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.
Shooting Investigation with Arrest
The Ventura Police Department has been investigating three separate shootings that have occurred in the Montalvo area of Ventura.
The first shooting occurred on June 8, at 11:00 pm in the 2300 block of Peacock Av. In this incident the suspect shot several times into an unoccupied vehicle.
The second shooting occurred on July 22, at 3:30 am at Peacock Av and Whippoorwill St. In this incident a delivery driver was confronted by the suspect and as the victim was leaving the area the suspect shot several times at the victim striking his car as he left the location.
The third shooting occurred on July 24, at 8:00 am at Peacock Av and Bristol Rd. In this incident the suspect fired several rounds at an occupied parked vehicle and fled on foot from the area.
The Ventura Police Department Gang unit began investigating these cases and identified the suspect as 36-year-old Anthony Trejo, a documented gang member, who was responsible for the shootings. An arrest warrant for assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an occupied vehicle was obtained for Trejo.
On July 27, at 2:00 pm, Gang Investigators and other detectives located Trejo in the 6300 block of Bristol Rd. During the contact Trejo resisted arrest and was found to be in possession of a concealed handgun.
Trejo was arrested for his outstanding arrest warrant for assault with a deadly weapon and shooting at an occupied vehicle. He was arrested for additional charges of felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled substance with a firearm, and resisting arrest.
Trejo was subsequently booked into Ventura County Jail.
These incidents are still under investigation and anyone with information about these crimes are asked to call Detective Reginato at 805-339-4466.
Brandishing a Firearm in Public
On July 27, at approximately 8:00 pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a subject brandishing a handgun outside of his parked vehicle. The subject was also heard yelling racial slurs, however no victims of a hate crime were located.
Officers arrived within minutes and located Watson in his vehicle who was argumentative with the officers. The officers conducted a high-risk stop and Watson was detained.
An eyewitness to the event identified 41-year-old Ventura resident Jerrod Watson as the subject that brandished the firearm. Officers located the firearm and ammunition in Watson’s vehicle. Officers also located narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia.
Watson was booked into the Ventura County Jail for various gun charges, brandishing of a firearm, and possession of drug paraphernalia. A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows Watson has prior arrests and convictions for possession of a deadly weapon, criminal threats, forgery, and petty theft with priors.
Dog Fatally Shot After Attacking Officer
On August 3, at approximately 4:00 am, officers were on routine foot patrol at the South End of Ash St. As the officers were walking towards several vehicles parked in the area. They observed a dog off leash that immediately headed toward their direction.
As the dog approached one of the officers, it circled behind him, and attempted to bite him. The officer attempted to avoid the dog however it continued aggressing him. The officer drew his service weapon and fired several rounds at the dog striking the dog several times. The dog died at the location.
Ventura Police Major Crimes responded to investigate the incident as is customary whenever a firearm is discharged in the course of an officer’s duties.
The ensuing investigation revealed that the dog, an approximately 45-pound Belgian Malinois mix, aggressively approached the officers and attacked one officer twice before that officer fired his service weapon striking the dog to prevent being bitten. The investigation revealed that there was another incident on April 9 involving the same dog. In that incident the dog was off leash and had bitten a female victim in Plaza Park. The owner was issued a citation for dog of leash during that encounter.
Ventura County Animal Control took custody of the dog and performed a necropsy for official cause of death.
As a reminder dog owners are responsible for their dog to be on leash anytime they are on any public street, alley, lane, or place of nature. There are designated off leash areas at Camino Real Park and Arroyo Verde Park during designated hours.
