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 Resisting and threatening a police officer
On April 26, at approximately 4pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call that a subject was setting up an illegal camp in the parking lot behind Marie Callenders.
Officers responded to the location and found that 27 year old vagrant Fausto Reyes Huerta had built a shelter out of wood from a large tree that had been cut down and other scrap material from the area. Officer verbally contacted Huerta and he immediately became uncooperative, refused to come out of the shelter and threatened to “cut” officers if they came near him.
After talking with Huerta for almost an hour, A Ventura PD K-9 was brought to the scene and Huerta came out of the shelter and continued to threaten officers verbally. He was taken into custody without incident, and no one was injured during the incident.
Huerta was medically cleared at the Ventura County Medical Center for unrelated medical issues, before being booked into Ventura County Jail for the above charge.
Train vs. Pedestrian
On April 26, at approximately 5pm, the Ventura Police Command Center was notified by Amtrak dispatch regarding a pedestrian being struck by an Amtrak train on the railroad tracks near the railroad trestle west of the fairgrounds. Officers arrived on scene and found the 45 year old female victim lying adjacent to the railroad tracks. Ventura Fire and AMR personnel also responded and immediately pronounced the victim deceased.
According to the train engineer the southbound train was travelling at approximately 50 mph, when he saw the victim standing on the railroad tracks in the middle of the tracks. It appeared the victim did not attempt to get out of the way of the train. The train horn was sounded and all emergency attempts were made to stop the train, but the train did not stop in time and struck the victim.
Ventura County Medical Examiner responded to the scene. The name of the victim was not immediately determined. Once the victim’s identity has been confirmed, the coroner’s office will notify the next of kin.
The train, occupied by approximately 85 passengers, was delayed at the scene for two hours while the investigation was being completed.
Felony Resisting, Felony Battery on a Police Officer, Felony Vandalism
On April 30, at approximately 2:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from a resident in the 100 block of Forbes Ln., reporting that an unwelcomed family member was disturbing outside of their residence. Prior to officers arriving on scene, it was reported the suspect later identified as 35 year old vagrant Gloria Romero, broke a window and used a hose to spray water inside of the residence. When the first officer arrived on scene, she contacted Romero down the street from the residence at the corner of Ventura Ave. and Forbes Ln.
Romero was uncooperative, and when the officer attempted to detain her, Romero struck the officer in the head with her hand. As Romero was going to hit the officer a second time with a bag she was carrying, the officer deployed a taser which was not effective. Romero continued to resist and threaten the officer, but she was taken into custody when additional officers arrived on scene.
After being medically cleared at VCMC, Romero was booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony resisting, felony battery on a police officer and felony vandalism.
The officer received minor injuries, although remained on duty.
Armed Robbery
On May 1, at approximately 4pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from the female victim reporting that she had been robbed by the suspect while in Chumash Park, 9200 Henderson Rd.
The victim said she was sleeping in the park when the unknown suspect, a white male in his 30’s wearing a “Lakers” hat and a black shirt with a “LA” logo on the front and armed with a knife, woke her up and demanded money. The victim cooperated and gave him an undisclosed amount of money. After taking the money, the suspect fled on foot westbound from the park.
The victim was not injured as a result of this incident.
Anyone with information or is a witness to this crime is asked to contact the Ventura Police Department at 339-4488.
