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.
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.
Assault w/a Deadly Weapon, Criminal Threats Arrest
On March 10, at 2:30am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 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.
Stolen Vehicle, Possession of Drugs and Warrant Arrest
On March 11, at approximately 9am, a patrol officer working in the area saw a suspicious vehicle driving through the neighborhood. A records check revealed it was a reported stolen vehicle. As the officer attempted to turn around and stop the vehicle, the vehicle drove away at a high rate of speed. The officer was able to catch up to the vehicle as it stopped and the suspect was getting out in an attempt to run away. The suspect, 39 year old Ventura resident Richard Medina, stopped and was taken into custody.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect was booked into Ventura County Jail for an outstanding misdemeanor warrant, possession of methamphetamine and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Vehicle Tampering
On March 13, at approximately 5:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from a resident in the 1000 block of Bangor Ln. reporting that a subject, later identified as 27 year old Ventura resident Robert Miranda, was tampering with a neighbor’s parked vehicle and trying door handles. Miranda was last seen leaving the area on a bike westbound on Pierpont Blvd.
With the description given by the caller, officers arrived on scene and saw Miranda several blocks away near Pierpont and Monmouth Way. He was detained.
During the investigation officers found that Miranda was in possession of several items of property, but could not confirm the items were stolen. He was positively identified by a witness as tampering with a parked vehicle and arrested.
Attempt Child Molestation
On March 12, at approximately 5pm, Ventura Police Dispatch received a call from the mother of a 13 year old female who advised that the suspect, 21 year old Ventura resident Kevin McCarty, had been following her daughter around the book store and attempting to commit lewd acts. The mother was able to take a photo of McCarty’s license plate as he left the area. After a full investigation by Patrol Officers; McCarty was identified as the suspect.
On March 14, at 9pm, McCarty was seen at the Ventura County Medical Center for an unrelated incident. Officers contacted McCarty Interviewed him, arrested him and later booked him at Ventura county Jail for attempt Lewd Acts on a Child, a felony.
Lewd Acts with a Minor Arrest
In August of 2017, the Ventura Police Department received a courtesy report from an outside agency reporting that a 17 year old female had been the victim of a sexual assault in the City of Ventura. Ventura PD Major Crimes Detectives began investigating. Over the course of the investigation, Detectives learned that the suspect, 26 year old Ventura resident Christian Galindo, began corresponding with the underage victim on a dating website. Eventually, Galindo convinced the victim to meet up with him at his residence in Ventura. Over the course of the next few months, Galindo engaged in sexual acts with the victim.
On the morning of March 20, at 8:30am, Detectives arrested Galindo and served a search warrant at his residence. Detectives recovered evidence linking Galindo to the sexual assault described by the minor. Galindo was transported to the Ventura County Jail where he was booked for several felonies related to lewd acts with a minor.
Residential Burglary, Elder Abuse, and Conspiracy
On January 10 Ventura Police Patrol Officers responded to a report of residential burglary in the 100 Block of S. Ventura Ave. The victim of the burglary was an elderly woman with physical disabilities. The victim and her caretaker, 39 year old Oxnard resident Elva Sandoval, went shopping in the afternoon. They returned home and found the victim’s residence ransacked with multiple valuables taken. Officers were able to review video surveillance surrounding the victim’s apartment, which showed Sandoval prop open a secure door to the building before leaving with the victim. Seconds later, a male suspect entered the victim’s apartment and is later seen exiting with stolen items in hand.
During the investigation, detectives identified 41 year old vagrant Lee Sivoraraj as the male suspect seen on the surveillance video. Additionally, detectives found further evidence that showed Sandoval and Sivoraraj conspired together to commit the residential burglary.
On March 22, detectives conducted surveillance in an attempt to locate both suspects. At approximately 6:30pm, detectives and patrol officers located and arrested the caretaker, Elva Sandoval, at the Pacific View Mall. Approximately two hours later, detectives located and arrested Lee Sivoraraj. Both suspects were arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for residential burglary, elder abuse, and conspiracy.
