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.
Possession for sales, Transportation, Warrant arrest
On April 14, at 1pm, Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit Detectives concluded a several weeks long investigation into the sales of methamphetamine by a suspect who frequently traveled between Ventura and Ojai.
This morning VPD detectives conducted a surveillance of the suspect identified as 36 year old Ventura resident Joseph Espinoza. Detectives followed Espinoza as he drove to several locations in Ojai and when he stopped in the 100 block of Fox St the detectives moved in and took him into custody without incident.
During the search of Espinoza’s vehicle detectives located a quarter ounce of methamphetamine along with other items of evidence that indicated the methamphetamine was possessed for the purpose of sales.
Espinoza was transported to VPD for questioning while detectives served search warrants at two locations in Ventura where Espinoza had been recently living.
The search warrants were served in the 1200 block of Carlsbad Pl and the 1300 block of Saratoga Ave.
Additional items of evidence were located at both of these locations that indicated Espinoza was involved in the sales of methamphetamine.
Espinoza was later transported and booked into the Ventura County Main Jail on felony charges of transportation, possession for sales, and a felony warrant for a probation violation on a prior transportation arrest.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this crime please contact the Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit Narc Hotline at 805-339-4331. An anonymous tip can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
Possession of a Controlled Substance for Sales, Possession of a Dangerous Weapon, Destruction of Evidence, Resisting Arrest, and Felony Warrant
On April 15, at approximately 9pm, a patrol corporal was driving in the area of Ventura Ave. and James Dr., when he observed a vehicle being driven by a subject he knew to have a felony armed and dangerous warrant for his arrest. As the corporal attempted to stop the vehicle, the subject identified as 32 year old Ventura resident Jimmy Cueva, stopped and fled from the vehicle on foot in the 100 block of James Dr. The corporal pursued Cueva on foot and quickly caught him behind a residence. He was taken into custody without incident.
During a search, Cueva was found to be in possession of a controlled substance, which was determined to be for the purpose of sales. Additional controlled substance was found in his vehicle. He was also found to be in possession of a dangerous knife. When being taken into custody, Cueva attempted to swallow some of the controlled substance.
Cueva was booked into the Ventura County Jail for possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of a dangerous weapon, destruction of evidence, resisting arrest, and a felony parole violation warrant.
Prowling Arrest
On April 15, at approximately 2:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 5500 block of Ralston St. reporting that a subject was just found looking into the bedroom window of her apartment. The caller and her boyfriend were inside the apartment when they heard noises outside the window and saw the subject, later identified as the suspect 50 year old vagrant Michael Phelps, looking inside.
When confronted by the boyfriend, Phelps left the area on foot. Officers responding to the call saw Phelps, who matched the description, and detained him several blocks away from the apartment. He was positively identified and arrested.
Phelps was booked into the Ventura County Jail for prowling.
No one was injured during the incident.
Felony Resisting, False Identity to a Police Officer, and Warrant Arrest
On April 18, at approximately 6pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from a citizen who reported a suspicious male got into the citizens vehicle on Main Street and told them to continue to drive. The citizen pulled into a parking lot and the suspect got out of the vehicle.
Officers responded to the area and located 31 year old Kansas resident Jose Guido-Lopez, who matched the description of the suspect. The officers detained Guido-Lopez, for further investigation and he provided a false name and information. While officers were trying to verify his identity, Guido-Lopez tried to flee, and when officers attempted to take him into custody, he violently resisted. Guido-Lopez was ultimately arrested, and when his identity was confirmed it was learned he had an outstanding arrest warrant out of Kansas.
Guido-Lopez was transported to Ventura County Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries he sustained during the arrest. When he was medically cleared, he was booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony resisting arrest, False Identity to a Police Officer, and the warrant out of Kansas.
One officer received minor injuries and was treated at the scene, and a second officer was taken to VCMC for treatment of their injuries.
Strong Arm Robbery
On April 20, at approximately 4pm, the victim was working as a manager at Walmart, and observed two teenage females attempting to take property from the store. The manager attempted to stop the females as they left the store, and both females physically attacked the manager, causing minor injuries. The suspects then fled on foot and were last seen in the 5700 block of Ralston.
Officers responded to the area, and located the suspects hiding in the restroom of an office building in the area. The suspects were positively identified and arrested for Conspiracy to commit a crime and Robbery. Both suspects were booked into Juvenile Hall without incident.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about this crime please contact the Ventura Police Department at 339-44325. An anonymous tip can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
Possession of Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On April 22, at approximately 2am, a Ventura Police patrol officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the area of Harbor Blvd. and Paseo De Playa that matched the description of a vehicle recently reported stolen. The vehicle in question was occupied by the male driver later identified as 41 year old Ventura resident Carlos Hicks, and a female passenger. The officer followed the vehicle and confirmed that the vehicle was in fact the stolen vehicle and requested additional officers to assist.
A traffic enforcement stop was conducted in the area of McDonalds on Harbor Blvd. The driver of the vehicle complied with orders and was taken into custody without incident.
Hicks was arrested and transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked for possession of a stolen vehicle. The female passenger was questioned and released at the scene.
