Tag / OCSD

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: A Cry for Empathy in Santa Ana — Not Control

Protester that lost family in the Military.

Last night, if you caught my Facebook Live broadcast, you witnessed a moment that cut deep into the soul of our community. I found myself stepping into a couple of tense altercations during what was otherwise a peaceful demonstration of solidarity in Downtown Santa Ana.

The first involved a young Latino man, overwhelmed with pain. Another demonstrator tried to de-escalate the situation, but emotions were high, and instead of cooling down, things flared up—especially between the young man, law enforcement, and military personnel on site. I had to step in. What could have turned violent needed a voice of calm. I did my best to be that voice.

Lone Demonstration of Solidarity

This young man—hurting, frustrated, and grieving—had family in the military. The pain he carried exploded into words directed at law enforcement. Again, I stepped in to calm him. But minutes later, after walking away, he returned, now face-to-face with an OCSD deputy. This time, his grief turned to desperation. He pleaded with the officer to shoot him. Said he wanted to die like his brother, who lost his life in service.

He stood just inches from the deputy, who had assumed an aggressive posture. I intervened once again, shielding this broken soul from what could have become another tragic incident on our streets.

Solidarity

Which raises the question: What is it with law enforcement and the lack of empathy? Have badges and state protection numbed their humanity? When did they stop hearing pain and start seeing only threats?

I have family in the military—my brother, my cousins. I understand duty. But duty, whether in uniform or behind a badge, is first and foremost to the Constitution, not to a delusional narcissist like Donald Trump. The U.S. Marine Corps Code of Conduct and the Oath of Enlistment make this clear: uphold the Constitution, not the man who happens to sit in the Oval Office.

Orange County Sheriff Department taking an Aggressive Stance on Peaceful Protest.

The same should be expected of our local police. Their oath is not to power—it’s to principle. Yet increasingly, we’re seeing the military and law enforcement used not as protectors of the people, but as enforcers of a nationalist, fascist agenda driven by fear and division.

We are not the enemy. That young man was not the enemy. He was a citizen in pain. And what he needed was compassion—not confrontation.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Las fuerzas del orden atacan a los periodistas del sur de California.

Guardias Nacionales de California en alerta en las calles de Santa Ana, California. Foto: The Orange County Reporter

En los condados de Orange y Los Ángeles, las fuerzas del orden parecen haber pasado de los manifestantes a quienes informan la verdad, en lo que solo puede considerarse una grave crisis para la democracia. Según informes, las agencias policiales locales han recurrido a la violencia, arrestos ilegales y amenazas públicas contra reporteros, fotógrafos y periodistas que cubren redadas de ICE y protestas civiles.

Esto está respaldado por testimonios de testigos presenciales, relatos de testigos presenciales y videos, no por hipótesis. Se han disparado balas de goma contra periodistas, se les ha encarcelado sin motivo y se les ha prohibido explícitamente cubrir irregularidades policiales. Este comportamiento no solo es ilegal, sino también totalitario, y por lo tanto destruye la base de la libertad mediática de toda democracia funcional.

Manifestación pacífica frente al Palacio de Justicia Federal en Santa Ana, California. Foto: The Orange County Reporter.

El reciente despliegue de la Guardia Nacional y la Infantería de Marina de los EE. UU. en el sur de California aumenta el peligro. A diferencia de la policía local, la Infantería de Marina no está entrenada en seguridad comunitaria ni en disturbios civiles. Está entrenada para enfrentarse y eliminar a los oponentes en zonas de combate utilizando munición real. Esto no es control de multitudes, sino una táctica de escalada.

Entrar en ciudades ya sumidas en la agitación, las protestas y la inestabilidad política con soldados listos para el combate no es una demostración de poderío, sino una declaración de guerra contra la población, los derechos civiles y la libertad de prensa. Ofrece un ejemplo esclarecedor de las consecuencias de la excesiva intromisión del gobierno.

La Primera Enmienda protege la libertad de prensa como un escudo contra la tiranía, no como un favor. El público se ciega cuando se silencia a la prensa. Vivimos en una civilización regulada, no democrática, donde quienes dicen la verdad son vistos como oponentes.

Vincent Sarmiento, de la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Orange, y Benjamín Vázquez, alcalde interino de Santa Ana. Foto: The Orange County Reporter.

Exigimos que todos los funcionarios electos, las organizaciones de derechos civiles y los defensores legales actúen de inmediato para investigar estas violaciones. Protejan a los periodistas. Antes de que la violencia se intensifique, desmilitaricen nuestra sociedad ante todo.

Todo el mundo observa. ¿Se convertirá el sur de California en un santuario de libertad o caerá bajo la opresión?

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Downtown Santa Ana Demonstration Turns Violent Amid Police Crackdown

Orange County Sheriff Department

What started out as a calm protest in Downtown Santa Ana quickly descended into disorder and violence as various law enforcement agencies —including the Santa Ana Police Department, Huntington Beach, Anaheim, Irvine, Seal Beach, La Palma, Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), even the California National Guard— descended on the demonstration to forcefully disperse the crowd.

Witnesses say that police in riot gear advanced fiercely aided by armored vehicles and monitoring drones. What should’ve First Amendment rights exercise turned into a conflict involving tear gas, rubber bullets, and batons against demonstrators. Police sirens and shouting dispersal commands drowned out justice chants.

Orange County Sheriff Department

Why agencies from cities miles away—including Huntington Beach and Seal Beach—were called in to intervene in a Santa Ana protest? Why was the National Guard sent in a civilian environment and with what mandate?

The scene reflected a disturbing national trend: the swift militarization of local law enforcement and the organized suppression of public opposition. It begs immediate concerns about civil liberties, jurisdictional overreach, and the decline of local trust when peaceful protesters are treated as enemy combatant and police from different jurisdictions act in harmony without transparency or local accountability.

Santa Ana Police Department

This is not public safety.” This is a display of power;it sets a hazardous precedent.”

City and county level elected officials have to account for this increase. Mayor Valerie Amezcua and the Santa Ana City Council have to account for their involvement—or lack of influence—regarding what happened. People ought to know why if they approved this.Who else would?

Demonstrators put up a barrier

The citizens of Santa Ana are entitled to object, seek justice, and hold those in authority responsible. Official news releases or cleaned reports should not cover the events of this day. The community is watching; history will remember.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: El residente de Lake Forrest, Eric Walter Ramminger, fue arrestado por el OCSD por insultos raciales y declaraciones de amenazas de muerte.

Eric Walter Ramminger, 54, Alleged Racist Individual.

Eric Walter Ramminger, un hombre de 54 años de Lake Forest, California, fue detenido por el Departamento del Sheriff del Condado de Orange tras un incidente que incluyó amenazas de muerte, insultos raciales y un ataque contra la dueña de un negocio y sus clientes. La llegada tardía de la policía al lugar se debió a las evaluaciones preliminares de las circunstancias y a la necesidad de garantizar la seguridad de los empleados ante las amenazas documentadas.

El arresto pone de relieve la creciente preocupación por la seguridad pública y el aumento de incidentes motivados por el odio en las comunidades vecinas. Testimonios de testigos presenciales indican que Ramminger comenzó a usar insultos raciales hacia otros antes de involucrarse en peleas físicas. Se informó que el dueño del negocio y algunos clientes sufrieron acoso e intimidación durante el incidente.

Racist Rants, Assault, and Death Threats.

Las autoridades policiales están contratando a Ramminger para investigaciones sobre diversos delitos, como lesiones, delitos de odio y amenazas. Se espera que próximamente se publique más información sobre las fechas de las audiencias y las posibles medidas legales.

Este suceso ha suscitado interrogantes sobre la gestión de las fuerzas del orden en situaciones peligrosas y la necesidad de una reacción rápida y eficaz ante actividades motivadas por el odio. Los líderes comunitarios abogan por la unidad y la alerta para condenar estos actos y garantizar un entorno seguro para todos los residentes.

by The Orange County Reporter

Editorial: Lake Forrest resident Eric Walter Ramminger was arrested by the OCSD for racial slurs and death threat declarations.

Eric Walter Ramminger, 54, Alleged Racist Individual.

Eric Walter Ramminger, a 54-year-old man from Lake Forest, California, was apprehended by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department after an event including death threats, racial epithets, and an attack on a business owner and her clients. Late police arrival at the scene resulted from the preliminary assessments of the circumstances and the need to ensure employee safety against documented threats.

The arrest highlights the increasing concerns over public safety and the escalating rate of hate-motivated events in neighboring communities. Eyewitness testimonies indicate that Ramminger began using racial epithets toward others prior to engaging in physical fights. The business owner and a few clients were reported to have been bullied and intimidated during the incident.

Racist Rants, Assault, and Death Threats.

For inquiries on a variety of crimes including battery, hate crimes, and criminal threats, law enforcement officials are retaining Ramminger. Further information on court dates and possible legal measures is expected to be released soon.

This event has sparked queries regarding law enforcement’s handling of hazardous events and the necessity of a fast and efficient reaction to hate-motivated activity. Community leaders are advocating unity and alertness to condemn these acts so as to ensure safe surroundings for all residents.