The April 1, 2014 Fillmore Unified School District (FUSD) Board Meeting discussed bullying and the after-school program funding; but it began with a scathing address to the Board by a retired FUSD employee.

During Public Comments Karen Ashim, retired Fillmore High School (FHS) Counselor, addressed the Board with observations over her many years at FHS stating, "Fillmore High School is disintegrating. For 25 years I saw improvement in student achievement and college acceptance rates. During my 26th and 27th years, I saw established practices be thrown away. This year FHS is crumbling and you the Members of the School Board have done nothing to stop it; not even to go visit the school to investigate problems brought to your attention. Leadership is an active process."

She then confronted the Board on an issue that occurred at the March 18, 2014 meeting where she was told she could only ask questions on an agenda item and nothing else (a Brown Act violation, see VC District Attorney letter, page 2). The agenda item she referred to was Fillmore's accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).

The accreditation process CONTINUED »

Enlarge Photo

1996 Fillmore High School Graduate David M. Warnock-Ortiz was recently promoted to Chief Warrant Officer 3 (WO3) in the United States Army. WO3 David M. Warnock-Ortiz, 36 years, is a career soldier serving as a Senior Digital Forensic Examiner, Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Fort Hood, TX. The Army’s Fort Hood located in Killeen, Texas. He also attended San Cayetano Elementary School and Fillmore Junior High School. While in the Army David has taken college level courses pursuing a degree in computer science.

(WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz is married to Sonja (originally from Mississippi), who he met while stationed in the military in Korea. Together they have three sons; Isaiah 12 years, Israel 11 years and Zion 7 year. (WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz is the son of Julia Ortiz-Winters and James Warnock of Fillmore and the stepson of Donald Winters. His Maternal Grandparents are the late Fred and Virginia Ortiz of Fillmore and his Paternal Grandparents are the late Ronald and Lillian Warnock of Fillmore. He has one sister, Darlene Leighton, 38 years, living in Texas.

(WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz comes from a long line of family members who have served in the United States Army; Grandfather Fred Ortiz served during Korea, Grandfather Ronald Warnock also served in the Army as did Uncles Ray Ortiz Sr. and Pete Cervantez and Cousin Ray Ortiz Jr. all of Fillmore.

(WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz enlisted in the Army in September 1996 after graduation from Fillmore High School where David played football for two-years. He initially enlisted as a Military Policeman and was stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault). While there he completed Air Assault School, and then deployed to Egypt as part of a multinational training exercise. (WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz has also been assigned in Korea, where he worked at a Military Intelligence compound protecting classified materials. He then returned to the United States and moved to Fort Carson, Colorado where he was assigned to patrol and direct combat support of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (ACR).

(WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz is a career soldier and he is proud to serve his Country protecting all of us here at home. We wish (WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz safe travel and thank him and his family for their sacrifices. His service is greatly appreciated. Congratulations on your promotion to United States Army Warrant Officer 3! (WO3) David M. Warnock-Ortiz is truly an American Hero!

City of Fillmore

03/18/14
Vandalism
1st St./King St
Search Warrant
200 Blk. Cherrywood St.
03/19/14
Theft Residential
500 Blk. Morris Dr.
Search Warrant
400 Blk. Market St.
900 Blk. 1st St.
Keep the Peace
700 Blk. Sespe Plc.
700 Blk. Mountain View St.
Disturbance Noise
400 Blk. Santa Clara St.
Disturbance Music/Noise
700 Blk. Burlington St.
03/20/14
Keep the Peace
500 Blk. Sespe Ave.
Accident – Non – Injury
A St./Ventura St.
Theft
700 Blk. Island View St.
Accident Injury
B St./Ventura St.
Vandalism CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Deputies discovered two handguns and narcotics while serving an arrest warrant in Piru Tuesday morning.

Deputies from the Fillmore / Santa Clara Valley Station went to a residence in the 900-block of Main Street in the unincorporated community of Piru to serve an arrest warrant for Pedro Tello.

As they arrived at the house, the deputies noticed a structure at the back of the residence, where they found several known Fillmore gang members who were on probation. Three people fled from the building as deputies approached, but were eventually caught.

Pedro Tello was hiding inside the house and refused to come out. He eventually surrendered to deputies, who arrested him for the outstanding warrant.

Deputies searched the home and found a loaded handgun hidden in some clothing and a second loaded handgun in the area where Tello had been hiding.

Deputies also found drug paraphernalia and a small amount of marijuana. Tello had 19 grams of methamphetamine in his possession, and Frank Villa also had a small quantity of methamphetamine in his possession.

Deputies ultimately arrested six men for a variety of charges including weapons and narcotics violations.

All six were booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura.

Nature of Incident: Gang Related Firearm and Narcotics Arrests
600-block of Main Street, Piru, CA.
March 18, 2014 @ 7:20 a.m.
(S-1) Pedro Tello Fillmore, CA 23
(S-2) Jose Martin Herrera Fillmore, CA 25
(S-3) Steven Cheveste Fillmore, CA 33
(S-4) Frank Villa Fillmore, CA 33
(S-5) Martin Gaspar Fillmore, CA 24
(S-6) Natane Chapman Fillmore, CA 22
Prepared by: Sgt. Eric Buschow

City of Fillmore

About five people, besides the council and city staff, attended Tuesday's Fillmore City Council meeting, which was completed by 7:00 p.m. There were a number of items approved; a reward for information leading to the conviction of a crime, and another to ensure continued train service and filming in Fillmore. Also discussed was the problem intersection at Santa Clara and B Street, and a settlement agreement on the tax sharing contract.

Ventura Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the shooting death of Adrian Moreno on January 11, 2014. To date no one has been arrested in connection with the shooting. The Fillmore City Council discussed also offering a one thousand dollar reward for the convictions of those involved to which Council Member Rick Neal responded, "I think one thousand is low, I'd like to see it bumped to ten thousand." Council Member Diane McCall added, "I think whatever we need to do to get people talking." City Manager David W. Rowlands informed the Council that if the person convicted is a minor, the parent or guardian shall be liable and levied for the amount of the reward. The reward will be paid within 30 days of a conviction. Councilman Steve Conaway then offered the $2,000 he has in Council Travel Expense Money be moved to the reward fund. All members agreed and the measure for a Fillmore City $10,000 Reward was passed.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Fillmore and Western Railroad are currently in a legal dispute which may lead to Fillmore and Western Railroad no longer providing tourist and filming operations. Rowlands reminded the Council how important the trains are to the economy of the City, drawing people to the area from all over the state. "The tourist train draws film and production companies .....television, commercials, movies are filmed using the tourist train," Rowlands told the Council. Neal responded, "I'm in support of this....the people of Fillmore like having the train." Conaway added, "It's incumbent on us to lobby for this." McCall agreed, "This is very important for filming." A resolution was agreed upon and sent to VTCT.
Planning and Community Development Director Kevin McSweeney addressed the Council about the Intersection Study for Santa Clara and "B" Street. He asked the Council to approve a traffic engineer study to determine if a stop sign is advisable. The cost of the study is $2,500 with an additional $1,500 if a 24 hour traffic count and 4-way warrant study is needed. The funding for the study would come from the Street & Drains Fund (Street and Maintenance) which has $30,000 remaining. The pedestrian study would count how many students are passing through to cross the street and what time is needed to safely cross.

City Manager Rowlands CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On March 25, 2014, an 8-year veteran deputy of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, assigned to the Fillmore patrol station, was involved in a use of force incident. The male deputy fired his weapon at two large attacking dogs while on foot patrol on the bike path under the A Street bridge at the Santa Clara River in Fillmore, injuring both dogs.

The deputy was checking for graffiti in the area, when he was aggressively approached by two large unleashed dogs. The deputy, in defense of his own safety, fired his handgun at the dogs, hitting both. The dogs retreated from the deputy and ran into the river bottom brush. One dog was located and taken to a veterinarian for medical treatment, where it was later pronounced deceased. The second dog has not been located as of yet. The owner was contacted at the scene. The deputy sustained no injuries.

This incident was initially treated as an officer involved shooting, but later was determined to be a use of force incident. The case was turned over to the Fillmore Police Detectives Bureau for follow-up investigation.

The Fillmore Police Department reminds citizens to keep their dogs leashed in public areas for their pets’ safety and the safety of others.

Nature of Incident: Deputy Shoots at Dogs During Attack
Report Number: 14-6700
Location: Under the A Street Bridge (SR 23) at Santa Clara River, Fillmore
Date & Time: March 25, 2014 @ 1100 hours
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department
Prepared by: Sergeant Mario Aguilar
Media Release Date: March 25, 2014
Follow-Up Contact: Sergeant Mario Aguilar (805) 524-2233
mario.aguilar@ventura.org
Approved by: Captain Don Aguilar