Ventura County Sheriff's Department

During the last week of March 2011, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit started receiving reports that a group of gang members in the unincorporated area of Nyeland Acres were targeting residents for the purpose of robbery. The robberies were being committed against undocumented immigrant workers who were not reporting the crimes to police.

The Sheriff’s gang unit began conducting assertive anti gang operations in the community of Nyeland Acres, consisting of saturation patrols, surveillance, and canvassing the neighborhood in an attempt to locate victims during this time frame. Gang investigators were able to locate two victims. In one of the robberies, five gang members ages 14 to 16 approached a victim, threatened him and robbed him of $300. In another incident, a 16-year-old gang member brandished a screwdriver and demanded money. The suspect was scared off by a passer-by before the robbery could be committed. Investigators also discovered an un-reported robbery while reviewing surveillance video provided by a local business. Investigators have so far been unable to identify the victim.
During some of the surveillances conducted in the neighborhood, gang investigators watched local gang members aggressively panhandle local residents. Investigators believe that the gang members picked who they wanted to rob by how the residents reacted to the panhandling. In each case of aggressive panhandling, gang investigators contacted the residents to confirm a robbery had not taken place.

During a surveillance on 4-8-2011, an undercover gang investigator watched as a gang member broke into a car parked nearby. The investigator began coordinating responding enforcement units to arrest the suspect. However, before they arrived, a local resident interrupted the burglary and the suspect fled from the area.
On 4-9-2011, Sheriff Gang investigators were again canvassing the neighborhood when a call of a reported carjacking was broadcast. A victim in the 3500 block of Orange Drive reported that two males confronted him as he sat in his pickup truck. One of the suspects brandished a handgun and demanded money. Believing he was about to be shot, the victim fled out the passenger’s door and called police. Gang investigators quickly began searching areas where the gang members frequent. About 30 minutes later, a gang investigator found the occupied stolen vehicle on Vineyard Ave and Collins Drive in El Rio. The suspects led gang investigators on a pursuit through El Rio where they rammed a car occupied by five people at Rose Avenue and Collins Drive. Two of the five people in the rammed vehicle suffered minor injuries. The suspects continued driving onto the 101 Freeway where they drove northbound on S.R. 101. Because of the extreme danger the suspects posed to the general public, gang investigators used their patrol cars to force the suspects to stop when they exited Johnson Drive in the city limits of Ventura. The passenger was immediately taken into custody as he sat in the truck. The driver ran into a nearby field. Gang investigators chased the suspect and apprehended him after a short foot pursuit. The driver fought after being caught and had to be subdued with a Taser and eventually placed under arrest. During a search of the driver, a handgun was recovered from his front pants pocket. The driver was identified as a 14 year-old gang member and the passenger was identified as a 16 year-old gang member. Investigators also recognized the 16 year-old as the suspect who committed the vehicle burglary the day before.
As a result of the robbery investigations, 6 juveniles were arrested for multiple counts of carjacking, attempted robbery, robbery and burglary. Investigators believe that there are several robberies that are still unreported. All juveniles remain in custody at Juvenile Hall.

During saturation patrols, Gang investigators also arrested 4 adults for a variety of crimes. On 4-16-2011, gang investigators saw four adult males standing in front of a residence on Orange Drive in Nyeland Acres. They recognized one of the males as Jorge Flores. Flores was on active parole and was wearing a GPS electronic monitor on his ankle. They knew that Flores had parole terms that included not to associate with gang members. Investigators recognized two of the subjects that were with Flores as gang members. All four were drinking in public and when investigators tried to stop them, two of the subjects, Juan Garcia and Robert Baddigo, began walking away and refused to stop when they were ordered to by gang investigators. They were both subsequently arrested for resisting arrest. The fourth subject, Alejandro Fernandez, was arrested after he was found in possession of a small amount of cocaine.

As a reminder to the public we serve, every member of the Sheriff’s Office is committed to safeguarding the lives and property of every community member. Everyone must feel secure in contacting our agency so we can protect them from the criminal element, regardless of their immigration status.

Report Number: Numerous
Location: Unincorporated area of Nyeland Acres
Date & Time: 3-28-2011 through 5-4-2011
Unit Responsible: Sheriff Gang Unit
Suspect(s), City of Residence Age
Male Juvenile Oxnard 14
Male Juvenile Oxnard 15
Male Juvenile Oxnard 15
Male Juvenile Oxnard 16
Male Juvenile Oxnard 16
Male Juvenile Oxnard 16
Jorge Flores Oxnard 27
Alejandro Fernandez Oxnard 24
Juan Garcia Oxnard 25
Robert Baddigo Oxnard 20

Deputy Preparing Media Release: Sgt Bill Schierman
Follow-Up Contact: Sgt Bill Schierman 654-3551
Approved by: Captain Mike Aranda

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).