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.
Child Endangerment; Assault with a Deadly Weapon; Felony Evading Arrest
On December 16, a Ventura Police Officer was on patrol when he observed two vehicles appearing to be involved in a road rage incident. One of the cars pulled over and flagged the officer down. The officer quickly learned the incident was part of a domestic dispute between both drivers.
The officer attempted to initiate a traffic stop on the second vehicle. When he did so, the vehicle accelerated away at a high rate of speed. The officer pursued the vehicle through a residential neighborhood, where the vehicle ran through several stop signs .
The vehicle eventually pulled into a driveway of a residence and the suspect fled on foot into the house. Officers made contact with subjects inside the residence and were able to convince the suspect to come outside.
Through their investigation officers learned the victim was attempting to comply with a court order and was dropping off her three young children, ages 2, 3, and 5, at their father’s house. When she arrived, 25 year old Ventura resident Raphael Hernandez came out of his residence armed with a crow bar and began hitting the side of the victim’s car while the children were still inside.
Hernandez was taken into custody and booked into Ventura County Jail for Child Endangerment, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Violation of Domestic Violence Restraining Order, and Felony Evading.
Assault with a deadly weapon
On December 18, at approximately 10:15pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a report of two subjects fighting with knives in an apartment complex.
Officers responded and made contact with 21 year old Ventura resident Erik Torres and his brother Arturo. Arturo was bleeding from lacerations to his face. During their investigation, Officers learned the two brothers were arguing and began to fight. Erik Torres armed himself with a knife and cut Arturo in the face. Erik then armed himself with a skateboard and hit Arturo alongside of the head causing additional injuries.
Erik Torres was booked at the Ventura county jail for Assault with a deadly weapon.
Traffic collision and DUI arrest
On December 19, at approximately 12:15am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a report a vehicle rollover into the driveway of 1123 Peninsula Street.
Officers responded located the driver, 19 year old Ventura resident Jordan Spear, outside of his vehicle. It was found that Jordan lost control of his 2014 Ford Mustang causing it to roll over into the driveway colliding with two parked vehicles.
Officers noticed he was displaying signs of being intoxicated. Officers conducted a Field Sobriety Evaluation, and Spear was found to be driving while under the influence of alcohol.
Spear was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail .
Theft from vehicle
On December 19, at approximately 3:15am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a report of a person casing vehicles and trying door handles in the area.
Officers arrived on scene and located 33 year old Ventura resident Shiloh Chenoweth inside of a vehicle. Chenoweth ran from officers when they attempted to contact him. Officers lost Chenoweth in the area of Aliso Street and Buena Vista Ave. Officers quickly set up a perimeter around Chenoweth’s last location. A few minutes later, one of the perimeter Officers located Chenoweth attempting to hide in a yard at the corner of Buena Vista and Aliso. Chenoweth was taken into custody without incident.
Chenoweth was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Vehicle Tampering, Resisting Arrest, Burglary tools, and Drug charges.
Commercial Burglary Arrest
On December 22, at approximately 10:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from CVS Alarms, reporting a possible commercial burglary in progress at the CVS store at 2260 E. Thompson Blvd. The alarm company had live video surveillance of inside the closed store and reported seeing a male subject inside removing items from the shelves.
Officers arrived on scene and immediately set up a perimeter around the store. The front door of the business was found open. As officers were preparing to enter the store, the suspect later identified as 29 year old Ventura resident Tyler Clark, was seen just inside the entrance. Clark saw the officers and fled towards the back of the store.
Officers, along with a Ventura Police K-9, entered the store and during a search found Clark hiding inside. Clark was taken into custody without incident.
Stabbing Homicide
On December 24, at approximately 10pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call in reference to a stabbing that occurred at the city parking structure located at 500 East Harbor Blvd. Ventura PD patrol officers responded to the call and upon arrival, located the victim who sustained numerous stab wounds to his body. The victim was transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he later died from his injuries. Ventura Police Detectives were notified and took over the investigation.
During the investigation, Ventura Police Detectives learned that the victim was approached by three suspects on the second floor of the parking structure. Three suspects attacked the victim and began battering and stabbing him. Video surveillance in the area captured the attack. Ventura Police Detectives were able to identify the suspects, who are known members of a local gang. It appears that the victim was targeted by the suspects and this was not a random crime.
On December 27, at approximately 5:30pm, with the assistance of Ventura Police SWAT, investigators served a search warrant at the residence of 20 year old Ventura resident Chris Gallegos in the 200 block of W. Simpson St. Gallegos was located at the residence and was taken into custody. He was booked into Ventura County Jail for Murder, Street Terrorism, and Conspiracy.
On December 28, at approximately 10:30am, the 17 year old juvenile suspect was seen in the 200 block of W. Ramona Street. Ventura Police officers surrounded the area and a team of SWAT officers conducted a search for the suspect. He was located hiding inside a residence and taken into custody without incident.
The 16-year-old juvenile is currently in custody at Ventura County Juvenile Hall for an unrelated case and will be booked for Murder, Street Terrorism, and Conspiracy.
