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.
Hit and Run, Wanted Person Arrest
On January 28. at approximately 7:30am, a Ventura Police Patrol Officer saw the suspect commit a traffic violation in the area of Montgomery and Newtown. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, the suspect failed to yield and fled. Due to the heavy traffic conditions, the officer did not pursue after the suspect and the suspect was last seen entering a nearby neighborhood.
Additional officers arrived in the area to assist. As they searched the area, the found the suspect’s vehicle had collided with a parked car, and the suspect fled on foot into the neighborhood. A police K9 and the VCSO Air Unit were used to assist with the search. After approximately an hour, the suspect, 35 year old Ventura resident Brandon Bartek, was found and arrested for misdemeanor hit and run and misdemeanor failure to yield to officers.
A records check revealed he also had an outstanding felony warrant from Los Angeles County. No one was injured during this incident.
Commercial Burglary Arrest
On February 4, at 2:00am, officers responded to an alarm activation at the business. Officers arrived on scene within four minutes of receiving the call and discovered the suspect, 32 year old Carlos Flores, was still inside actively burglarizing the business.
After several minutes, the suspect tried to escape but officers caught him. At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect was arrested for the felony charge of Commercial Burglary. No one was injured during this incident.
Narcotics Arrests
On February 6, at 5:00am, members of the Ventura Police Department SCU Narcotics unit conducted a search warrant at the above address as a result of a month-long investigation into narcotics sales. Detectives using investigative tools were able to identify a primary suspect as Natasha Suarez.
During the execution of the search warrant, SCU detectives found and detained 40 year old Ventura resident Natasha Suarez, 55 year old Ventura resident William Kemp, and 38 year old Ventura resident Stephen Williams inside the apartment. During the subsequent investigation, it was discovered that Kemp and Williams had active felony warrants for which they were arrested. A large quantity of narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia was also found inside the apartment.
As a result of the investigation, Natasha Suarez was arrested for possession of narcotics for sales. William Kemp was arrested for an outstanding warrant for possession of narcotics.
Stephen Williams was arrested for a PROs warrant.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court shows that Natasha Suarez and William Kemp have prior arrests for narcotics-related crimes including sales of narcotics. Stephen Williams has numerous prior arrests and convictions for drug-related crimes. All subjects have prior arrests for property crimes.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrest
On February 7, at approximately 10:30pm, officers were patrolling the area of the 100 block of N. Olive St., when they heard a female calling for help. The officers located the 50 year old female who reported that her boyfriend, later identified as the suspect 56 year old vagrant James Willet, was disturbing and armed with a knife. Officers located Willet nearby and detained him. The officers also contacted two other individuals, including a 42 year old male victim.
During the investigation, officers learned that Willet and the female were staying in a parked motorhome and got into verbal argument. The female left the motorhome and contacted the male victim who was just a passerby, and asked him for help. Willet exited the motorhome and threatened to harm the male. He then went back into the motorhome and armed himself with a knife. Willet exited from the motorhome and began swinging the knife at the male. The female began yelling, and got the attention of the officers. Willet discarded the knife when he saw the officers approaching.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Willet was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon. No was injured as a result of this incident.
