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.
Homicide / Update with Arrest
On August 13, at approximately 11:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call an injured subject seen lying in the alley to the rear of the 6300 block of Whippoorwill St. Officers, along with Ventura City Fire and AMR personnel, responded to the call and found the victim, later identified as a 25-year-old male, suffering from multiple stab wounds to his upper torso. Paramedics pronounced him deceased at the scene.
Officers and Major Crimes Detectives are currently on scene and conducting an active investigation. There is no additional information at this time. An additional press release will be sent out when information is available.
VPD Detectives identified 24 year old Ventura resident Marco Vences as the suspect in the homicide. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant. On September 28, at approximately 5:30pm, Vences was located by the FBI Safe Streets Taskforce with the assistance of Albuquerque PD in Albuquerque New Mexico. Vences was taken into custody without incident and booked at the Bernalillo County Metro Detention Center. Vences will be transported back to California and booked into the Ventura County Main Jail.
Felon in Possession of Firearm Arrest
On September 29, at approximately 3:15pm, VPD Street Crimes Unit detectives responded to the 5800 block of Valentine Rd to assist a Ventura County District Attorney’s Office investigator re: a suspicious subject that was believed to be in possession of a handgun. The detectives obtained some information that helped them to identify this subject as 24 year old Agoura Hills resident Cory Rebolledo who is currently on probation out of Los Angeles County for a robbery conviction.
Detectives observed Rebolledo enter his vehicle and begin to drive away at which time they conducted a traffic stop and detained him for further investigation.
Pursuant to Rebolledo’s probation terms detectives searched his vehicle where they recovered three handguns and a large amount of ammunition.
Rebolledo was cooperative throughout the investigation and was placed under arrest and transported to the Ventura County Main Jail where he was booked on the charges of being a convicted felon in possession of firearms and ammunition.
Forgery, Burglary, Identity Theft and Conspiracy Arrest
On September 30, at approximately 2:45pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from employees at Wells Fargo Bank in the 5700 block of Telephone Rd., reporting a subject inside the bank attempting to obtain a cash advancement using a fake ID and credit card. The subject became suspicious and fled the bank before officers arrived. He was last seen getting into a vehicle and leaving the area.
Approximately 30 minutes later, the Command Center received a call from a bank teller at the Wells Fargo Bank inside the Vons store in the 100 block of W. Main St., reporting a subject there now attempting to obtain a large amount of cash using a fake debit card. The subject left the store shortly after the teller called, but employees saw him getting into a vehicle which matched the description from the earlier call.
An officer responding to the call saw the vehicle on Thompson Blvd. and conducting a traffic stop near California St. The suspects were identified as 29 year old Illinois resident Glynn Ford, 24 year old Illinois resident Robert Ballard, 24 year old Illinois resident Aaron Horton.
During a search of the vehicle, officers found numerous fake out of state ID’s and credit cards with Wounded Warrior on them, computer equipment for making cards and over $30,000 in large denominations.
Under the Influence, Resisting Arrest
On October 5, at approximately 5:30pm, VPD patrol officers responded to the area of Olivas Park Dr and Victoria Ave re: reports of a male subject who had been walking in the roadway attempting to stop passing vehicles and asking for help.
Several officers arrived on scene and began searching for this subject. Minutes later he was located hiding in some bushes near the intersection of Olivas Park Dr and Seaborg Ave.
As the officers began to assess his condition he became aggressive towards them at which time he was physically restrained to prevent him from injuring himself or the officers.
The subject continued to struggle and began kicking at the officers who requested additional units respond to assist.
As the officers attempted to control this subject he was knocked to the ground where he continued resisting and struggling. Other officers arrived and the subject was taken into custody.
The suspect was incoherent and displayed the symptoms of being under the influence of a controlled substance. He was transported by ambulance to the Ventura County Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries he received while struggling with the officers.
He was later identified as 44 year old Ventura resident Matthew Almanza, currently on probation for narcotic related offenses. After several hours Almanza’s condition was stabilized and he was transported to the Ventura County Main Jail where he was booked on felony resisting arrest charges.
None of the involved officers were injured during this incident.
Attempted Robberies with arrests
On October 10, at approximately 6am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of an attempted robbery on the Promenade near the 400 block of Harbor Blvd. VPD patrol officers responded and learned that three suspects had approached the victim on the promenade and demanded money from her. The victim ran away from the suspects and was unharmed.
Approximately 45 minutes after the attempted robbery on the Promenade, another victim called in stating that three suspects approached him in the 600 block of Main St and demanded money. One of the suspects showed the victim a handgun, which was tucked in his waistband. That victim ran away from the suspects and was also unharmed.
Within minutes of receiving the second call, a VPD patrol sergeant observed three males walking in the area of Poinsettia Place and Laurel Street. The sergeant detained the suspects based on the fact that they matched the description of the suspects from the two attempted robberies. One of the victims was able to identify the suspects as the three who had attempted to rob him and brandished a gun at him. After being positively identified as 18 year old Edwin Barrongalarza and two 17 year old juvenile males, all three suspects were placed under arrest for attempted robbery. One of the suspects, a male juvenile, was found to have a BB gun tucked into his waistband.
Barrongalarza was ultimately booked at the Ventura County Jail for attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime. The two male juveniles were ultimately booked at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Facility for attempted robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime.
Residential Burglary Arrest
On October 10, at approximately 9:45am, the Ventura Police Department’s Command Center received a 911 call from a witness reporting a possible burglary in progress to a neighbor’s residence in the 400 block of S. Dos Caminos Ave. The witness reported seeing a subject, later identified as 47 year old vagrant Frank Mendoza, loitering outside the residence before he removed a screen from a window and entered the residence.
Several officers responded to the call and set up a perimeter around the residence. Mendoza was contacted as he left from inside the residence, and taken into custody without incident. Officers confirmed Mendoza was not a resident.
Mendoza was transported to the Ventura County Jail and booked for residential burglary.
The victim resident was not home at the time of the incident.
