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, Brandishing
On June 21, at approximately 5pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call of a subject being detained for brandishing a handgun at McConnell’s Ice Cream. As officers arrived, they learned that the suspect, 63-year-old Thomas Young, approached the two victims as they sat in a van parked next to the business. Young told the victims that the owner of the van owed him money. Neither of the victims knew who Young was, and the three became engaged in a verbal argument which escalated into a physical altercation.
During the fight, a handgun fell from Young’s clothes and onto the ground. Young picked up the gun and pointed it at one of the victims. The victims continued to fight with Young and were able to subdue him and disarm him of the gun. After taking the gun away, the victims waited for the police to arrive and turned over the gun to the police. During the arrest, the gun was found to be unloaded, and Young was found to have illegal drugs on his person. It was also discovered that the vehicle Young was driving was a stolen vehicle.
Young suffered minor injuries during the incident but refused medical attention. Neither of the victims or any officers were injured during the call. Young was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of controlled substance, and brandishing. Young is a PROS offender.
Stabbing
On June 22, at approximately 12:30pm, officers responded to a report of a stabbing victim in a vehicle to the front of the Ventura City Fire station in the 700 block of N. Ventura Ave. It was reported the stabbing had occurred at an unknown location in the Ventura River bottom. Officers, along with Ventura City Fire and AMR personnel, found the victim, later identified as a 31-year-old male, suffering from non-life-threatening stab wounds to his neck and torso. He was immediately transported to VCMC for treatment of his injuries. The victim was admitted to the hospital and his current condition is not known.
During the investigation, officers learned that the suspect is possibly none to the victim and both were in the river bottom when the suspect stabbed him. The victim fled to a nearby residence and got a ride from the homeowner to the fire station. The victim was not cooperative with the investigation and officers were unable to locate a crime scene.
The investigation is ongoing. There is no additional information to be released at this time. An additional press release will be sent out when the information is available.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to contact the Ventura Police Department at 339-4488.
Prowling, Peeping, and Resisting Arrest
On June 23, at approximately 2:30am, VPD officers responded to a call of a prowler seen in the backyard of the victim’s residence. The victim awoke to their motion activated flood lamp and saw a male suspect wearing a beanie looking into their sliding glass door. The victim immediately called 911.
VPD patrol officers quickly arrived and observed the suspect, 51-year-old Ventura resident Carl Valadez, after he climbs over the victim’s fence to exit the yard. The first officer tries to make contact and the suspect runs. The officer engaged in a foot pursuit and is joined by a K9 officer. The suspect ultimately gives up peacefully and is taken into custody without incident.
The suspect was booked at Ventura County Jail for Prowling, Peeping, and Resisting Arrest.
Assault on a Peace Officer
On June 28, at approximately 7:30pm, officers responded to a Subject Disturbing call at the Travelers Beach Inn. The suspect, 43-year-old Andrew Hodges, was reported disturbing guests of the hotel, and he was not a registered guest of the hotel. As officers went to contact Hodges, he attempted to walk away from them. Eventually, the officers were able to stop Hodges on the second floor, landing next to a staircase.
Immediately upon the contacting Hodges is was uncooperative and refused to listen to the officers repeated requests sit down. As the officers continued to try and gain compliance with Hodges, he began to fight with the officers. The fight was so fierce that the officers requested additional officers respond immediately. Upon the arrival of the additional officers, they were able to gain control of Hodges and take him into custody.
No officers were injured during the incident, and Hodges was treated for minor abrasions at a local hospital. Hodges was arrested for Felony Resisting a Peace Officer, Felony Attempting to Remove an Officers Weapon and Felony Vandalism.
A search of the County of Ventura Superior Court records shows that Hodges was convicted earlier in 2019 for Misdemeanor Possession of a Controlled Substance and Resisting a Peace Officer. He also has prior felony convictions in 2016 and 2017 Resisting a Peace Officer.
