with further information is asked to contact Irvine Police Department Detective Haldor Larum at 949-724-7194.

A man was caught on video attacking and trying to rape a cleaning woman in Irvine

Posted on February 7, 2019 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News Leave a comment

The Irvine Police Department is looking for a male suspect who violently attacked and tried to rape a woman who was doing janitorial work at an office in Irvine, according to KTLA.

The attack happened early on Wednesday morning, February 6, 2019, at 1:20 a.m., at an office located at 17877 Von Karman Ave. The suspect entered the facility through an unlocked door.

The suspect was carrying a skateboard. He walked up to the victim and then he asked her in Spanish if she was alone. After she said yes, the man made sexually suggestive remarks and ordered the victim to have sex with him, according to the Irvine Police.

The woman refused and she then threatened to call the police. However the attacker then pulled out a gun and pointed it at her, as captured in surveillance video that was released by the Irvine police.

The attacker shoved his victim into another room and then tried by force to take off her clothing. The victim however first begged for her life then tried to fight off her attacker, according to unreleased video footage.

Fortunately the woman was in the end able to overpower her attacker, who was slight of frame and she even disarmed him. She then fled to a nearby building for help.

The man escaped before the police could arrive. The officers did find the weapon, which turned out to be a replica Glock.

The victim told the police that the suspect also had a knife.

The victim had bruises and scratches due to the assault but escaped serious injury.

The suspect is described as a male Hispanic, 20 to 25 years old, about 5 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 130 to 140 pounds, according to the Irvine police.

The suspect has black hair, brown eyes and he wore glasses during the attack. He was dressed in a gray hooded sweatshirt, black pants and a black knit cap with the letter “P” on the front.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked to contact Detective Haldor Larum by calling 949-724-7194 or emailing him at hlarum@cityofirvine.org.

The Irvine Police are conducting a DUI checkpoint on Saturday night

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Editor Posted in Alcohol, Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News Leave a comment

Irvine, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2019) – The Irvine Police Department (IPD) will conduct a sobriety checkpoint as part of the Department’s continued commitment to reducing injuries and deaths caused by impaired drivers. The checkpoint will be conducted Saturday, January 26, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the area of Culver Drive and Barranca Parkway.

The checkpoint will be clearly marked and vehicles will be selected for further screening on a pre-set basis to ensure objectivity. Motorists will be greeted and given information about the dangers of driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Trained officers will direct suspected impaired drivers to a secondary area for further evaluation. Most motorists will experience little or no delay.

This checkpoint is being carried out with the use of grant funding awarded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

High-visibility enforcement can reduce drunken driving fatalities by as much as 20 percent, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research has shown. IPD publicizes these highly visible sobriety checkpoints to deter impaired drivers, encourage the use of sober designated drivers and rideshare services, and bring increased awareness to the consequences of impaired driving.

Irvine man suspected in nine residential burglaries arrested

Posted on January 25, 2019 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department Leave a comment

Irvine, Calif. (January 25, 2019) – A foot pursuit Wednesday ended in the arrest of a suspect tied to at least nine residential burglaries in Irvine. Ismail Luqman Wasi, 20, of Irvine is suspected of breaking into homes in University Park and other areas, sometimes while residents were at home. The Irvine Police Department has recovered much of the tens of thousands of dollars of property Wasi stole since his spree began in December.

At 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, a resident on Gillman was awakened by sounds coming from a nearby room. The resident went to investigate and found the suspect holding her laptop computer. The suspect fled the home. The resident called police, who set up a search for the suspect.

After fleeing the home on Gillman, the suspect broke into homes on Dewberry and Sandburg Way. He was then seen on Montanas Norte, near Rancho San Joaquin Golf Course. Police were alerted to this activity and closed in on the suspect. Around 7:25 a.m., Wasi was spotted by police and a brief foot pursuit ensued before he was taken into custody.

At the time of the arrest, Wasi had property in his possession from the burglary on Gillman, as well as from a December burglary at San Leon apartments. Later, detectives located a storage unit belonging to Wasi that contained stolen property from previous residential burglaries.

Wasi is believed to have entered the residences he burglarized through unlocked doors. He is being held on $1 million bail. Wasi may be linked to more burglaries in the City. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Irvine Police Department Detective Justin Brouwer at 949-724-7124 or jbrouwer@cityofirvine.org.

The Irvine Police busted a car club engaged in street racing

Posted on January 15, 2019 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News Leave a comment

Last night, the Irvine PD Traffic Bureau received information that a car club, suspected of engaging in street racing, may be gathering in the city.

IPD Traffic officers, joined by their partners at OCSD, CHP, and UCI PD, conducted patrols of the area and found several hundred people associated with the club gathered at a local shopping center.

While in the area, Officers and Deputies made over 80 traffic enforcement stops for various violations, conducted 28 vehicle inspections looking for illegal modifications, wrote 56 citations, and ordered 20 vehicles to be inspected by the state Bureau of Automotive Repair for further inspection and correction of illegal modifications.

OCSD arrests man accused of cold-case rapes in 1990s

Posted on January 12, 2019 by Editor Posted in Crime, Mission Viejo, News, Orange County Sheriff Leave a comment

SANTA ANA, Ca. (January 11, 2019) – Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested a man yesterday suspected of committing multiple rapes in the 1990s, including the kidnapping and rape of a 9-year-old girl in Lake Forest. The man was identified utilizing techniques similar to the methods used to identify the Golden State Killer.

The man, Kevin Konther, 53, of Highland, Calif., was arrested yesterday at his home on suspicion of kidnapping and raping at least two victims. The first victim, a 9-year-old girl, was walking home from a convenience store at 6:40 p.m. in Lake Forest on October 21, 1995, when a man grabbed the girl and pulled her into a wooded area inside Serrano Creek Park. The man raped her, and then released her. The girl ran home to report the sexual assault to her parents, who immediately called the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Despite an exhaustive search, the suspect was not located. DNA evidence was collected during a sexual assault exam, but did not match anyone is the existing database. The girl was able to provide details to the investigators to create a sketch of the suspect.

The second victim was a 31-year-old woman who was kidnapped and raped while jogging at 11:30 a.m. on June 2, 1998 on a trail in Mission Viejo near El Toro Road and Marguerite Parkway. The woman was grabbed from behind and pulled into the bushes, where the suspect raped her and fled the scene. The woman sought help from a passerby who called the Sheriff’s Department, but the suspect was not located. The suspect’s DNA was collected during a sexual assault exam, and the DNA was matched to the suspect from the 1995 rape. Despite having DNA from both suspects, all investigative leads ran cold.

The DNA collected was run through law enforcement databases by OCSD investigators and the Orange County Crime Lab multiple times over the course of the last 23 years with no results. Various investigators continued to work the case, hoping to solve these heinous crimes, but no suspect was identified.

In August 2018, OCSD investigators, working with the FBI’s Investigative Genealogy Team, employed techniques similar to those used to catch the Golden State Killer utilizing the DNA collected from the rapes.

In an unexpected turn, the genealogy led to two people, twin brothers. Investigators learned that the brothers were identical twins, meaning they share identical DNA. Yesterday, Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested both brothers based on probable cause. Subsequent information obtained by investigators determined that Kevin Konther is the suspect in both incidents. The twin brother was not released.

Konther was booked into Orange County Jail for two counts of felony rape, oral copulation with a person under 14, lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14, and aggravated sexual assault. He is being held on 1 million dollars bail. He is set to be arraigned on Monday, January 14, 2019.

Despite these cases occurring more than 20 years ago, investigators are asking the public who may have information related to this case to call Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS or occrimestoppers.org.

Thank you to the FBI and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for their involvement in this case.

Man charged with murder after fatal DUI crash in Irvine

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News, OCDA Leave a comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Case # 18HF1669

Date: December 11, 2018

MAN CHARGED WITH MURDER OF TWO PASSENGERS IN SINGLE-VEHICLE CRASH WHILE INTOXICATED IN IRVINE

SANTA ANA, Calif. – A man was charged yesterday with the murder of two passengers in a single-vehicle crash while intoxicated in Irvine.

Defendant: Norman David Martin, 23, Irvine

Charged on Dec. 11, 2018, with the following felony counts:

(2) Murder

Maximum Sentence: 30 years to life in state prison

Arraignment on Dec. 12, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at

Department CJ-1, Central Justice Center, Santa Ana

Circumstances of the Case

On July 22, 2017, at approximately 2:20 a.m., Martin is accused of driving under the influence of alcohol with two passengers in a two-seat Corvette.
The defendant is accused of driving at 138 miles per hour and hitting the crown of the intersection while running a red light at Jamboree and Main Street in Irvine.
The vehicle went airborne and the driver subsequently lost control and struck multiple objects, including three palm trees. The defendant and both passengers were ejected from the vehicle as a result of the collision.
26-year-old victims Jamie Lopez and Nancy Ortiz were pronounced dead at the scene.
Martin was transported to a local hospital and is accused of having a blood alcohol content of 0.08 percent hours after the collision.
Irvine Police Department (IPD) investigated this case and arrested the defendant today, Dec. 11, 2018.

Prosecutor: Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Feldman, Homicide Unit

Suspect in several armed robberies arrested by the Irvine Police

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Editor Posted in Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News Leave a comment

Irvine, Calif. (Dec. 11, 2018) – The Irvine Police Department has arrested a suspect in an armed robbery that occurred Sunday in Irvine. Emanuel Demar Banks, 38, of Los Angeles, is also suspected in a string of robberies that occurred in Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Santa Ana, Garden Grove and Westminster.

On Sunday, December 9, at approximately 7:38 p.m., Banks entered the Chevron gas station at 5425 Alton Parkway in Irvine. He brought an item to the counter, but instead of making a purchase, he brandished a gun and demanded money from the clerk. He took approximately $100 cash before fleeing.

During their investigation, Irvine Police Department Detectives were able to identify Banks and determine his whereabouts. On Tuesday, detectives located Banks in Gardena and took him into custody without incident. A search of the suspect’s hotel room revealed evidence related to the series of robberies that occurred in various Orange County cities on December 8 and 9.

The investigation in this case is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Matt Ricci at 949-724-7189 or mricci@cityofirvine.org.

Irvine News Blog

Man who took inappropriate pictures of a woman at an Irvine car wash arrested

May 15, 2019 - Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News - No Comments

The Irvine police will be conducting a DUI checkpoint on Saturday night

April 26, 2019 - Alcohol, Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, News - No Comments

Irvine burglary suspect now arrested for a double slaying in Newport Beach

April 25, 2019 - Costa Mesa, Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department, Newport Beach, News - No Comments

Irvine Police arrest felon suspected in attempted residential burglary

April 23, 2019 - Crime, Irvine, Irvine Police Department - No Comments