Felon in Possession of Firearm
On Wednesday, January 20th, at 1:25 p.m., the VPD received a call from a citizen reporting a vandalism that had just occurred to a bench at the Bus Deport, 3330 Telegraph Road. The suspect, Joseph Cruz, was seen using a marker to vandalize the bench and when confronted by the caller, Cruz threatened to harm him. He then left the area.
Officers saw Cruz walking several blocks away. He, along with a female companion, were detained on Dunning Street. During a search of his person, officers located a handgun concealed in Cruz’s pocket. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the firearm was not functional as a real firearm.
He was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the VC Jail.
The female was released from the scene. No one was injured during the incident.
Soliciting a Minor for Sexual Acts
On Friday, January 22nd, during various times throughout the day, members of the Ventura Police Department’s Major Crimes, Patrol Task Force, and Street Crimes units conducted an undercover operation in the city of Ventura. The operation targeted sexual predators that were looking to engage in a sexual act with a minor. It also included an undercover officer posing as a female juvenile prostitute.
During the operation, each male suspect contacted the undercover officer and agreed to pay for specific sexual acts. In each case, it was made clear to the suspect the female they were talking to was a minor. After negotiating the cost of the sexual act, they were directed to meet at a certain location in the city of Ventura to engage in the sexual act.
When each suspect arrived at the location, they were arrested without incident and found to be in possession of enough cash to pay for the agreed upon sex act. As a result of this investigation, each suspect was charged and booked into the Ventura County Jail.
The suspects are:
Angelito Baylon, 43 years, Ventura resident
Possession of Destructive Device
On Wednesday, January 27th, at 1:15 a.m., VPD officers were conducting proactive enforcement in the 300 Block of Paseo De Playa. Officers observed a suspicious occupied vehicle in the area and made contact. While speaking with the occupants, Ross Warren and Kambry Cripps, the officers spotted what they believed to be an explosive device under the front passenger seat. The two occupants of the vehicle were removed and detained for further investigation.
The VC Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad was called to the scene. The item in question was in fact determined to be a homemade explosive device. VCSO Bomb Squad rendered the explosive device safe.
Warren and Cripps were booked into VC Jail.
Felon in Possession of Firearm
On Wednesday, January 20th, at 1:25 p.m., the VPD received a call from a citizen reporting a vandalism that had just occurred to a bench at the Bus Deport, 3330 Telegraph Road. The suspect, Joseph Cruz, was seen using a marker to vandalize the bench and when confronted by the caller, Cruz threatened to harm him. He then left the area.
Officers saw Cruz walking several blocks away. He, along with a female companion, were detained on Dunning Street. During a search of his person, officers located a handgun concealed in Cruz’s pocket. Upon further investigation, it was determined that the firearm was not functional as a real firearm.
He was taken into custody without incident and later booked into the VC Jail.
The female was released from the scene. No one was injured during the incident.
Disturbance Call
On January 30, at 1:30pm Ventura Police Patrol Officers responded to a disturbance call at the Holiday Inn Express. The uninvited suspects (Anthony Hernandez, 25, Kamora Corona,18 and Eric Arevalo, 24 all of Oxnard) had arrived at a private party inside of a room at the hotel, and once they were asked to leave, they caused a disturbance and refused to leave. When police arrived, the suspects initially refused orders to leave the room. After a lengthy delay, the officers were able to enter the room and made contact with the suspects. The investigation led to the following arrests: Hernandez was arrested for being in possession of a concealed handgun and trespassing, Corona was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and trespassing and Arevalo was arrested for delaying/ resisting officers and trespassing. The suspects were later booked into Ventura County Jail for the listed charges.
Mail Theft
On January 29 the Ventura Police Department received several calls from residents in the hillside area near Brodiea Ave., reporting the theft of mail. This was of out-going mail placed in mailboxes.
The Ventura Police Department would like to remind citizens that nobody is immune to crime, but there are steps you can take to help make a difference:
- First and foremost, we urge everyone to be vigilant and responsible neighbors and community members. Please immediately report any and all suspicious activity to us at 650-8010 (24 hr. non-emergency number) or 911 in the event of an emergency.
- It is recommended that residents avoid putting any out-going mail in their mailboxes, and place mail directly into an official postal service mailbox or give it directly to the mail carrier.
- Arrange for neighbors or family members to pick up mail or packages when delivered.
- Install a secure or interior mailbox.
- Schedule mail or packages to be picked up at the nearest delivery location.
- Connect and keep up with our department as we issue crime alerts, press releases, crime maps, and other valuable crime and safety information by following us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/venturapd, or visit our website at: www.venturapd.org.
The investigation into these incidents is ongoing. Anyone with information related to these crimes or may possibly have video surveillance of the suspect(s) is urged to call the Ventura Police Department at 339-4325, or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. If your information leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.
