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.
Armed Robbery with Arrest
On May 7, at approximately 8:45pm, Ventura Police patrol officers responded to a call for service of a man brandishing a knife outside of the business. Prior to the officers arrival, the suspect who was later identified as 33 year old vagrant from Ventura Thomas Pecel, ran away, however the officers found and detained him near the Bus Depot on the north side of the Pacific View Mall parking lot. The subsequent investigation revealed the suspect had been inside of the business where he stole items and left the store. When he was confronted by employees of the business, he pulled a knife from his pants, brandished it and threatened them. At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect was booked into Ventura County Jail for armed robbery and an unrelated misdemeanor warrant. No one was injured during this incident.
Concealed, Stolen Firearm Arrest
On May 8, at approximately 2:30am, Ventura Police Patrol officers responded to a call regarding a fight in a parking lot in the 2100 block of South Victoria Avenue. One of the involved persons was armed with a handgun and another person was armed with a knife. The officers arrived and found a large group of people leaving the parking lot, and they were able to detain several of them. Ronald Lewiskates, 20 year old Ventura resident who was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle, was one of the people they were able to detain. The investigation revealed he had been involved in the incident, and he had two misdemeanor warrants. When the officers searched his vehicle, they found a hidden, stolen handgun.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Lewiskates was booked into Ventura County Jail for possessing a concealed handgun in the vehicle, possessing stolen property and the two unrelated misdemeanor warrants. The fight was determined to be mutual combat, and no prosecution was desired, though the defendant has the right to a defense attorney. No one was injured during this incident.
Stabbing
On May 13, at approximately 4pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a stabbing victim in the 1100 block of S. Seaward Ave. Officers, along with Ventura City Fire and AMR personnel, responded to the call and found the victim, later identified as Kent Winder, suffering from a non-life threatening laceration to his face. He was immediately transported to VCMC for treatment of his injuries. The suspect , a white male in his 20’s, was last seen fleeing southbound on Seaward Ave. towards the beach.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Ventura Police Department at 339-4488. An anonymous tip can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
Felony and Misdemeanor Battery, Felony Vandalism and Conspiracy
On May 19, at approximately 3pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a possible battery that just occurred in the area of Grant Park, 699 Brakey Rd. Eilar called to report that his friend had been assaulted and was now injured. He said the suspects left in a vehicle, although were possibly still in the area. Officers, along with Ventura City Fire personnel responded to the call and found the victim, later identified as Erick Stevenson, suffering from a moderate facial injury and scratches. He was immediately transported to VCMC for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.
Officers learned that Stevenson and Eilar were sitting in a parked vehicle at a turnout near Grant Park, when the three suspects, 19 year old Ventura resident Hugo Cervantes, 18 year old Ventura resident Noel Cavazos and 18 year old Ventura resident Carlos Perez-Mares, drove by and stopped. The suspects confronted Stevenson outside of his vehicle and started hitting him in the head and face. Stevenson was then pushed down a nearby hillside and fell a short distance. The suspects then confronted Eilar and struck him several times.
During the altercation, Cavazos removed a knife and stabbed one of the tires of Stevenson’s vehicle. Cervantes and Perez-Mares also threw rocks at his vehicle and broke the driver’s side window.
Cavazos, Cervantes and Perez-Mares then got back into their vehicle and fled the scene. An officer responding to the call saw the vehicle driving in the area and conducted a traffic stop. All three suspects were detained.
All were booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony and misdemeanor battery, felony vandalism and conspiracy.
The suspects were not known to either Stevenson or Eilar prior to this incident, and the reason for assaulting them is unknown.
