Emily Randles, aka Emily Gholson, 32, Santa Paula.

32-year-old Santa Paula resident was arrested for stealing mail, attempting to cash stolen checks, and possession of several “washed” checks.

On April 19, at approximately 4:00 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a theft of mail in the 12000 Block of Koenigstein Road, Santa Paula, Ca. The victim reported that his outgoing mail was stolen from his mailbox, included in the stolen mail was an envelope that contained a check. After the theft, the victim’s bank alerted him that someone attempted to fraudulently cash the stolen check.

The Fillmore Detective Bureau quickly followed up on this case. Detectives were able to identify the suspect as Emily Randles also known as Emily Gholson, a resident of Santa Paula. Randles has a history of theft and drug related arrests.
On April 23, Detectives contacted and arrested Randles in the city of Ventura. At the time of her arrest, Randles was in possession of several folders containing blank check stock, stolen credit cards, additional stolen checks, and illegal photocopies of legal tender (bills).

Randles was taken into custody for several felonies and was subsequently booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for Identity Theft, Possession of Stolen Property, and Forgery. Randles remains in custody with her bail set at $50,000. Her next court date is set for 04/27/2021.

Anyone with information pertaining to crimes of this nature are urged to contact Detective Salas at the below listed number. The reporting party may remain anonymous.

The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to report suspicious people and vehicles, and to report any crime they come across by calling 911. 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. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships.

Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

Please remember that Postal Inspectors across the country work hard to protect your mail. However, with deliveries to more than 100 million addresses, the Postal Inspection Service cannot do the job alone. You can protect your mail from thieves by remembering to pick up your mail promptly after delivery. Do not leave it in your mailbox overnight. If you are expecting checks, credit cards, or other negotiable items, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail. This diligence will assist in the prevention of becoming a victim of identity theft.

If you see or suspect a mail thief at work, or if you believe your mail was stolen, call police immediately 9-1-1, then call Postal Inspectors at 877-876-2455 and (press 3) or visit the below link.

www.postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/mailfraud/fraudschemes/mai...

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant William Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

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).

Live in the Heritage Valley (Santa Paula, Fillmore, Piru) and need a ride to get your COVID vaccine? For a limited time, Valley Express is offering FREE rides on their Dial-A-Ride service to your vaccination appointment. Simply call 805-933-2267 to schedule your DAR trip after you secure your appointment. This service is not available for drive through vaccine appointments. Courtesy County of Ventura Facebook Page.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The Fillmore Police Department will be hosting a program to educate newly licensed and future licensed drivers. Start Smart is a cooperative effort between the California Highway Patrol, Fillmore Police Department, teenage drivers, and their parents.

In an attempt to remain proactive and not reactive, the Start Smart Program is designed to help young drivers and their parents/guardians understand the responsibilities associated with driving a motor vehicle. Start Smart will show how a poor choice behind the wheel can change the lives of everyone involved. Our goal is to raise awareness and reduce the number of teen-related injuries and deaths due to collisions.

Interested parents are asked to call the Fillmore Police Department at 805-524-2233 or email RobertG.Thomas@Ventura.org for more information and to make a reservation; space is limited. There is no charge to attend the program.

Due to Covid-19 health and safety guideline, this course will be offered online, via Microsoft Teams. Parents/child will have the ability to participate in the class from the safety of their homes and still be able to interact with the deputies presenting the course. This course will also be available in Spanish during the same allotted date/time as mentioned above.

The Fillmore Police Department would like to thank the Fillmore Unified School District and Fillmore High School administration for their assistance so that students may use school-issued laptops to attend the class. The funding for this program is being provided by a grant issued from the California’s Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

Nature of Incident: Start Smart Driving Education Class
Location: Online course via Microsoft Teams
Date & Time: May 1, 2021 / 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services
Prepared by: Deputy Robert Thomas / Deputy Jamal Labbe
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

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Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

Do you remember the earthquake? For most in Fillmore that question would seem to refer to the 1994 Northridge Earthquake which devasted our downtown area, leaving vacant lots seen even today. But that was by no means the only quake to cause damage to our town.

July 12, 1952, at 4:52 am, the Tehachapi Quake hit in a series of waves which lasted in diminishing strength for nearly 45 minutes. The damage here in Fillmore was noticeable but relatively light. There was firewall damage on roof at 340-340 1/2 Central Avenue (formerly Ragtyme Station). Ballard Furniture at 348 Central Ave. was also damaged.

The train line through Fillmore suddenly became important once more after the Tehachapi quake. Train tunnels were caved in, the Ridge Route was blocked by a king-sized landslide. Trains were diverted through Fillmore for a time while the tracks were repaired.

Fifty years ago, on February 9, 1971, a strong earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale occurred in the Sylmar area of the San Fernando Valley. The shocks caused the upstairs wall of the Briggs Hardware Building (first known as Chili Franklin’s Pool Hall and Dance Hall when it was built in 1910) at 340 Central, to ripple and a large 70-foot chunk of bricks fell onto the roof of Martha’s, a dress shop just north at 344 Central (now Genesis Hair). An eye-witness later said when the brick mass hit Martha’s, the impact collapsed the roof and blew out the front windows.

The store at 344 Central had to be rebuilt. The second story of 340 Central was so badly damaged it was removed. The second story had been a dance hall. The floor was left intact and is believed to still be there to this very day as part of a double ceiling.

The Fillmore Hotel and the Filmore Citrus Association Packing House at A and Sespe had cracks in walls, but nothing major. Although the Fillmore Hotel survived the 1971 quake, In the 1994 quake it was destroyed.

Luckily, and perhaps surprisingly, none of the school buildings suffered and damage from the 1971 quake. Several had already been taken out of service as class rooms under the Field Act which had been passed in 1933 after the Long Beach Earthquake, mandating that school buildings must be earthquake-resistant. Even these were not significantly damaged.

As expected all the grocery stores in town had major clean up to do after the1971 quake. Aisles had to be cleaned as jars were thrown from shelves and damaged canned and boxed goods had to be disposed of. Enterprising high school students picked up some spare pocket money helping the store owners.

Neither of these earthquakes were as devastating to our community and the 1994 Northridge Quake, but it’s good to remember that the 1994 quake was not an anomaly. We live in earthquake country and we are sure to have another one. The question is just when.

Scott Vargen, 42, Fillmore.

A check the wellbeing call results in the arrest of a 42-year-old Fillmore man for various weapons violations.

On April 16, 2021, deputies received a call that Scott Vargen had been acting and talking in a bizarre manner. Deputies were told that Vargen had made statements about visualizing things and having messages sent to him. The reporting party was concerned about Vargen’s mental health wellbeing and notified law enforcement.

Although the reporting party’s concern for Vargen’s wellbeing needed to be investigated, there was no immediate or imminent threat to the public. Deputies had the time to develop a plan, which included contacting the Ventura County Mental Health Crisis Intervention Team and requested their assistance. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) and deputies collaborated and conducted an investigation regarding these statements and behavior exhibited by Vargen.

Deputies and CIT went to Vargen’s residence and spoke with him about his bizarre statements and behavior. During the interview, deputies learned that Vargen recently purchased several firearms. The deputies were able to inspect these firearms and determined one of the firearms was an illegal assault rifle. Vargen was in possession of several high capacity pistol and rifle magazines, in violation of California weapons regulations.

Deputies arrested Vargen for PC 32310 Possession of High Capacity Magazines and PC 30605(a) Possession of an Assault Rifle. Vargen was booked at the Ventura County Main in lieu of $30,000.00 bail.

The Fillmore Police Department would like to take this opportunity to express to the public if you see or hear something that is out of place or just not right, please say something. The adage of “See Something. Say Something.” relates to many different facets of our life. The Fillmore Police Department has access to many different resources and we can provide people with contacts to access those resources.

Report Number: 21-50260
Location: 200 Block of Primrose Street, Fillmore 93015
Date & Time: April 16, 2021 @ 2:40 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department Patrol Services, Ventura County Mental Health Crisis Intervention Team
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
Scott Vargen, Fillmore, 42
Prepared by: Sergeant Daniel Blanck
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian