Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On 5-1-10, at approximately 4:33p.m., Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the West County Patrol / Ojai Station, responded to a report of a battery. Upon arrival, the deputies discovered that the victim, a 38 year old from Ventura, had been struck several times with a hard object about his head and face. The victim refused medical treatment for his injuries. During the investigation, Jeremy Evan Raoult was identified the suspect in the attack.

The deputies were able to locate the suspect at 5013 Floral Drive in the unincorporated area of Ventura. As they approached the residence, the suspect ran out the back door and attempted to flee the area. The deputies were able to contain the suspect and, after a brief struggle, take him into custody.

During the incident, a deputy was confronted by an aggressive pit bull. The situation resulted in the deputy shooting and killing the aggressive dog.

The suspect was arrested and booked for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Resisting Arrest, and an active parole hold.

Location: 5013 Floral Drive, Ventura,
Suspect: Jeremy Evan Raoult 40 years Ventura
Date & Time: 5-1-10 / 4:33 p.m.
Unit Responsible: West County / Ojai Valley Patrol Units

Press Release written by: Sgt. J.P.Ruby #1852
Follow-up Contact: Ojai Station Detective Steve Michalec
805 / 646-1414
Date of Release: 5-2-10
Approved by: Capt. R. Hindman

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On October 9, 2009, at approximately 2:10 a.m. a California Highway Patrol officer observed a vehicle exiting the northbound 101 freeway at Camarillo Springs Road and fail to stop for a stop sign. When the vehicle was stopped a hysterical female exited the vehicle and ran toward the officers.

The driver of the vehicle, Maximo Tamayo-Flores, sped off. After a short pursuit, the driver crashed through a guard rail on Adohr Lane and was taken into custody for evading arrest. Tamayo-Flores was later arrested for assault with a deadly weapon for injuries sustained by one of the California Highway Patrol officers.
During the subsequent investigation the female passenger told deputies that Maximo Tamayo-Flores had shot Ramon Quintero and dumped his body along the Pacific Coast Highway.

During the afternoon of 10/10/09, a subject walking along the Pacific Coast Highway between Faria Beach and Solimar Beach discovered the body of Ramon Quintero.

The autopsy of Ramon Quintero determined that he died from a single gunshot wound. The case was ruled a homicide.

With the assistance of CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On 4-28-2010, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department East County Narcotic Street Team received a crime stopper’s report that Robert Rubio and his 16-year-old female companion were selling heroin in the Newbury Park area of Thousand Oaks. Narcotic investigators along with the city of Thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit located Rubio and his companion at a motel in the Newbury Park area. A surveillance was conducted on the two individuals and investigators saw Rubio and the female juvenile conducting a narcotics transaction. Rubio and the juvenile were taken into custody without incident, and a small amount of heroin was seized. A stolen laptop computer was located in the vehicle Rubio and the female juvenile were driving. The laptop was stolen from a residential burglary, which occurred in the city of Thousand Oaks. Rubio and the female juvenile were also arrested for possessing stolen property. Rubio was booked into the East County Jail, and the female juvenile was lodged into Juvenile Hall. Both will be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on 4-30-2010.

Location: Borchard Drive @ Michael Drive, City of Thousand Oaks
Date & Time/ RB#: 4-28-2010 / 3:00 p.m.
Unit Responsible: East County Narcotics Street Team - City of Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Special Enforcement Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of residence Age
Robert Rubio Thousand Oaks 20
Female Juvenile Thousand Oaks 16

Officer Preparing Release: Sgt. Robert Thomas

Follow-up Contact: Sgt. Robert Thomas (805) 383-8710
Date of Release: April 29, 2010
Approved By: Captain D. Murray

California Highway Patrol

On April 26 2010, at approximately 2:50 p.m., a hit-and-run traffic collision involving a possible Nissan compact, and a bicyclist, occurred on westbound Wells Road, just west of Nardo Street. The collision left the rider of the bicycle (Jesus Esparza Delgado) in critical condition. The suspect fled from the scene and has not been identified. The suspect vehicle has not yet been located.

Jesus Esparza Delgado, approximately 65-years of age, was riding his bicycle southbound on Nardo Street and had just entered the west crosswalk at the intersection with Wells Road. The suspect was traveling northbound on Nardo Street and made a left turn into the crosswalk where he struck Delgado. The impact caused Delgado to strike the front windshield of the vehicle and he eventually landed on the roadway. According to witnesses, the suspect made no attempt to stop and sped away from the scene in his vehicle. Delgado was left lying in the roadway with major injuries until emergency crews arrived on scene to render medical assistance. He was later transported to the Ventura County Medical Center and was listed in critical condition.

The driver has yet to be identified and the vehicle has not been found. A witness to the collision stated there were two male occupants in the suspect vehicle that appeared to be in their early 20’s. The vehicle was described as a dark grey compact, possibly a late 80’s or early 90’s Nissan Sentra with a partial license plate number of 2GW997 (California). The vehicle was last seen traveling westbound on Wells Road towards the SR-126 freeway.

Anyone who has information regarding the identity of the suspect driver or passenger, or has information on the whereabouts of the vehicle, is asked to call the Ventura CHP Area office at
(805) 477-4100.

California Highway Patrol

On April 20, 2010 at 11:32 pm, a major injury traffic collision involving a DUI driver who
struck two parked vehicles occurred on northbound US-101 south of Flynn Rd.

Melissa Henry, age 23 of Oxnard, was traveling northbound on US-101 near Flynn Dr.
driving her 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt. Henry pulled over to the right shoulder when her
vehicle ran out of gas. Henry called a friend, Daisy Gutierrez age 21 of Oxnard, to bring
her gas for her vehicle. Gutierrez arrived and parked her vehicle on the right shoulder
directly behind Henry’s vehicle. Henry and Gutierrez attempted unsuccessfully to put gas
in Henry’s vehicle from a gas container. They called another friend to come help them and
waited in Gutierrez’s 2001 Suzuki SUV.

At about 11:20 pm, the Ventura Area CHP Communication Center received a 911 cellular
call from a citizen reporting a possible DUI driver traveling northbound on US-101 near
the Conejo Inspection Facility. The vehicle, a white 2009 BMW convertible, was reportedly
swerving all over the roadway traveling at fluctuating speeds. Several CHP officers were
attempting to get in position to make a traffic stop on the BMW. At 11:32 pm, the citizen
following the BMW reported it was now involved in a traffic collision with two other
vehicles northbound US-101 south a Flynn Rd.

The BMW, which was driven by CONTINUED »

Three Santa Paula Police Officers were recognized by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) at an awards Ceremony on Friday, April 23, 2010 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Sr. Officer Jeremy Watson, Officer Randy Haumann, and Officer Larry Johnson were recognized by MADD for their exceptional enforcement efforts relating to alcohol and/or drug impaired drivers. In 2009, the three officers arrested 198 drivers who were under the influence of alcohol within the City of Santa Paula.

Officer Haumann was responsible for 94 of the arrests. Because of his exceptional effort, he was also awarded the MADD “Hero” Award at a statewide ceremony on Saturday Evening, April 24, 2010, in Sacramento.

MADD also awarded the Santa Paula Police Department as a whole for their exceptional efforts in DUI enforcement. Santa Paula Police Officers arrested 296 alcohol and/or drug impaired drivers in 2009.

As a result of the department’s aggressive impaired driver enforcement, the City of Santa Paula has experienced a 24% reduction in roadway crashed in 2009 compared to 2008.

The Santa Paula Police Department takes a “Zero Tolerance” approach to impaired drivers. Citizens are encouraged to call 9-1-1 to report suspected drunk drivers.

Ryan Smith # 1021
Police Sergeant

On Sunday, April 26, 2010, at approximately 10:00 p.m. Santa Paula Police Officers responded to a noise disturbance in the 1200 block of Saticoy St.

While officers were at the scene, a known criminal street gang member, Oscar Elizarraraz, 25 years of age and a resident of Santa Paula, removed a loaded semiautomatic handgun from his waistband. Officers reacted by pointing their firearms at the subject. Elizarraraz threw the gun down on the ground. As officers attempted to detain him, he physically resisted. Officers used minimal physical force to arrest Elizarraraz.

Elizarraraz is on probation for firearms related offenses. He was lodged at the Ventura County Jail. He was charged with multiple felony violations such as possession of a loaded firearm in a public place, prohibited person possessing a firearm, exhibiting a firearm at uniformed peace officers, resisting arrest, and street terrorism. A petition for increased bail has been submitted to the Superior Court.

Ryan Smith # 1021
Police Sergeant

California Highway Patrol Chief Adam Cuevas, Ventura County District Attorney Greg Totten, Oxnard Police Department Chief John Crombach, Ventura Police Department Chief Ken Corney, Chief Fernando M. Estrella of the Port Hueneme Police Department, Deputy Chief Vito Scattaglia of the Department of Motor Vehicles Bureau of Investigations Unit, Commissioner Steve Poizner of the Department of Insurance, Special Agent in Charge John A. Torres of the Los Angeles Field Division, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Sheriff Bob Brooks of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Ralph Lumpkin of the National Insurance Crime Bureau; announced today the culmination of a long term undercover investigation which will net the arrest of 87 defendants in a sweep of car thieves, firearms violators, narcotics traffickers and gang members operating in and around the Ventura County Area.

In January 2009, the Ventura County Auto Theft Task Force (VENCAT) initiated an undercover investigation to locate and recover stolen vehicles within Ventura County. The investigation quickly expanded into other crime areas as the suspects involved in the vehicle theft investigation began providing information to undercover officers related to weapons and narcotics being trafficked in and around Ventura County. Recognizing the potential benefit conducting the investigation into the broader criminal activity occurring in this case, the task force solicited and received assistance from additional state, local and federal agencies. The joint effort included the California Highway Patrol (CHP), Ventura County District Attorney’s Investigation Unit (VCDA), Oxnard Police Department (OPD), Ventura Police Department (VPD), the Port Hueneme Police Department (PHPD), Department of Motor Vehicles Investigations (DMV), the Department of Insurance (DOI), the California Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Ventura County Sheriff Department’s Combined Agency Task Force (VCAT), and prosecutors from the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, California. The goal of the joint undercover operation was to target criminal street gang members and other criminal associates who were stealing vehicles and dealing in firearms and narcotics in and around the Ventura County, California area.

During the course of the undercover CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

An injured adult male subject was found inside a local hospital with stab wounds. The subject, identified as Miguel Flores, was admitted into the hospital and is recovering from his injuries. Sheriff’s Homicide investigators are searching for a suspect and any other information from witnesses.
On April 18 at about 6:08 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call of a physical altercation in the area of 3334 Santa Clara Avenue. A short time later, it was reported that a subject was at a local hospital with stab wounds. Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the hospital and discovered Flores had been involved in the earlier altercation at which time he was stabbed.
Investigators are actively looking for the suspect(s) in this case. Sheriff’s Homicide investigators urge anyone with information about the suspect(s) or other information about the case to contact Ventura County Sheriff’s Homicide (805) 477-7000.
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).

Location: Near 3334 Santa Clara Avenue, Oxnard
Date & Time/ RB#: April 18, 2010 @ 6:07 p.m. / 10-9268
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes-Homicide
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(V) Flores, Miguel Oxnard 20
(S) Unknown Unk. Unk.

Officer Preparing Release: Sgt. Todd Inglis
Follow-up Contact: Captain Ross Bonfiglio (805) 654-2417
Date of Release: April 20, 2010
Approved By: Captain D. Murray

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On April 18, 2010, at approximately 3:35 PM, a helicopter was requested for a fall victim who was at the punch bowls in Santa Paula Canyon. This is a remote area in the Los Padres National Forest and is only accessible by foot or helicopter.

The Sheriff’s Department helicopter, piloted by Ken Williams, responded with a rescue crew and AMR Paramedic Beningo. Bystanders pointed out the injured party as the rescue helicopter hovered over the area. Beningo was hoisted 100 feet down to the injured subject, Viramontes, to access his injuries. The victim was suffering from a back injury he sustained while jumping off the cliffs into the pool of water.

Fire Captain Dumbauld was also hoisted down to assist in placing the victim into a stokes litter so that he could be hoisted into the helicopter. The victim was successfully hoisted approximately 140 feet out of the narrow canyon into the helicopter and flown to an awaiting ambulance.

Location: Punch Bowls, Santa Paula Canyon, Santa Paula CA
Date & Time: 04/18/2010 3:35 PM
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Aviation Unit
(V)ictim City of Residence Age
V-1 Juan Viramontes Ventura 31

Officer Preparing Release: Sergeant F. Underlin

Follow-up Contact: Sergeant F. Underlin 947-8196

Date of Release: 4-18-2010

Approved By: Mike De Los Santos, Captain #0730

Associated Press (AP)

SAN DIEGO — San Diego County sheriff's officials say more than 280 people have been arrested in a crackdown on gangs and drug and human smuggling at the U.S.-Mexican border.

Sheriff Bill Gore said Monday that 24 documented gang members and eight gang associates have been booked on suspicion of various offenses following the two-day multi-agency operation called "Allied Shield."

Gore says the operation focused on San Diego gangs... http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jl5KYqpHn_BCA66f7iRtXV...

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On April 14, 2010, Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of 2945 Ventura Blvd. in the unincorporated area of Oxnard. Miguel Perez, 18 years of age, was found lying on the ground with multiple stab wounds. Deputies attempted to revive Perez, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau began investigating the homicide. On April 19, 2010, at approximately 1:00 in the morning, Sheriff’s Major Crimes detectives arrested a 17-year-old juvenile for the murder of Miguel Perez. The suspect was interviewed and lodged into the Juvenile Justice Center for murder and criminal street terrorism charges.

Location: 3900 Block of Ventura Boulevard, Oxnard CA
Date & Time: April 19, 2010 @ 1:00 a.m.
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau

Officer Preparing Release: Sgt. Steve Rhods
Follow-up Contact: Captain Ross Bonfiglio (805) 654-2417
Approved By: Captain Rick Barrios

Burkhead, Thomas Wayne, Woodland Hills, Ca. Age 55

On the morning of April 15, 2010, a female was jogging on a trail near the Victory Trail Head area of Ventura County. The female saw Thomas Burkhead (age 55), of Woodland Hills, step out from behind a bush and begin masturbating. The victim ran and called police. Police were able to locate and detain Burkhead as he was exiting the park area.

Police and the Park Rangers from the Conservation Authority have received several recent complaints from several different females about a male subject who has been exposing himself to women and masturbating in the area of the Victory Trail Head. The area is located near the Ventura and Los Angeles County border and is an open-space area commonly used by hikers and joggers.

Burkhead was identified and subsequently arrested for two separate counts of 314(1)PC (Indecent Exposure). An investigation is underway to determine if there are any other victims. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is asking that anyone who may have encountered Burkhead under similar circumstances call Detective Jason Robarts with the Ventura County Sheriff Department’s / Sexual Assault Unit.

Location: Victory Trail Head – (Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Reserve)

Date & Time: April, 15, 2010 9:30 a.m.

Unit Responsible: East County Sexual Assault Unit

Suspect Address Age
Burkhead, Thomas Wayne Woodland Hills, Ca 55

Follow-up Contact: Detective Jason Robarts #2948 (805) 494-8229

Date of Release April 19, 2010

Approved By: Captain Bruce Watlington

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On April 13, 2010, the Ventura County Sheriff’s East County Narcotics Street Team and the Moorpark Police Department’s Special Enforcement Detail learned Michael Bello was selling ecstasy pills in the City of Moorpark. Investigators began surveillance on Bello and observed him conducting an ecstasy transaction at a location in the City of Moorpark. Bello had a 14-year-old girl with him during the transaction, and later claimed she was his girlfriend. A quantity of ecstasy was seized from Bello. A subsequent investigation determined that Bello was engaging in unlawful sex acts with his 14-year-old girlfriend. Bello was arrested for selling ecstasy and several sex crimes. Bello was booked into the Pre-Trial Detention facility with a $500,000 bail, and will be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on April 15, 2010.

Location: City of Moorpark
Date: April 13, 2010
Unit Responsible:
East County Narcotics Street Team, Moorpark Police Department’s Special Enforcement Detail and the East County Major Crimes Sexual Assault Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
Michael Bello Moorpark 19

Officer Preparing Release: Sergeant Robert Thomas

Follow-up Contact: Sergeant Robert Thomas 383-8710

Approved By: Captain D. Murray

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

An injured adult male subject was found laying on the ground in front of 2945 Ventura Blvd. in the Nyeland Acres area of Oxnard. The subject, identified as Miguel Perez, died a short time later at the scene. Sheriff’s Homicide investigators are searching for a suspect and any other information from witnesses.
O
n April 14 at about 6:35 p.m., Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call of a physical altercation in the area of 2945 Ventura Blvd. It was reported that a subject was stabbed and was laying on the ground. At about 6:43 p.m. Sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene and discovered Perez on the ground. After attempts by deputies were made to revive Perez, he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators are actively looking for the suspect(s) in this case. Sheriff’s Homicide investigators urge anyone with information about the suspect(s) or other information about the case to contact Ventura County Sheriff’s Homicide (805) 477-7000.

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).

Location: Near 2945 Ventura Blvd., Oxnard
Date & Time/ RB#: April 14, 2010 @ 6:35 p.m. / 10-8957
Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes-Homicide
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(V) Perez, Miguel Oxnard 18
(S) Unknown Unk. Unk.

Officer Preparing Release: Sgt. Don Aguilar
Follow-up Contact: Captain Ross Bonfiglio (805) 654-2417
Date of Release: April 15, 2010
Approved By: Captain Stephen Wade

Joshua Graham Packer

After almost eleven months, a suspect has been arrested for the brutal murders of Brock Husted, Davina Husted, and their six-month-old unborn son, Grant.

Sheriff’s Department investigators arrested Joshua Graham Packer (20 years of age from Ventura, CA) Sunday evening at a residence in the 1800 Block of Ocean Avenue in the city of Ventura.

The case was solved primarily through a match in the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS). A sample of Packer’s DNA was taken after he was arrested for an unrelated robbery in Santa Barbara in January of this year. That sample
matched suspect DNA evidence from the Faria Beach homicide scene.

Confirmation of this DNA match occurred within the last two weeks. Recently, Ventura County reached 238 “CODIS hits” aiding investigation in 48 sexual assaults, 21 homicides, 9 attempted homicides, 87 burglaries, 35 robberies, and 8 other crimes.

Joshua Packer remains in custody at the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility and is being held without bail. He faces numerous charges including 3 counts of murder, two counts of robbery, and one count of burglary. There are also several special circumstance allegations associated with the underlying crimes. Although the case has proceeded to the court phase, it is still under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department and is highly sensitive in nature. To date, 75 investigators and other Sheriff’s personnel have worked on the case. Hundreds of
pieces of evidence have been collected and analyzed. Anyone with information about this crime is still encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau at (805) 477-7000.

Location: 1800 Block of Ocean Avenue, Ventura CA

Date & Time: April 11, 2010 @ approximately 8:00 PM

Unit Responsible: Sheriff’s Major Crimes Unit

Victim / Witnesses / Suspects: Age City of residence
Suspect: Joshua Graham Packer 20 Ventura

Officer Preparing Release: Captain Ross Bonfiglio (805) 654-2417
Follow-up Contact: Captain Ross Bonfiglio (805) 654-2417
ross.bonfiglio@ventura.org
Date of Release: April 13, 2010

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On April 9, 2010, at 12:30 P.M., (S) Morales arrived at 8602 Los Angeles Ave. in the unincorporated area of Moorpark looking for work. Morales spoke to the ranch foreman who told Morales no work was available. (V) Martinez was working in the fields when another employee told him his vehicle was being burglarized. Martinez and a coworker went to Martinez’ vehicle and saw Morales removing property including a car stereo from the vehicle. Morales fled the area towards the Long Canyon Creek area.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived a short time later and set up a perimeter. Due to the topography of the area (mostly agricultural fields) air support along with a K-9 handler were called to the scene. After an extensive search of the area, Morales was not located. Deputies spoke to several local ranchers and provided them with a description of the suspect.

A few hours later, a ranch employee located Morales hiding on his property. Deputies, along with California Highway Patrol officers, set up another perimeter and located Morales. Morales had the stolen car stereo in his possession when he was contacted. Martinez and another witness positively identified Morales as the person who broke into Martinez’ vehicle. The subsequent investigation revealed Morales had stolen a vehicle in Oxnard earlier in the day.

Morales was booked at the Ventura County Jail and is waiting arraignment on buglary and stolen vehicle charges. Morales’ bail has been set at $20,000.00.

Location: 8602 Los Angeles Ave, Moorpark, CA. 93021
Date & Time/ RB#: April 9, 2010 @ 12:30 p.m. / 10-8542
Unit Responsible: Moorpark Investigations

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(S) Victor Rodriguez Morales Oxnard 20
(V) Isaias Colin Martinez Oxnard 21

Officer Preparing Release: Sgt. John Reilly

Follow-up Contact: Detective Scott Hardy (805) 532-2715

Date of Release: April 12, 2010

Approved By: Captain Nelson

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Under Penal Code section 832.7(a), peace officer personnel files are confidential. However, under Penal Code section 832.7(d), an agency employing a peace officer may disclose factual information regarding a disciplinary investigation if the peace officer who is the subject of that investigation, or his representative, makes a false public statement concerning that investigation or the discipline imposed.

Commander Geoff Dean, or his representatives, have made various false public statements about the investigation and the discipline imposed on him. Therefore, the Sheriff’s Department discloses the following factual information, which refutes the false public statements made by Commander Dean.

The timing of the release of this information is based on the increasing frequency and severity of statements that discredit the department’s disciplinary process and former and current employees.

The purpose of the release of this information is to assure the public and our employees that discipline in the Sheriff’s department is designed to protect the public, preserve our core values and is neither arbitrary, capricious, nor motivated by political intent.

The term “database” in this document refers to the Sheriff's personal electronic address book and mailing list including the names of approximately 4,000 professional contacts, friends, and supporters of the Sheriff. The Sheriff advised Geoff Dean and Chris Godfrey that since the contact list could provide either candidate a significant campaign advantage over the other, he would deny either his endorsement or access to the contact list. The Sheriff told both individuals that he would remain neutral unless there was a single candidate. He also advised them that his neutrality would only remain as long as they conducted themselves in a professional manner.

Geoff Dean made the decision to violate the Sheriff’s trust by attempting to gain a copy of his address book and violate the Sheriff’s directives. While the Civil Service Commission overturned the degree of discipline, they did find him guilty of “insubordination and failure of good behavior.” The core issue in this case has little to do with politics and much to do about having trust in a peace officer. Our agency disciplines and sometimes terminates deputies who violate our core values. We hold Commanders and Chief Deputies to those same standards.

Approved By: Sheriff Bob Brooks

SUMMARY OF FACTS REFUTING FALSE STATEMENTS REGARDING SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Under Penal Code section 832.7(a), peace officer personnel CONTINUED »

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On Friday, April 9th, 2010, at approximately 6:37 p.m. Santa Paula Police Officers were dispatched to the Wells Fargo Bank, located inside of Vons Supermarket, 576 W. Main St. reference a male subject acting suspiciously.

Upon the officers’ arrival, the suspicious subject was contacted and immediately identified as Jason Castillo, 23 years of age and a resident of Santa Paula. The subject was acting belligerent and aggressive towards officers and patrons in the bank. It was known by officers that Castillo had been released from the Ventura County Jail several hours earlier. As officers attempted to detain Castillo, he resisted officers and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, a Santa Paula Police Officer sustained a laceration to his arm. The officer was treated and released at a local hospital. Castillo also received minor injuries during the course of his arrest. He was also treated and released at a local hospital. Castillo was transported to the Ventura County Jail for lodging.

On Thursday, April 8th, Castillo was arrested by Santa Paula Police Officers for disorderly conduct. This incident occurred in the 300 block of S. Steckel Dr. During that arrest, a separate Santa Paula Police Officer sustained a minor injury while attempting to take control of Castillo. In the evening hours of April 8th, Castillo was released on his own recognizance from the custody of the Ventura County Jail.

Since February of this year, this is the fifth incident where Castillo has been arrested by Santa Paula Police Officers. His court appearances are pending regarding various charges from several different incidents.

On Friday, April 9th, 2010, at approximately 10:30 p.m. a Santa Paula Police Officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle in the area of the 900 block of Yale St. The driver of the vehicle, Rogelio Almanza Ceballos, 25 years of age and a resident of Santa Paula, was found to have a suspended driver license.

Officers located approximately 19 grams of methamphetmine in the vehicle and on Ceballos. Items indicative of illegal drug sales were also located. More than $750.00 in cash was also seized as part of the investigation.

Ceballos was arrested on suspicion of illegal drug sales and drug trafficking. He was lodged at the Ventura County Jail pending a court appearance. Ceballos has a prior criminal conviction stemming from an illegal drug sales case in 2006.

Ryan Smith # 1021
Police Sergeant