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.
Indecent Exposure
On January 25, at approximately 5pm, a victim called the Ventura Police Department Command Center and stated that a male subject had exposed his genitals towards her while she was near the bus depot. Ventura Police Department patrol officers responded to the area and learned the following. The suspect approached the victim on a bike, as he approached the victim, he pulled open his pants, exposed his genitals, and made obscene gestures toward her. The suspect then rode away from the area.
Ventura Police Officers responded to the area spoke to the victim, and found the suspect nearby. The officers were able to detain the suspect and the victim was able to positively identify the suspect, later identified as 37 year old Oakview resident Joseph Whysong, as the suspect. During the investigation a second victim contacted the officers and also identified Whysong, as the subject .
Whysong was ultimately placed under arrest for indecent exposure and transported to the Ventura County Jail without incident.
Sexual Predator Sting Operation with 3 Felony Arrests
January is recognized as Human Trafficking Awareness Month. As part of a statewide operation hosted by the Los Angeles Regional Human Trafficking Task Force, “Operation Reclaim & Rebuild” was conducted during the weekend of January 27, 28 and 29. In support of this effort, members of the Ventura Police Department teamed up with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, and the Ventura County Human Trafficking Enforcement Team to conduct a “Sexual Predator Sting” on Friday, January 27 in the city of Ventura.
During the operation, detectives entered various internet chat rooms primarily designed for teens, and posed as 14 and 15 year old girls. As the investigation unfolded, adult male sexual predators got onto the same chat room and contacted the undercover officer, thinking they were a young teenage girl. During chat room conversation, each of the suspects engaged the undercover officer in sexually explicit conversation, the suspect agreed to meet and pick up the teenage girl at or near what they believed to be the girl’s residence.
When each sexual predator arrived at the agreed-upon-location, they were taken into custody without incident. As a result of this operation, the following sexual predators were arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail:
Commercial Burglary, Resisting Arrest, Possession of Narcotics
On January 29, at approximately 3:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from the alarm company that covers Paradise Chevrolet. Security video surveillance showed a subject on the property cutting open boxes. Officers arrived on scene and began searching the property. The suspect, 31 year old vagrant Cesar Herrera, saw the officers and fled, jumping over a wall to try to get away. After a short foot pursuit, Herrera was taken into custody.
During the investigation it was discovered Herrera had entered the garage areas of the dealership and had stolen keys for the vehicles. Herrera also had methamphetamine on his person as well as burglary tools. Herrerra was booked at the Ventura County Jail without incident for the above charges.
Possession of Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On February 3, at approximately 1:30am, a Ventura Police patrol officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Motel 6 located at 3075 Johnson Drive. The vehicle in question was occupied by the sole driver later identified as 26 year old Long Beach resident Salvador Morales. As the vehicle exited the parking lot of the motel and began driving northbound Johnson. The officer conducted a registration check on the vehicle and learned it had recently been stolen from the city of Long Beach.
The officer began broadcasting the vehicles location and requested additional officers to assist. A traffic enforcement stop was conducted in the area of Bristol Road and Mandrill Avenue. The driver of the vehicle complied with orders and was taken into custody without incident.
A search of the vehicle revealed an altered key was used to start the vehicle. A search of Morales revealed he was in possession of several altered/shaved keys. Morales was transported and booked at Ventura County Jail.
Possession of Narcotics for Sales Arrest
On February 10, at 7:30pm, a Ventura Police Department K9 Officer saw an illegal transaction occur between the driver of a vehicle and a pedestrian in the area of Main St and Mills Rd. The K9 Officer followed the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. Due to the nature of the transaction observed, the K9 was deployed and conducted a narcotics “sniff” and alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle the K9 located a large amount of methamphetamines and cash.
The Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit responded and assisted in the investigation. Edward Lopez, 60 years, Ventura resident was ultimately arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for transportation and possession of methamphetamines for sales, possession of heroin, and possession of narcotic paraphernalia.
