Ventura County Sheriff's Department

10851 CVC Stolen Vehicle / 2800.3 (a) CVC Felony Evading / Vehicle Pursuit
Incident RB#: 09-29537
Location: City of Camarillo
Date & Time: December 1, 2009 at 1900 Hours
Suspects: Address: Age:
Unidentified White Male Unknown Unknown

On 12/1/09, Deputies from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Camarillo Station located a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Orange County, Ca. A vehicle pursuit ensued, which reached speeds of 80 miles per hour. During the pursuit, a Sheriff’s Department unit was involved in a traffic collision with another vehicle, not the suspect vehicle. The collision resulted in moderate injuries to the deputy who was treated and released from the hospital. The occupants of the other vehicle were not injured.

Due to the suspect’s actions and high speeds, the Sheriff’s Department discontinued the pursuit of the suspect vehicle within minutes of its initiation. Although deputies stopped the pursuit, the suspect continued to drive with disregard to public safety and was involved in a single vehicle traffic collision soon after. After the collision, the suspect fled on foot from the location. Deputies, who were in the area, pursued the suspect on foot and were able to take him into custody without further incident.

The suspect, who has yet to be identified, was taken into custody for a variety of charges including felony evading causing injury, driving a stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest. The suspect was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, which were sustained during the traffic collision.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Lockwood Valley Road west of Mill Canyon. Frazier Park, Ca. (Ventura County)
Date & Time: 11/30/09 / 1:55 PM
Unit Responsible: Lockwood Valley Sheriff's Sub-Station Patrol
(S)uspect, (V)ictim, (W)itnesses Address Age
Mario Cedillo
3200 Block Decator Trail.
Frazier Park, CA. 27

On 11/30/09, the Lockwood Valley Sheriff’s Sub-Station received a call from a local resident, who reported seeing a man in the process of abandoning approximately 12 puppies on the side of the road, in the area of Lockwood Valley Road, west of Mill Canyon. This location is within the boundaries of the Los Padres National Forest. The resident stopped and confronted the man, telling him he could not abandon the puppies there. The suspect quicky retrieved the puppies and put them into the bed of his truck before driving away. The resident recorded the man’s license plate number and description, and searched the area. He located one of the puppies, which had been left behind, and took custody of it.

A Lockwood Valley Resident Deputy relayed the suspect CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: 100-block of West Los Angeles Avenue / Moorpark, Ca. 93021
Date & Time/ RB#: May 10, 2009 @ 9:40 p.m. / 09-11543
Unit Responsible: East County Major Crimes Unit

On May 10, 2009, 27-year-old Reynaldo Munoz, who is a documented member of “MPLS,” a Moorpark street gang, nearly died of multiple stab wounds he suffered during a confrontation with rival gang members from Simi Valley.

Two Varrio Simi Valley “VSV” gang members confronted Munoz in the parking lot of a shopping center and challenged him to fight. Munoz accepted the challenge and confronted the pair with a shovel. Munoz didn’t realize there was a larger group of VSV members nearby. They joined the melee, and Munoz was left bleeding on the ground with 14 stab wounds on his head, face, and torso.

Had deputies not been nearby, Munoz would have bled to death. Since the incident, significant physical evidence and exhaustive investigation has led to the identification of 12 people who participated in this crime. Nine have been arrested so far, but three are still outstanding.

The following suspects are wanted for attempted murder, 664/187 PC and street terrorism, 186.22 PC:

Israel Rudy Esparza, 22
Unidentified male, 16 CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

RB#: 09-29159
Location: 300 block of Arneill Road, Camarillo, Ca.
Date & Time: 11/27/09 / 12:15 a.m. Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(V) Marcos Orosco Camarillo, Ca. 37
(V) Richard Ortiz Camarillo, Ca. 38
(S) Abel Tinajera Oxnard, Ca. 32
(S) Elsa Tinajera Oxnard, Ca. 38

On 11-27-09, at approximately 12:15 a.m., sheriff’s deputies from the Camarillo Police Department responded to a disturbance at a bar in the 300 block of Arneill Road. They arrived to find two victims, one with minor injuries and the other with severe facial injuries.

Interviews with the victims and witnesses revealed that the two suspects, who are married, were at the bar with a group of people. An argument started between the two suspects and another group of people, at which time the suspects were asked to leave. The argument continued into the parking lot, where suspect Elsa Tinajera got into the driver’s seat of her vehicle and suspect Abel Tinajera got into the passenger seat. Elsa began driving around the parking lot in a reckless manner, and appeared to be intentionally trying to run people down with her vehicle. At one point, the vehicle “clipped” the legs of victim Richard Ortiz, causing minor injuries. As she drove by victim Marcos Orosco, suspect Abel Tinajera reached out the window with a knife and sliced Orosco’s face, causing a severe injury and hospitalization.

The suspects had fled the area by the time deputies arrived on scene. However, a witness provided a vehicle description and license plate number, which the deputies had broadcasted to other law enforcement personnel in the county. Sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicle a short time later and initiated a traffic stop. The suspects were positively identified by witnesses and taken into custody. Both suspects were booked into the Ventura County Jail for penal code section 245(a)(1), Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

POLICE BLOTTER
11/12/09-11/18/09
KEEP THE PEACE
11/12/09
Clay St. / Ventura St.
11/13/09
100 Block Cook Drive
11/14/09
500 Block Sespe Ave.
VANDALISM
11/12/09
443 Block Blaine Ave.
11/13/09
B St. / Ventura St.
11/13/09
900 Block 3rd Street
11/17/09
100 Block Surrey Way
NARCOTICS VIOLATION CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Ojai Valley
Date: November 24, 2009
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff's Department and Ojai Police Department

Ojai Police detectives are warning Ojai Valley residents of an increase in reported vehicle burglaries and thefts from vehicles. Most of the crimes are occurring during nighttime hours. The suspects are targeting unlocked vehicles and locked vehicles in which property is in plain view. Access to locked vehicles is typically gained by breaking a window. The types of property stolen recently have included laptop computers, purses, and jewelry. The vehicles targeted have been parked in various locations such as driveways, streets, and parking lots. They have been unattended for as little as 30 minutes.

Please be aware thefts and vehicle burglaries will increase as the holiday season approaches.

Here are some recommendations to protect yourself from being a victim:

1. Always make sure your vehicle is locked. Double-check it before leaving.
2. If you are shopping, place all of your purchases in the trunk. Do not leave items in an area where they can be seen from outside the car.
3. Do not hide personal property underneath CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Santa Barbara Bank & Trust 101 N. Westlake Blvd. Thousand Oaks, Ca.
Date & Time/ RB#: Nov. 23, 2009 @ 2:30 p.m. / 09-28899
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department Major Crimes Unit

A man robbed a Thousand Oaks bank Monday afternoon, claiming he was an ex-employee of the bank and that the company owed him money.

The man displayed a note with his written demands to a teller at the Santa Barbara Bank & Trust on Westlake Boulevard. The suspect left the bank crying with an undisclosed amount of cash.

There were approximately 15 people inside the bank at the time, but nobody was injured during the heist. The suspect did not display a weapon. The suspect was last seen running toward the nearby Ralph’s supermarket.

Witnesses described the suspect as a white male in his 50’s, approximately 5’8” and weighing approximately 170 lbs. He had short brown hair and wore thick prescription glasses. He was wearing a brown coat, blue jeans, and white athletic shoes.

A ground search by deputies and a K-9 unit of the surrounding area did not lead to the suspect. Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to contact Detective Jon Smith at (805)494-8216, or the FBI at (805)642-3995.

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

Location: N. Westlake Blvd. North of Cascade Ave, Westlake
Date & Time: 11/21/09, 11:06 p.m.
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department, Traffic Unit

Involved Parties City of residence Age
Omead Afshar Westlake 23
Melissa Lynch Westlake Village 24

Thousand Oaks Police Department is investigating a single car collision that occurred on N. Westlake Blvd. just North of Cascade Ave., City of Thousand Oaks. Omead Afshar was driving a black Honda Civic northbound Westlake Blvd. when he lost control. The vehicle entered the center median, knocking down several trees. The vehicle then collided with a larger tree causing the vehicle to come to rest in the center median. Afshar and passenger Melissa Lynch were trapped in the vehicle and had to be extricated.

The Ventura County Fire Department and AMR freed the two occupants. Both occupants suffered serious injuries in the collision and were transported via ambulance to Los Robles Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The investigation is continuing.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: 500 Block East Oak Street, Ojai
Date: November 18, 2009
Unit Responsible: Special Services Bureau / Narcotics Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of residence Age
Larry Sledge Ojai 58
Jodie Duran Ojai 53

Narcotics detectives recently concluded a 1-month investigation into methamphetamine sales occurring in the City of Ojai with the arrests of Larry Sledge and Jodie Duran. Investigators received information that Sledge was selling methamphetamine from his residence in the 500 Block of East Oak St. Armed with a search warrant, detectives went to the Sledge residence and located approximately one-fourth ounce of methamphetamine, 2 ounces of marijuana, and 50 Valium pills. Sledge and Duran were arrested for possession of methamphetamine and marijuana for sale, and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Both were booked into the Sheriff’s Main Jail.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location of Crime: 400 block of Millard Street, Moorpark, CA.
Date & Time: November 20, 2009 / 2:35 a.m.
Unit Responsible: Moorpark Patrol & East County Major Crimes

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(V) William James Cardiel Moorpark 37
(S) Alfred Curtis Dowd Moorpark 54

On 11-20-09 at about 2:35 a.m., Moorpark patrol deputies were summoned to a residence in the 400 block of Millard Street in the city of Moorpark, to a report of a stabbing that had just occurred. Witnesses reported that the victim, William Cardiel and the suspect, Alfred Dowd had gotten into a verbal altercation, which turned physical. During the physical altercation, Dowd picked up a knife and stabbed Cardiel in the left abdomen area. Following the stabbing, Cardiel fled the scene but was later located and transported to Simi Adventist Hospital where he was treated for the non-life threatening wound.

Following the investigation, Alfred Dowd was taken into custody for violating section 245(a)(1) P.C. – Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Dowd was booked into the East County Jail Facility in lieu of $35,000 bail.

Anyone with additional information regarding this crime is urged to contact Detective Smith at 805-494-8201.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Westlake Promenade 100 Promenade Way Thousand Oaks, Ca.
Date & Time/ RB#: Nov. 18, 2009 @ 7:10 p.m. / 09-27952
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department Internet Crimes Against Children Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(S) Hersel, Charles William Thousand Oaks, Ca. 39

Investigators arrested a 39-year-old Thousand Oaks man Wednesday evening after he had just paid a teenager $31.00 in cash to spit in his face.

Charles Hersel was arrested for one count of violating Penal Code section 647.6(a), child annoying, after an undercover investigation via text message led to the arrest. Hersel has been paying young male Westlake High School students in cash to yell profanities at him, slap him in the face, and spit in his face.

Several teenagers also reported to investigators that Hersel offered to pay them to urinate and defecate on him.

Hersel was booked into county jail and released on his promise to appear in court. Hersel’s apartment and computer were searched, and the investigation is continuing. Hersel contacted his first victims via the social Internet site MySpace, but it didn’t take long for word to spread among local teens that they could get paid to spit in a man’s face.

Anyone with additional information about Hersel’s activities is asked to contact Detective Anthony Aguirre at (805)371-8309.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Kuehner Drive at the 118 Freeway, Simi Valley
Date & Time: November 18, 2009, 6:00 P.M.
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit, Simi Valley Police Department Narcotics Unit, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of residence Age
Adrian Mayorga Palmdale 32
Eric Santellan Pacoima 22
Jose Lomeli Pacoima 29
Francisco Garrido Palmdale 22

On 11-18-09, the Sheriff’s East County Narcotics Street Team, the Simi Valley Police Department’s Narcotic Unit, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office concluded a month long heroin sales investigation. Investigators received information that Adrian Mayorga was distributing large amounts of heroin in the San Fernando Valley and the City of Simi Valley. In addition, investigators learned Mayorga was trying to sell a stolen handgun. Investigators suspected this stolen handgun was used in a home invasion robbery in the Woodland Hills area, which occurred on October 5th, 2009. During this home invasion robbery, a victim was shot and seriously wounded. The home invasion robbery is suspected to be drug related.

On 11-18-2009, investigators took Adrian Mayorga, Eric Santellan, Jose Lomeli and Francisco Garrido into custody as they were trying to sell 2 ounces of heroin and a loaded, stolen handgun. Sheriff’s investigators are working with the Los Angeles Police Department to confirm the recovered handgun was in fact used in the home invasion robbery. All four suspects were booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for heroin sales, with a special allegation that the group was armed with a loaded firearm. The four suspects will be arraigned in the Ventura County Superior Court on 11-20-2009.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: 700 block of Hudspeth Avenue, Simi Valley
Date & Time: November 17, 2009, 6:00 P.M.

Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit, Simi Valley Police Department’s Narcotic Unit, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, and the City of Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit.

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of Residence Age
Parker Moulton Simi Valley 18
Tyler Hanna Simi Valley 18
Male Juvenile Simi Valley 17

On November 17, 2009, the Sheriff’s Department East County Narcotics Street Team, the Simi Police Department’s Narcotic Unit, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, and the City of Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit concluded a two-week heroin sales investigation. Investigators received information that Parker Moulton and Tyler Hanna were selling heroin and delivering it to potential buyers throughout communities in the east county area. Investigators served a search warrant at Moulton’s residence in the 700 block of Hudspeth Avenue, Simi Valley. Moulton and Hanna were taken into custody as they drove away from Moulton’s residence. Investigators found approximately ½ ounce of heroin, U.S. currency, and packaging material inside the residence. A 17-year-old male inside the residence was also arrested for possessing heroin and for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Moulton and Hanna were booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility, pending their arraignment in the Ventura County Superior Court on November 19, 2009. Their bail was set at $50,000. The juvenile was cited and released to his parent.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Picture this. You are home with your family enjoying another beautiful southern California day in your backyard. Suddenly, your young child trips and falls and you need an ambulance.

You reach for your home phone and dial 9-1-1, but you receive a fast busy signal or there is no dial tone. You try again, but no luck. Trying to stay calm, you grab your cell phone and dial 9-1-1. Nothing happens. Still trying to remain calm, you scoop your child up in your arms and drive him to the nearest hospital for treatment. Sound far-fetched? It’s not.

There are many scenarios that can interrupt your telephone service and prevent you from getting through to 9-1-1, even though the 9-1-1 system is fully functional. Earthquakes and floods can certainly cause interruptions in phone service. If you are in the impacted area, you usually know that there has been a disaster and you might even anticipate an interruption in your phone service.

Most recently, though, contractors have caused CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: 500 Block Hayes Ave, Oxnard / 400 Block Hemlock St, Oxnard
Date: November 12, 2009
Unit Responsible: Special Services Bureau / Narcotics Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of residence Age
Silviano Comacho Collado Oxnard 35
Angel Mondragon Oxnard 39
Feliciana Cardenas Oxnard 27

Narcotics Detectives recently concluded a 2-month investigation into cocaine sales occurring in the City of Oxnard. Silviano Collado was observed conducting narcotics transactions from his residence in the 500 Block of Hayes Avenue. Also identified as part of this cocaine distribution ring was Angel Mondragon and Feliciana Cardenas, who reside in the 400 Block of Hemlock Street. On November 12, detectives observed Collado conducting a narcotics sale and detained him. He was found to be in possession of 6 ounces of cocaine and several grams of methamphetamine. Subsequent Search Warrants revealed another 2 ounces of cocaine at the Hemlock St address where it was discovered Mondragon and Cardenas were manufacturing rock cocaine. The narcotics located at the Hemlock Street address were stored in a location accessible to their young children. Both were arrested for child endangering in conjunction with the narcotics charges. All suspects were booked into the Main Jail.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

The needs of law enforcement for DUI enforcement have changed due to the increased emphasis on using the Portable Evidential Breath Testing (PEBT) device for field sobriety and evidential testing at the location of the arrest. The demand for PEBT devices countywide continues to grow as evidenced by the yearly increase in the number of breath tests collected in the County. With the assistance and guidance of the California Office of Traffic Safety, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Forensic Services Bureau created one of the state and the nation’s premier roadside evidential breath testing programs.

Building on the successes achieved in recent years, the Sheriff’s Department Forensic Sciences Laboratory will be bringing more evidential roadside breath testing instrumentation to the County. New equipment purchases and a web-based data management system will be provided throughout the county as a result of a recent $790,000 grant.

“The California Office of Traffic Safety has given Ventura County the opportunity to remain the international benchmark for breath-testing and continue to provide state of the art Forensic Services to our County and the citizens we serve” remarks Forensic Services Bureau Manager Renee Artman.

Funding for the grant comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Updated instrumentation will increase the number of available instruments and continue to aid all county law enforcement agencies in their community efforts to deal with traffic safety problems and reduce the number of persons killed and injured in traffic collisions attributed to impaired drivers.

“Catching drunk drivers is essential to keeping Ventura County streets safe,” said Christopher J. Murphy, Director of the California Office of Traffic Safety. “This equipment helps ensure that offenders are successfully prosecuted.”

The grant activities will specifically target the timely release of breath testing information and documentation through user-friendly electronic means. This grant also funds a Forensic Scientist position and supports the training of current laboratory staff and overtime to support the new program and its implementation.

On 11/13/09 at approximately 1:07 am Santa Paula Police Officer’s were dispatched to 109 N. Mill St. for a Commercial Alarm at the business of Luci-Tel. When Officer Rothermel arrived on scene he looked inside the window of the business and saw that the ceiling tiles were in disarray on the floor. It appeared as if someone had fallen through the ceiling. Believing a suspect was inside the business Ofc. Rothermel immediately set up a perimeter and requested additional units to assist him. The Santa Paula fire Department was contacted to assist with providing a ladder for officers to gain access to the roof to check for any additional suspects or a point of entry. Officer Rothermel saw that a vent cover had been pried off, and the suspect left a backpack next to the vent. Officer Rothermel could see the suspect through the vent as he walked around the inside of the store.
Santa Paula Police K-9 Sgt. Fogata and his partner K-9 Evan were dispatched to the scene to assist with apprehending the suspect. It was unknown at the time how many suspects were inside the business. Additional officers were needed in order to conduct the search of the building and the apprehension of the suspect or suspects. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department was contacted and we requested their assistance for the search.
When adequate officers arrived on scene they CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: Ojai Valley
Dates: Between October 1, 2009 to November 10, 2009
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff's Department and Ojai Substation

Suspect: Address: Age:
Daniel Lee Allen 170 Grapevine Rd, Oak View 22 years old

The Ventura County Sheriff's Department’s Ojai Detectives have been investigating several residential burglaries and grand thefts during the months of October and November in the Ojai Valley. During the detectives’ investigation, they located / recovered two Ipods that had been reported stolen from two different Ojai Valley residents. Detectives discovered the Ipods had been pawned at two different pawnshops in Ventura County.

On 11/10/2009, the suspect was identified, located, and arrested. During the investigation, detectives located several items of stolen property from three residential burglaries and two additional grand thefts. The majority of the stolen property was identified and returned to the victims.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

RB#:09-0000010
Location: 200 Block of Waite Street, Ojai
Date & Time: 11-11-2009 @ 1700 Hours
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit

Suspect Charge(s) City of Residence Age
Huerta, Rutilio Attempted Murder & Ojai 20
Street Terrorism

On Wednesday, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit arrested Rutilio Huerta for a gang related Attempted Murder that occurred in the City of Ojai on New Years Eve. Huerta was arrested at his residence without incident.

On the morning of January 1, 2009, at about 0145 hours, 28 year old Joshua Powers was walking home from a party in the 200 Block of Waite Street. Powers was confronted by individuals who were attending a nearby party. Powers was attacked and stabbed 17 times. The suspects fled, leaving Powers lying unconscious in the street. A short time later, an anonymous person called emergency personnel reporting that Powers was lying in the street. Powers was transported to Ojai Hospital where he nearly succumbed to his injuries. Powers was in the hospital for several days before being released.

Investigators from the Sheriff’s Gang Unit conducted a 5-month investigation identifying Ojai gang member Fidel Duran as the person who stabbed Powers. Duran was arrested in June for Attempted Murder and Street Terrorism and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility, Ventura. Sheriff’s Gang investigators also identified Rutilio Huerta as being one of the aggressors and believe that he also battered the victim during the attack. Huerta was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility on Wednesday for Attempted Murder and Street Terrorism and remains in custody on $1,000,000.00 bail. Fidel Duran has been in custody since his arrest in June and is being held on $645,000.00 bail awaiting trial.