On Friday, February 7, 2025, at approximately 12:30pm, diligent members of the community reported a physical altercation between two individuals in a local market parking lot located in the 1000 block of Ventura Street in Fillmore. Fillmore patrol personnel and detectives with the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation responded to the area and confirmed an assault had occurred and the suspect had fled the scene. Additional resources began to canvass the area for the suspect. A diligent member of the community spotted the suspect who was hiding behind a parked vehicle and flagged down deputies. Deputies located and detained the individual hiding which matched the suspect description.

During the subsequent investigation, personnel on scene confirmed the detained person was the suspect, (S) Gabriel Casa. Deputies also learned the victim was not only assaulted by Casa but also robbed of his bicycle.

As the investigation unfolded, additional evidence was located in Casa’s possession linking him to the robbery and assault. Gabriel Casa was subsequently arrested for Penal Code § 211 – [Robbery], Penal Code § 245(a)(1) – [Assault with a Deadly Weapon], and Penal Code § 148.9(a) – [Providing False Information to Peace Officer], and misdemeanor drug offenses.

Report Number: 25-16243

Location: 1000 block of Ventura Street, Fillmore

Date & Time: 02/07/2025, 12:34 PM

Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Personnel, Fillmore Bureau of Investigations

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent
(V) Adult Male, Fillmore 52
(S) Gabriel Casa, Fillmore 44

Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

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A 250-gallon water tank and Skidmore pump have been donated to the Fillmore Fire Department by GlobalFire of Canada.

According to Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola, when the Pacific Palisades and Eaton fires broke out a number of these tanks were delivered to Los Angeles, and one was offered to Fillmore. Fillmore Fire already had a 40-gallon tank and pump that they use often, according to Gurrola.

“We used it a lot on the 4th of July to put out trash can fires.”

Gurrola said the new tank will be loaded into the back of one of the department’s pickup trucks when needed. For instance, during fire season the tank will be loaded, but removed from the truck to make room for sandbags during rainy season.

GlobalFire’s mission is to strengthen the emergency response capacity of organizations and communities around the world through the provision of equipment and training. To learn more go to GlobalFire.ca.

Erika Herrera-Terriquez, New Fillmore City Manager
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CITY OF FILLMORE

CITY COUNCIL AND SUCCESSOR AGENCY REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2025, 6:30 PM CITY HALL
AGENDA

Meeting of 2-11-2025

All items except for 9.B which resulted in no action taken, passed 5-0.

Erika Herrera-Terriquez, City Manager

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. PLEDGE OF ALL-EGIANCE

3. ROLL CALL

4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

5. PRESENTATIONS

5.A PROCLAMATION PROCLAIMING FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

6. PUBLIC COMMENTS

7. CITY COUNCIL REPORTS, RECOMMEND-ATIONS, AND COMMENTS

8. CONSENT CALENDAR

RECOM-MENDATION FOR ITEM 8A. THROUGH 8C. IS TO APPROVE BY VOICE VOTE.

8.A CITY OF FILLMORE WARRANT REGISTER-FEBRUARY 11, 2025 CITY OF FILLMORE WARRANT REGISTER-FEBRUARY 11, 2025.PDF

8.B JANUARY 14, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 14, 2025 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES.PDF

8.C ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 25-978 TO AMEND SECTION 6.07.060 OF THE FILLMORE MUNICIPAL CODE TO REVISE REGULATIONS FOR
THE TIMING OF COLLECTION OF PUBLIC FACILITIES DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEES FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

SR PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT IMPACT FEE ORDINANCE - NO.25-978.PDF

9. NEW BUSINESS

9.A CONSIDERATION OF AUTHORIZATION FOR AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR FILLMORE FIRE HOUSE ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT (PROJECT)

SR - FILLMORE FIRE HOUSE ROOF REPLACEMENT PROJECT (1049721.1)_FINAL.PDF

RECOMMENDATION That the City Council: 1. Approve a fund transfer in the amount of $18,641.57 to be reallocated from General
Fund Reserves Fund 506 to Recreation Fund 304 for the Project; and 2. Approve and authorize the Interim City Manager to sign
a contract with Angeles Contractor Inc. for the Fillmore Fire House Roof Replacement Project (“Project”), in the amount of
$58,641.57 in a form approved by the City Attorney. Alternatives: 1. Postpone the Project until the next fiscal year and
budget accordingly. 2. Take no action at this time.

9.B CONSIDERATION OF FORMATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS CONSIDERATION OF FORMATION NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS SR.PDF
RECOMMENDATION Staff is requesting that the City Council receive the proposed bylaws for the establishment of Neighborhood
Councils within the City of Fillmore, deliberate on the advisability of instituting such councils to enhance resident
participation in municipal governance, and provide feedback to staff

9.C CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT OF ERIKA HERRERA AS CITY MANAGER AND APPROVAL OF CITY MANAGER EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT CITY OF FILLMORE CM APPOINTMENT SR.PDF

10. COMMITTEE, COMMISSION, AND BOARD REPORTS

11. CITY MANAGER

CITY MANAGER VERBAL REPORT

12. CLOSED SESSION

12.A FEBRUARY 11, 2025 - CLOSED SESSION FEBRUARY 11, 2025 - CLOSED SESSION.PDF

13. ADJOURNMENT

MAYOR CHRISTINA VILLASEÑOR ADJOURNS TO THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING AT 6:30 P.M. ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2025, CITY
HALL, 250 CENTRAL AVENUE, FILLMORE, CA 93015.

February 11, 2025

Sierra Northern Railway’s Ventura Division is pleased to announce the recent relocation of its headquarters to Fillmore, Calif. from its former Santa Paula complex. The company provides transportation, rail-served real estate, and railcar storage services. The company owns and operates several rail lines in the state. The new Fillmore facility is located at 121 Santa Clara Street.

“This new office and shop provide our employees a relevant facility to serve the railroad and the communities along the line,” said Matt Blackburn, Ventura Division Manager.

Another component of the railroad, the Sunburst Train railbike operation, will remain headquartered in Santa Paula at the former Southern Pacific train station.

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The Sierra Northern Railway (reporting mark SERA) is a common carrier railroad company operating in California. The company owns and operates several rail lines originating from those of the former Sacramento Northern Railroad, Northern Electric Railway, Sierra Railway Company of California, Western Pacific Railroad, and Yolo Shortline Railroad. It handles all freight operations and track maintenance for its parent company, the Sierra Railroad Company. The tracks that are maintained by Sierra Northern are also used by the Sierra Railroad Company’s tourist trains

For additional information, contact Matt Blackburn at MBlackburn@Sierrarailroad.com.

Above is evidence police found during their service of a search warrant for the subject’s home. Photo credit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.
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The Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Units (VC FOCUS) concluded a narcotics sales investigation with the arrest of Mario Galvez who was actively selling fentanyl and methamphetamine to Ventura County residents.

The investigation began in December 2024 when VC FOCUS received information about Galvez selling narcotics from his residence in Fillmore. Detectives conducted covert surveillance of Galvez and observed multiple drug transactions occurring between him and customers outside of his house.

On January 21, 2025, detectives served a search warrant at Galvez’ residence and detained him while he was selling methamphetamine to a customer in a vehicle in front of his house. During the service of the search warrant detectives seized nearly 1 lb of methamphetamine, 20 grams of fentanyl and US Currency derived from drug sales.

Detectives arrested Galvez for Possession for Sales of a Controlled Substance and Possession for Sales of a Dangerous Drug. He was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility and posted $50,000 bail. He is currently out of custody and awaiting arraignment on February 4, 2025.

VC FOCUS is a task force made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, the California Highway Patrol, and federal law enforcement partners. The primary mission of this partnership is to combat fentanyl related crimes and opioid overdoses by targeting the supply chain of individuals and criminal organizations responsible for the sales of these drugs into Ventura County. In addition, the task force works to identify new trends of abuse among the younger population and educate the community at large on the lethal danger of this epidemic.

VC FOCUS has partnered with Ventura County Behavioral Health as an active member of the County Overdose Awareness & Solutions Team (COAST) in a campaign to reduce overdoses and educate the public about the dangers of opioids and other drugs. Comprehensive information can be found at www.ThinkAgainVC.com

The public may contact investigators from the VC FOCUS at (805) 383-8700 or VCFOCUS@ventura.org with additional information about this case, or any other information related to narcotics.

Prepared by: Sergeant John Hajducko
News Release Date: January 31, 2025
Approved by: Captain Ron Chips

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Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).