The Preserve at San Juan

OC Grapples With Homelessness, Sheriff Funding and Sex Assault Evidence Backlog

By Nick Gerda | June 19, 2017

The proposed budget has a large discretionary increase for the Sheriff’s Department and comparatively tiny discretionary increases for social and health services.

THIS JUST IN:

1/17

Judge Nathan Scott has issued a temporary restraining order that was requested by the Orange County Deputies Union to block the release of any misconduct records on use of force, sexual assault and lying while in office. Stay tuned for details.

1/17

The OC courthouse initial investigation is complete and there is "no further threat to (the) courthouse or personnel," according to Orange County Fire Authority PIO Captain Larry Kurtz. The suspicious package will now be analyzed at the OC crime lab.

1/17

One of the individuals impacted is a sheriff’s deputy, who is the person who opened the package. The other three people are civilians. Still no evacuations at the courthouse, though a portion of the third floor is closed.

1/17

Hazmat and bomb squad personnel are currently testing to see the nature of the substance. Now four people are found to have been exposed — two are en route to hospitals and two will be transported soon. None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.

1/17

Update on the OC Courthouse situation: The suspicious package is a cardboard box that was found in courtroom C-53, that was not in session at the time, according to Orange County Fire Authority PIO Captain Larry Kurtz.

1/17

Two other people, who are not affiliated with law enforcement, were also affected but are being treated on scene. Multiple adjacent court rooms are closed and there are no other evacuations at this time. The Hazmat and bomb squads are presently investigating the package.

1/17

Around 2:30 p.m. there was a suspicious package located in one of the court rooms at the Orange County Courthouse on the third floor in the west wing, said OCFA PIO Carrie Braun. A deputy started experiencing medical distress and is being transported to a hospital for treatment.

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