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.
Attempted Murder, Terrorist Threats, Felony Child Endangerment, Felony Vandalism
On December 17, at approximately 7pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a family disturbance and reports that one of the family members, later identified as the suspect, 20 year old Ventura resident Gabriel Estrada, was making threats and had armed himself with a hammer.
As officers arrived on scene, they observed the victim, a 43-year-old female, running from the apartment with Estrada chasing after her. Officers saw Estrada hit the victim, who was later determined to be Estrada’s mother, in the head with the hammer. After deploying a taser, which was not effective, officers tackled Estrada and took him into custody.
The victim was treated at the scene by Ventura City Fire personnel, and later transported to VCMC for non-life threatening injuries.
During the investigation, officers learned that Estrada forced his way into a bedroom prior to officers arriving and had made verbal threats towards his 14-year-old sister. She was not injured as a result of this crime.
After being cleared from VCMC for minor injuries he sustained as a result of the arrest, Estrada was booked into the Ventura County Jail for attempted murder, terrorist threats, felony child endangerment and felony vandalism.
Vehicle Break-In, Property Theft
On December 19, at approximately 10:30pm , the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911call from the victim indicating she was holding down and detaining the suspect, 22 year old Ventura resident Erick Stevenson who had just broken into her car. Officers arrived on scene and found the victim and suspect a block from her car.
During the investigation, it was learned that the victim worked nearby on East Main St. and went to leave when she forgot something at her place of work. She left her car unlocked and walked in her business for a minute and returned to find Stevenson rummaging through her car. The victim confronted Stevenson and tried to detain him physically. Stevenson began to struggle with the victim and pushed her down. Stevenson fled from the scene with some of the victim’s property, and the victim gave chase. The victim caught Stevenson a block away and tackled him to the ground. The victim struggled with Stevenson again and was finally able to detain him until police arrived and took Stevenson into custody.
The victim suffered minor injuries during the struggle she had with Stevenson and was treated at the scene.
Stevenson had minor scrapes and was treated at the scene. Stevenson was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Robbery.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrest
On December 24, at approximately 6:45pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a caller reporting that he was just hit by a vehicle near the intersection of Ash St. and Front St. The 28-year- old victim and the suspect, later identified as 59 year old vagrant Kevin Mateas, were known to each other and got into a verbal argument. Mateas was leaving in his vehicle and intentionally struck the victim as he left. The victim sustained minor injuries and refused medical treatment at the scene.
Officers checked the area, but were unable to locate the suspect.
At approximately 1940 hrs, Mateas had driven to the Ventura Police Department and was contacted in the parking lot of the station. After further investigation, Mateas was taken into custody. He was later booked into the Ventura County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon.
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Mateas has no prior convictions.
