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.
Robbery, Delaying a Peace Officer, and Vandalism Arrest
On June 11, at approximately 9:00 pm, Ventura Police Patrol officers responded to a report of a theft which just occurred in the 1000 block of East Thompson Blvd. The suspect had entered the business and after a brief altercation with the employees, stole an item from the business. The suspect then left the business and was reported to be armed with a knife.
Patrol officers and a K-9 officer arrived on scene and contacted the suspect, 36-year-old Pete Holder. Holder was armed with a knife and a blunt object. Holder refused orders to drop the knife however was taken into custody. Officers on scene determined Holder had brandished the knife at an employee of the business after stealing property and threatened to stab the employee. It was also determined just prior to the robbery; Holder had slashed multiple tires at a separate business in the area.
Holder was arrested and booked at Ventura County Jail for Robbery, Delaying a Peace Officer, and Vandalism.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website revealed Holder has arrests for Resisting an Executive Officer, Removing a Weapon from a Peace Officer, Battery with Injury on a Peace Officer, and Arson. Holder is also currently on Parole Supervision.
Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On June 6, at approximately 8:00 am, Ventura Police Officers responded to the area of Shenandoah St. and Chalmette Ave. regarding a Chevy S-10 pickup truck that had just been stolen. At approximately 3:00 pm, the truck was seen in the 1200 block of N. Ventura Ave. Patrol Officers responded and, on arrival, conducted an enforcement stop as it entered the parking lot of a business.
Carlos Martinez, 24-year-old Ventura resident, and 23 year old Ventura resident Juan Solis were taken into custody without incident. During the investigation, officers determined that the suspects had painted the vehicle to cover the original color. Martinez and Solis were arrested for the unlawful taking of a vehicle, grand theft auto, felony vandalism, and conspiracy.
The vehicle was returned to the owner.
Narcotics Arrest
On June 23, at approximately 7:00 am, Ventura Police Department patrol officers responded to a call for service of a subject passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle that was running. Officers arrived and discovered the driver, 52-year-old Ventura resident Michael Arellanes, was asleep behind the wheel and under the influence of a controlled substance.
During the subsequent investigation, officers discovered and recovered a large quantity of Fentanyl and evidence of narcotics sales inside Arellanes’s vehicle.
As a result of the investigation, Arellanes was arrested for under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics for sales.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court shows that Michael Arellanes has several prior arrests for narcotics violations including numerous arrests for narcotics sales.
Stabbing Arrest
On June 26, at 7:45am, the Ventura Police Command Center received multiple calls about a stabbing in progress in the shopping center at 1145 S. Victoria Ave. The first patrol officer arrived on scene in less than 3 minutes and was directed by witnesses to the suspect’s exact location, which was now inside Vons. The suspect (later identified as 49 year old Daniel Rodriguez) was located by officers inside Vons still holding a knife. When given verbal orders, the suspect put down the knife but would not comply with any other commands. After a brief struggle, officers were able to safely take Rodriguez into custody.
After speaking with multiple victims and witnesses, officers learned Rodriguez was responsible for stabbing one person inside Wing Stop and another person inside I Love Sushi. While walking between the two businesses, Rodriguez threatened to stab one other person in the parking lot. There was no relation between any of the victims. Both victims who were assaulted inside the restaurants received non-life- threatening injuries and are being treated at a local hospital.
After being interviewed by Detectives, Rodriguez was arrested for 3 counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
Shooting Investigation with Arrest
On June 26, at approximately 7:00 pm, hours the Ventura Police Department responded to a call of a shooting victim in the 600 block of Cedar St.
Officers arrived on scene and found the victim suffering from a single gun shot wound to his torso. He was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center for life threatening injuries.
The subsequent investigation revealed that the suspect and victim had a brief encounter while in their vehicles near Olive St and Harrison Av. The suspect followed the victim to the 600 block of Cedar St where an altercation ensued.
The suspect, later identified as James Cruz, produced a handgun, and shot the victim. Cruz fled the location in his vehicle.
Later in the evening, officers located the suspect vehicle on Victoria Av. The suspect was stopped and taken into custody without incident.
Cruz was booked into the Ventura County Jail on charges of attempted murder. The victim remains in serious condition in the hospital.
Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call the Ventura Police Department.
