An Orange County parolee was arrested after police spotted him in a stolen car filled with counterfeit cash and stolen credit cards. The suspect was identified as Johnny Lucero Berlino, 31, of Huntington Beach, according to the Irvine Police Department. On May 23, officers at the Irvine Spectrum shopping mall contacted the police after spotting the suspect’s car with a license plate that was reported lost/stolen. Authorities arrived at the parking lot, spotted Berlino and took him into custody. During the arrest, police discovered over $2,700 in counterfeit money, stolen mail and stolen credit ..read more

Irvine is one of the best cities to raise a family in the U.S., according to a recent WalletHub report. On Tuesday, WalletHub detailed some of the best and worst cities to raise a family in the country, with Irvine placing in the top three, behind Overland Park, Kansas, and Fremont, Calif. The report compared more than 180 cities, considering the cost of housing in the area and the quality of local schools, along with analysis of the healthcare system in place ..read more

New details released Tuesday on the deadly ambush attack of a UPS driver in Orange County revealed he was allegedly stalked and killed by a childhood friend. The shooting happened on May 16 as the victim, Expedito Cuesta De Leon, 50, from Aliso Viejo, was sitting in his delivery van after dropping off a package at around 3 p.m.  Suddenly, a masked gunman pulled up to De Leon’s van and shot him 14 times in a matter of 19 seconds, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. Irvine police responded to the area near Chrysler and Bendix Streets in Irvine where De Leon was found ..read more

The Irvine Police Department has released the identity of the man accused of shooting and killing a UPS driver in his truck on Thursday, and it appears the two men worked together. According to a release from police, Rhean Fontanoza, 46, was the attacker who pulled up alongside Expedito Cuesta De Leon, 50, at Chrysler and Bendix streets in Irvine at about 3 p.m. De Leon was declared dead at the scene. Rhean Fontanoza is seen in an undated image provided by the Irvine Police Department. Fontanoza, meanwhile, was located about an hour later and eventually arrested after a standoff with a SWAT te ..read more

The UPS driver who was shot and killed inside his truck in Orange County on Thursday has been identified. The driver was Expedito Cuesta De Leon, 50, from Aliso Viejo, KTLA's Chip Yost has learned. Irvine police detectives on the scene of a deadly shooting of a UPS driver on May 16, 2024. (KTLA) Irvine police detectives on the scene of a deadly shooting of a UPS driver on May 16, 2024. (KTLA) Irvine police detectives on the scene of a deadly shooting of a UPS driver on May 16, 2024. (OnScene TV) Irvine police detectives on the scene of a deadly shooting of a UPS driver on May 16, 2024. (OnSc ..read more

Loved ones are devastated after a beloved grandfather was killed in a rollover crash and the suspect remains at large. The victim was identified as Allen Yangkaou Lee, 67, according to the Irvine Police Department. The crash happened on May 9 as Allen was driving northbound on Culver Drive towards Trabuco Road in Irvine at around 4:30 p.m. As he passed an intersection, the suspect jutted out and made a right turn against a red light. The sudden movement of the suspect’s car forced Allen to swerve so he would avoid crashing into the suspect. The maneuver caused Allen to lose control of his car ..read more

Several University of California, Irvine students who have participated in the pro-Palestinian encampment on campus since last week are facing suspensions, according to multiple reports. New University, UCI's student-run newspaper, reported on Thursday that student protesters started to receive suspension notices on Wednesday for what the university called "multiple conduct violations." Those suspended included three students who were members of the negotiating party that has met with campus administration regularly. The total amount of suspensions handed out was not immediately known. Student ..read more

An Orange County doctor has been arrested for allegedly groping and sexually assaulting female patients. The suspect was identified as John Carl Hoefs, 79, of Irvine, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. Hoefs is a practicing hepatologist at a Hoag-affiliated medical office in Irvine and has been affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, and the Liver Specialty Center. Beginning in 2020, Hoefs is accused of assaulting a female patient who had a liver condition in five separate incidents, according to court documents. During these alleged assaults, Hoefs folded ..read more

Police are searching for a group of suspects wanted for organized retail theft at an Orange County shopping mall. The four suspects allegedly targeted a Champs Sports store at the Irvine Spectrum, according to the Irvine Police Department. They allegedly stole Nike products from the retailer before fleeing the shopping center in two vehicles — a gray Mitsubishi Outlander SUV and a black Volkswagen Passat sedan. A suspect wanted for a theft targeting an athletic clothing store at the Irvine Spectrum mall. (Irvine Police Department) A suspect wanted for a theft targeting an athletic clothing s ..read more

A suspect was arrested at an Orange County hotel for alleged sex trafficking and pimping. The male suspect was identified as Winston Jones, 33, from Los Angeles, according to the Irvine Police Department. Undercover agents converged at an Irvine hotel after receiving information that a woman was suspected of being trafficked for sex work. As Jones and the female victim arrived at the hotel, the woman was “detained and safely removed from the situation” by officers. The suspect was taken into custody at the scene. He was arrested on several human trafficking-related charges including pimping an ..read more