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.
Residential Burglary Arrest
On June 12, at approximately 2:00 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call for a residential burglary report. Officers arrived at the residence and took a detailed report with a list of all the stolen property.
At approximately 5:50 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call for throwing trash near a dumpster at Buena High School. Officers arrived and contacted 38 year old Ventura resident Joseph Romero, who was going through the garbage. Officers started an investigation, and property from the earlier burglary was found in the back of Romero’s pickup truck. This lead to a probation search at Romero’s home where the remaining property from the burglary was recovered. Crime Scene Investigators came out and processed the burglary, and further evidence was obtained linking Romero to the crime.
Romero was arrested for Felony Residential Burglary, Possession of Stolen Property, and Misdemeanor Vehicle Vandalism. A search of the Ventura County Superior Court records shows that Romero has been convicted of theft and multiple drug-related crimes.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
On June 14, at approximately 4:15 pm, the Ventura Unified School District was holding senior graduation ceremonies at the City Hall, and the Ventura Police Department School Resource Officers were assisting with event security and traffic control. The event was a modified graduation “experience” in which the participating students and family members were driving up to the front steps of the City Hall to receive their diplomas.
At approximately 1618 hours, one of the officers was at the intersection of Poli St. and Chestnut St., monitoring participating vehicles that were entering the event, when he noticed a vehicle approaching his location westbound on Poli St. The vehicle, a white Jeep Gladiator, was travelling at a high rate of speed and did not appear to be slowing down as it got closer to the intersection. As the officer stood in the street trying to get the driver’s attention, the driver later identified as 29 year old Ojai resident Cameron Ransom, accelerated towards the officer. The officer was able to move out of the path of the vehicle, which continued driving on Poli St. towards the area of the main event, where students, families and school staff were congregated.
Ransom continued to drive at a high rate of speed, before suddenly turning up into the rear parking lot of the City Hall. Before turning, another officer pulled two volunteers, a parent and student, out of the roadway fearing they might get hit by Ransom’s vehicle.
At the time, the rear parking lot was crowded with vehicles, which were occupied by parents and students staged for the event, so all three School Resource Officers quickly responded on foot and in vehicles in an attempt to stop Ransom. Ransom continued to drive recklessly and at a high rate of speed as he started driving back towards the main event. Officers used a patrol vehicle to block his path and attempted to remove Ransom from his vehicle. Ransom resisted, but when additional officers arrived on scene, he was safely detained.
It was determined Ransom was driving under the influence. He became combative during the field sobriety examination and after a brief struggle, he was taken into custody.
After a medical clearance for minor injuries he sustained during the struggle, Ransom was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon of a police officer, resisting arrest and driving under the influence of alcohol.
No one was injured as a result of this incident.
Residential Burglary, Child Endangerment Arrest
On June 23, at approximately 9:45 pm, Patrol officers responded to a 911 call of a burglary in progress where the suspect had broken into the victim’s home by breaking out a window. After he gained access to the house, the residents confronted him, and a physical fight ensued.
When officers arrived, the residents were still fighting with the suspect, 32 year old Ventura resident Luis Alvarez Vargas, inside of the house. Officers immediately assisted and were able to detain him in handcuffs. The suspect was bleeding profusely from a laceration to his arm he received when he broke the window to gain access to the house. Fire and AMR responded and transported the suspect for his injuries.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect was arrested for vandalism, residential burglary, battery, and child endangerment. One of the adult residents had minor injuries as a result of the fight. He was treated at the scene.
