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.
Assault with Deadly Weapon-Hate Crime Arrest
On May 5, at approximately 10:30 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call from a victim of a stabbing who was enroute to the hospital via a private vehicle.
Officers met the victim at a local hospital and the initial investigation revealed that the victim and his girlfriend were inside a convenience store purchasing items when the suspect approached them.
The suspect confronted the victim, as he was paying for his merchandise, and told him to get out of the store and used a racial slur during the process. The clerk immediately told the suspect to leave the store and the suspect left.
The victim finished purchasing his items and left the store where he was confronted by the suspect outside. Once outside the suspect again used a racial slur and presented a knife. The victim attempted to de-escalate the situation however the suspect lunged at the victim stabbing him twice. The suspect then picked up a skateboard and struck the victim while he was incapacitated. The suspect fled on foot.
During the investigation officers located the suspect near Telephone Rd and Clinton Av. The suspect fled on foot from the officers into the neighborhood. Officers chased the suspect for over 12 minutes until he was apprehended.
The victim suffered moderate to severe injuries from the attack and was treated at Community Memorial Hospital for his injuries. One officer suffered minor injuries during the apprehension.
The suspect, 33 year old Tyler Clark, was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon, hate crime, resisting arrest, vandalism, and violation of parole.
A record check of the Ventura County Superior Court revealed that Clark has priors for assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, resisting arrest, battery on emergency personnel, and many other criminal charges.
The Ventura Police Department takes any acts or threats of violence, property damage, harassment, intimidation, or other crimes motivated by hate or bias seriously and they are given high priority. More information about hate crimes and hate incidents can be located at www.cityofventura.ca.gov/HateCrimes
Stolen Property Arrest
On April 5, a victim in the 100 block of North Olive St. had his unlocked vehicle broken into, ransacked, and his property was taken. Detectives using investigative tools were able to find a potential person of interest, 38 year old Oxnard resident Steven Cossell.
On May 6, at 11:30 am, Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Detectives (SCU) conducted a search warrant at the above address due to an investigation into property crimes. During the execution of the search warrant, detectives located stolen property from the vehicle theft.
Investigators contacted the victim, who identified his property as being stolen. As a result, Cossell was arrested for receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of paraphernalia.
Michael Laser, 29 year old Oxnard resident, was arrested for flash incarceration.
A Ventura County Superior Court website review shows that Cossell has prior convictions for burglary, vehicle theft, theft, identity theft, receiving stolen property, possession of controlled substance, felony evading, under the influence of a controlled substance, hit & run, and driving under the influence.
Negligent Discharge of a Firearm, Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public arrest
On May 6, at approximately 8:30 pm, a citizen was hiking on a trail between two neighborhoods. While the citizen was hiking, he saw a muzzle flash while also hearing a gunshot coming from below where he was hiking. He then heard a ricocheting bullet near him and fled into the adjacent neighborhood while calling 911.
Multiple Ventura PD officers responded and attempted to find the subjects involved in the shooting. They located a vehicle matching the description and contacted the occupants. One of the occupants was found to be in possession of a loaded firearm within the vehicle. That subject, 23 year old Ventura resident Manuel De La Paz, was also determined to be the subject who fired a gun in the general direction of the hiker and nearby homes.
De La Paz was arrested for Negligent Discharge of a Firearm and Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public.
De La Paz was recently arrested by Ventura PD on 4/23/21 for Possession of a Short-Barreled Assault Rifle and also has a prior conviction for Carrying a Concealed Dagger.
