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Detectives assigned to the Ventura County Combined Agency Team (VCAT) concluded their investigation into a Mexico based drug trafficking organization responsible for the importation of bulk quantities of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine from Mexico into the United States. Investigators learned this organization smuggled the methamphetamine into the United States in liquid form. Once inside the United States, the methamphetamine was converted from a liquid form to a solid “crystal” form. Once crystalized, the methamphetamine was then transported in bulk by drug couriers to wholesale customers located in the greater Los Angeles area, including Ventura County.

On August 18, 2023, VCAT investigators developed information which indicated a large shipment of methamphetamine was destined for the city of Fillmore. During this operation, investigators observed Downey resident, Erick Montoya in the McDonald’s parking lot in the 900 Block of Ventura Street, Fillmore. Montoya was associated with a blue color Honda Sport Utility Vehicle. Investigators developed probable cause to believe Montoya was in possession of methamphetamine. Montoya was contacted and detained at the scene. A Fillmore Police K-9 was used to conduct a sniff search of Montoya’s vehicle. The K-9 alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle was conducted. During the search, investigators located approximately 56 pounds of methamphetamine inside a cardboard box in the rear cargo area of the vehicle. In addition, investigators also located several thousand dollars of suspected drug proceeds, multiple cellular telephones and several grams of cocaine. Erick Montoya was transported and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility. The street value of the seized narcotics is estimated at an excess of $1.2 million dollars. This case will be presented to the District Attorney’s Office for filing.
VCAT is a task force made up of Ventura County regional law enforcement agencies working in conjunction with Special Agents of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI). The primary mission of this partnership is to disrupt and dismantle major drug trafficking organizations responsible for the introduction of bulk quantities of dangerous narcotics into Ventura County.
Nature of Incident: Major Methamphetamine Seizure

Report Number: 23-106761
Location: 900 Block of Ventura Street, Fillmore CA
Date & Time: 8/18/2023 @ 7:45 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Combined GAnecy Team (VCAT) Ventura County Fentanyl and Overdose Crimes Unit (VCFocus) Fillmore Police Department

(S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ececent City of Residence:

(S) Erick Montoya Downey, California 32

Prepared by: Sergeant Odilon Malagon
Approved by: Captain Ron Chips

Three Palm trees ignited during Friday's fire which started under the Chambersburg/23 Bridge. Embers from the trees caused several spot fires to spread.
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Illegally Parked Car Interfered With Fire Response A car was illegally parked within 5-feet of this fire hydrant in the 600 block of River Street on Friday when a blaze broke out in the Santa Clara Riverbed. The county engine had to maneuver and switch equipment to compensate for the angle of the hose. This is an ongoing problem in front of the condos behind Vons which might be solved if the city painted the curb red and violators were ticketed. Parking within 15-feet of a fire hydrant is prohibited by the California Vehicle Code regardless of whether the curb is painted red or not.
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Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola is pursuing a grant for “hazard reduction” from a state-wide $113 million wildfire prevention grant. The grant is in “pre-agreement”, according to Stephen Watson, Executive Director, Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council.

“We are anticipating the agreement to be finalized with CAL FIRE in the coming months, and that the allowable time for us to begin work on these project(s) will not be until early 2024. Furthermore, we will need to ensure that the required environmental considerations, permits, and monitoring are done prior to and during any fuels treatment project. With these in mind, it will add at least six months to a year on the timeline before activity can occur on the ground. I would estimate fuels treatment activity to not begin until late 2024 or early 2025 because of all these considerations”.
The monies would be used to clear out the bamboo-like Arundo; it can grow as high as 15-feet and is noted for its rapid spread.

Watson stated the goal of the Ventura County Education and Fuels Mitigation Initiative is to “engage and empower Ventura County’s most vulnerable, high fire risk communities in order to engender lasting security from wildfire. This will be accomplished through the adoption of three cutting-edge interventions in the fields of education, Firewise development, and fuels treatment. The projects supporting each of these interventions include well-established mitigation measures, such as home hardening assessments, educational outreach, and fuels treatment projects, as well as innovative solutions such as developing Firewise communities in Ventura County. This project aims to serve the entirety of Ventura County but focuses on fuel treatment efforts within 392 acres.”

Additional details about some of the Fillmore/ VRFSC projects, courtesy Mr. Watson:
In partnership with the Fillmore Fire Department, Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council (VRFSC) has identified several fuels projects that will substantially lessen the risk of wildland fire to life, structures, and assets in Fillmore. The primary project is addressing the heavy fuels (primarily sumac) in the foothills north of Fillmore. This is an extremely important project for local residents, as the primary wildfire threat in Fillmore is from a wind driven fire coming out of the north-northeast. The fuel reduction methods for this project include hand treating and chipping fuels and/or utilizing a broadcast burn. This project consists of modifying the ground and ladder fuels as well as thinning and trimming trees in the area. This fuels modification project will limit the spread of fire from tree to tree and to other vegetation within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) project area while reducing ember cast potential to the adjacent structures. The homes adjacent to this WUI project were built prior to California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 24, Part 2, known as the 2007 California Building Code (CBC) and will benefit greatly from the additional buffer zone.

The second fuels treatment project in Fillmore involves addressing the two miles of bike path along the Sespe River that is home to heavy fuel loading. This project would remove a 15-foot swath of brush from the river side of the bike path; the targeted fuel type is primarily sage with some mule fat mixed in. This fuel reduction would ensure that the split rail fence dividing the bike path and the brush would not burn during a wildfire and would create a wider fuel break between the brush and nearby homes. This project would involve cutting and chipping targeted fuel.

VRFSC would also be providing educational workshops and activities alongside these fuels projects to help inform residents of the work being done as well as the ways in which they can be involved. Additionally, VRFSC will explore Firewise community development in Fillmore, as well as all other wildfire-prone areas in Ventura County.

Cost: $115,000 budgeted toward the fuels projects themselves in Fillmore. NOTE: This does not include VRFSC staff time, educational components, Firewise development or contractual costs of CEQA/environmental compliance. It is purely the cost of the work itself in Fillmore specifically. It’s not exactly possible for us to determine exact involvement in Fillmore for the countywide initiatives until the work begins. Example: Firewise community development is heavily dependent on community receptiveness and involvement.