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By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, February 7th, 2025
 Above is evidence police found during their service of a search warrant for the subject’s home. Photo credit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. Enlarge Photo 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 *** |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, February 7th, 2025
 On Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 3:48 p.m., Fillmore Fire Department, Ventura County Fire Department, AMR Paramedics, and Fillmore Police Department responded to a structure fire in the 800 block of Central Avenue. Firefighters arrived to find a garage completely engulfed in flames. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire with the help of nearby fire departments. A burned-out vehicle was also discovered in the garage. Fillmore Fire Chief Gurrola reported that the fire was completely extinguished by 5:00 p.m. Fillmore Deputies closed a portion of Central Avenue; no injuries were reported, and a Fillmore Fire investigator was dispatched. The house residents were displaced, and the American Red Cross was at the scene assisting the family. Photo credit Angel Esquivel. Enlarge Photo |
 On Monday, February 3, 2025, Fillmore High and Middle School students marched their way to Highway 126 through traffic holding flags and signs in protest of the recent U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement activity in the local area. Photo credit Angel Esquivel. Enlarge Photo By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, February 7th, 2025
During the Immigration and Customs Enforcement protest on Monday, February 3, 2025, at approximately 12:30pm, a victim reported being assaulted by one of the adult protesters on the corner of Ventura Street and A Street. The victim was riding his motorcycle near the crowd when a male subject threw a water bottle at him. This caused a verbal exchange of some sort between the victim and the protestors. The victim drove to the police station to report the incident. Additionally, the victim provided video from his GO PRO camera that captured the incident. Deputies viewed the video, confirmed the crime, and identified the suspect as a 42-year-old Fillmore resident. Deputies returned to Ventura Street and A Street and arrested the subject for violation of Penal Code section 242- Battery and Vehicle Code section 23110(a)- Throwing substances at motorists. The subject was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and released a short time later after he posted $2500 bail. Information credit Fillmore Sheriff’s Office. |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, February 7th, 2025
 Above is the generator located behind Super A Foods, which was damaged in the fire set on Monday, February 3, 2025, at 12:30am. Police have made an arson suspect arrest, Jose Gilberto Vasquez, 32 of Fillmore. Photo credit Angel Esquivel. Enlarge Photo On February 3, 2025, Fillmore patrol deputies arrested Jose Vasquez for an arson that occurred in the City of Fillmore. On February 3, at approximately 12:30 a.m., Fillmore patrol deputies along with Fillmore Fire Department responded to a fire at the rear building of Super A Foods. The fire was quickly extinguished and did not spread to any other locations. As a result, the fire burned a generator causing approximately $100,000.00 in damage. Upon further investigation, the cause and origin of the fire appeared to be suspicious, and the fire was determined to be arson. Fillmore patrol deputies collected and viewed evidence, and they were able to positively identify the arson suspect as Jose Vasquez. Fillmore arson investigators processed the crime scene and additional evidence was collected. On February 03, 2025, at approximately 8:00 a.m., Fillmore patrol deputies located Vasquez in the 400 Block of Blaine Street where he was arrested for arson. Additional evidence was located further linking Vasquez to the arson. Vasquez was booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility for one count of felony arson with his bail set at $50,000. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public to report suspicious behavior by calling Ventura County Sheriff’s Communications Center at (805) 654-9511 or 911 for any emergencies. When reporting suspicious behavior, please be a great witness and provide as much detail as possible. Prepared by: Sergeant Will Hollowell *** 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). |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, February 7th, 2025
 On Sunday, February 2, 2025, at 4:20pm, a single-vehicle rollover took place at Main Street and Fillmore Street. The male driver, a 27-year-old Fillmore resident, was transported to VCMC for treatment to injuries sustained during the accident. During the investigation, the driver was arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence. Based on the circumstances and medical treatment of the subject, deputies released him pursuant to Penal Code section 849 pending the results of the BAC (blood evidence collected at VCMC). Information credit Fillmore Sheriff’s Office. Photo credit Gazette staff. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, February 7th, 2025
 On 01/31/2025, a male juvenile was arrested for his involvement with gang graffiti which occurred at the Fillmore Historical Museum on 10/29/2024. Graffiti vandalism is an eyesore that directly affects the quality of life in our communities. If left On 10/29/2024, diligent members of the community reported graffiti vandalism at the Fillmore Historical Museum located in the 300 block of Main Street in Fillmore. Fillmore patrol personnel responded to the area and confirmed a vandalism had occurred, and confirmed it was gang related. Detectives with the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation collaborated with patrol personnel on the investigation and quickly identified a suspect, a previous resident of Fillmore. In January 2025, detectives obtained a search warrant for the male juvenile suspect, who is a criminal street gang member, and his residence located in the 9000 block of Trenton Lane in Ventura. On 01/31/2025, Fillmore detectives and members of the Camarillo Special Enforcement Unit executed the search warrant at the juvenile’s residence and seized additional evidence linking the juvenile to the graffiti vandalism and participation in a criminal street gang. The juvenile was subsequently arrested for Penal Code § 594(b)(2)(A) – [Vandalism] and Penal Code § 186.22(d) – [Participation in a Criminal Street Gang]. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and Graffiti Removal Report Number: 24-138062 (S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, February 7th, 2025
 On Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 2:10 p.m., Fillmore Police Department, Fillmore City Fire Department, and AMR Paramedics responded to a truck crashed into a mobile home in El Dorado Mobile Homes Estates. Arriving deputies reported minor injuries to the driver. The occupants of the home had to evacuate due to extensive damage to the property which was red tagged. Photo credit Angel Esquivel. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, February 7th, 2025
 On Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at approximately 12:00pm, a 3-axel, 14-wheel dump truck overturned on Grimes Canyon, closing the road for about three hours. CHP was on-scene while the truck was righted and removed. Photo credit Karen Moureaux of All Dogs Rule. Enlarge Photo |
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By Gazette Staff Writers — Friday, January 31st, 2025
 On Tuesday, January 28th, at 12:30 p.m. the school received an anonymous call from a female who claimed that a bomb was in her locker and would go off in 25 minutes, said Capt. Nick Odenath of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The agency is contracted to provide police services in Fillmore. A school resource officer was on campus at the time. Students were escorted to the Booty Sanchez Varsity Baseball Field as law enforcement officers investigated. The response included Fillmore deputies and a bomb-trained K-9 police dog from the Simi Valley Police Department. School Principal Keith Derrick posted updates on Facebook during the incident. By 2 p.m., after authorities deemed the campus safe, the school day continued as scheduled, the principal reported. The incident remains under active investigation, Odenath said. Above photo credit Angel Esquivel; below, Heather Furness Enlarge Photo |
