Placentia Police Department

Veteran police Lt. Chuck Babcock has been appointed captain, succeeding Daryll Thomann, who became the city's new police chief last month. Babcock, 50, one of two captains on the force, is a Vietnam veteran who started his career with Placentia Police Department in 1970, working his way up to sergeant and lieutenant. He holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice and has done graduate work in public administration.

An 18-year-old Placentia man was found shot to death Monday in the street in the 1700 block of Vincente Avenue. Police withheld his name pending notification of relatives. "He sustained multiple gunshot wounds," Sgt. Richard Pascarella, a spokesman for the Placentia Police Department, said of the 6 p.m. discovery after a call reporting shots fired in the area. "We do not yet know whether it was gang-related." Anyone with information is asked to call Placentia police at (714) 993-8151.

Witnesses said a car burst into flames Wednesday night after being struck by a train in Placentia, police said. Details were sketchy about the 9:30 p.m. incident, which police said may have involved fatalities. "At this point we just don't know what happened," said Lt. Bob Jones, a spokesman for the Placentia Police Department. The car was northbound on Placentia Avenue just north of Crowther Avenue when it was hit by a westbound train and dragged several feet into Fullerton, Jones said.

An Anaheim man was arrested early Monday after leading police on a high-speed chase through two cities, leaping through a home's second-floor window and being subdued with a stun gun, authorities said. Jose Santillian, 24, was being held at Orange County Jail on suspicion of felony evading, drunk driving, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer, according to Sgt. Eric Point, a spokesman for the Placentia Police Department. Bail was set at $65,000.

An 18-year-old Placentia man was found shot to death Monday in the street in the 1700 block of Vincente Avenue. Police withheld his name pending notification of relatives. "He sustained multiple gunshot wounds," Sgt. Richard Pascarella, a spokesman for the Placentia Police Department, said of the 6 p.m. discovery after a call reporting shots fired in the area. "We do not yet know whether it was gang-related." Anyone with information is asked to call Placentia police at (714) 993-8151.

Police are searching for four men who robbed a Denny's restaurant and customers Saturday morning. One robber was armed with a shotgun and another with a handgun when they entered the restaurant in the 100 block of Orangethorpe Avenue about 4:30 a.m., said Sgt. Rick Miller of the Placentia Police Department. The robbers emptied the cash drawer of about $400 and stole at least $480 from customers and employees, Miller said. All four robbers wore black ski masks and gloves, he added.

Robert Medina and fellow gang member Happy expect to spend the rest of their lives in the city's La Jolla neighborhood. They were born and raised in the largely Latino area--it's their turf. And they say it doesn't take much to start a fight between the La Jolla gangs and those elsewhere in the city. "Us going over there," said Happy, 18, who gave only his gang nickname, "that's all it takes. . . . I was raised over here. I'm used to this."

Investigators have determined that the fire that severely damaged the historic Pacific Mutual Orange Growers Assn. building earlier this week was arson, Orange County Fire Department Capt. Lou Furst said. A special team of investigators from the U.S. Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms was called in by the Placentia Police Department and county firefighters to help determine the cause of the blaze, which caused $2.275 million in damage, Furst said.

A teenager was hit by a police car at Orangethorpe Avenue and Melrose Street on Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The 16-year-old boy was taken to UCI Medical Center in Orange to be treated for a broken arm and internal injuries, Placentia police dispatcher Andrea Bienert said. Because of his age, his name and condition were not released, she said. The driver of the car was a traffic control cadet for the Placentia Police Department, she said.

The Placentia Police Department received kudos, a plaque and a $45,000 check Thursday from the state Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement for participating in a sting operation last year that closed 14 methamphetamine labs and seized about 260 pounds of the drug. The Anaheim and Orange police departments and the Orange County Sheriff's Department will also be cited for taking part in the drug-seizure operation. Gary B.

A young woman was shot to death and her male companion critically wounded Wednesday as they sat in a car near her Placentia home. Police did not release their names, but neighbors identified the woman as Sara Rodriguez, 21, who lived in the neighborhood with several family members, including her young son. The shooting occurred about 5:20 p.m.

Witnesses said a car burst into flames Wednesday night after being struck by a train in Placentia, police said. Details were sketchy about the 9:30 p.m. incident, which police said may have involved fatalities. "At this point we just don't know what happened," said Lt. Bob Jones, a spokesman for the Placentia Police Department. The car was northbound on Placentia Avenue just north of Crowther Avenue when it was hit by a westbound train and dragged several feet into Fullerton, Jones said.

Placentia's police chief on Wednesday ordered his officers to stop using the letter N as the racial designation on traffic tickets for African American motorists after nearly 900 people signed a petition blasting the practice as insensitive and racist. The N stands for Negro and stems from old law enforcement racial abbreviations that haven't been used for many years. "I am an African American; I have never been or will ever be the 'N' word," said Placentia resident Comelita Brown.

Placentia's police chief Wednesday ordered his officers to stop using the letter N as the racial designation on traffic tickets for African American motorists after nearly 900 people signed a petition blasting the practice as insensitive and racist. The N stands for "Negro" and stems from old law enforcement racial codes that haven't been used for many years. "I am an African American; I have never been or will ever be the 'N word,' " said Placentia resident Comelita Brown.

The Police Department has received $109,918 from the state to supplement front-line law enforcement. The department will use the money for salaries and benefits. During the current fiscal year, the state budget includes $100 million for the Citizens Option for Public Safety, referred to as COPS grants. The funds are specifically designed to supplement cities' front-line law-enforcement funding.

Police are searching for four men who robbed a Denny's restaurant and customers Saturday morning. One robber was armed with a shotgun and another with a handgun when they entered the restaurant in the 100 block of Orangethorpe Avenue about 4:30 a.m., said Sgt. Rick Miller of the Placentia Police Department. The robbers emptied the cash drawer of about $400 and stole at least $480 from customers and employees, Miller said. All four robbers wore black ski masks and gloves, he added.