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.
Stolen Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Property
On April 5 at 7:30am, a Ventura Police Patrol Officer conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle with no license plate displayed in the area of Crescent St. and Sherwin Ave. A records check of the vehicle showed it was a reported stolen vehicle from the City of Ventura. The driver, 26 year old Ventura resident Gustavo Gonzales, was placed under arrest for driving the stolen vehicle.
During a search of the vehicle, officers located potential stolen property. Street Crimes Unit Detectives conducted further investigation and located two victims whose property had been stolen earlier that morning from their vehicle in the 100 block of Eugenia St. in Ventura. Detectives additionally found medical supplies belonging to a victim of a residential burglary in the 1700 block of Potomac St. in Ventura that occurred on February 27.
Gustavo Gonzales was booked at the Ventura County Jail for driving a stolen vehicle and additionally charged for 496(a) PC- felony possession of stolen property.
Arrest for: Attempt Theft from unlocked vehicle, Resisting Arrest, Active Warrants
On April 6 at approximately 1am, a resident in the 3000 block of Foothill Rd. observed two subjects on Foothill Rd outside of his parked vehicle. Concerned about theft, the resident watched from inside his home. While observing the two, one of the subjects, later identified as the suspect 48 year old Ventura vagrant Richard Hunt, entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle and began rummaging around in it. The other subject was described as a white male in his 20’s stood outside of the vehicle. The resident shouted at the subjects and the unknown white male entered into a gray 2000 Volvo parked nearby and fled the area. Hunt, left behind by his accomplice, fled on foot. The victim followed Hunt while calling the Ventura Police Department Command Center 911 emergency line.
With the description given by the caller, officers arrived on scene and saw Hunt running south on Dos Caminos Ave. When Hunt saw officers, he began to flee through yards and crossed over onto Estrella St as officers gave chase. Hunt attempted to hide in several backyards and continued to flee from officers, but was ultimately detained as he attempted to flee through an alleyway off of Dos Caminos Ave.
Hunt was positively identified as the subject who had entered the victim’s unlocked vehicle. Hunt also had 4 outstanding warrants. Hunt was transported to the Ventura County Jail and booked for an attempt theft, resisting arrest, and his warrants.
Suicidal Subject
On April 9, at approximately 8am, officers were dispatched to a call of a theft of services that just occurred at the Crowne Plaza in the 400 block of Harbor Blvd. An officer responding to the call saw the suspect, later identified to be a 28-year-old male, walking on the California St. overcrossing at Highway 101 and attempted to contact him. As the officer was approaching him, the subject climbed over the security fencing of the overpass and stood on the outside railing. He began making suicidal statements and threatening that he was going to jump. The officer, who is trained in crisis intervention, began attempts to negotiate with the subject, although he almost immediately jumped from the railing and landed on the shoulder of the freeway which was approximately 20 feet below. The subject was not hit by any passing vehicles. Upon landing, the subject sustained a severe lower leg injury and rendered immobile.
Officers immediately stopped the southbound lanes of the highway to allow Ventura City Fire personnel to respond and start rendering medical aid. The subject was treated at the scene and ultimately transported to VCMC for treatment of his injury. He will undergo a mental health evaluation when released.
Recovered Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On April 9, at approximately 12:30am, an alert citizen called the Ventura Police Department to report a suspicious occupied vehicle in the area. Officers arrived at the location and one of the officers recognized the vehicle as the same vehicle that was reported stolen and recovered at the same location on April 4, and detained two males in the vehicle.
While officers were conducting the investigation they learned that the vehicle had been taken from the owner’s residence without their permission. The suspect, 22 year old Ventura resident Jesus Alvarez, was found to be in possession of the vehicles keys and other evidence belonging to the victim and was arrested.
Alvarez was arrested and later booked into the Ventura County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of drug paraphernalia. The vehicle was returned to the owner.
Maintaining a Place for the Purpose of Selling a Controlled Substance, Illegal Sales of Marijuana, and Possession of Marijuana for Sales
On April 12 at 11am, Ventura PD Detectives and members of the Ventura PD Traffic Unit served search and arrest warrants at an illegal marijuana dispensary business called “Canna Nuts” located at 5755 Valentine Rd in Ventura.
With the passage of Proposition 64, titled “The Adult Use of Marijuana Act”, possession and use of recreational marijuana became legal in California for people over 21-years-old beginning January of 2018. However, the commercial sale of recreational marijuana now requires both a state license through the Bureau of Cannabis Control and a city business license. The commercial sale of marijuana remains illegal within the Ventura city limits in accordance to our municipal laws.
The Ventura Police Department began the 4-month long investigation after receiving numerous citizen complaints regarding illegal sales of marijuana from the “Canna Nuts” business. Detectives learned that the sole proprietor of the business was the suspect, 54 year old Ventura resident Janice Stabile, who blatantly advertised the sale of marijuana despite not having a state or city business license. Further investigation revealed that Stabile was actively and routinely selling marijuana.
Detectives detained Stabile at her business and placed her under arrest. Search warrants were then served at Stabile’s business and residence in Ventura. Detectives seized over four pounds of marijuana, two firearms, and approximately $128,000 in cash. Stabile was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Maintaining a Place for Selling a Controlled Substance, Possession of Marijuana for Sale, and Illegal Sale of Marijuana.
