|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 26th, 2023
 On Friday, October 20th, at 11:15 pm, Fillmore Police Department, Fillmore City Fire Department and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a reported traffic collision in the 800 block of Santa Clara Street, Fillmore. Arriving deputies found two parked vehicles damaged along with a vehicle parked in the garage driveaway damaged. A male subject was arrested for California Vehicle Code (VC) 23152(a)--Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and VC 20002(a)-Hit and Run. The subject was booked at the main jail. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Enlarge Photo |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 26th, 2023
Get ready to honor our Veterans on Friday, November 10th, with a Veterans Day Concert in the Park, Mac & D Duo @ 5pm-6:30pm, Los Amigos 805 @ 7pm-9pm, City Hall Plaza-see flyer online at www.FillmoreGazette.com, and in next week’s Gazette, page 10. On Saturday, November 11th, come enjoy the Veterans Day Parade at 10am, downtown Fillmore, followed by Veterans Ceremony at Fillmore Middle School (guest speaker Dick Diaz-see bio in Nov. 9th edition of Gazette) and BBQ-Veterans/Active Duty eat FREE, community $15/a plate. See Nov. 11th flyer for information online at www.FillmoreGazette.com, and in next week’s Gazette, page 10. Dual Grand Marshals Vic Westerberg (bio below), and Esmael Alonzo, (bio in next week’s Gazette) will lead the parade, sponsored by Fillmore-Piru Veteran’s Memorial District & Lions Club. Veterans Day Grand Marshal Victor Westerberg Victor Westerberg U.S. Army Sergeant E-5 Vietnam 1967-1968 this year’s Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal on Sat. Nov. 11th, 2023. Victor Westerberg is a lifelong resident of Fillmore and graduated from Fillmore High School in the class of 1965. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in July of 1966. He served his basic training at Fort Ord, CA. He then was ordered to Fort Riley Kansas to serve 9 months of advanced training with the 63rd Armor a part of the Big Red One First Division. Vic was promoted to Specialist 4th Class before leaving Fort Riley. He was then ordered to Vietnam and was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (The Blackhorse Regiment) he was assigned to an armored personnel carrier as a gunner on the right side of the track. About halfway through his tour he was promoted to Sergeant E-5 and took over command of an armored personnel carrier Lima-33 and spent the rest of his time as a track commander behind a .50 caliber machine gun. Vic served during the 1968 Tet Offensive. He was awarded six times including the Combat Infantryman Badge and The Bronze Star Medal. Mike Duckett a Memorial Board member at the time saw that the Honor Board in the hallway of the Memorial Building was in need of updating and organizing. Mike asked Vic to help with the project. They used Lance Montee a local contractor to build new panels for the wall. Then Vic and Mike had the task of organizing the names on the panels. Vic has helped many families to get their loved ones name put on the Wall. For years Vic has compiled a master list of over 700 names of Veterans from the Fillmore/ Piru and surrounding areas. He was instrumental in getting the names printed on a banner to be put in the Memorial Building. |
|
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Thursday, October 26th, 2023
During the month of October of 2023, law enforcement nationwide, including here in the city of Fillmore, has seen Chevy Silverado pick-up trucks as a target for vehicle thefts. They are being stolen for their resale value and catalytic converters. Because the trucks have a high ground clearance, it makes it easier to get underneath them and quickly cut off the air pollution control devices. The Fillmore Police Department is asking citizens to be diligent and to make sure that any spare keys to their vehicles are accounted for, stored in a secure location, and not left in the vehicle. This includes any wallet or hide-a keys and key fobs. The vehicles targeted are 1999 -2006 Chevy Silverado pick-up trucks. Many people have asked what they can do to help protect their vehicles. Here are some tips to help prevent vehicle theft: • Park in a secured garage when possible or in a well-lit area with surveillance cameras and/or where the vehicle will be seen by a passerby. We are asking for our community’s help to prevent vehicle thefts. If you hear strange noises during the night, such as power tools or sawing, if you see a vehicle driving suspiciously slow through your neighborhood or stopped at the side of the road, if you see or hear ANYTHING out of the ordinary, please call the Fillmore Police Station at (805) 524-2233, or Ventura County Sheriff’s Communication Center at (805) 654-9511. The reporting party may remain anonymous. Often, these thieves are caught when an observant resident calls the police when something looks suspicious or does not seem quite right. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department are committed to increasing and strengthening community partnerships and utilizing technologies and evidence-based practices to enhance collaborative efforts at reducing crime and improving public safety of all residents by continued 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. 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. Attached is a photograph of one of the recent suspects who was caught on Ring camera stealing a 2005 Chevy Silverado from 300 block of River Street in the city of Fillmore on October 9, 2023. Nature of Incident: Public Awareness/Vehicle Thefts/Early Model Chevy Silverado Trucks Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 26th, 2023
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. |
|
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Thursday, October 26th, 2023
 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. 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 (S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 26th, 2023
 On Thursday, October 19th, 2023, the Fillmore High Alumni Association hosted their 2023 Blue & White Night as a standing tradition with Fillmore High School in celebration of their Homecoming Game. The festivities began at 5pm and the annual parade started at 6pm. Central Avenue was filled with folks watching the parade & enjoying the many food truck selections. This year’s Grand Marshals were FHS Athletic Director Kim Tafoya and John Heilman. Pictured above is an FHS float. Enlarge Photo |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Tuesday, October 24th, 2023
|
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
 On Monday, October 16th, 2023, at 2:47 p.m., Fillmore City Fire Dept. and Ventura County & City Fire Depts. were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the 1800 block of Grand Avenue, unincorporated area west of Fillmore. The one-story cinder-block home was fully engulfed when crews arrived. The location of the home, surrounded by orchards, presented fire crews with the challenge of difficult access. Several trees and farm equipment near the home were also scorched. Additionally, downed power lines caused concern, along with the collapsing roof and side walls of the home. There was a fire hydrant nearby and Fillmore Fire Chief Keith Gurrola stated they were able to knock down the main fire “pretty fast” with the number of agencies on-scene. “But there was a lot of exterior storage that the fire had already spread into, so it was taking a lot of time to put out that fire,” said Gurrola. The owner of the home was present at the time of the fire but was not inside the structure when it started. It is not clear whether the downed power lines had fallen as a result of the fire or had been on the ground beforehand. The structure and the majority of its contents appeared to be a total loss. No one was injured. Cause of the fire is under investigation and its starting point and cost of damage are yet to be determined. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Enlarge Photo |
|
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
The Fillmore Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a prowling suspect. 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 Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services / Fillmore Detectives (S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell |
|
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, October 19th, 2023
 On Tuesday, October 10th, at 9:11pm, Fillmore Police, Fillmore Fire Department, and AMR Paramedics were dispatched to a reported injury traffic collision at the intersection of First Street & A Street, Fillmore. Arriving firefighters found two vehicles involved with moderate-heavy damage. Two ambulances were requested to respond to the scene for two injured patients. While deputies were investigating, the driver of the involved vehicle (gray Honda) was determined to be under the influence of alcohol and was arrested for felony DUI causing injury. It was also known that the subject involved was on probation for two previous DUI arrests/convictions and his driver’s license was suspended. The occupant of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision. The arrestee was subsequently booked at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility with his bail set at $55,000. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Fillmore Police Department. Photo credit Angel Esquivel-AE News. Enlarge Photo |
