OIS2013.007_Int of Stephen Chavez by Wood_releasable

Home Browse Search

S.A. 13-017 Investigator: ED WOOD Approved By: Date of Report:11/05/2013 Date: 11/14/2013 Page 2 of 5 CHAVEZ was wearing his full duty uniform consisting of a dark blue trousers and long sleeve shirt, with Santa Ana Police Department shoulder patches on both shoulders, police badge above the left breast pocket, a Sam Browne gunbelt consisting of a .40 caliber Glock, model 22, semi-automatic pistol, two spare pistol magazines, an X26 Taser, and a wooden baton. For approximately the last ten years, CHAVEZ has contacted transients, who frequent the area of 622 South Harbor Boulevard, a strip mall located on the northwest corner of South Harbor Boulevard and West McFadden Street. The transients had taken up temporary residence in the northwest portion of the parking lot. CHAVEZ had been communicating with the owners of the various businesses in this strip mall on and off for approximately the past ten years, and several business owners have complained to him on numerous occasions regarding the transient problem in this specific area. On July 29, 2013, while on duty, CHAVEZ was approached by several business owners in the complex and made aware that the transient problem had returned and the transients were congregating specifically, in the dumpster area, located at the northwest portion of the parking lot, of 622 South Harbor Boulevard. CHAVEZ made contact with some of the transients in the dumpster area and noticed they had made a “make shift hut” out of some discarded mattresses. CHAVEZ told the transients they could not sleep in the dumpster area and needed to tear down the mattresses and move on. CHAVEZ was also approached by the owner of Café Lu, which is located at the northwest portion of the strip mall, south of the dumpsters. CHAVEZ was informed that a male transient had been in the business and refused to leave. The transient had also approached the women