Above is the illegal controlled substance and Ecstasy pills police recovered in their investigation.
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A 49-year-old Lancaster man was arrested in Fillmore for possession of a stolen firearm and illegal drugs.

On August 8, 2022, a deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the 900 block of Ventura Street for a vehicle code violation. The driver was identified as Darrell Rutledge.

During the contact, the deputy saw a substance that appeared to be illegal drugs in plain view in the vehicle. Upon further investigation, the deputy confirmed the substance to be an illegal controlled substance and Ecstasy pills. In addition, a search of the vehicle revealed a stolen, loaded firearm that was found concealed inside of a backpack on the rear seat.

Upon further investigation, it was determined that the firearm had been stolen in an unrelated residential burglary two years ago. Rutledge is a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history that included prison sentences for firearm and narcotic related charges. As a convicted felon, Rutledge is prohibited from possessing firearms.

Rutledge was arrested for possession of illegal drugs, carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm with prior conviction, carrying a loaded firearm in public, prohibited person in possession of ammunition, and unlawful transfer of a firearm. Rutledge is currently being held in custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura with bail set at $500,000. Rutledge’s next court hearing is scheduled for August 10, 2022.

The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and/or vehicles, and to promptly report any crimes they come across by calling 911. The reporting party may remain anonymous.

Nature of Incident: Convicted Felon Arrested for Possession of a Stolen Firearm and Illegal Drugs
Report Number: 22-105486
Location: 900 Block of Ventura Street / City of Fillmore
Date & Time: August 08, 2022 @ 8:41 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services and Fillmore Detective Bureau
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(A) Rutledge, Darryle Lamonte, Lancaster, Ca., 49
Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian, Fillmore Chief of Police

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).

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Beginning Thursday, September 1st, 2022, the Fillmore Police Department and Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will be holding a 12-week Public Safety Academy for the community. Designed to provide community members with an inside look at law enforcement, the criminal justice system, and other public safety agencies, the program will allow participants to meet with members of the Fillmore Police Department, Sheriff’s Office, Fillmore Fire Department, Ventura County Superior Court, District Attorney’s Office, and Probation Agency. Classes will be held Thursday nights, from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, at the Fillmore Police Station, 524
Sespe Ave. In 2023 we plan to have another Public Safety Academy which will be held in Spanish. For an application, requirements,
and additional information, contact the Fillmore Police Department.

Prepared by: Deputy Eric Tumbleson
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On July 29, 2022, Sheriff’s Gang Unit detectives conducted directed enforcement in the City of Fillmore and arrested a subject for local warrants, unlawful firearm possession, and a narcotics violation.

On July 29, 2022, at approximately 2017 hours, detectives made a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 800 block of 3rd Street in Fillmore while conducting directed enforcement. Ismael Hernandez was a passenger in the vehicle. Hernandez was wanted for local misdemeanor warrants and he is on probation for narcotics violations. Detectives searched the vehicle, pursuant to Hernandez’s probation search terms, and determined he was in possession of an unregistered revolver handgun and a small amount of suspected methamphetamine. Hernandez was arrested and booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility in Ventura for his warrants, firearm violations, and possession of a controlled substance.

On August 2, 2022, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office filed felony and misdemeanor charges against Hernandez for the case. Hernandez remains in Ventura County Jail custody with an upcoming court date and his bail was set at $10,000.00.

The Sheriff’s Gang Unit is comprised of eight detectives, who focus on protecting West County communities from criminal street gang terrorism and reducing violent crime by actively investigating illegal firearm activities.

The Sheriff’s Office has seen an increase of illegal firearm activities in Ventura County. If you have any information about unlawful firearm activities in the West County areas in the Sheriff’s Office jurisdiction, including in Fillmore, Saticoy, El Rio, and Ojai, please contact Detective Sergeant Beau Rodriguez at 805-767-0360.

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.

Community: News Story - Traffic Stop Results in Firearm / Narcotics Arrest

Dear Fillmore Gazette,

Nature of Incident: Traffic Stop Results in Firearm / Narcotics Arrest
Report Number: 22-101078
Location: 800 block of 3rd Street, Fillmore
Date & Time: 7/29/2022 @ 20:17 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Sheriff’s Gang Unit (SGU)
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(S) Hernandez, Ismael, Fillmore, 31
Prepared by: Sergeant Beau Rodriguez
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

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).

Jack with the Guiberson Barn on display at the museum.
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Jack with the Southern Pacific Depot built for Marie Wren.
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Jack with the Trinity Little Free Library.
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The Little Red School House at the Museum.
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Originally from Topeka, Kansas, Jack Stethem and his wife, Joleen, came to Fillmore in 1964. Like his father, Jack became a painting contractor and Joleen worked at Fillmore High School while raising their family. Jack got his private pilot’s license and kept a plane at the Santa Paula Airport which he flew regularly. Jack also became active as a volunteer at the Fillmore Historical Museum, also serving as Vice President of the Board of Directors.

Jack and Joleen both retired in 2004. That was when Jack took up wood working. He started small, building boats for the children of friends, but slowly worked up to bigger projects.

One day in about 2010, Marie Wren called Jack and asked if he could build a “Little Free Library” for in front of her home. Jack at that time hadn’t known that “Little Free Libraries” were a “thing,” but Marie educated him on their history and started him on this new path. They chose the Museum’s 1887 Southern Pacific Depot to be the model for her library. Soon other people were inquiring about Jack building libraries for them and he was off and running.

Since that initial project, Jack has built Little Free Libraries modeled on Trinity Episcopal Church, a home on Foothill Drive, the Hinckley House at the Museum site on Main Street, as well a as ones on Clay Street and B Street. When the Fillmore Library was closed during the pandemic, these little libraries saw much use.

On display in the Museum are replicas of the Santa Clara “Little Red” School House on Highway 126, a model of the Guiberson Barn and a diorama of a condor habitat, all Jack Stethem’s creations.

If you see Jack and Joleen on their daily walk along the bike path, leaving a trail of goodies for the local bunnies, quail and squirrels, stop and thank him for doing his part to make Fillmore Special.

Christine Schieferle, FUSD Superintendent.

Dear FUSD Community,
I am excited to welcome you back to the 2022-2023 school year. I hope your family had the opportunity this summer to spend quality time with loved ones and that you and your children are ready for the upcoming school year. It is going to be a great year!

The beginning of each school year is always time for reflection, preparation, and new beginnings. We will continue to focus on strengthening communication, building relationships, and working together to ensure that we have safe, welcoming, and student-focused schools.

Staff have been working all summer long to prepare for the upcoming school year and will continue to expand academic, enrichment, and social-emotional opportunities for our students, such as:

• School counselors at every school site
• Wellness Centers at Fillmore High School and Fillmore Middle School, each staffed with a full-time licensed social worker and a shared counselor
• Community Learning Hubs in Fillmore, Rancho Sespe, and Piru, staffed with a teacher, instructional assistant, and counselor
• Full-time bilingual community liaisons at all school sites
• Free online academic tutoring 24 hours a day /7 days a week
• Reading Intervention teachers at all elementary schools and Fillmore Middle school
• Additional assistant principals at Fillmore High School and Fillmore Middle School
• New STEM Electives at Fillmore Middle School
• Fieldtrips to universities and colleges to promote a college-bound culture
• After-school Bridges program until 6:00 p.m., Monday - Friday

We will also continue to prioritize school safety at all school sites. Each year, all staff receives training on safety procedures and response expectations for a variety of emergencies. Each school conducts regular emergency drills and we will continue to have school resource officers at Fillmore High School and Fillmore Middle School to build relationships and respond in the event of a school emergency. COVID safety measures for the upcoming school year can be found on the FUSD website.

Please also consider supporting our School Site Councils, English Learner Advisory Committees, Parent Booster Clubs, and other schools/classroom volunteer opportunities. Connecting with these organizations along with your student's teachers, principals, counselors, and support personnel is critical to your child's success in school. I am looking forward to seeing our students back on our campuses on Wednesday, August 17th. I am confident that working together, we can make this school year a safe and positive experience for our students.

Proud to be a part of FUSD.
Chrissy Schieferle, Superintendent

Cara Hazard, 6th Grade Assistant Principal, Fillmore Middle School.

A proud member of the Bulldog Family since the spring of 2020, Ms. Cara Hazard was immediately thrown into action as she helped navigate the difficulties of distance learning brought on by the COVID pandemic. Ms. Hazard is thrilled to be back for her second full year of in person learning, and as this years 6th grade assistant principal she cannot wait to meet all the incoming students who are just beginning the next step in their educational journey.

Ms. Hazard began her career in education as a para-educator with the Saugus Union School District from 2005 until 2007. From there she went on to her first teaching job in the Palmdale School District, where she gained experience at both the elementary and middle school levels. In 2015 she would spend a year teaching middle school algebra in Albuquerque, New Mexico before returning to her teaching roots in Palmdale. All told the time she spent in Palmdale would see her twice voted as teacher of the year, and she would spend 5 years as an administrative intern. All these experiences helped lead her to the amazing opportunity of assistant principal at Fillmore Middle School (Go Bulldogs!).

Growing up just down the road in Santa Clarita, Ms. Hazard attended Cal State Northridge. There she earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies and her Master of Arts in Educational Leadership. Always striving for more knowledge, Ms. Hazard prides herself on being a lifelong learner and an avid reader. There are few things she loves more than sitting outside on a beautiful day with a good book in hand.

Ms. Hazard loves fostering an environment where students know that they are respected and cared for, believing it is paramount to educational success. She welcomes open communication with all our Bulldog family. Ms. Hazard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to what will undoubtedly be a strong leadership team that will benefit not only Fillmore Middle School but our surrounding community.