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.
Ventura Police Patrol, School Resource Officers
On June 14, at approximately 12:45 pm, Officers responded to the 500 Block of Mills Rd. regarding a stolen vehicle sighted in the area. A Patrol Officer located the vehicle parked in the Pacific View Mall parking structure with two occupants, later identified as 34-year-old Oxnard resident Andrew Rodriguez and 24-year-old Oxnard resident Adriana Romero. The driver, Rodriguez, immediately fled on foot. A School Resource Officer who was working at an event at Anacapa Middle School, located Rodriguez running onto the campus, and took Rodriguez into custody without incident. The school was briefly placed on a lockdown during the apprehension.
During the investigation, it was discovered that Rodriguez had caused deliberate damage to the vehicle at a cost of approximately $15,000. Rodriguez was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Felony Vandalism, and Resisting/delaying/obstructing an Officer.
Romero was arrested and booked at Ventura County Jail for Possession of a Controlled Substance.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon (knife), Hit & Run, and Resist, Delay Arrest
On June 18, at approximately 2:00 am, the Ventura Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call that a stabbing had just occurred in the 6500 block of Telephone Rd. The suspect, later identified as Pedro Hernandez, fled in his vehicle, striking two parked cars while driving away at high speed. Officers arrived in the area and found the victim, who was transported to VCMC and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Additional officers attempted to locate the suspect.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the victim and Hernandez were in a verbal altercation outside of a bar when Hernandez pulled a knife and began stabbing the victim, hitting him once in the shoulder. The victim escaped the attack, and Hernandez ran to his vehicle and fled the scene.
Officers were able to locate a possible residence and found Hernandez’s car. Hernandez was inside his home and refused to come outside. Ventura Police Department Detectives responded to assist with the investigation. In the afternoon of June 18, detectives took Hernandez into custody without incident outside his residence.
Hernandez was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, misdemeanor Hit & Run, and Resist, Delay a Peace Officer.
Child Abandonment
On June 23, at approximately 1:00 am, employees of a business in the 4200 block of Transport Street heard a female screaming in the rear alley way. They approached the female and saw her remove her pants and immediately give birth to an infant. She placed the infant on the ground, severed the umbilical cord, and quickly ran away from the area. The witness employees called 9-1-1, picked up the infant, and cared for it until paramedics arrived. The infant appeared healthy and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. As of this writing, the infant is in stable condition. Officers conducted an extensive search for the female but were unable to locate her. She is described as a white female with short dark hair who appeared to be unhoused. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is encouraged to call 9-1-1 or 805-650-8010 to report it, as she may be in need of medical care.
The Ventura Police Department would like to remind the community that the State of California has a “Safe Surrender” program in which a parent or person with lawful custody can safely surrender a baby confidentially, and without fear of prosecution, within 72 hours of birth, at various locations, including hospitals and fire stations. For further information and additional Safe Surrender locations, refer to the State’s website at https://www.cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/safely-surrendered-baby/surrender-sites.
Pursuit of a Stolen Electric Bicycle
On June 23, at approximately 8:00 am, Officers attempted to stop the suspect, Belmontes for riding an electric bicycle (E-bike) against on-coming traffic near the intersection of Olive St. and Main Street. The suspect refused to stop and actively tried to evade the officers. The suspect dumped the E-bike and fled on foot to the rear of a business at the intersection of Main St. and Ventura Avenue.
A motor officer in the area deployed a drone and located the suspect in a rear fenced yard to a nearby art studio, armed with pruning shears. Officers set a perimeter and evacuated the occupants of the studio. Once confined, the suspect threatened to kill officers if they approached and brandished the shears. Officers began negotiations with the suspect to seek a peaceful surrender.
After approximately 1 hour, the suspect agreed to surrender, and officers took him into custody. As officer were searching the suspect, they found a small pair of pointed scissors concealed in his clothing in a manner that made the weapon easily accessible. The ensuing investigation revealed the suspect tried to enter the art studio through a sliding glass door while being pursued by officers. No one was injured during this arrest.
Criminal Threats, Resist/Delay Peace Officer Arrest
On June 24, at about 9pm, the Ventura Police Department Communications Center received a 911 call that Uzyel Carrasco, 24-year-old Ventura resident, was disturbing inside a home in the 2800 block of Sherwin Ave. and had threatened to shoot his family members. Fearing for their safety, the family fled the residence and met officers away from the home. When officers arrived in front of the house, Carrasco jumped out of a back window and hid in a rear shipping container. Officers briefly established contact with Carrasco, who refused to come out and surrender. He then stopped communicating.
Based on the circumstances and the chance for violence, the police department went into a Tactical Alert, and the Ventura Police SWAT Team was activated to assist at the scene. Ventura Police Detectives continued the investigation, and after obtaining a search warrant, the SWAT Team entered the shipping container and took Carrasco into custody. Officers also located and seized two firearms.
Carrasco was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for Criminal Threats, a felony, and misdemeanor Resist, Delay a Peace Officer. No one was injured during the incident
