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.
Felony Hit and Run Collision
On January 26, at approximately 7:30 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call of a pedestrian being dragged under a vehicle on Crescent St. from the intersection of Johnson Drive.
Responding officers arrived on scene and found an unresponsive male subject laying in the eastbound lane of Crescent Street. Fire and paramedic personnel rendered immediate medical attention and the victim was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
The ensuing investigation revealed a separate vehicle had originally collided with the victim on Johnson Dr. at the intersection with Crescent St. and that vehicle failed to stop. That elderly driver returned to the scene minutes later to report he may have been involved in a collision. While a witness was using his vehicle to block the pedestrian down in the road, a red sedan drove around their vehicle and drove over the downed victim. This red sedan fled the scene westbound on Crescent St. at a high rate of speed, dragging the victim approximately 300 feet under the vehicle. At this time, we have not located the red sedan involved in this second collision and traffic investigators are gathering evidence.
The victim is currently in critical condition. The elderly driver in the first collision was evaluated and was not found to be under the influence. The cause of this collision is under investigation and preliminary evidence may suggest the victim was crossing Johnson Dr. against a don’t walk signal.
Anyone with any information is requested to contact Traffic Investigator Tyler Bevan at 805-339-4447
Robbery
On January 27, at approximately 6:30 pm, the suspect 25 year old vagrant Garrett Powell entered the Aloha Steak House and went to the Bar where he ordered a drink. Powell was denied service when he was unable to provide identification. He then ordered dinner and, after finishing, walked out of the restaurant without paying for his meal.
A customer who noticed Powell leaving without paying attempted to stop Powell. In response, Powell began to pull out a machete from his duffle bag. The Bartender for the restaurant told the customer to let Powell leave and immediately called 911. Powell left the restaurant and began walking north towards Downtown Ventura. Within 3 minutes of receiving the call, Ventura Patrol Officers located Powell at California St and Santa Clara St.
Powell was immediately contacted and identified as the suspect. During the initial contact, Powell refused to listen to the officer’s orders and, out of concern for the community’s safety, was physically taken to the ground. Once on the ground, the officers successfully took him into custody. Powell was not injured during the arrest, and one officer sustained a minor sprain to his hand, which was treated at a local hospital. Powell was transported to Ventura County Jail and booked for Robbery.
Residential Burglary Arrest
On January 29, a Ventura Police Department Patrol Officer responded to a burglary investigation at a residence in the 6300 block of Hunter Street. During the investigation, the officer learned that the suspect, 59 year old Joseph Mancuso, was captured on video surveillance removing property from the residence.
On January 30, at approximately 3:30 pm, Ventura Police Patrol Officers responded to a burglary in progress at the residence on Hunter st. The reporting party was offsite and saw Mancuso on live video surveillance inside the home. Officers arrived within four minutes of the call and determined that Mancuso was still inside. Officers were able to contact Mancuso and ordered him to exit. Upon exiting, Mancuso was taken into custody without incident.
While conducting the investigation, Officers determined that Mancuso was staying in a room at a local motel. Officers searched the room per Mancuso’s probation terms and found property taken during the burglary.
Mancuso was booked at Ventura County Jail for 459 PC-Burglary and 496 PC- Possession of Stolen Property.
