On Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, at 12:25am, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a reported fight in progress at Surrey Way and River Street, Fillmore. Arriving deputies found a known subject in possession of a switchblade knife and was cited for PC 21510(a), a crime to carry, possess, sell or give away a switchblade. This is a misdemeanor carrying up to six months jail. A Halloween party was in progress at the Surrey Way address.

On October 18, 2023, deputies contacted and arrested Marcus Ortiz for burglarizing a local church, where he stole a credit card belonging to the church and made numerous fraudulent cash withdrawals.

On the morning of October 18, 2023, church hosts arrived at a local church located in the 1400 block of Bardsdale Avenue and discovered their place of worship had been broken into and burglarized by an unknown suspect(s) during the night.
Patrol deputies and detectives assigned to the Santa Clara Valley/Fillmore Police Station responded to the crime scene and began an investigation. The investigation revealed the suspect had entered the church and forced entry into one of the locked interior rooms where a small locked safe was stolen. The safe contained a credit card belonging to the church.
Further investigation revealed the suspect then used the credit card belonging to the church to make unauthorized ATM withdrawals at several locations throughout the cities of Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Ventura. The suspect was quickly identified as Marcus Ortiz, a local Fillmore probationer. Utilizing several investigative techniques, and with the assistance of Sheriff’s Communication Center-Advanced Real Time Information Center (ARTIC) dispatchers, Ortiz was located at the Pacific View Mall in the City of Ventura.

On October 18, 2023, at approximately 2:00 PM, detectives located Ortiz at the mall, and he was arrested without incident. Ortiz was in possession of evidence linking him to the church burglary and identity thefts. In addition, Ortiz was in possession of an illegal / concealed billy club. Ortiz was subsequently booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for burglary, three counts of identity theft and possession of an illegal weapon. Ortiz remains in custody with his bail set at $50,000.

Nature of Incident: Church Burglary and Identity Theft Arrest
Report Number: 23-133857
Location: 1400 Block of Bardsdale Avenue, Unincorporated area of Ventura County / Fillmore
Date & Time: October 17, 2023 @ 11:00 PM ~ 3:00 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Santa Clara Valley Station Patrol, Santa Clara Valley Station Detectives, Sheriff’s Communication Center/Advanced Real Time Information Center (ARTIC)

(S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent
(S) Marcus Ortiz Fillmore 22

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon, Fillmore Police Chie

Enlarge Photo

The Fillmore Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a prowling suspect.
On October 11, 2023, at approximately 11:00 PM and on July 20, 2023, at approximately 12:16 AM, the Fillmore Police Department received reports of a prowler in the 900 block of Wileman Street in the city of Fillmore. Both incidents were captured on RING cameras. Photographs of the suspect are attached.

The suspect is identified as a Hispanic male, approximately 5”8” in height, approximately 45-55 years of age, with short gray facial hair and dark brown hair.

Nature of Incident: Request for Public Assistance / Attempt to Identify Prowler Suspect
Report Number: RB # 23-131109
Location: 900 Block Wileman Street Fillmore, CA
Date & Time: October 11, 2023 @ 11:00 PM
July 20, 2023 @ 12:16 AM

Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services / Fillmore Detectives

(S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent
Hispanic male Age-45-55

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Courtesy Tim Holmgren

As a recently ex-Fillmore citizen, Item 9A - CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION OF INTENT TO TRANSITION FROM AT-LARGE TO DISTRICT-BASED ELECTIONS on last week’s agenda is of great concern to me. Once Fillmore is divided into voting districts, it will become a relatively simple matter for the negative influences that have been creeping into Fillmore politics to take over the town and destroy its small-town character and charm forever.

I want to thank the three of you who spoke strongly against this, what was appropriately called, extortion and bullying. It was entirely apparent during the discussion who was against this intentional destruction of the city and who was in favor of it; giving credence to my earlier point.

It’s a shame that political ideology is a higher priority than condemning a town to ruin regardless of which way this goes. I am encouraged by some of the comments some of you made last Tuesday evening and very encouraged by the comments of all of the Fillmore citizens who spoke to you on this issue that understand the gravity of what’s at stake.

I would encourage you to fight it. Resist this bully and extortioner. This would take great courage, which I know you all have. While it’s true the city will likely be sued, I would bet that, with the right national attention, more money than is needed to fight it will find its way to you from crowd funding and other expressions of support through a grateful country.
Remember…courage is not the lack of fear; it’s feeling the fear and doing what’s right anyway.