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.
Vandalism Arrest
On June 30, at approximately 6:15pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of several subjects attempting to force entry into the school office at Balboa Middle School in the 200 block of S. Hill Rd. The caller was nearby the school campus and continued to up the dispatcher as officers responded to the call.
When officers arrived on scene, four subjects were detained inside the campus. All four subjects were juveniles and during the investigation officers determined the suspect, later identified as a 17-year-old male, used a permanent marker to write graffiti on several locations and office doors.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the 17-year-old suspect was arrested for vandalism and possession of prescription medication. One additional 16-year-old male juvenile was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol. The two other additional 16-year-old males were released without charges.
With the summer season upon us and many schools not in session, the Ventura Police Department would like the public to report any suspicious activity seen around the school campuses. Anyone on a school campus while the campus is closed is considered trespassing.
The public can also report any damage from graffiti by leaving a message on the City of Ventura’s Graffiti Removal Hotline number at 654-7805.
Assault with Deadly Weapon and Possession of Methamphetamine Arrest
On July 1, at approximately 12pm, patrol officers responded to a call for service regarding a disturbance. The suspect fled on foot prior to the officers arriving; however he was located nearby by the officers and detained. The investigation revealed the suspect had previously been arrested for trespassing at the location, and on this date and time, he was contacted by the security guard for again trespassing on the property. When the security guard asked him to leave, the suspect pulled out a nine inch long railroad spike, threatened the security guard and held it in close proximity to the guard. The security guard backed away and called 911. While he was doing this, the suspect fled.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect, 26 year old Andrew Martinez, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon (felony), threatening the security guard’s life (felony), possession of a dirk/dagger (misdemeanor) and possession of methamphetamine (misdemeanor).
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court’s case inquiry system shows since 2016 that the suspect has been arrested four times for trespassing, three times for possession of narcotics paraphernalia, one time for possession of burglary tools and one time for possession of a banned substance.
Possession of Methamphetamine and a Concealed Handgun
On July 1, at 11:54pm, officers responded to a call for service regarding a person passed out behind the steering wheel of a car in a restaurant drive thru. When officers arrived, they contacted the suspect, 30 year old Ventura resident Robert Gray, who was still passed out. A DUI investigation followed and the suspect was arrested. There was a vicious dog inside the car, and Ventura County Animal Control was called to take possession of the dog. After the dog was removed, officers searched the suspect’s vehicle and found a concealed handgun along with methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested for the drugs, the paraphernalia and the concealed weapon.
Vandalism Arrest
On July 7, at approximately 8:15pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a subject tagging near the Cross at 699 Brakey Rd., inside Serra Cross Park. Officers responded and detained a male, later identified as 24 year old Riverside resident Moises Melendez, and a female.
During the investigation, officers spoke to a witness that saw Melendez using a spray paint can to spray graffiti on several locations inside the park. The graffiti, which was found at the base of the Cross and nearby steps, was in excess of $400 and appeared to be gang related.
Melendez was arrested for felony vandalism and a gang enhancement. The female was not arrested and released from the scene.
The public can report any damage from graffiti by leaving a message on the City of Ventura’s Graffiti Removal Hotline number at 654-7805.
Residential Burglary and Conspiracy Arrests
On July 9, at approximately 1:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a possible residential burglary that just occurred in the 900 block of Poli St. The resident, who was home at the time, reported two subjects had just attempted to enter her residence and when confronted, fled westbound from the area on skateboards. Officers responding to the call located the two juvenile suspects a short distance away and detained them.
During the investigation officers learned that the resident was inside her home when she heard a noise in the backyard. She went to investigate the noise and found the two male juveniles near a window, and the screen removed. The juveniles fled from the backyard when confronted by the resident.
Both juveniles were arrested for attempted residential burglary and conspiracy. The resident was not injured as a result of this incident.
