POLICE announced the arrest of a 31-year-old on Monday, Nov. 3 in connection with a Halloween night hit-and-run that killed three teenage girls in Santa Ana, Calif.
Jaquinn Bell was driving with his own two children, ages 14 and 17, on Oct. 31 around 6:45pm on East Fairhaven Avenue at Old Grand Street, in front of Easthaven Elementary School. Santa Ana police revealed that Bell never hit the brakes after slamming into the three trick-or-treaters crossing the street in a marked crosswalk. He abandoned his Honda SUV in a nearby retail parking lot and ran off with his children.
The struck teenagers were identified as twin sisters Lexi and Lexandra Perez, and their friend Andrea Gonzalez. The girls were all 13 years old.
Bell was arrested and booked on Sunday, Nov. 2, and is being held on a $500,000 bail. According to court records, he had been convicted of a hit-and-run and drunk driving just two months before the Halloween night incident, and was behind the wheel that night even though his license had been suspended by the DMV.
A damaged black 2001 Honda SUV was found a short distance from where the accident occurred.
“We had numerous witnesses that were able to give us good information and good leads for our investigators to follow, so we immediately started an around-the-clock investigation,” said Santa Ana Police Chief Carlos Rojas. “There were no skid marks or attempt for him to stop.”
The investigation, led by multiple agencies, brought officers to a motel in Stanton, Calif. on Sunday, where they took Jaquinn Bell and two other adults into custody. Two minors were also taken into protected custody, but the two adults were later released and the children were handed over to a legal guardian.
Court records also reveal other arrests and convictions. Bell, who goes by six other aliases, pleaded not guilty in 2009 to driving under the influence, driving on a suspended license, and driving without a valid license. He has pleaded guilty to reckless driving. His criminal records also include a domestic violence case, and show that Bell had violated probation several times and was punished with short jail sentences and orders to attend substance abuse and treatment programs.
In August 2013, Bell was convicted of child endangerment in Anaheim, as well as driving under the influence and hit-and-run.
Over the weekend, the Santa Ana community gathered together for support at a makeshift memorial set up near the crosswalk where the three teens had been killed. At the emotional candlelight vigil, many were placing money in shoe boxes to help with funeral costs. Memorial fundraisers and GoFundMe accounts in the girls’ names had been set up online and by the Santa Ana Police Officers Assn. Widows and Orphans Fund.
Teachers at Fairhaven remembered the three girls as sweet, thoughtful and hard-working students who became fast friends in their early school years.
“I’m angry, I’m angry,” said the twins’ uncle, Hermenegildo Ramirez Perez, 45. “It’s not right.”
“It was very heartbreaking just to hear [the news],” said Fairhaven Elementary crossing guard known by students as Mr. James. “I’m here trying to keep these kids as safe as I can.”
Parents and neighbors of the residential neighborhood near Fairhaven Elementary complained about the single reflective crossing sign and painted yellow crosswalk in front of the school, saying it was “poorly lit.” On Monday, residents began to organize an effort to push for a stop light or flickering lights in the road. The speed limit in the area is 45 miles per hour.
Students at nearby Portola Middle School also wore purple to honor the young victims. The candles at the curbside vigil remembering their lives were still flickering over the weekend.
“We will all, as a community, help,” said Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido, who was touched by the outpouring of support to raise money for the victims’ families. “I also want to mention that as a father of three, you know this could be something that could happen to any if our children.”
The case is being reviewed by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, and the driver was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday. Bell is expected to be formally charged with a felony hit-and-run driving.
(With reports from CBS Los Angeles and LA Times.)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek November 5-7, 2014 Sec. A pg.7)