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.
Carrying a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle Arrest
On June 3, at approximately 4:45 pm, a Ventura Police Patrol Officer stopped a vehicle for a registration violation in the 1700 block of North Ventura Avenue. The officer contacted the driver, 20-year-old Ventura resident Joseph Centeno, and learned that Centeno was on probation. Centeno and other occupants were removed from the vehicle, and a search was conducted pursuant to Centeno’s probation terms. During the search, a loaded, unregistered semi-automatic handgun with a high-capacity magazine was found concealed in the vehicle’s passenger compartment. An inspection of the firearm revealed a threaded barrel capable of accepting a suppressor.
Centeno was arrested and booked at Ventura County Jail for carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, carrying a concealed firearm, and possession of an assault weapon.
Armed Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon
On June 8, at approximately 4:30 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call from Pacific View Mall Security. A man, later identified as 60-year-old vagrant Alex Sainas, was said to be disturbing in front of a business outside of the mall while wielding a golf club. Salinas reportedly stole a knife from a store inside the mall. Mall Security officers were informed about the theft and confronted Salinas, who was holding a golf club. Salinas swung the golf club at the security officers and pulled out the knife. When Ventura police officers arrived, they located Salinas and subsequently arrested him for robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. No one was injured during the incident.
Commercial Burglary Arrest
On June 10, at approxitmately 5:00 am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a possible commercial burglary in progress in the 2400 block of Thompson Blvd. Ventura Police officers arrived and located the suspect, 26-year-old Clifford Hunt, as he was exiting the property and getting into his vehicle, which was parked nearby. Stolen property from the business was located inside Hunt’s vehicle.
Hunt was arrested for Commercial Burglary and Possession of Burglary Tools
