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.
Vehicle Pursuit and Arrest
On July 12, at approximately 4:45 pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received several 911 calls reporting a reckless driver in the area of Harbor Blvd. and Olivas Park Dr. As officers were responding to the call, callers reported the vehicle was continuing northbound on Harbor Blvd. and was close to causing several accidents. An officer saw the vehicle on Harbor Blvd. near the In and Out Burger and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 39 year old Ventura resident Maricel Martindale, failed to stop and vehicle pursuit was initiated. Martindale was taken into custody without incident.
During a search of her vehicle officers found a small amount of a controlled substance. Martindale was arrested for felony evading arrest and possession of a controlled substance. No one was injured as a result of this incident.
Negligent Discharge of a Firearm and Child Endangerment Arrest
On July 14, at approximately 5:00 pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a suicidal subject that was armed with a gun inside a residence in the 2100 block of Sunridge Dr. It was reported by a family member that the subject, later identified as 28 year old Ventura resident Brian Harvan, had also fired the gun. Officers responded and set up a perimeter around the residence.
Once it was determined that all other family members were out of the residence, officers were able to make verbal contact with Harvan. Officers were successful in getting Harvan to exit the residence and he was taken into custody.
As a result of the investigation, it was determined Harvan armed himself with a handgun and fired a round off after making threats to harm himself. The bullet went through several walls, ending up in an adjacent room that was occupied by two small children.
Harvan was arrested for negligent discharge of a firearm and felony child endangerment. No one was injured as a result of this incident.
Residential Burglary, Theft, Prowling, and Possession of Stolen Property Arrest
On July 21 at 6:30 pm, a resident in the 100 Block of Mara Ave observed a male subject removing a package from the porch of a residence and entering a U-Haul truck. They called 911 and began following the truck, witnessing the suspect, later identified as 28-year-old Santa Paula resident Antonio Porcallo, enter an open garage of a residence on Santa Maria St and steal a bicycle. Responding officers located the U-Haul as it traveled on the eastbound 126 freeway. Officers contacted Antonio Porcallo and the driver, 25 year old Santa Paula resident Jesus Alvarez. Patrol officers also found multiple other items believed to be stolen.
During the investigation, detectives discovered the two suspects had been driving in neighborhoods looking for packages and other property to steal. Detectives were able to identify additional victims of package theft in Ventura and return the property.
Porcallo and Alverez were arrested and transported to the Ventura County Jail, where they were booked for Residential Burglary, Theft, Prowling, Possession of Stolen Property, and Conspiracy. A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Porcallo has been convicted of weapons charges and that Alvarez has been convicted of weapons charges, possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and vehicle theft.
Brandishing and Hate Crime Arrest
On July 21, at approximately 8:15 pm, Ventura Police Officers responded to a disturbance in the area of Santa Clara Ave. and Olive Street. Upon arrival, Investigating Officers learned that two victims, who are black males, and the suspect got into a dispute over parking. During the dispute, 45 year old Ventura resident Rene Roberts, brandished a knife at the victims and called them racial slurs. Officers contacted Roberts while at the scene and she was taken into custody.
Stabbing with Arrest
On July 16, at approximately 8:45 pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of subjects fighting and a stabbing in Mariners Liquor in the Ventura Harbor. Officers responded and located the victim suffering from several stab wounds to his upper torso. The victim was transported to Ventura county medical center for treatment of his injuries.
Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspect. Patrol officers reviewed surveillance video and were able to identify the suspect as 43 year old Ventura resident Jason Garner.
Ventura Police Departments investigative units were able to locate Garner on 7/22/20 in the area of Victoria Blvd. and Telephone Rd. Garner was taken into custody without incident and arrested for the stabbing.
During the booking process at Ventura County Jail, a large amount of narcotics was found hidden on Garner’s person.
Narcotics Arrest
On June 26, officers responded to a drug overdose in the 6600 block of Telephone Rd. While on scene Ventura City Fire personnel were able to revive the overdosed victim by administering Narcan (naloxone HCI) which is used for the treatment of an opioid emergency or a possible opioid overdose.
During the investigation, officers learned the overdose victim was told she bought Cocaine but was actually sold Fentanyl. She inhaled a small amount of the narcotic and quickly overdosed.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. Fentanyl is often added to other drugs to increase their potency. Many users believe that they are purchasing heroin and do not know that they are buying Fentanyl – which often results in overdose deaths.
On July 23 at 10:30 am, members of the Ventura Police Department Narcotics SCU unit completed a month-long investigation into narcotics sales of Fentanyl, resulting in an overdose. Detectives using investigative tools were able to identify, detain, and arrest suspect 20 year old Ventura resident Andrew Boucher for furnishing narcotics.