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.
Attempt Homicide – Shooting Investigation
On July 30, at approximately 10pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received multiple calls re: a shooting in the 200 block of Wall St. VPD patrol officers arrived on scene and located a victim suffering from gunshot wounds to his lower torso area.
Fire and medical personnel arrived and began treating the victim as the officers contacted witnesses in the area. VPD Major Crimes, Street Crimes Unit, and Gang Detectives were called out to assist in the investigation.
The victim, only identified as an adult male, was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he was rushed into surgery.
During this investigation it was learned that there was an altercation in the street just prior to shots being fired. Two possible suspects then fled the area in an unknown type vehicle.
Detectives determined that an apartment in the area may be connected to this crime. A search warrant was obtained and served this morning at approximately 5:30am. The apartment was unoccupied however additional evidence associated with the shooting was located and recovered.
The victim is currently listed in critical yet stable condition at VCMC. VPD Detectives are continuing to work on identifying and locating any involved suspects.
Attempt Homicide – Shooting Investigation
On July 31, at approximately 2:30am, as VPD patrol officers and VPD Detectives were investigating a shooting several blocks away, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received multiple calls re: a shooting in the 300 block of West Barnett St.
Available officers and detectives responded to this area and located a victim suffering from gunshot wounds to the face and torso. Several witnesses reported seeing 2 to 3 vehicles fleeing the area at a high rate of speed.
Officers canvased the area and determined that the shooting actually occurred in the 300 block of West Warner St where a party bus had just dropped off several passengers. Some type of verbal altercation took place and then multiple shots were fired.
The victim, only identified as an adult male, ran towards West Barnett St where some residents who heard the commotion began providing first aid until medical personnel arrived. The victim was then transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he is currently listed in stable condition with non-life threatening injuries.
As officers were dealing with the two shooting victims at VCMC a third shooting victim with a gunshot wound to his leg was dropped off at the emergency room. It was determined that this shooting had occurred in another part of Ventura County and was not related to the two Ventura shootings.
Witnesses on West Warner St also described how several subjects ran eastbound while being shot at by the occupants of a vehicle that fled southbound from West Warner St.
Officers searched the area and did not locate any additional shooting victims however 6 unoccupied vehicles parked on West Warner St were found with damage from gunfire.
Commercial Burglary
On August 1, at 5am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of burglary in progress at the Verizon store at 4860 Telephone Rd. One officer arrived on scene within moments and located 3 subjects fleeing from the area. The officer was able to stop and detain 26 year old Ventura resident Christopher Willis who was found to be involved as a lookout during the burglary.
The other two subjects fled the area hiding the stolen property in a planter. Officers searched the area, but were unable to locate the outstanding suspects. The property was returned to the store owner.
Officers found the suspects used a rock to shatter a window next to the front door of the business and take several cell phones and tablets.
Willis is currently on parole for burglary. He was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Burglary, Conspiracy to commit Burglary, and a Parole violation.
Possession for Sales and Firearms Arrest
On August 3, at 7am, Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit detectives concluded a month long investigation re: sales of narcotics by the suspect identified as 35 year old Ventura resident Colin Pedersen.
On 8/3/16 detectives detained Pedersen after he drove away from his residence in the 3000 block of Channel Dr. He was found to be in possession of approximately ½ ounce of methamphetamine and numerous prescription pills.
Detectives then served a search warrant at his residence where a second suspect, 50 year old Ventura resident Jorae Marquez, was located and detained.
During the search of this residence an additional pound of methamphetamine was located along with two loaded handguns, an AR style rifle, and numerous boxes of ammunition. Evidence was also discovered that indicated to detectives that methamphetamine was being packaged for sales inside this residence.
Both Pedersen and Marquez were arrested for multiple felonies including possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of a firearm and a controlled substance, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of an assault weapon, and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Armed Robbery **Update with Arrest**
On June 21, at approximately 10pm, Ventura Police patrol officers responded to a call of a robbery at the Log Cabin Liquor store. Officers responded and learned that the suspect had entered the store, produced a handgun, and demanded money. He obtained an undisclosed amount of cash and then got into a brief physical altercation with the store clerk before fleeing. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect.
The suspect spoke only in the Spanish language during the commission of the crime and he possibly sustained an injury to the back of his head during the incident. Anyone who may have witnessed the crime or have suspect information is encouraged to call the Ventura Police Department at 339-4488.
VPD Major Crimes Detectives learned that during the commission of the robbery, the suspect moved two employees and a customer (at gun point) into a rear storage room prior to fleeing with the cash. Around the same time frame of this crime, Oxnard Detectives were also investigating a series of armed robberies. On August 3, at 10am, OPD Detectives executed a search warrant for 22 year old Oxnard resident Eleno Ramirez at his residence in the 300 block of Devonshire St. in the City of Oxnard. VPD Detectives responded to assist, and as a result of the investigation Ramirez was later booked at the Ventura County Jail for 211PC- Robbery and 209PC- Kidnapping in reference to the Log Cabin robbery.
Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On August 4, at 10am, VPD Communications Center received a call from a victim of a vehicle theft that just occurred. The victim reported that one of his work vans had been stolen while an employee was doing work inside the YMCA at 3760 Telegraph Rd in Ventura. The victim had information that the van was in the area of the Ventura County Government Center at 800 S Victoria Ave.
A VPD undercover detective was in the area at the time of the call and located the stolen van in the parking lot of the Government Center. The suspect, 40 year old Ventura resident Shaun Haslock, drove the van through the parking lot and patrol officers conducted an enforcement stop of the van. Haslock was taken into custody without incident.
Haslock was on active parole for carjacking and was later booked into the Ventura County Jail for driving a stolen vehicle and a parole violation.
Assault with a deadly weapon arrest
On August 7, at approximately 1:30am, the Ventura Police Department Communication Center received a call regarding a male subject that had struck a female with a replica firearm and nearby security guards were detaining the suspect. Officers arrived on scene and found the suspect, 23 year old vagrant Jordan Myers, being detained and a female victim with injuries to the back of her head and hand.
After further investigation, officers learned that Myers was seen striking an unknown female with a pellet/BB gun. The female bystander walked over to prevent Myers from continuing to strike the unknown female. Myers stopped attacking the unknown female and began to strike the female bystander several times on the back of her head and hand with the pellet/BB gun until nearby security guards came over stopped Myers from continuing anymore harm. The unknown female that was first attacked by Myers was gone upon the arrival of police and was not located. The other female bystander victim was transported to the hospital to be treated for her injuries.
Possession of a Loaded Firearm
On August 9, at approximately 5pm, a patrol officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle for an equipment violation. Upon contacting the occupants, he learned that the driver, 28 year old Oxnard resident Ricardo Ortega, had two outstanding arrest warrants. Upon further investigation, Ortega was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and he possessed a loaded handgun in the vehicle. The passenger in the vehicle, 27 year old Oxnard resident Rosa Flores, was found to have a stun gun in one of her pockets. She is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing such a device.
Ortega was arrested for possessing a loaded firearm while being under the influence of a controlled substance. Flores was arrested for being a felon in possession of a stun gun. Both were booked at the Ventura County Jail for the listed charges.
