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.
Traffic Collision involving a Stolen Vehicle with an Arrest
On May 18, at approximately 4pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of an injury traffic collision at the intersection of Main and Mills. As officers arrived on scene and began investigating the collision, they learned that the driver of the vehicle, 24 year old Ventura resident Sariah Cundiff, was attempting to make a left turn from westbound Main to southbound Mills, when she struck a pedestrian who was walking in the cross walk. The pedestrian complained of pain to his back and was checked out by paramedics on scene but refused further medical treatment.
Also during the investigation it was discovered that the vehicle driven by Cundiff was a reported stolen vehicle. As a result of the investigation officers arrested Cundiff for driving a stolen vehicle.
Commercial Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, Possession of a Controlled Substance
On May 13 at 11:40am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a report of a male subject passed out in a vehicle in parking lot in the 4000 block of E. Main St. Patrol officers contacted the occupant of the vehicle, 53 year old Ventura vagrant Andy Batey, who was in possession of property that appeared to be stolen. Through further investigation, officers learned that an iPad in Batey’s possession had been stolen from Ventura City Hall, which had been burglarized over the weekend. There was not sufficient evidence to arrest Batey for the burglary, however he was arrested for felony possession of stolen property.
On May 28 at 6:20am, a Ventura City employee called the Ventura Police Command Center several minutes after seeing a suspicious subject walk through a City Hall parking lot. The subject was carrying bags that appeared to belong to other city employees. When the officers arrived they located property stolen from inside City Hall stashed in the bushes. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect. It was discovered that City Hall had been burglarized a second time.
Ventura Police Street Crimes Unit detectives conducted further investigation and were able to identify the suspect and developed probable cause to arrest 21 year old Ventura vagrant Brian Kimball. In addition, Kimball was previously arrested on May 23 by the Ventura Police for committing a commercial burglary at the Ventura Mission located at 211 E. Main St. Kimball was released from the Ventura County Jail on his own recognizance two days later (May 25). Three days after his release (May 28), Kimball burglarized City Hall for the second time.
On May 31 at 3pm, a Ventura PD patrol officer located Kimball and placed him under arrest for commercial burglary. Kimball was found to be in possession of a controlled substance during the arrest.
I Love Breaking Glass
On June 4 at 12:45pm, the suspect broke out a large window at a business in the 500 block of East Main Street. After breaking the window, he fled on foot from the business. Officers responded but were unable to locate the suspect. On the same date at 1423 hours, the same suspect broke out another business’ window in the 1900 block of East Thompson Blvd. He again fled on foot from the second location and responding officers were unable to locate him. During the investigations, officers were able to positively identify the suspect as 39 year old Ventura vagrant Christopher Vera.
On June 5, at approximately 12pm, a Ventura Police Patrol officer saw the suspect in the area of Ramelli Avenue and Telephone Road. He was arrested for the two counts of felony vandalism. During the arrest, the suspect was also in possession of a controlled substance and narcotics paraphernalia.
Don’t Leave Good Stuff in your Vehicle
On June 6, at approximately 1:15pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 1700 block of Topaz, reporting that her husband was chasing after a subject who had stolen his wallet. The suspect, later identified as 25 year old Ventura resident Esteban Cervantes, was seen climbing over fences into the backyards of some neighboring residences.
As the first officer arrived on scene and started speaking to the husband, the officer saw Cervantes and attempted to contact him. Cervantes saw the officer and fled on foot. The officer chased after Cervantes and after a brief foot pursuit, he gave up and was taken into custody without incident.
During the investigation, officers discovered the victim witnessed Cervantes closing the door of his parked vehicle that parked outside of his residence. Cervantes had taken the victim’s wallet, so he chased him.
The Ventura Police Department would like to remind citizens to keep your vehicles locked at all times and remove valuables from inside.
Robbery
On June 6, at approximately 3:30pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call of four loss prevention officers at Target involved in a fight with a male suspect, 26 year old Oxnard resident Fernando Suarez. Prior to officers arriving on scene, the loss prevention officers were able to subdue Suarez and walked him back to their loss prevention office.
As officers arrived on scene they were informed that Suarez was using a magnetic tool to defeat security tags and remove electronic items from the shelves. Suarez then concealed the items and left the store without paying. When loss prevention officers tried to stop Suarez outside the store, he tried to run away from them. Once caught, Suarez started to fight with them. During the fight Suarez bit one of the loss prevention officers and kicked another. Suarez claimed to be injured during the incident, but refused any medical treatment.
Suarez is a PROS offender and had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Suarez was taking to Ventura County Jail where he was booked for Robbery, Possession of Burglary Tools, Commercial Burglary and his PROS warrants.
Why Are These People not in Jail?
On June 12, at 7:45am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a subject observed sleeping in a vehicle in front of a residence in the 5900 block of Eight St. Officers responded to the call and found 27 year old Ventura resident Angel Esparza sleeping in the front seat, and could see illegal narcotics in plain view.
During a search of his vehicle, officers found that Esparza had a large amount of methamphetamine and heroin packaged for sales. There was also a loaded handgun located under the car seat. It was later revealed that the handgun found in the vehicle was reported stolen out of a residential burglary in Simi Valley.
Esparza was arrested and later booked into the Ventura County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a loaded firearm with narcotics, possession of illegal narcotics for sales, possession of stolen property, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, and a parole violation.
According to the Ventura County Superior Court website, in August and November of 2012, Esparza was convicted twice of being in possession of a stolen vehicle and being involved in a criminal street gang.
Arrest for Possession of Dirk or Dagger and Brandishing
On June 13, at approximately 12:45pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a subject stumbling in traffic in the area of Victoria and Valentine. Officers arrived in the area and made contact with the suspect, 59 year old Ventura vagrant Michael Throneberry.
As officers approached Thorneberry he took and aggressive stance towards them while holding two sticks, one in each hand. The officers ordered Thorneberry to drop the sticks and sit down on the ground. Thorneberry eventually complied with the officers and sat down on the sidewalk.
As the investigation continued the officers learned that Thorneberry had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. During a search of his person for any weapons, officers found two knives concealed on Thorneberry. Thorneberry was arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail for possession of a dirk or dagger, brandishing and his warrant.
According to the Ventura County Superior Court website, Thorneberry was arrested December 2014, for possession of a Billy club, in May 2016, for possession of a dirk or dagger and resisting a peace officer and March 2018, for exhibiting a deadly weapon.
Assault With A Deadly Weapon and Gang Enhancement
On May 6, at approximately 1am, the victim was attending a Cinco De Mayo gathering in Ventura when he was confronted by party goers who did not feel he was welcome. The victim was attacked by several assailants. The victim was able to break free and retrieve a firearm for self- defense. The assailants successfully disarmed the victim and fled with the firearm as police were summoned.
The Special Enforcement Team began investigating the case and obtained a search warrant for Piceno’s residence. On June 14, at approximately 11:30am, detectives arrested 39 year old Ventura resident Juan Piceno in the 1100 Block of North Ventura Avenue for his involvement in this crime. Soon after, detectives served a search warrant at his residence and located various evidence including approximately one ounce of suspected methamphetamine.
In the evening hours of June 14, a Ventura PD patrol officer located 22 year old Ventura resident Thomas Hernandez in the area of Ocean Ave Park. Hernandez was detained, arrested and interviewed by an SET detective.
Piceno was ultimately booked for assault with a deadly weapon, theft from a person, possession of methamphetamine, and commission of a gang crime.
