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.
Carjacking with Arrest
On December 2, at approximately 11:30 pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 9-1-1 call from a witness regarding a possible carjacking that had just occurred in the 300 block of S. Borchard Dr. The victim was reportedly laying on the ground after having been beaten by the suspects, who stole her car.
Upon arrival, officers located the victim, a 46-year-old female, who had major injuries. The victim reported that she had been parked on Borchard Drive and got out of her vehicle, preparing to make a charity donation at a nearby collection facility when another vehicle stopped near her, and several subjects got out. She was approached by 3 to 4 females who demanded money and property.
When she said she had no money, the female suspects began to beat her until she fell to the ground. At that point, a male suspect got into the victim’s vehicle, which still had the keys in the ignition, and shouted to the female suspects that they should take the vehicle. The victim got up and reached into the driver’s window of her car to attempt to grab the keys and prevent the theft. The male suspect struck her forcefully, possibly with a blunt object, knocking her down and causing a major facial injury. The suspects drove off, some in the victim’s vehicle and others in the original vehicle they arrived in.
Patrol officers searched the area and located the stolen vehicle as the suspects were driving it nearby. Officers attempted an enforcement stop, but the driver fled in the vehicle. The driver, a 17-year-old male, crashed the vehicle several blocks away. The suspect driver was seriously injured and was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. At the time of this writing, he remains in the hospital in serious condition. There was one passenger in the vehicle, a 15- year-old female. The female was identified as one of the perpetrators in the crime. She had minor injuries, was treated at the hospital, and has since been booked at the Ventura County Juvenile Justice Center for Carjacking, Attempted Robbery, and Conspiracy.
The outstanding suspect vehicle was described as a black sedan or hatchback. There are at least two suspects outstanding. They are described as appearing “young,” possibly in their late teens or early twenties. The juvenile suspects who were apprehended were residents of the city of Oxnard. The victim was transported to the hospital for medical treatment and is expected to fully recover. Anyone with information about this incident or the identities of the outstanding suspects is asked to call the Ventura Police at (805) 650-8010.
Attempted Murder Arrest
On November 18, at approximately 1:00 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call of a subject screaming for help at California St and Thompson Bl.
Officers arrived on scene and located a male victim suffering from a single stab wound to the throat. Ventura City Fire and AMR Ambulance were summoned to the scene and the victim was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center where he underwent emergency surgery for a life-threatening injury. Ventura Police Detectives began to investigate the stabbing and took countless hours attempting to locate potential witnesses or video evidence of the crime. Based on physical evidence, witness, and victim statements investigators identified 31 year old Ventura resident Armando Garcia as the suspect.
The ensuing investigation revealed that the victim and suspect were involved in an altercation at Santa Clara parking structure when the suspect got upset and stabbed the victim one time in the neck. The suspect fled from the location as the victim ran for help.
On December 6, at approximately Ventura Police Department detectives located Armando Garcia and arrested him for an arrest warrant related to this case.
Garcia was booked into Ventura County Jail for attempted murder. The victim has since recovered from his injury.
Garcia has prior arrests for assault with a deadly weapon with gang enhancements, felon in possession of a deadly weapon, an additional arrest for assault with a deadly weapon, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
Attempted Residential Armed Robberies with Arrests
On December 6, at approximately 12:00 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call to the 100 block of Reata Ave regarding an attempted armed robbery. Officers arrived in scene and contacted the victims who said they were unloading groceries from their vehicle when they were confronted by two suspects armed with handguns. The suspects demanded money from the victims and attempted to enter the victim’s residence. The victims did not comply with the suspects, and they fled in a vehicle parked nearby.
On December 7, at approximately 5:30 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call in the 5000 block of Shenandoah St. regarding suspicious circumstances. Two suspects were at the victim’s residence knocking on the door stating they were security officers from the complex and they needed them to come outside. The victim called the police as the suspects remained at the front door.
Officers arrived on scene and immediately detained one suspect wearing a security jacket. The second suspect was stopped in a vehicle attempting to flee the area. The ensuing investigation revealed that the suspects were the same from both incidents. The suspect that was detained in from of the residence on Shenandoah St was in possession of two loaded handguns. The suspects were identified as: 30 year old Oxnard resident Joseph Felix Damion and was arrested for two counts of attempted armed robbery and two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery. 27 year old Los Angeles resident Kang Sooyoung and was arrested for two counts of attempted armed robbery, two counts of conspiracy to commit robbery, felon in possession of a loaded handgun, and a violation of parole. No victims were injured during the commission of these crimes
Child Luring Arrest
The Ventura Police Department, in conjunction with the Ventura Unified School District, has been investigating several cases of an individual who had been on the Ventura High Campus without authorization. The subject, identified as 28 year old Ventura resident Dylan Thoele, was first contacted on November 16 by school staff and was advised he was on campus illegally and not to return while school was in session.
On November 23, Thoele returned to campus and was contacted by School staff and fled prior to being contacted by the police. Thoele returned to the campus later in the day and was arrested by School Resource Officers for misdemeanor trespassing while he was engaging school children in conversation.
On December 8, Thoele returned to campus and was seen by school staff having inappropriate conversations with students on campus. Ventura Police Department arrived on campus, but Thoele had left prior to officers arriving. The Ventura Police Department conducted an investigation with the Special Victim’s Unit that culminated in the arrest of Theole later that day at approximately 4:30 pm. Theole was booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony child luring with the intent to commit sexual acts.
The Ventura Police Department and the Ventura Unified School District maintain a strong collaborative relationship focused on the safety and security of students and staff on campus.
Stabbing with Arrest
On December 8 at approximately 7:00 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 9-1-1 call of a disturbance inside a residence in the 3700 block of Dean Drive. Upon arrival officers located a female victim in her 20’s suffering from multiple stab wounds. Officers provided first aid to the victim and, based on the severity of her injuries, immediately transported her to a local hospital in a patrol car.
After a brief standoff at the residence, the suspect was arrested, 24 year old Ventura resident Tommy Kelley. The investigation revealed the victim and the suspect are relatives. They got into an argument, which resulted in the suspect stabbing the victim several times. Family members then called 9-1-1. The victim is currently in stable condition at the hospital. The suspect was booked at Ventura County Jail for resisting arrest (misdemeanor) and assault with a deadly weapon (felony).
Residential Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition, Possession of Narcotics and Firearm, Carrying a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle Arrest
On November 28, at approximately 11:30am, it was reported to the Ventura Police Department that property had been stolen from a garage in the 1700 block of Daffodil Ave. The Ventura Police Street Crimes Unit was able to identify 31 year old Ventura resident Victor Michael Flores as the suspect of the burglary. On December 9, at approximately 10:00 am, detectives located Flores in the 9000 block of Telephone Rd. Flores was detained and found to be in possession of stolen property, illegal narcotics, and a loaded firearm.
Flores was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for residential burglary, possession of stolen property, a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a firearm and narcotics, and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Flores has prior convictions for stealing a vehicle, DUI, carrying a loaded handgun, and has been arrested for felony evading, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of controlled substance, and elder abuse.
