District Attorney Gregory D. Totten has announced that Brock Gustin William Baker and Mark Stephen Avila, pled guilty to failure to warn of a concealed danger, a felony violation of Penal Code section 387(a); interference with enforcement, a misdemeanor violation of Health and Safety Code section 25515.4, and two misdemeanors in violation of Labor Code section 6423(a)(2), related to storage of hazardous substances and repeated failures to communicate with employees about hazardous substances.

Baker and Avila’s guilty pleas were entered as to charges in the indictment returned by the Ventura County Grand Jury in connection with their involvement in an explosion that occurred at Santa Clara Waste Water Company located at 815 Mission Rock Road in Santa Paula, California on November 18, 2014.

Baker and Avila will face sentencing on June 1st, 9amm courtroom 12 of the Ventura Superior Court.

Cases against the others are pending.

UPDATE: District Attorney Gregory D. Totten announced today that California Department of Justice will be formally joining the Ventura County District Attorney in the ongoing prosecution of multiple individual and corporate defendants charged with environmental and other crimes related to the November 18, 2014, explosion at the Santa Clara Waste Water Company facility located in Santa Paula, California. This joint prosecution effort will include all aspects of the case as well as the ongoing investigation into the storage of thousands of gallons of chemicals recently discovered through execution of a search warrant on November 5, 2015, at the company’s facility in Santa Paula.

Santa Paula Police Department

On Wednesday, November 18, 2015 at approximately 4:32pm, Santa Paula Police Dept. dispatch received a report of an injury vehicle vs. pedestrian traffic collision in the 700 block of E. Main St., Santa Paula. Responding officers arrived on scene and the investigation into the collision began. At this time it appears the 69 year old pedestrian was walking south across Main Street to her vehicle when she was struck by the westbound vehicle, driven by a 26 year old female. At this time of day, the setting sun can be blinding to westbound drivers. According to the female driver, the sun was bright and making it difficult for her to see while driving her vehicle when suddenly she "hit something".

The pedestrian sustained severe injuries and was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center. She is currently listed in critical condition.

The investigation into the collision is on-going, however, it does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor. Anyone who witnessed the collision is encouraged to contact the SPPD.

Prepared by Sgt. Jeremy Watson

Santa Paula Police Department

On 11-19-15 at approximately 0041 hours, a Santa Paula Police Officer on patrol observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The Officer turned his vehicle around to conducted a traffic enforcement stop of the vehicle. The vehicle pulled over to the side of the road prior to the officer initiating the stop and the officer observed a male subject, later identified as Martin Quezada, 29 years of Fillmore, who was driving exit the vehicle and switch positions with a female passenger. The female passenger then sat in the drivers seat and the vehicle began to drive away. The Officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and contacted the occupatns of the vehicle. It was determined the female, who was now driving, was driving with her drivers license suspended. The passenger (Quezada), who had previously been driving, was also found to have a suspended drivers license. The male driver was asked to step out of the vehicle and during the course of the contact, a hypodermic syringe was located as well as several baggies of cocaine in Quezada's possession. Quezada was placed under arrest for possession of a controlled substance.

Officers conducted a records check of the license plates located on the Chevrolet truck and the registration returned to another vehicle. Further investigation revealed the truck was stolen out of the City of Fillmore. Both Quezada, who was already in custody, and the female were charged with 10851 VC, Vehicle Theft and they were transported to the Santa Paula City Jail. Upon further investigation, it was determined the female was not involved in the theft of the vehicle and she was released without charges for this offense. She was issued a citation for driving on a suspended license.

Quezada was later lodged at the Ventura County Main Jail for the charges of 10851 VC, Vehicle Theft; 11350 H&S, possession of a controlled substance; 135 PC, destruction of evidence and 11364 H&S, possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On Saturday, November 21, 2015, Sheriff’s detectives conducted compliance checks at the residences of sixty two (62) registered sex offenders throughout the county. The compliance checks were part of the Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE / ELEAS) Grant.

Thirty six (36) of the offenders were found to be in compliance with their registration requirement. Twenty five (25) registrants were not contacted because they were not home or had moved. One (1) registrant, Paul Warnock (Age 63) of Fillmore was arrested for being out of compliance with registration requirements. He was booked at the Ventura County Jail. Sheriff’s detectives will follow-up to determine if the remaining registrants not contacted are out-of-compliance.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will be conducting similar sweeps on an ongoing basis, to verify registered sex offenders are living at their reported residences and in compliance with any probation or parole terms.

Residents of Ventura County can visit the Megan’s Law website (www.meganslaw.ca.gov) to familiarize themselves with the sex registrants in their community.

Nature of Incident: Sex Registrant Compliance Sweep
Report Number: N/A
Location: Areas of Thousand Oaks / Camarillo / Moorpark / Newbury Park / Oak Park / Ventura / Santa Paula / Oxnard / Ojai / Oak View
Date & Time: Saturday, November 21, 2015 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau
Thousand Oaks Police Department Investigations Bureau
Prepared by: Sergeant Ryan Clark
Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau / Sexual Assault Unit
News Release Date: November 23, 2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Ryan Clark / 805-384-4721
ryan.clark@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Melissa Smith

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).

With the holiday season upon us, California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today reminded consumers about the importance of safe food handling to prevent foodborne illness.

“Bacterial pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli and Campylobacter can be present in foods, such as meat and poultry, and can cause illness due to insufficient cooking, inadequate cooling and improper food handling practices,” Smith said. “Properly prepared and handled foods can assure us all a safe meal every day of the year.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 48 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths annually in the United States are related to foodborne diseases.

Foodborne diseases can be prevented by simple safety steps in the kitchen. Wash hands with soap and warm water before and after food preparation, and especially after handling raw foods. Clean all work surfaces, utensils and dishes with hot soapy water and rinse with hot water after each use. Be sure to cook foods thoroughly and to refrigerate adequately between meals. Consumers can find more information about Food Safety Tips for Holiday Feasts on the CDPH website.

Bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7 are responsible for many foodborne illnesses, caused by eating contaminated foods. Contamination can occur at the farm level, during processing and handling, and as a result of poor food handling practices at home.

Symptoms of foodborne disease can include diarrhea, which may be bloody, vomiting, abdominal cramps and fever. Most infected people recover from foodborne illnesses within a week. Some, however, may develop complications that require hospitalization. Young children, the elderly, pregnant women and persons with a weakened immune system are at highest risk for potentially life-threatening complications.

Additional resources for information on food safety include the federal Food and Drug Administration Food Information line at 1-888-SAFEFOOD (1-888-723-3366) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). Consumers can also access the national Partnership for Food Safety Education’s “Fight BAC” (bacteria) Web page.

California Highway Patrol

Thanksgiving weekend, traditionally one of the busiest travel times in America, can also be one of the deadliest. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) will have all available officers on patrol during a Maximum Enforcement Period (MEP) to help avoid tragedies for California motorists.

In 2014, over the Thanksgiving weekend, 45 people died in collisions on California roadways – a 36 percent increase from the same period in 2013. In addition, the CHP arrested almost 1,000 people for driving under the influence.

“Having a safe Thanksgiving drive this year—and being here to enjoy next Thanksgiving—can be as simple as buckling up,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said. “Nearly half the people who died in the CHP’s jurisdiction over Thanksgiving last year were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision.”

The MEP will begin Wednesday, November 25, at 6 p.m. and continue through Sunday, November 29, at 11:59 p.m. During the MEP, CHP officers will not only be enforcing the law, but also assisting motorists.

“Buckling up, avoiding distracted driving, traveling at a safe speed, designating a sober driver – all are especially important during the holidays,” Commissioner Farrow said. “During the MEP, our officers will emphasize education and enforcement throughout the state to ensure everyone can enjoy their holiday.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) urges “Buckle Up America – Every Trip. Every Time.” Nationwide, more than half the drivers and passengers killed in crashes are not wearing seat belts. The NHTSA estimates that nationally, seat belts saved the lives of 12,854 passenger vehicle occupants in 2013.

Cal Fire

Sacramento – With the Thanksgiving holiday just around the corner, CAL FIRE is reminding Californians about the dangers that lurk during the holiday season. When most people think about Thanksgiving, they envision turkey, pumpkin pie and time spent with their loved ones. Who thinks of fire at this time?

“During the holidays we tend to have multiple items cooking on the stove while we are visiting with friends and family,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, CAL FIRE director. “It is critical to not get distracted and to always stand next to what you are cooking. Thanksgiving Day is often one of our busier days responding to home cooking fires; we would like to reduce that number by practicing a little extra fire safety. Hopefully, together we can prevent cooking fires and you can enjoy your Thanksgiving with family and friends.”

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), three times as many home cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving as on a typical day. NFPA’s latest cooking estimates show that there were 1,550 cooking fires on Thanksgiving in 2013, reflecting a 230 percent increase over the daily average. Home cooking fires also spike on other major U.S. holidays, including Christmas Day, Christmas Eve and Memorial Day weekend.

“Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires,” said Chief Tonya Hoover, State Fire Marshal. “That is why it is so important to “keep an eye on what you fry” and stay in the kitchen when preparing your holiday meal so it isn’t left unattended. One more safety measure is to ensure you have working smoke alarms installed throughout your home. It’s an added measure to protect you from fires in your home. ”

To help reduce the chance of fire and injuries associated with holiday cooking fires, CAL FIRE would like to offer the following tips:
• Remain in the kitchen while you’re cooking, and keep a close eye on what you fry! Always stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling or broiling food. If you have to leave the kitchen for even a short period of time, turn off the stove. Regularly check on food that’s simmering, baking or roasting, and use a timer to remind you that you’re cooking.
• Turn pot handles toward the back of the stove. Someone walking by is less likely to bump them or pull them over.
• When using a turkey fryer, be sure to follow instructions closely. Don’t exceed the recommended oil level and only use the device outdoors!
• Make sure a fire extinguisher is handy at all times. Never use water to put out a grease fire.
• Ensure you have working smoke alarms installed in your home.

For more tips on cooking fire safety, watch this short video https://www.youtube.com/v/aIFBJrAcGRE and visit www.fire.ca.gov.

East County detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying burglary suspects captured on video.

On November 18th, 2015, deputies with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office responded to Oak Park High School in reference to a burglary. During the initial investigation, it was discovered five suspects broke a window and gained access to the computer lab and stole 17 computers.

During the early morning hours of November 18th, 2015, the five suspects were captured on Oak Park High School’s video surveillance system entering the property on foot. All five suspects appeared to be wearing dark colored clothing and wore either hooded sweatshirts or beanie hats in an attempt to hide their identities. This video surveillance system showed the suspects enter the computer lab and later exit holding several computers. The suspects then left school property.

School officials confirmed 17 Apple IMac computers with 21.5 inch monitors were stolen from the computer lab. Numerous Oak Park High School students stored assignments, graphic designs, and portfolio information were on these stolen computers. The academic information stored on these computers is not retrievable and represented an enormous amount of work by the students.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects responsible for this burglary and recovering these stolen computers. Anyone with information regarding this crime or information on persons attempting to sell Apple IMac computers, please contact East County Investigations Unit Detective Marta Bugarin at 805-371-8342.

Nature of Incident: Oak Park High School Burglary
Report Number: 15-2071141
Location: 899 Kanan Road, Oak Park
Date & Time: November 18, 2015 / 1:45 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: East County Investigations Unit
(S)uspects,
(1) Hispanic male, 5’7”-6’0”, 180 lbs., mustache
(2) Black male, 5’7”-6’0”, 180 lbs., beard
(3) Black male, 5’9”-6’2”, 190lbs., beard/mustache
(4) No distinguishing information
(5) No distinguishing information
Prepared by: Detective Christopher Zapata
News Release Date: November 20, 2015
Media Follow-Up Contact: Detective Timothy Lohman 805-947-8255
Tim.lohman@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Ross Bonfiglio

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Share-iff’s Toy Drive has been a tradition in Ventura County for 30 years. Many families do not have the resources to provide their children with a traditional Christmas celebration. Each year, thousands of children experience a Christmas morning with no gifts to open.

Members of the Sheriff’s Office respond to calls throughout the county and encounter families without the means to exchange gifts during the holiday season. Fortunately, some of these families will be the recipients of gifts this holiday season, thanks to volunteers who participate in the Share-iff’s Toy Drive.

The Sheriff’s Office will be collecting new, unwrapped toys for children ages 13 and younger. All of the toys will be distributed to children within the cities of Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Fillmore, Ojai, and the unincorporated areas served by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

All of our patrol stations will have boxes where staff members and the public can leave their unwrapped toys Monday through Friday from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm between November 23th and December 18th.

On December 19th, members of the Sheriff’s Office will open Santa’s workshop and provide some Christmas magic to those who need it most.

Toy drop off locations:

Camarillo Police Department 3701 Las Posas Road, Camarillo (805) 388-5100

Thousand Oaks Police Department 2101 E. Olsen Road, Thousand Oaks (805) 494-8200

Moorpark Police Department - 610 Spring Road, Moorpark (805) 532-2700

Fillmore Police Department - 524 Sespe Avenue, Fillmore (805) 524-2233

Ojai Police Department - 402 S. Ventura Street, Ojai (805) 646-1414

Sheriff's Headquarters - 800 S. Victoria Avenue, Ventura (805) 654-2304

For more information about how you can help, please contact:

Corina Lozano at corina.lozano@ventura.org,
Victor Flores at victor.flores@ventura.org,
Tim Lohman at tim.lohman@ventura.org
Jennifer Sezzi at jennifer.sezzi@ventura.org.

Nature of Incident: Sheriff’s Office to Kick Off 30th Annual ‘Share-iffs’ Toy Drive
Location: Countywide
Date & Time: Nov. 23, 2015 through Dec. 18, 2015
Unit(s) Responsible: All Sheriff’s Facilities
Prepared by: Senior Deputy Timothy Lohman
Media Release Date: Nov. 19, 2015
Follow-Up Contact: Senior Deputy Timothy Lohman (805) 947-8255
Tim.lohman@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian