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 Burglary and Arrest
On January 29, at approximately 12pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of vehicle burglary that just occurred in the 2100 block of Channel Dr. The victim reported seeing the suspect, later identified as 18 year old Ventura resident Ruben Garcia, enter his vehicle and remove property. Garcia was seen fleeing on a skateboard northbound on San Clemente St.
Officers responding to the call saw Garcia several blocks away and detained him. Garcia was positively identified by the victim and arrested. The property that was taken from the victim’s vehicle was found in Garcia’s possession and returned. He was found to have additional items of property in his possession that officers suspected was stolen, but could not locate any victims.
Several minutes prior to receiving the call, an additional call was received of a subject possibly casing in the area of Thompson Blvd. and Catalina St. Garcia matched the description of that subject.
Garcia was later booked into the Ventura County Jail for burglary, possession of stolen property, and possession of a controlled substance.
The Ventura Police Department asks that if you are a victim of a crime, please contact the Command Center at 650-8010.
Prowling, Vehicle Tampering, Possession of a Controlled Substance and Resisting Arrest
On January 31, at approximately 5:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from a resident in the 1100 block of Bath Ln. reporting that a subject, later identified as the suspect 38 year old vagrant Dylan Merry, was breaking into a neighbor’s parked vehicle. Merry was described as wearing a beanie, mask and a hooded sweatshirt.
With the description given by the caller, officers arrived on scene and saw Merry walking away from the area and attempting to contact him. Merry began running and officers chased him on foot. After a foot pursuit that ended the next lane over on Montauk Ln., Merry was taken into custody as he attempted to climb a fence of a residence.
During a search, officers found that Merry was in possession of a controlled substance.
Merry was transported to the Ventura County Jail and booked for prowling, vehicle tampering, possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest.
No one was injured as a result of this incident.
Merry was found to have been looking for unlocked vehicles. The Ventura Police Department would like to remind citizens to remove all valuables from inside of your vehicles and keep the doors locked.
Disturbance Arrest
On February 1 at 3:30pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a disturbance at Buena High School. The caller said that the suspect, 28 year old Ventura County resident Michael Flint, was screaming at passerby’s and making lewd gestures. the caller told dispatchers that Flint was running towards the CVS Drug store across the street from the school. As officers arrived on scene, Flint saw them and attempted to run away. the arriving officers were able to catch Flint in the parking lot of CVS and began their investigation.
As officers began to investigate, they learned that flint was on the Buena High School campus near the tennis courts and was seen moving bags belonging to students. The students confronted Flint and he took off running towards Victoria crossing the street going towards CVS. While in the parking lot of CVS, Flint started chasing a group of female students who were in the parking lot. In fear of their safety the students ran back to the campus with Flint following them. Once back on the campus Flint stop chasing the group and went towards an occupied vehicle in the school parking lot. At the vehicle he attempted to open the door and then hug students who were sitting inside. An alert parent saw this and yelled at Flint to leave the students alone. Flint stopped what he was doing and started back towards Victoria, where he crossed the street and went back into the CVS parking lot.
It was at this time that Flint was seen by the responding officers who contacted him. Flint was arrested for child endangerment, vehicle tampering and disrupting presence on a school grounds. No one was injured during the incident.
Probation Search Arrests
On February 2 at 7am, Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit Detectives conducted a probation search in the 100 block of James Dr after receiving several complaints of possible narcotic sales taking place at this location. One of the residents, 43 year old Ventura resident Victor Leon, is on probation for maintaining a residence for narcotic use.
Detectives located over an ounce and a half of suspected methamphetamine and a half ounce of suspected heroin in 52 year old Ventura resident Jose Leon’s room. Victor Leon was found in possession of narcotic paraphernalia and two bikes that had their serial numbers ground off.
Detectives also contacted two subjects sleeping in a vehicle parked in front of the targeted residence, 29 year old Ventura resident Robert Barreto and 31 year old Oxnard resident Stephanie Baca.
Barreto was found in possession of a switchblade-type knife and possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle after an unloaded shotgun was located in the back seat where he was sleeping.
Baca was found to have outstanding warrants on narcotic related charges.
All suspects were interrogated and later booked at the Ventura County Main Jail on the following charges:
- Jose Leon was booked for felony possession for sales.
- Victor Leon was booked for possession of narcotic paraphernalia and possession of property with obliterated serial numbers, both misdemeanors.
- Robert Barreto was booked for possession of a switch-blade knife and possession of a concealed firearm, both misdemeanors.
- Stephanie Baca was booked on her outstanding warrants.
This investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information related to this crime is urged to call the Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit at 339-4325, The Narcotics Hot-Line at 339-4331, or make an anonymous call to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. If your information leads to an arrest, you could receive a cash reward of up to $1,000.
Conspiracy to commit a Battery
On February 2, at approximately 8:30pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a subject with a gun. As officers arrived on-scene they discovered that the victim was walking from his garage to front door of his home when the two suspects approached him asking his name. The victim told them his name and the two suspects, later identified as 40 year old Ventura resident Joseph French and 49 year old Ventura resident James Solis, immediately attacked the victim, punching him in the face. As the suspects battered the victim all three ended up inside the victim’s house. During the attack the victim asked why they were attacking him and one of the suspects yelled at the victim, accusing him of having an affair with his wife.
During the commotion and in fear for her husband’s safety the victim’s wife retrieved a handgun to protect her husband. After retrieving the gun the wife returned and fired two rounds at the suspects. Neither of the suspects was struck and both took off running away from the house. The suspects fled the scene in a white pickup truck. As the suspects were driving away the victim called 911 and a description was broadcast to surrounding Ventura Police units. A Ventura Police Motor unit was in the area and saw the suspect’s truck as it was driving away. Once additional units arrived to assist in stopping the truck, a high risk stop was conducted and the two suspects were detained.
The investigation revealed the two suspect’s conspired to commit a battery on the victim. However during the incident they discovered that the victim was not their intended target and had misidentified him. The victim sustained minor injuries but refused medical treatment. The suspects were arrested and booked and Ventura County Jail for Conspiracy and Battery.
Registered Sex Offender Compliance Sweep
On February 2 at 8am, officers from multiple allied agencies including the Ventura Police Department, Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Port Hueneme Police Department, Simi Valley Police Department, FBI, Homeland Security, State Parole, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Ventura County Probation, and the High-Tech Task Force conducted a citywide compliance check of registered sex offenders.
Officers inspected thirteen locations that resulted in six arrests:
- Michael Baltazar 23, Felony Violations of Probation, Possession of sexually explicit material, Possession of narcotic paraphernalia.
- James Call 55, Felony Violation of Probation, Possession of technology devices*.
- Jack Rickman 51, Felony Violations of Probation.
- David Floyd 62, Felony Violations of Probation, Possession of sexually explicit material and Possession of ammunition.
- Edward Rosales 43, Felony Violations of Probation, Possession of sexually explicit material and Possession of technology devices.
- David Potter 53, Felony Violations of Probation, Possession of sexually explicit material, Possession of technology devices, and Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia.
Just to reiterate when it states that sexually explicit content was found it does not necessarily mean child pornography, a sex offender is prohibited from having any type of pornography even adult pornography like videos that can be seen on websites such as https://www.hdpornvideo.xxx/?hl=es which is completely legal for anyone over the age of 18 to view unless you are on the sex offender registry.
All six suspects were later transported and booked into the Ventura County Main Jail.
Officers located violations at several other locations and additional arrests are anticipated after detectives conclude their investigation into these crimes.
*A general term to describe any device capable of accessing the internet such as smart phones, tablets, computer systems.
Armed Robbery
On February 7, at approximately 1am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call of male subject disturbing inside the Chevron Station, located at 2199 S. Victoria Avenue. A short while later, a second call was received from an alarm company who was reporting the business’s hold up alarm had been activated. Officers arrived on scene within minutes of the initial call and detained the suspect, 26 year old Oxnard resident Geovanny Gonzalez-Avitia, as he was exiting the store with a large amount of merchandise.
During the investigation, officers learned Gonzalez-Avitia had entered the store and began to argue with the clerk after he was told the business was closing. Gonzalez-Avitia forced his way behind the sales counter where he obtained a screwdriver and threatened to harm the clerk. Fearing for his safety, the clerk fled the store leaving Gonzalez-Avitia inside. Gonzalez-Avitia proceeded to open the cash register but was unsuccessful in obtaining any money. Gonzalez-Avitia then filled a large bag with snack food and exited the store.
Gonzalez-Avetia was placed under arrest and transported to the Ventura County Jail where he was booked for armed robbery. The property taken during the robbery was recovered and returned to the business.
