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.
Commercial Burglary Arrest
On February 24, at approximately 9pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received an alarm call reference a window smash at Cal Coast Motorsports. Officers arrived on scene and located one of the south facing windows had been smashed. As officers were approaching the location a male subject later identified as 19 year old Ventura resident Hunter Fox was seen running from the area. Fox was contacted and detained while officers continued their investigation. A search of the area where Fox was initially seen prior to running revealed a 2018 Honda CRF 110 that was later confirmed to be stolen from Cal Coast Motorsports.
Officers reviewed the video surveillance cameras from inside Cal Coast Motorsports and were able to identify Fox as the suspect.
Brandishing a Firearm, Criminal Threats Arrest
On February 25, at approximately 12:15am, patrol officers responded to a disturbance at a residence in the 200 block of West Barnett Street. When officers arrived, they found several people involved in the incident in the front yard. The suspect, 22 year old Ventura resident Danny Bamford, was in possession of a concealed handgun.
At the conclusion of the investigation, it was determined the suspect had brandished the firearm and made criminal threats. He was arrested and later booked into Ventura County Jail.
Crime Spree: Residential Burglary, Attempt Residential Burglary, Prowling and Theft
On March 2, at approximately 6:30pm, the Command Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 300 Block of Myrtle Ave reporting that they confronted a female suspect in their home and were currently chasing her down the street. Officers arrived on scene and took the suspect, 33 year old Ventura resident Jeanette Jason, into custody.
During the investigation, including using multiple home security cameras in the area, it was discovered that Jason had been in the neighborhood since around 1700 hours. She was captured on a video walking up to front door of a home on Beechnut St and opening the door to enter the home. She did not make entry into that home, possibly because people were there. She then walked across the street and went into a neighbor’s back yard, possibly looking for a way to enter that home. From there, she stole a child’s bicycle from the side yard of an additional neighbor’s home before entering the home on Myrtle Ave.
It was discovered after she was taken into custody that Jason was in the home on Myrtle Ave for almost an hour and had ransacked a child’s room and had hidden the child’s clothing on her person. The clothing was discovered after Jason was arrested.
Jason was transported and booked into the Ventura County Jail for First Degree Residential Burglary, Attempt First Degree Residential Burglary, Prowling and Petty Theft.
Anyone with information or any additional victims or witnesses to these crimes is asked to contact the Ventura Police Department at 339-4325.
Commercial Burglary
On March 2, at approximately 4:30pm, a loss prevention officer for a store located in the Pacific View Mall called the Ven Command Center to report he was following three suspects who had just committed a theft from the store. During the incident the loss prevention officers watched as the three suspects worked together to steal over $2900.00 worth of merchandise.
As the suspects left the store the loss prevention officer followed the suspects from a safe distance and stayed on the phone with the Command Center. The loss prevention officer watched as the three suspects entered a vehicle. The description of the vehicle was given to responding units and an officer responding to the call saw the vehicle drive past him in the opposite direction. The officer quickly coordinated with other officers in the area and a stop of the vehicle was made at the Mobil gas station at Mills and Main.
During the investigation all of the property taken from the store was recovered. The suspects (21 year old Marco Villarroel, 24 year old Jose Lopez and 23 year old Jose Jara – all from the Republic of Chile) were all arrested for Felony charges of Commercial Burglary and Conspiracy.
Robbery, Kidnapping, Assault w/a Deadly Weapon, Felony Evading, Resisting a Peace Officer Arrests
On March 5, at approximately 8:15pm, the Command Center received a call reference an armed robbery in progress at McDonalds on Main St. Responding units observed a vehicle fleeing the area at a high rate of speed without its headlights on. Officers initiated a traffic stop and the vehicle failed to yield and subsequently began running red lights and not stopping for stop signs. The vehicle reached speeds of approximately 70mph before coming to a stop in the 4800 block of Colt St. Both suspects ran from the vehicle as officers established a perimeter. With the assistance of the police K9, the suspects were located hiding inside a dumpster enclosure. 19 year old Oxnard resident Freddy Tavares complied with the officer’s orders to surrender, however 19 year old Oxnard resident Augustin Martinez did not and the police K9 was deployed. Both suspects were eventually taken into custody.
Tavares and Martinez were identified by several witnesses as suspects from the McDonalds robbery. There were also (5) patrons inside McDonalds that were robbed at gun point. During the incident, Martinez physically moved an employee around the business in an attempt to find more cash. VPD Major Crimes Detectives and VPD CSI responded to assist with the investigation. After Martinez was medically cleared for a minor injury, he was booked for robbery, kidnapping, conspiracy, assault with a deadly weapon, felony evading and resisting arrest. Tavares was booked for robbery, conspiracy and resisting arrest.
Elder Abuse and Trespassing Arrest
On March 8, at 6:15am,, the Department Command Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 100 block of N. Dos Caminos Ave. reporting that her husband was struggling with a subject that came into their residence. The subject, later identified as 56 year old vagrant Rickey Badger, the 77-year-old husband was trying to get him out. Prior to officers arriving on scene, Badger fled from the residence on foot and was last seen westbound on Martha Dr. Officers arrived and detained Badger in the area.
During the investigation officers learned that Badger entered the residence through an open front door. Badger struck the victim several times, before fleeing on foot.
The victim received minor injuries as a result of the altercation and was treated on scene by Ventura Fire personnel.
Pursuit
On March 9, at approximately 11:15pm, the Ventura Police Traffic Division was conducting a DUI Checkpoint at the intersection of Harbor Blvd. and Schooner Dr when the suspect, 26 year old Ventura resident Reuben Torres, entered the tapered lanes to the checkpoint, and then began to back out, passing on-coming traffic. Motor Officers staged at the intersection witnessed Torres traveling the wrong way and attempted to conduct an enforcement stop.
Torres failed to yield to the Motor Officers, entered the 101 southbound on-ramp, and accelerated to 100 mph on the freeway. After a brief pursuit, Torres exited the freeway at Telephone Rd. and surrendered to the pursuing officers.
Torres was found to be under the influence of alcohol and on parole for 212.5 (c) PC – Robbery. Torres was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Felony Evading and Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol.
Assault w/a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Threats Arrest
On March 10, at 2:20 am, the Command Center received a call reference a male suspect, 21 year old Ventura resident Conner Steven, who had pointed a handgun at an Uber driver and threatened him. According to the Uber driver, after pointing the gun at him Stevens went into a house in the 900 block of Sharon Ln.
Responding units contacted numerous subjects in the street and eventually were able to talk Steven out of the house. During the investigation it was discovered Steven and the Uber driver had gotten into an argument when Steven armed himself, pointed the gun at the driver and threatened to kill him.
Steven was arrested and booked for Assault with a Deadly Weapon as well as Criminal Threats.
