Santa Paula Police Department

[Editor's note: The Gazette is publishing this Santa Paula Police Department press release as a public service to alert Fillmore residents to this sort of problem. Our thanks to the Santa Paula Police Department for providing this information.]

On Friday, September 2, 22016 at approximately 1226 hours officers responded to St. Sebastian School at 325 E. Santa Barbara St., Santa Paula. Initial reports were that a male subject had called a school employee and threatened to shoot them. As a precaution St. Sebastian School and due to there close proximity, Santa Paula High School, 404 N. 6th Street, and Renaissance High School, 325 N. Palm Ave., were also placed on lock down.

Upon initial investigation and speaking with the victim it was determined that she was possibly the victim of a phone scam. Both the Simi Valley Police Department and Ventura County Sheriff's Department have posted press releases, both within the last 3 days, warning residents to be aware of receiving phone calls from unknown persons claiming that they have a family member being held against their will. Often times the suspect / unknown caller does not have the correct information about the family member. That was the case with this victim and the suspect did not have the correct name of their family members. The victim was able to contact their immediate family members who were all unharmed.

Once it was determined this was a possible phone scam the lockdowns from both schools were released. At this time the investigaiton is ongoing. If anyone has further information on this incident please contact Sgt. Cody Madison at (805) 525-4474 x 220 or cmadison@spcity.org