Latest news with #OrangeCountyDA
CBS News
22-05-2025
- CBS News
Police officer partied at music festival and ran 5K races while she collected $600,000 for fake injury, California DA says
A Southern California police officer was caught partying at the Stagecoach Music Festival while collecting more than $600,000 in workers' compensation for a head injury that prosecutors allege was faked. Westminster officer Nicole Brown, 39, was charged Monday with 15 felonies of workers' compensation and insurance fraud, the Orange County District Attorney's office said in a news release. She faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted. Brown was on the job March 21, 2022, when she received a "minor abrasion" to her forehead while trying to arrest an uncooperative suspect, according to prosecutors. She told her watch commander that she had a headache and was feeling dizzy. Though an emergency room doctor who examined her that day released her back to work without restrictions, she called out sick for several days and was diagnosed with a severe concussion about a week after the initial injury. She was placed on Total Temporary Disability, which made her eligible to receive her full salary for up to a year and two-thirds of her salary after that. Officer Nicole Brown. X / @WestminsterPDCA Later, investigators would find out that during the three days she called out sick after her injury, Brown went to several soccer conferences in San Diego. In the following year while collecting disability, she also ran in two 5K races, went snowboarding or skiing in Big Bear and Mammoth, attended baseball games, played golf, went to Disneyland and took online courses with a local university, prosecutors allege. "Mrs. Brown suffered a significant head injury when she was on duty," her attorney Brian Gurwitz said, "and she intends to vigorously fight these allegations." According to prosecutors, "Brown's ongoing complaints were headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, problems processing thoughts and words, and an inability to work on the computer or do any screentime." The district attorney's office began their investigation into potential fraud after she was seen by several people "dancing and drinking" in April 2023 at the Stagecoach Music Festival, an annual country music festival held in the Coachella Valley with "loud music and bright lights everywhere." This was reported to the Westminster Police Department. Three days after the festival, Brown and her stepfather attended a Zoom meeting where she sat in a dark room and said she was unable to look at the screen. Her stepfather said she still could not do paperwork or take phone calls. After the meeting, she was admitted to an inpatient center for traumatic brain injury. Prosecutors say Brown collected more than $600,000 from the city of Westminster, which includes her full salary and medical expenses. Her stepfather Peter Schuman, 57, of Buena Park, has also been charged with two felonies related to insurance fraud and helping commit a crime. He is a licensed attorney in California and faces discipline from the state bar, prosecutors said. Schuman does not have an attorney listed and could not be reached for comment. Brown was sworn into the Westminster Police Department in February 2019, according to Behind the Badge, a publication reporting on law enforcement news in California. Kimberly Edds, the public information officer for the Orange County District Attorney's Office, told ABC that Brown was also pursuing an online master's degree in organizational leadership. "For a police officer to engage in that kind of behavior, it's absolutely disgusting," Edds told ABC. In 2021, the Westminster Police Department shared a post on social media featuring Brown to mark Women's History Month. The department said Brown's advice to women and young girls was: "Reflect, accept and learn from all situations. A person's differences can be utilized to accomplish tasks and challenges that at one time seemed impossible."
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Associated Press
California cop was partying at festival while collecting $600,000 for fake injury, officials say
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Southern California police officer was caught partying at the Stagecoach Music Festival while collecting more than $600,000 in workers' compensation for a head injury that prosecutors allege was faked. Westminster officer Nicole Brown, 39, was charged Monday with 15 felonies of workers' compensation and insurance fraud, the Orange County District Attorney's office said. She faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted. Brown was on the job March 21, 2022, when she received a 'minor abrasion' to her forehead while trying to arrest an uncooperative suspect, according to prosecutors. She told her watch commander that she had a headache and was feeling dizzy. Though an emergency room doctor who examined her that day released her back to work without restrictions, she called out sick for several days and was diagnosed with a severe concussion about a week after the initial injury. She was placed on Total Temporary Disability, which made her eligible to receive her full salary for up to a year and two-thirds of her salary after that. Later, investigators would find out that during the three days she called out sick after her injury, Brown went to several soccer conferences in San Diego. In the following year while collecting disability, she also ran in two 5K races, went snowboarding or skiing in Big Bear and Mammoth, attended baseball games, played golf, went to Disneyland and took online courses with a local university, prosecutors allege. 'Mrs. Brown suffered a significant head injury when she was on duty,' her attorney Brian Gurwitz said, 'and she intends to vigorously fight these allegations.' According to prosecutors, some of Brown's ongoing symptoms that she reported during this time were: headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and noise, and inability to look at a screen. The district attorney's office began their investigation into potential fraud after she was seen by several people 'dancing and drinking' in April 2023 at the Stagecoach Music Festival, an annual country music festival held in the Coachella Valley with 'loud music and bright lights everywhere.' This was reported to the Westminster Police Department. Three days after the festival, Brown and her stepfather attended a Zoom meeting where she sat in a dark room and said she was unable to look at the screen. Her stepfather said she still could not do paperwork or take phone calls. After the meeting, she was admitted to an inpatient center for traumatic brain injury. Prosecutors say Brown collected more than $600,000 from the city of Westminster, which includes her full salary and medical expenses. Her stepfather Peter Schuman, 57, of Buena Park, has also been charged with two felonies related to insurance fraud and helping commit a crime. He is a licensed attorney in California and faces discipline from the state bar, prosecutors said. Schuman does not have an attorney listed and could not be reached for comment. Brown was sworn into the Westminster Police Department in February 2019, according to Behind the Badge, a publication reporting on law enforcement news in California.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Teen charged with murder in deadly stabbing attack outside Santa Ana High School
A teenager was charged with murder after a stabbing attack outside Santa Ana High School killed a 14-year-old boy and left two others hospitalized. The deadly incident happened on May 7 as a fight broke out among a group of teenagers in the school parking lot shortly before 3:30 p.m. Three male students, ages 14, 15, and 16, were stabbed during the violent altercation. The teen suspects, a 15-year-old and a 17-year-old, fled the scene. All three victims were transported to the hospital with stab wounds. The 14-year-old, identified by family as Armando Morales, died from his injuries at the hospital. The other two victims are expected to survive. On Friday, the Orange County District Attorney's office said Morales had been stabbed in the heart. The fight was among students who were believed to be members of rival gangs, police told the Orange County Register, though Morales' family said the 14-year-old was not a gang member and was instead trying to defend his friend during the confrontation. Police set up a perimeter and began searching for the two suspects who fled the area. The next day, escorted by their parents, the teen boys, who are brothers, turned themselves in at the Santa Ana Police Department. They were arrested for murder and attempted murder and were transported to Juvenile Hall. On Friday, the DA's Office announced the 15-year-old suspect was charged with murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Charges against his 17-year-old brother are still pending. The knife that was used in the attack had not been located, police told the O.C. Register, while they noted the 17-year-old suspect did not use any weapons during the incident. Morales was a freshman at Santa Ana High School who was described by friends and loved ones as a kind and spirited kid. Dianna Vasquez said her daughter was friends with Morales. 'When she got home with her friends and they found out, she was in tears,' Vazquez said. 'She was crying. She couldn't believe it. She said he was a really nice kid.' A makeshift memorial honoring Morales was set up by friends and family outside the high school, where candles and mementos could be seen. He is survived by his parents and two siblings. The Santa Ana Unified School District released a statement saying, 'We are committed to providing a safe, caring, and supportive environment for all students and staff. We will continue to share updates as they become available. Thank you for your continued support and compassion.' All after-school activities were cancelled following the deadly incident and the district confirmed there was an increased police presence on campus, along with crisis counselors for those who needed support. The suspects' identities were not released due to their juvenile status. Detectives said they are investigating cellphone video captured by a witness that showed portions of the fight and are seeking any additional footage that may exist. Anyone who was a witness or has information on the case is urged to call SAPD Homicide Detectives at 714-245-8390. Anonymous tips can be provided to OC Crime Stoppers at 1-855-847-6227 or online at Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
10-05-2025
- CBS News
Teenager charged with murder for stabbing at Santa Ana high school
A 14-year-old boy was charged with murder and assault on Friday for a stabbing that left one teenager dead and two others wounded at Santa Ana High School on Wednesday. The boy, who was not named due to his age, will be tried in Orange County Juvenile Court for the murder charged and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon for the alleged stabbing, according to the Orange County District Attorney's Office. He is one of two teenagers who turned themselves into authorities the day after the stabbing occurred. It's unknown if his brother, 17, will face charges. The teenagers were part of a fight that turned into a triple stabbing at around 3:20 p.m. on Wednesday afternoon in the high school's parking lot, located in the 400 block of W. Walnut Street, which is shared with Heninger Elementary School, according to Santa Ana Unified School District Spokesman Fermin Leal. "The incident involved an altercation among several individuals, occurring shortly after dismissal," said a statement from SAUSD after the incident. "Out of an abundance of caution, there will be an increased presence of Santa Ana School Police on and around Santa Ana HS on Thursday. To support our students during this difficult time, crisis counselors will be available on Thursday at Santa Ana High School, Heninger School and any other campuses affected by this event." All three of the victims, aged 14, 15 and 16, were taken to a nearby hospital where the youngest later died. He has been identified as Armando Morales, Orange County Sheriff's Department deputies said. They believe that the altercation was gang-related, as both of the brothers taken into custody on Thursday are considered to be documented gang members. They also said that the other people involved in the fight were in gangs, except for the Morales.
