California Highway Patrol

On 3/11/2010 at approximately 7:00 am, members of the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force (VENCATT) served a search warrant for narcotic sales on a residence in the 3600 block of Santa Clara Ave. near the city of Oxnard.

During the search of the residence, investigators found ¼ pound of methamphetamine and nearly one ounce of cocaine along with over $600.00 in cash. Investigators also found scales and other items indicative of illegal narcotic sales.

Three suspects who lived at the residence were arrested as result of the search warrant. Those suspects were; Juan Antonio Ruiz, age 36, Hime Ramirez, age 19 and Maria Ruiz, age 30. Hime Ramirez is the son of Juan Ruiz. Maria Ruiz is Juan Ruiz’s girlfriend. All three suspects were charged with possession and sales of controlled substances. They were booked into the Ventura County Jail.

There were two young boys ages three years and three months old who also lived at the residence. It was unclear who was the parent or legal guardian of the two boys. The three suspects and a female subject who arrived at the residence during the search were evasive regarding the identity of the boys’ parents or legal guardian. Both boys were turned over to Ventura County Child Protective Services due to the arrests made and the extreme squalor living conditions that existed in the residence. All three suspects will also be charged with child endangerment.

The Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force (VENCATT) is comprised of personnel from the California Highway Patrol, Oxnard Police Dept., Ventura Police Dept., Port Hueneme Police Dept., Dept. Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Insurance.