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.
Vehicle Pursuit and Arrest
On January 2, at approximately 3:45pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from the California Highway Patrol requesting our assistance on a vehicle pursuit that entered into our jurisdiction. The pursuit had started in the county area along PCH, north of the city, when deputies with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department attempted to contact the driver during a theft investigation. The driver, later identified as 47 year old Ventura resident Joseph Jack, fled from deputies and a CHP officer, who pursued him into Ventura.
Ventura Police officers took over the pursuit from the California Highway Patrol in the area of Mills Rd. and Main St. Jack continued to evade officers reaching speeds of between 15-20 MPH, as he continued eastbound on Main St., then eastbound on Telephone Rd. At the intersection of Victoria Ave. and Ralston St., an officer driving the Department’s armored vehicle pulled in front of Jack’s vehicle and blocked his path. Jack attempted to backup, but was blocked in by an officer in a patrol unit.
Jack was ordered out of the vehicle, but again refused to exit. As he was sitting in the vehicle, he was displaying signs of being under the influence of drugs and at one point began smoking a controlled substance.
As officers approached Jack’s vehicle, he put the vehicle into gear and tried to flee, which placed the officers in danger. A Ventura Police K-9 was deployed into the vehicle through the opened driver’s window. Jack immediately exited the passenger’s door, and was taken into custody by approaching officers.
Human Trafficking, Pimping/Pandering Arrest
On January 5, at 12:00pm, detectives from the Ventura Police Department and Ventura County’s Human Trafficking Enforcement Team responded to the La Quinta Inn on Valentine Rd. regarding an anonymous tip about possible Human Trafficking taking place.
When officers arrived, they were initially focusing their attention on the reported room involved from the anonymous tip. However, during their surveillance, detectives happened to see a subject they recognized from a wanted flier distributed by the Orange County District Attorney’s Office approximately three weeks earlier. The subject of the wanted flier, 27 year old Los Angeles resident Byron Haskins, was a known Pimp and had failed to appear on weapons charges stemming from an arrest in Santa Ana in October, 2016.
Officers ultimately made contact with Haskins and took him into custody without incident. Haskins was transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked for his outstanding warrants.
Found Explosive Device
On January 9, at approximately 11:15am, inspectors from Ventura City Code Enforcement were conducting a follow up inspection of the Leewood Motel, 732 E. Santa Clara St., which had recently been red tagged due to a structure fire that closed the motel.
While doing the inspection, the inspector found what appeared to be a live grenade in one of the rooms. Officers responded and requested the assistance of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Bomb Squad. Because of the fire, the motel was already vacant of residents, but the immediate area was secured. The bomb squad removed the grenade, although later determined that it was inert.
The grenade was later destroyed.
Stolen Vehicle and Felony DUI Arrest
On January 13, at approximately 9:15am, the Ventura Police Communications Center received a call from a victim of a stolen vehicle in the 2700 block of East Main Street. The victim had left her car parked in a parking lot, and when she returned, her vehicle was gone. At the same time, an additional call was received of an injury accident in the 1000 block of Thompson Blvd. near Laurel Street. Officers were sent to both calls, and they quickly determined the stolen vehicle from the 2700 block of East Main Street was involved in the injury accident.
The investigation revealed the suspect, 42 year old Ventura vagrant Amber Luis, stole the vehicle and drove away. A short time later while she was driving the stolen vehicle in the 1000 block of Thompson Blvd, she collided with an occupied, parked vehicle injuring one of the occupants. Additionally, it was determined the suspect was driving under the influence at the time of the collision. She was ultimately booked into Ventura County Jail on felony DUI and stolen vehicle charges.
The victim of the collision was transported to VCMC for treatment of moderate injuries. No one else was injured during this incident.
Strong-Arm Robbery Arrest
On January 15, at 2:12pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a fight in the area of El Medio St and Ventura Ave. The witness reported Michael Tweet, 29 Ventura was being attacked by two males who had gotten out of a car. Officers arrived on scene as one of the suspects, Marin, got back into the car and attempted to flee the area in the vehicle. Officers followed and Marin parked the car and then fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, Marin was taken into custody.
During the investigation, officers learned the victim and witness were standing together in a driveway when William Marin, 27 Ventura and a second suspect pulled up, exited the vehicle and demanded Tweet’s property. When Tweet refused, both subjects attacked him, striking and kicking Tweet. Tweet attempted to defend himself, but Marin was able to get Tweet’s property before fleeing in the vehicle. Marin is also associated to the Ventura Avenue Street gang and it was determined that the crime was gang related.
Officers checked the area, but were unable to locate the second suspect.
