Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On May 19, 2010, four suspects were arrested for felony conspiracy to commit a crime and commercial burglary in the City of Fillmore. The suspects belonged to a theft ring, which was responsible for stealing in excess of $21,000 in cash and property. The theft ring consisted of 2 to 6 suspects who would enter a store and intentionally distract a lone or multiple employees for the purposes of stealing their purses, cash from register, or monies kept near the register. Additionally, suspects would also steal merchandise if the opportunity allowed. The theft ring targeted businesses based on their research of the store to determine sales volume and the numbers of employees. The suspects would then determine the numbers of ring members were necessary to commit the crimes.

The members of the ring would cause a distraction by luring the employee(s) toward the back of the store, usually with a request to have an item shown to them or explained to them how it worked. On one occasion, the suspects purposely broke a bottle in the back of the business, which caused the employee to respond to the spill and clean it up. Once the employee was lured to the back and distracted, the others then searched the front register area for items to steal. The group that committed the theft would then walk out of the store without being detected. The suspect(s) causing the distraction would eventually walk out of the store once the other suspects were safely out of the store. Business owners or employees would usually discover the thefts minutes or in some cases hours later.

The following businesses, in the Fillmore area, reported thefts of this nature:
99 Cent Store, 703 Ventura Street, Fillmore
Elva's Market, 3969 Center Street, Piru
All Occasions Bridal Shop,1317 Ventura Street, Fillmore

The City of Oxnard also CONTINUED »

Former Mayor Roger Campbell challenged the accuracy of statements made at the previous city council meeting regarding the Fillmore Business Park. Campbell explained the difference between residential, commercial, and industrial development which had been mistakenly misidentified earlier. He urged council to assist in ways to finance the Park and cited the need to have the site construction ready.

Announcements
Fire Chief Rigo Landeros announced that the Fire Department has updated the emergency preparedness information on the City website, where residents can now also register for reverse-911 alerts. He thanked Disaster Coordinator Patrick Maynard for his efforts in compiling the information and updating the site.

Councilwoman Laurie Hernandez urged local nonprofit groups to verify whether they should have filed IRS #99-09 forms. She also noted that Cabrillo Economic Development is looking for farm workers in need of affordable housing; there are units still open, and they are taking applications.

Fillmore Chamber of Commerce President David Crockett announced a public outreach meeting to be held Thursday, June 3, at 6:30 pm at the Senior Center. The event is meant to shed light on the project and allow citizens to hear both sides of the issue. Refreshments will be served and all Fillmore residents are invited to attend.
Citizen Norma Amaro presented her project of a large easel to be set up in front of Vintage Pleasures on Central Avenue to honor local members of the armed forces. She invites the community to bring in 2x3” photographs mounted on index cards with the branch, rank, and name of the individual listed beneath the photo.

Amaro also noted the disappointment registered by tourists who have noticed the dwindling number of vintage shops in Fillmore. She offered her experience and expertise to help individuals get such a business started. For those unsure of opening a shop of their own but still interested in a smaller venture, Amaro offers to make space in her own store.

Bruce Stenslie, president of the Economic CONTINUED »

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On Monday morning, 5/24/10, at approximately 11:35 a.m., the body of Roberto Barrios was recovered from the bottom of Lake Piru. Barrios was reported missing on Saturday after he disappeared below the surface of the water while swimming with friends during an outing after the group had graduated from nursing school.

A party of nine people rented a pontoon boat from the Lake Piru Marina and motored to Pump House Point where three members of the party decided to go for a swim. Two of the group donned life preservers, but Barrios elected not to. As the trio jumped into the water the wind became extremely strong and blew the pontoon boat away from the swimmers. Barrios was seen struggling in the choppy waves of the lake and soon disappeared below the surface. A passing boat recovered the two other swimmers.

Emergency personnel were summoned and the Ventura County Aviation Unit responded with a SCUBA equipped diver and a rescue swimmer onboard who were deployed into the lake. They were able to immediately start searching the bottom of the lake while the Sheriff’s Department Search and Rescue Dive Team was activated.

Upon arrival of the dive team, they CONTINUED »

On Tuesday, May 25th, at 6:00pm the Piru School Site Council met for the first time since February. School Site Council is an elected group of teachers, parents and school staff which is responsible for the creating and approving a school plan and allocating categorical funds on programs for the students, as well as ongoing assessment of student progress at the school. The meetings are open to the public and should occur throughout the school year.

Piru Resident and parent, Mr. Freddie Galan who is the current chair of the School Site Council, indicated before the meeting began that in the last “10 years” there has been little parent involvement, it has been “mostly teachers” making decisions at the school. Mr. Galan indicated that “(we) have learned from our mistakes”, and he is glad to see more parents involved and attending meetings, especially the Spanish speaking parents. Mr. Galan began the meeting by providing an official welcome to Principal, Mrs. Leticia Ramos for her first year at Piru Elementary School. This gesture was supported by enthusiastic and standing applause by many of those in attendance.

More than 30 community members attended the meeting, many for the first time.

Ms. Stephanie Acosta, a resident of Piru for CONTINUED »

Memorial Day program will be held Monday, May 31st at Bardsdale Cemetery, 11am. Opening remarks will be made by Monty Winkler, President, Board of Trustees; Presentation of Colors, Veterans of Foreign Ward, Fillmore Post 9637; Pledge of Allegiance, Boy Scout Troop #406 and Cub Scout Troop #3400; Special Music by Bill Bartels. The Memorial Day message will be delivered by Dick Diaz, former U.S. Marine and Law Enforcement Officer. he served in the Marine Corps form 1966-1969 and was in Viet Nam in 1967/68. His father served in the U.S. Navy for 28 years and his son and daughter-in-;aw currently are serving in the U.s. Navy. He also served 36 1/2 years in law enforcement finishing his career with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.
The Placing of the Wreath will be performed by William Brunet; Placing of the Bouquet by Marie Schilling, Gold Star Wives; memorial Service led by Rev. Bob Hammond, Dayspring Anglican Church; Special Music by Bill Bartels; Reading of Names of those Who died in the Service of our Country, VFW Commander Jim Rogers; Volly, Honor Guard VFW; and Taps by Bob Thompson.