by Cindy Summers
Police reports are provided to us by the Ventura Police Department and are not the opinions of the Ventura Breeze. All suspects mentioned are assumed to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Commercial Burglary
On May 23, at approximately 3:45pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call from an alert employee who saw the suspect, 21 year old Ventura resident Brian Kimball, attempting to steal money from a safe. Kimball was using a homemade device to reach into the safe and pull out money.
As officers arrived on scene they contacted the employee pointed Kimball out to them. The officers contacted Kimball who was sitting inside the building on a bench. As the officers continued their investigation it was confirmed that Kimball was stealing money from the safe. Kimball was arrested without incident and booked into the Ventura County Jail for Commercial Burglary.
Commercial Burglary Arrest
On May 26, at approximately 1:30am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call reference two subjects seen on video surveillance prowling on church property. The caller continued to monitor the video surveillance cameras and observed the suspects, two juveniles from Ventura, removing a window screen and gaining access into the building via an unlocked window. As officers arrived on scene, one of the subjects began to exit the building through the front door. The officer immediately detained the subject as additional officers arrived on scene. A few minutes later, the second subject exited the building and was also detained.
Officers searched the building and did not locate any additional subjects inside. Investigation revealed the juveniles had taken several items from inside the church and had staged the property near the front door upon being contacted by police. The juveniles were arrested, issued citations and later released to the custody of their parents.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing, anyone with information related to this crime is asked to contact the Ventura Police Department at 339-4416.
Felony Vandalism & Battery on a Peace Officer Arrest
On May 26, Ventura Police officers responded to a report of a subject breaking windows out of business in the 2500 block of Grand Avenue. Witnesses indicated the suspect was armed with a large hammer.
The first arriving officer observed the suspect, 35 year old Ventura vagrant Corrina Gutierrez, holding a hammer and standing next to several broken windows to the front of the business. Gutierrez dropped the hammer and began to walk away as the officer exited his patrol vehicle. The officer approached Gutierrez and ordered her to stop; however, she refused to comply. Gutierrez violently resisted and bit the officer on the arm when he attempted to detain her. The officer was able to take Gutierrez into custody after a brief struggle.
Gutierrez was placed under arrest and transported to the Ventura County Jail where she was booked for felony vandalism and violently resisting arrest.
The officer was treated for minor injuries and returned to duty.
Felon in Possession of a Firearm with Ammunition
On May 24, at approximately 9:45pm, a patrol officer was patrolling the area of Dos Caminos Avenue and Main Street when he observed the defendant later identified as 27 year old Ventura resident David Stratmann driving with a missing registration tab and inoperable lights. A traffic enforcement stop was conducted and the driver verbally identified himself. A records check revealed Stratmann is currently on parole for burglary with search terms.
A search of the vehicle revealed a pistol grip sawed off shotgun concealed in the backseat of the vehicle with numerous shotgun slugs nearby. Stratmann admitted to possessing the shotgun with an excuse.
Stratmann was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail for felon in possession of firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, and parole violation.
Theft from vehicle arrest
On May 28, at approximately 4:30am, an alert citizen called the Ventura Police Department Command Center to report that he saw a male suspect rummaging through the interior of his neighbor’s car. The suspect fled from the scene and the citizen followed the suspect until officers arrived on scene. The suspect was detained by officers and identified as 37 year old Ventura resident Jason Sevier. Sevier was found to in possession of property that was taken from the victim’s vehicle. The victim was contacted and confirmed that his property was taken from his car.
Sevier was placed under arrest for theft from an unlocked vehicle and possession of stolen property. Sevier was later booked into the Ventura County Jail for the charges.
Commercial burglary arrest
On May 29, at approximately 1;15am, an alert citizen called the Ventura Police Department Command Center to report that he saw a male suspect using bolt cutters to cut the lock off of the storage container that holds bags of ice in front of Mandell’s Liquor Store. The suspect fled the store with a bag of ice in a black pickup truck. A patrol officer spotted the pickup in a nearby business parking lot and contacted the driver identified as 56 year old Ventura resident Terry Doan. There was a bag of ice and bolt cutters located in the bed of the pickup.
Doan was positively identified as the suspect and placed under arrest for commercial burglary and possession of burglary tools. Doan was later booked into the Ventura County Jail for the charges.
Assault with a deadly weapon and child endangerment arrest
On May 3, at approximately 11:30am, the victims had just finished surfing and were walking off of the beach near Greenock Ln., when a truck drove up to them and then stopped. The suspect driver began yelling at the victims for allegedly vandalizing his vehicle. While yelling at the victims, the suspect removed a handgun from his center console and pointed it in their direction. The victims told the suspect they had been surfing and not involved in vandalizing his vehicle. The suspect set the handgun down on his center console and the victims left the area. When the victims returned home they notified the police department of the incident. Patrol officers responded and later were able to identify Carl Churchfield as the suspect.
Major Crimes Detectives began investigating the case and authored a search warrant for Churchfield’s residence. On May 30, at approximately 1pm, detectives arrested Churchfield in the 1100 block of Mariposa Rd., in Santa Paula and searched his residence. Churchfield was later booked at the Ventura County Jail for felony assault with a deadly weapon and felony child endangerment.
Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On May 30, at approximately 11:45pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call reference a stolen vehicle report. Officers responded to the area and began conducting their investigation. A short time later Officer Spies, who was driving eastbound Center Street, observed a suspicious vehicle quickly turn into the alleyway to the rear of the 500 block of North Ventura Ave.
Officer Spies quickly turned into the alleyway and confirmed the vehicle in question was stolen. Additional officers arrived on scene and conducted a high-risk stop on the vehicle. The driver was later identified as a 14 year old Juvenile and the front passenger was identified as a 16 year old juvenile.
The driver was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and booked into Juvenile hall without incident. The passenger was issued a curfew citation and released to the custody of his parents
