Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Locations:
1) 200 Block Valley Road, Oak View
2) 800 Block West El Roblar Drive, Ojai
3) 100 Block West Prospect Street, Ventura
4) 10200 Block Darling Road, Ventura
5) 2900 Block Apache Avenue, Ventura
6) 300 Block Anacapa Street, Ventura
7) 300 Block Franklin Lane, Ventura
8) 300 Block Mesa Drive, Ojai
9) 100 Block Arcade Drive, Ventura
10) 5100 Block Rhoads Avenue, Santa Barbara
11) 500 Block Maple Street, Carpinteria
12) 4100 Block North Ventura Avenue, Ventura
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Gang Unit

Suspects, Charge, City of residence, Age:

1) Kada, Martin, U.I. methamphetamine, Possession of a loaded firearm while under the influence of methamphetamine, Ventura, 36

2) Ivans, James, Possession methamphetamine, Possession of a deadly weapon, Commit a felony while out on bail, Ventura, 37

The Ventura County Sheriff Gang Unit, assisted by several local and federal agencies, served 12 search warrants in two counties, as part of an ongoing investigation into the Hell’s Angels criminal street gang. The search warrants resulted in the seizure of 9 handguns, methamphetamine, stolen motorcycles, prescription pills, and dangerous weapons. Two members of the Hell’s Angels were arrested during the operation.

The investigation began on 1-17-2009 when the president of the Santa Barbara Hell’s Angels brandished a firearm at two recreational motorcycle riders in the Ojai valley. Santa Barbara Hell’s Angel president Archie Schaffer was traveling in a pickup truck behind a group of motorcycles, northbound on Highway 33 at Casitas Springs. Schaffer began tailgating the motorcycles at an extremely close range forcing them to move from one lane to another. During the incident, Schaffer forced one of the motorcycles into oncoming traffic and brandished a firearm at two other motorcyclists. A witness tailing the incident captured portions of the incident with a video recorder.

Gang investigators served two search warrants shortly after the incident in an attempt to retrieve the handgun used in the incident. No handguns were recovered at that time. Schaffer was arrested on 1-30-2009 and is currently out on $160,000 bail awaiting trial.

On 3-25-2009, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit served 12 search warrants on members of the Ventura and Santa Barbara Chapter Hell’s Angels. Sheriff’s gang investigators were assisted by investigators from the Major Crimes Unit, Oxnard Police Department, Ventura Police Department, Santa Barbara Police Department, Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and FBI.

During the service of the search warrants, James Ivans was found to be in possession of methamphetamine, un-prescribed Vicodin, and a dangerous weapon. He was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail. Ivans, who is currently out on $100,000 dollar bail on a 2008 extortion case and a possession for sales of methamphetamine case, was additionally charged with committing a felony while out on bail.

Martin Kada was found to be under the influence of methamphetamine while in possession of a loaded firearm and in possession of a dangerous weapon. He was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail. Kada, who is also out on bail on a 2009 transportation of methamphetamine case, was also charged with committing a felony while out on bail.

Investigators also recovered two stolen motorcycles during the searches. Investigators anticipate making more arrests as they sort through the evidence taken in today’s searches.

Gang Investigators from around the county work closely with each other and routinely assist one another in large-scale enforcement operations.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is committed to gang enforcement and aggressively investigates all gang crimes committed in its jurisdiction.