DON AGUILAR
Interim Chief of Police

PRESS RELEASE

March 27, 2023

Student Arrested for Possession of a Handgun

Santa Paula, Calif. – A 16-year-old student was arrested on campus of Santa Paula High School on March 24, 2023, for possession of a handgun and was placed into the Juvenile Justice Center.

On Friday, March 24, 2023, a school resource officer (SRO) followed up on information discovered on social media regarding a student possibly in possession of a firearm. Although there was no information or statements of a threat, the SRO used an abundance of caution. Through investigation, the SRO was able to identify the student and worked with school administration, security staff, and additional police officers to swiftly locate the student and removed him from the classroom. After the student and backpack were removed from the classroom, the police officers conducted a search of his backpack.

A handgun, ammunition, and an ammunition magazine were located in the student’s backpack. No other weapons or ammunition were found on his person or in his locker. A message was sent to parents through the Santa Paula Unified School District shortly after the student was arrested and removed from the campus. In addition to the arrest, the student also faces an administrative review.

This serious matter is a reminder for parents and/or guardians to monitor the contents of backpacks and other items brought on campus. Please regularly monitor/evaluate student’s use of social media, cell phones, and computers/laptops. Remind students if they see something, say something to parents/guardians, teachers, school staff, or SRO’s.
If anyone has information regarding weapons on school campuses, please notify the
Santa Paula Police Department immediately by dialing 911.

Tips can be reported anonymously to WeTip by calling (800) 782- 7463 or visiting:
https://mobile.catapultems.com/santa-paula-usd/Sites

Agency Responsible: Santa Paula Police Department

Press Release Prepared by: Interim Police Chief Don Aguilar

Join us on Twitter @SP_Police, Instagram @SantaPaulaPoliceDepartment, FaceBook – Santa Paula Police Department and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety
alerts and advisories.

On March 20, 2023 Fillmore City Council Member Lynn Edmounds was given the “California Woman Making Herstory Award’’ at the State Capitol in Sacramento by Assemblyman Steve Bennett pictured above is her with the proclamation.
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On March 20, 2023, Lynn Edmonds received the prestigious “California Woman Making Herstory Award” in the State Capitol by Assemblyman Steve Bennett. Lynn Edmonds Honored in Sacramento as “Ventura County Woman of the Year” is joined in this honor by the countless extraordinary women who have shaped our state and country’s collective past. Each of the 69 California Counties was given the opportunity to recognize a woman who has made significant contributions to that county. Lynn Edmonds was cofounder of the Fillmore youth nonprofit One Step a la Vez, has been an exceptional advocate, continuously working to expand opportunities to her community’s youth and families. In her time as an educator, nonprofit leader and council member, Lynn dedicated herself to ensuring access to services to the entire Fillmore Community. Lynn served on many local organizations in the Fillmore and in the Santa Clarita Valley, including the founding board of the Fillmore Boys and Girls Club, founder of the Fillmore/Piru Big Brothers Sister Program and co-founder of the One Step a la Vez Program. She also was on the county wide committees Ventura Transportation Commission, Air Pollution Control Board, Regional Sanitation Control Board, Heritage Valley Transportation Committee and Heritage Valley Tourism Board. From 2018-2022, Lynn served on the Fillmore City Council where she was focused on prioritizing bilingual English and Spanish communication between the city and residents, increase affordable housing, protecting the environment and community economic revitalization.

Ruben Patino, 27 of Fillmore, was killed Sunday, March 26, at approximately 7:30am, on Highway 126 east of Wells Road. Patino was driving westbound in a 2002 Saturn sedan when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into a tree. His was the only car involved; CHP reported no dugs or alcohol were involved. Cause of the crash and speed of the vehicle are unknown. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call the CHP’s Ventura Area Office at 805-662-2640.

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On Saturday, March 25, the Fillmore Fire Department honored several Fillmore firefighters with awards. A gathering of fire personnel, their families and friends assembled at the Fillmore Fire Station for the event. Ryan Cota (top left) was honored as the 2022 Fillmore Fire Department “Firefighter of the Year”. Also honored were firefighters Ken Harris (top right), Jarod Martinez, Engineers Evan Zellmer, Manny Perez (bottom right), Brian Carreon, Sylvester Alvarez, and Captain Chad Panke for having worked more than five years before they left the Fillmore Fire Department. Courtesy https://www.facebook.com/cityoffillmore.

Ventura County Animal Services provided a detailed discussion of its functions to City Council at Tuesday's regular meeting. The organization has more than 500 volunteers and provides critically important services for all county cities.
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TUESDAY, MARCH 28, 2023
All items approved 5-0
8-G RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council: Approve the second reading to adopt Ordinance 23-944 entitled “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Fillmore, California, consolidating the City’s Arts Commission into the Cultural, Arts, and Recreation Commission.
10.A REQUEST: That the City Council approve the 2023-2024 Service Level Request for Ventura County Animal Services to provide animal services to the City’s residents. DISCUSSION: The City of Fillmore contracts with the Ventura County Animal Services (“VCAS”) for VCAS to provide animal sheltering and field services, license processing, and related services for residents of the City. The VCAS animal care budget is determined by allocating the cost of providing services amongst all of the participating cities and the County using a weighted three (3) calendar year average of the City’s pro rata animal intake percentage.

10-B REQUEST: City Staff was requested by the City Council to bring forward an item for the discussion of whether to revise the composition of the Cultural, Arts, and Recreation Commission to add the appointment of a non-voting Youth Sport Board Member to the Commission. DISCUSSION: At the March 14, 2023 regular City Council meeting, City Staff presented to City Council a request to adopt Ordinance No. 23-947 to consolidate two commissions by dissolving the Arts Commission by removing Fillmore Municipal Code Chapter 6.18 and amending Fillmore Municipal Code Chapter 2.28 (Parks and Recreation Commission) to add the duties previously assigned to the Arts Commission and to rename the commission as the Cultural, Arts, and Recreation Commission.

10-C CONSIDERATION OF 2022 ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT FOR THE STATUS OF THE CITY GENERAL PLAN HOUSING ELEMENT
REQUEST: City staff requests the City Council receive and file the 2022 Annual Progress Report on the Housing Element and direct staff to submit the report to the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). DISCUSSION: Government Code section 65400 requires that each city and county prepare an annual progress report (APR) explaining the agency’s progress in implementing the housing element of its general plan. The APR is prepared using forms, tables, and definitions adopted by HCD.
All items approved 5-0

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On Thursday, March 23, Mountain Vista had special guests to start the day! The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department presented Coffee with Cops. Students were treated to donuts as they toured the SWAT vehicle and gave Hi-5’s to McGruff the Crime Dog. Parents were treated to coffee and conversation. Great way to start the day! https://www.blog.fillmoreusd.org/newblog/2023/3/23/ventura-county-sherif...

Above are Alma and Max Gabaldon and their dogs Jake, left, a Queensland Heeler mix and Keyonno, a German Shepherd, in front of the Artists’ Wall. Photo credit Carina Monica Montoya.
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Written by Carina Monica Montoya

One of Fillmore’s dynamic duo is Max and Alma Gabaldon. Originally from Clearwater, Florida, Alma’s family moved to San Diego where she went to high school and met Max, her husband-to-be. They’ve been married for 30 years and have four grown children. In 1994 they lived in Camarillo, but fell in love with Fillmore. They enjoyed riding the now defunct Fillmore & Western Railway that offered weekend scenic rides, and Murder Mystery entertainment. They would drive around town and through the neighborhoods, always seeming to circle back to an old near-dilapidated redwood barn on Bard Street west of Saratoga Street. Alma felt the barn was calling out to them.
One day they walked into a real estate office in Fillmore and saw a picture of the Bard Street barn for sale. Out of curiosity they inquired about it. The real estate agent discouraged them from considering it because it was old and needed a lot of work, especially after the devastating 1994 Northridge Earthquake that caused substantial damage to Fillmore and to the barn, but the more reasons the agent gave to discourage the sale, the more it piqued Alma’s interest to see it.
The 3,500-square-foot barn had been transformed into living quarters that was equipped with a bathroom, kitchen, two bedrooms, and a living and dining area. Alma fell in love with the barn and its 1/3 acre of land. She envisioned the barn as becoming their nostalgic house and together with Max’s expertise as a licensed contractor and Alma’s flare for design and decorating, the barn could be restored and become a novelty and unique home. Max and Alma bought the property and began restoration using modern sustainability standards, which were extensive and are ongoingbecause the barn is over 100 years old and is designated as one of Ventura County’s historic landmarks & points of interest. They were very careful in their restoration efforts by gently uncovering walls, wood, and other parts of the barn that could easily be mistaken for dirt, rot, or something unnecessary. To their surprise, the more they uncovered, fascinating and priceless treasures were found, including a wall filled with paintings on 10-inch squares by several professional artists from around the country who came to visit the barn. Alma researched the barn’s history and learned that it was once home and an art studio to local artist Lawrence Hinckley and his wife Mildred in the 1930s, and was the only art gallery in the county at the time.

Community: Three suspects caught and arrested for an in-progress graffiti vandalism.
Nature of Incident: Three suspects caught and arrested for an in-progress graffiti vandalism.
Report Number: 23-33959
Location: 300 Block of Central Avenue (Rear Alley), Fillmore
Date & Time: March 16, 2023 @ 3:00 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services / Fillmore School Resource Officer Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S-1) Male juvenile Fillmore 14
(S-2) Male juvenile Fillmore 14
(S-3) Female juvenile Fillmore 13
Narrative:
On March 16, 2023, three local juveniles were arrested for graffiti vandalism and conspiracy to commit a crime after they were caught spray painting the wall of an apartment building on private property.
At approximately 3:00 PM, a diligent resident called the police to report several juveniles loitering in the alley of the 300 block of Central Avenue in the city of Fillmore. The juveniles were seen spray painting graffiti on several walls at the location. Fillmore patrol deputies along with a Fillmore School Resource Officer responded and began an investigation.
This crime was witnessed by a diligent citizen who relayed valuable information to the deputies and the deputies were able to identify and detain three suspects who were still in the area. The investigation, which included a search of one of the suspect’s residences, revealed evidence related to the fresh graffiti sprayed on the surrounding walls.
All three juvenile suspects were arrested for violation of vandalism along with conspiracy to commit a crime. All three juveniles were released to their guardians pending a future court date.
Graffiti vandalism is an eyesore that directly affects the quality of life in our communities. If left unchecked, graffiti can decrease property values and lead to the deterioration of entire neighborhoods. Gang graffiti and tagging may also be the catalyst for additional, more serious conflicts between rival gangs. The removal of graffiti costs homeowners, business owners and taxpayers thousands of dollars each year.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining the safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and vehicles, and to promptly report any crime they come across by calling 911 or the Fillmore Police Station @ (805) 524-2233. The reporting party may remain anonymous.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes.
After a police investigation, all graffiti should be immediately removed.
Graffiti Removal
The city removes all graffiti by either painting over it or by using the power washer, depending upon the location of the graffiti. If graffiti is on private property, the city secures a signed agreement from the property owner giving them permission to do the work. To request removal, call the city at (805) 524-1500 (option #4 then #3) for the Graffiti Hotline. If you see graffiti within the city, they will take steps to remove it.
Prepared by: Sergeant Will Hollowell
News Release Date: 03/18/2023
Media Follow-Up Contact: School Resource Officer Deputy Jon Schnereger
(805) 524-2233 / email jonathan.schnereger@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
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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On Friday, March 17, at 1:30pm, Fillmore Police Department, Fillmore Fire, and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a two-vehicle collision at Ventura St. / Central Avenue, Fillmore. Arriving firefighters found two vehicles, with one occupant still inside, needing extrication. Firefighters were able to extricate the occupant using the Jaws of Life tool, inset. The patient was treated by paramedics and transported to a local hospital along with a second ambulance for additional patients. The cause of the crash is under investigation. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News.