Brandishing a Firearm
On Sunday, October 18th, at 8:08 p.m., the VPD received a call from Jose Castillo, who reported a suspect brandished a firearm at him in the 600 block of Riverside Street.
The suspect, Javier Castro, had made threatening statements to Castillo while brandishing a firearm. Castillo feared for his life and called 911. Responding officers located Castro attempting to drive away.
Officers stopped the vehicle Castro was driving at Warner Street and Ventura Avenue and took him into custody. During the search of Castro’s vehicle, officers located a 9mm semi-automatic handgun, ammunition and a high capacity magazine. Castro had previously been convicted of multiple felonies and is prohibited from possessing a firearm and/or ammunition.
Evading Police
On Thursday, October 22nd, at 10:20 p.m., the VPD received multiple calls reporting gunfire on North Dunning Avenue. The callers reported seeing a silver vehicle occupied with multiple subjects fleeing the scene eastbound on Telegraph Road. As officers were responding to scene, they observed a vehicle matching the suspect vehicle description driving at a high rate of speed near the Five-Points intersection.
Officers attempted to the stop vehicle but the vehicle failed to yield. After a brief pursuit, the vehicle stopped on Howard Street, near Thompson Boulevard, and the suspect driver, Andrew Hurns, fled from the vehicle on foot. The other four occupants in the vehicle complied with officers’ instructions, and they were taken into custody safely. As for Hurns, he was eventually taken into custody after he was located hiding in a nearby neighborhood.
The subsequent investigation revealed Hurns had threatened the residents at a home on San Luis Street with a replica firearm. The victim, in fear for his safety, armed himself with a real firearm and fired several rounds at Hurns’ vehicle. The bullets struck the vehicle, but no individuals were struck by the gunfire.
The replica firearm and a small quantity of narcotics were recovered from the suspect vehicle. Hurns was booked at the VC Jail.
