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.
Child Annoyance Arrest
On September 9, at approximately 6pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call from the mother of a juvenile who was reporting that her son and his friend were being chased by a suspect later identified as 32 year old Ventura resident Tyler Spann. During the chase, the juveniles smartly ran to the McDonalds located on Telegraph Rd. Once at McDonald’s they were picked up by one of their parents who began following Spann and informed the Command Center of his location.
As officers arrived, the youths told the officers that they were at the intersection of Telegraph and Colton when Spann approached them on a bicycle. Spann tried to engage the two in conversation by asking them questions, the content of which scared the two juveniles. Fearing for their safety, the two youths started to run away from Spann. Spann took chase after them and was able to stop one of the two. Once Spann caught up to the youth he made a sexual gesture towards the youngster. Again, fearing for his safety, the youth took off running until he made it to the McDonald’s.
Additional officers in the area stopped Spann in the area of Telegraph and Hoover. Once detained, Spann failed to listen to the officer’s directions and started fighting with the officers. After the struggle, two officers suffered minor injuries that did not require medical attention. Neither of the two juveniles was injured, and Spann had some minor abrasions. Spann was taken to a local hospital for a medical clearance and booked into Ventura County Jail for felony resisting arrest, felony delaying a peace officer and misdemeanor child annoyance.
According to the Ventura County Superior Court records, Spann has been convicted of felony battery on a peace officer in July 2017, felony resisting arrest in November 2015, misdemeanor resisting a peace officer in February 2015, and felony resisting a peace officer in December 2014.
Felony Child Endangerment and Resisting Arrest
On September 17, at approximately 11:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call reporting a subject that was seen climbing to the rooftop of a 4 story building in the 20 block of S. California St. using the outside fire-escape. It was reported that the subject, later identified as 27 year old vagrant Maryann Salazar, was holding a small child. Officers responded to the scene and located Salazar, who was holding her 9-month-old male child on the roof of the building. Salazar refused to give her child to the officers. Fearing for the child’s safety, the officers had to forcefully remove the child from Salazar.
Salazar resisted the officers and was taken into custody without further incident.
The child was not injured, but as a precaution was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center to be medically checked. Child and Family Services was contacted and will take custody of the child upon his release.
Salazar was later booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony child endangerment and resisting arrest.
According to the Ventura County Superior Court website, Salazar has an open case from 2017 for assault on a peace officer and resisting arrest.
Ruptured Gas Line (fire report)
On September 19, at approximately 6:30pm, Ventura City fire crews responded to a reported gas leak. The first arriving crew discovered a large diameter distribution gas line was ruptured during installation of fiber optic line by a private contractor. Fire crews isolated the area and restricted entry while simultaneously using monitoring equipment to detect gas levels and controlling ignition sources.
Residences and businesses in the affected area were notified and advised to shelter in place. Scene managers worked with Ventura County OES and American Red Cross on a contingency for the evacuation of a 75 unit apartment building adjacent to the rupture.
Ventura Police assisted with traffic and scene control and evacuation planning. Ventura Streets, Signals Water and Public Works Departments responded to assist. Gas Company construction crews responded and excavated 4 separate holes to control the gas flow.
Bicycle Theft Arrest
On September 23, at approximately 7:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from an alert citizen who had just witnessed a theft of two bicycles. The bicycles were attached to a car rack on the back of a vehicle. The witness saw the suspect go up to a car and cut the lock securing the bikes to the rack. The suspect then took the bikes and rode away from the area.
Ventura patrol officers arrived in the area and began looking for Covarrubias eventually finding him in on Ralston St and Saratoga Ave. He was still in possession of the bikes as well as burglary tools. A second officer contacted the victim who was not aware that the theft had occurred. The victim was able to identify that the bicycles were his and that Covarrubias did not have permission to have them.
Covarrubias was arrested and taken into custody for felony grand theft, and misdemeanor possession of burglary tools. No one was injured during this incident.
