Orange County Sheriff's Department - Laguna Hills Station

If a loved one, a family member or you have been arrested by or are being investigated by the Lagune Hills Station of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, it can cause one to feel flustered, mostly just from fear of the unknown.  Moreover, one is dependent upon the honesty and competence of a sheriff’s deputy, who may or may not be experienced or have the same sense of urgency as you. 

 
Facing such a situation, knowing the bail amount (if any) associated with the offense or offenses at issue if police deny an own recognizance (OR) release may help one feel calmer.  It is also good to know what evidence is needed to convict one for the crime or crimes that allegedly took place, the defenses possible and the sentence a judge can impose if one is convicted of the crime or crimes. 

 
We at Greg Hill & Associates believe it is helpful to know a few more things before interacting with any branch of law enforcement.  It can be smart to know the size of the police or sheriff’s department, the area’s demographics, the most common types of crimes the department investigates and just a bit about the area’s history to make one’s communication with law enforcement more meaningful, more savvy and perhaps, more respectful.  This can lead to a better outcome than if one lacks such perspective.

This article is presented with these goals in mind.

The Laguna Hills Station of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department is a very small station with only 26 sworn deputy officers and an undisclosed number of civilian support personnel assigned to it (we would estimate 8 or 9).

The Laguna Hills Station of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department is responsible for patrolling the City of Laguna Hills, which is 6.7 square miles and has a population of 31,374 (as of 2020).

Laguna Hills is built on one of the major land grants developed during the rancho era after Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821.  Those who had served in the Mexican government or who had friends in authority, were given vast lands for cattle grazing.  Rancho Lomas de Santiago, Rancho San Joaquin and Rancho Niguel covered much of the western portion of the Saddleback Valley.  Don Juan Avila was granted the 13,000-acre Rancho Niguel on which Laguna Hills is now located.

In 1894, Lewis Moulton purchased Rancho Niguel from Don Juan Avila and increased the original grant to 22,000 acres (89  km2).  Moulton and his partner, Jean Piedra Daguerre, used the ranch to raise sheep and cattle.  The Moulton Ranch was eventually subdivided in the early 1960s, and part of the division became today's Laguna Hills.

Laguna Hills is home to one of the California DMV field offices, where driving tests and other services are administered.  The office serves much of south Orange County as the only other location in the region is in San Clemente.

For arrests along the freeways crossing Laguna Hills (the I-5 “San Diego Freeway” and SR-73, San Joaquin Hills Toll Road), the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will normally handle this work, although one may be thereafter transported to the Laguna Hills Station of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department for processing, a breath test (if a DUI) and booking.  The person may also be held at the Laguna Hills Station jail until bail is posted or the person is transferred to the bigger Orange County Jail in Santa Ana.

As of 2020, the city’s population was 53.70% non-Hispanic white, 15.03% Asian (Vietnamese being YYY%), 1.34% African American and 23.87% Hispanic.

Most cases arising out of Laguna Hills are brought at the Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach Courthouse), but some are also brought at the Central Justice Center at 700 Civic Center Driver West in downtown Santa Ana.  Cases that may be filed at the Central Justice Center instead of at the Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach Courthouse) would be very serious cases needing specialized prosecutors trained in handling such cases.

Over the last 25 years, our office has handled perhaps 30 cases arising out Lagune Hills and brought in the Harbor Justice Center (Newport Beach Courthouse).  Such cases vary from DUI to domestic violence, to possession of a controlled substance, to public intoxication, to shoplifting.

For more information about being arrested and possibly facing a criminal case, please click on the following articles:

Below is the Google Map to the OCSD Laguna Hills Station.