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.
Officer Involved Shooting
On August 12, at approximately 11:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from the California Highway Patrol dispatch reporting that a California Highway Patrol motor officer was involved in an officer involved shooting in the 200 block of Comstock Dr. and were requesting assistance by our officers. Several officers with the Ventura Police Department responded to the area and located the involved CHP officer.
During the investigation it was learned the CHP officer attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Highway 101 for a moving violation when the vehicle exited onto the city streets. The driver of the vehicle attempted to evade the officer and drove onto Comstock St., which is a dead end street. After the driver made a U-turn, the driver drove at a high rate of speed towards the CHP officer and an officer involved shooting occurred. The suspect driver continued and fled the scene.
Approximately 2.5 hours later, the suspect vehicle was located unoccupied in the 2200 block of Katari Ave., which is approximately 2 miles from the scene of where the officer involved shooting occurred. There was evidence that confirmed the vehicle was involved in the incident. The suspect driver has not been located.
The California Highway Patrol officer was not injured.
Illegal Possession of a Firearms Arrest
On August 15 at 11:45am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call from the reporting party that her ex-boyfriend, 39 year old Aaron Saenz, was threatening to commit suicide. During the investigation, officers learned that Saenz has access to guns and recently posted a picture of him being in possession of a firearm and bulletproof vest. Saenz also had two outstanding warrants for his arrest
As officers went to check on Saenz, they found a van belonging to Saenz in front of his address. While checking the van, the officers found Saenz inside. The officer also located a handgun and the bulletproof vest. Saenz was arrest without incident for felony possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, felony possession of brace knuckles and his misdemeanor warrants. No one was injured during this incident, and there was no evidence that Saenz intended to harm himself.
Prowling, Possession of Burglary Tools, Giving False Information to a Police Officer and Parole Violation
On August 17, at approximately 8am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 600 block of Lemon Grove Ave. reporting that a subject was just seen going into the backyard of a neighbor’s residence. The caller saw the subject, later identified as 26 year old Oxnard resident Scott Estrada, near the front door before going into the backyard.
Officers responding to the call and detained Estrada on the side yard of the residence. He first gave the officers a false name, but he was later identified and arrested for prowling, possession of burglary tools, giving false information to a police officer and a parole violation
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Estrada has prior convictions for burglary, prowling, engaging in lewd conduct in public and being a convicted felon.
Commercial Burglary Arrest
On August 1 at 3am, an unknown subject driving a U-Haul truck pulled up to two businesses on Morse Ave and forced entry into both establishments and stole property. On August 3 at 4:40am, the same subject driving the same U-Haul forced entry into a business on King Dr and stole property.
During the investigation, 28 year old James Moug became a suspect in all three burglaries. On August 21, Detectives with the Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit, with the assistance of Detectives from Bakersfield Police and Kern County Probation served a search warrant on Moug’s residence in the city of Bakersfield. Moug was located and arrested and much of the stolen property was found.
Moug was arrested and subsequently booked at the Ventura County Jail. A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Moug has prior convictions for grand theft, petty theft, and possession of narcotics.
Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon
On August 23, a approximately 5:15am, patrol officers responded to a call for service regarding a robbery in progress at one of the boating docks in the Ventura Harbor. Upon arrival, a security guard advised the suspect was in the process of taking docking material worth a couple of thousand dollars. As the suspect was leaving with the property the security guard confronted him. In response, the suspect armed himself with a machete and advanced at the security guard while swinging it at him. When the security guard backed away the suspect fled the area with the stolen property.
Responding officers canvased the area and located the suspect, still in possession of the stolen property and machete, in a nearby hotel parking lot. The suspect was identified as 46 year old Samuel Bingham. Bingham was booked in Ventura County Jail for Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court’s case inquiry system shows since 2013 the suspect has been convicted three times for possession of drug paraphernalia, once for possession of a controlled substance, and once for possession of a concealed dagger.
Attempt Robbery, Threats, Brandishing and Battery.
On August 23, at approximately 6:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call regarding a disturbance in the 2900 block of Telegraph Road. Officers responded and contacted the victim. Through the investigation, it was determined the suspect was sleeping behind a business in the 2900 block of Telegraph Road when an employee contacted him and asked him to leave. The suspect responded by punching the victim in the face and taking the victim’s backpack. The suspect then brandished a pocket knife at the victim, while threatening to stab him and demanding his money. The victim backed away and yelled for someone to call the police. A nearby citizen heard the victim and called 911. The suspect dropped the victim’s backpack and fled the area.
Additional responding officers canvassed the area and located the suspect in the 2600 block of Thompson Blvd. The suspect was identified as 32 year old Jarrett Bruck and was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Attempt Robbery, Threats, Brandishing, and Battery.
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court’s case inquiry system shows that as of 2017 the suspect has been convicted twice for trespassing, once for vandalism, once for theft, once for threatening someone, once for battery, and once for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
The Ventura Police Department would like to take this opportunity to remind residents and businesses that we will respond to incidents of people unlawfully lodging on your property. If you find someone trespassing on your property, you can call us at our non-emergency phone number (805)650-8010, or in cases of emergencies 911.
