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.
Discharging a Firearm in Public Arrest
On July 12, at approximately 12:45 am, officers responded to a call of a gunshot fired to the front of The Tavern located at 211 E. Santa Clara Street. Officers conducted an investigation and determined the suspect was observed inside the bar with a semi-automatic pistol. Security contacted the suspect and escorted him outside. Once outside, the suspect drew the handgun, fired it in the air, and ran east on Santa Clara Street.
Officers canvassed the area and located 24-year-old Santa Paula resident Michael Zepeda, who matched the description of the suspect loitering near the parking structure located at 555 E. Santa Clara Street. Officers also recovered the handgun. Zepeda was arrested and booked in Ventura County Jail for Penal Code Sections 246.3- Negligent Discharge of a Firearm and 25850(a)- Carrying a Loaded Firearm in Public.
Prowling and Possession of a Loaded Firearm Arrest
On July 15, at approximately 3:15 am, officers responded to a call for service regarding a suspect seen trying to enter unlocked cars in the area of the 5500 block of Lafayette Street. Officers canvassed the area and located a male matching the description of the suspect and detained him. During the investigation the suspect was identified as 30 year old Juan Ortiz, and he was placed under arrest for Prowling.
Ortiz was also found to possess a loaded handgun, drug paraphernalia, controlled substances, and burglary tools. He was booked in Ventura County Jail.
Narcotics Arrest
On July 16, at 4:00 pm, members of the Ventura Police Department SCU Narcotics unit, with the assistance of patrol officers, and a Ventura Police K9 conducted a search warrant at the above address due to an investigation into narcotics sales. Detectives using investigative tools were able to identify a primary suspect as Elizabeth Valenzuela.
During the execution of the search warrant and the subsequent investigation, detectives recovered narcotics and evidence of narcotics sales inside Valenzuela’s vehicle.
As a result of the investigation, 39-year-old Ventura resident Elizabeth Valenzuela was arrested for possession for sales of a controlled substance.
Benjamin Acosta, 33-year-old Ventura resident, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
Robert Farrell, 42-year-old Ventura resident was arrested for possession of brass knuckles and a controlled substance.
Shooting
On July 21, at 3:30 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call of a shooting victim at Simpson St and Ventura Av. Responding officers arrived on scene and located a 20-year-old male victim lying on the sidewalk suffering from a gunshot wound.
Ventura Fire and AMR ambulance arrived and transported the victim to the Ventura County Medical Center.
The ensuing investigation revealed that the victim was east of Ventura Av on Simpson St when he was shot at numerous times and was struck once in the torso.
The victim is currently at the Ventura County Medical Center in critical condition. Anyone with information about this shooting is asked to call Detective Espinosa at 805-339-4497.
Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On July 23, at approximately 9:00 pm, a Ventura Police Officer was patrolling in the area of Victoria Av and Moon Dr. when he observed a stolen Ford Edge driving in front of him. Officers stopped the vehicle and contacted the occupants.
During the investigation, it was determined 50 year old Joseph Nichols was driving the car, and it was stolen from Thousand Oaks. Nichols also illegally possessed fentanyl and indicia of sales of the drug. He was arrested and booked in Ventura County Jail for driving a stolen vehicle, possession for sales of a controlled substances, possession of stolen property, and outstanding warrants.
The passenger, 25-year-old Dororthy Beltran, was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail for possession of a controlled substance, possession of stolen property, and outstanding warrants.
