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.
Body Found in Riverbed
On January 9, at approximately 9:00 pm, a male reporting party called 9-1-1 and spoke to the Ventura Police Department Communications Center. The male said that his female friend, later identified as 35-year-old Christina Lorenzen, was in the Santa Clara Riverbed, yelling for help as flood waters were rising. Ventura Police Communications transferred the call to the Ventura County Fire Department Dispatch Center so that a rescue effort could be launched.
Ventura County Fire Dispatch initiated a swift water rescue effort, using several resources from the Ventura County Fire Department, the Ventura City Fire Department, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, including a Search and Rescue team and a helicopter. The rescue resources were unable to locate Lorenzen during their effort. The focus of the search was in the Santa Clara Riverbed in the area of Auto Center Drive and Ventura Road in the City of Ventura.
On January 10, at approximately 6:30 pm, the same caller from the previous evening called the Ventura Police Department Communications Center and indicated that he had found Lorenzen deceased in the riverbed. Ventura Police Department patrol officers responded to the caller’s location and located Lorenzen in a small wooden structure in the riverbed. Lorenzen appeared to have drowned while inside that structure. It appeared that Lorenzen was also living inside of the makeshift structure. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office was notified, and they responded to conduct their own investigation.
During rain events, flooding often occurs in both the Santa Clara and Ventura Rivers, making the areas unsafe. The Ventura Police and other public safety agencies encourage anyone living in or frequenting these areas to evacuate during foul weather and seek shelter and services. For the upcoming rain event expected to begin on Saturday, January 14, the County of Ventura is opening a temporary shelter at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, located at 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. The temporary shelter will be open from Friday, January 13, through Tuesday, January 17. This shelter is open to anyone in need, but primarily focuses on providing temporary shelter for the homeless population of Oxnard and Ventura.
Additional weather information is available through The Ventura County Office of Emergency Services: www.VCEmergency.com. The community can also stay informed of critical incident updates in their area by registering at www.VCAlert.org.
Felony Vandalism
On January 13, at approximately 4:00 am, an alert passerby informed a Ventura Police Patrol Officer that two subjects were vandalizing a wall on Victoria Avenue in between the northbound and southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway. Officers responded to that area and found two subjects standing on an elevated ledge, spray painting graffiti on a wall on the west side of Victoria Avenue in between the northbound and southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway.
As officers were arriving, one suspect fled on foot onto the 101 Freeway. The second subject, later identified as 26-year-old Ventura resident Jacob Summitt, was unable to flee and became stranded on the elevated ledge. Summitt refused to come down from the ledge for several hours as officers attempted to talk him down.
At one point, Summitt threatened to jump off the ledge in an effort hurt himself. A Ventura Police Crisis Negotiations Team Member responded to the scene and attempted to talk with him, but Summitt continued to refuse to come down. At approximately 0819 hours, Summitt indicated that he wanted to come down off the ledge.
The Ventura Fire Department provided a ladder and Summitt climbed down from the ledge. He was arrested for felony vandalism and transported to the Ventura County Jail.
The damage to the wall was estimated to be several thousands of dollars. Traffic was moderately affected on Victoria Avenue during this event.
Fatal Traffic Collision
On January 13, at approximately 7:00 pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call regarding a single vehicle rollover collision in the 7200 block of Bristol Rd. Upon arrival, the vehicle was located on it’s side into a tree and the female driver had been ejected. Lifesaving measures were attempted at the scene, however, the driver had succumbed to her injuries.
Witnesses to the collision said the vehicle was driving erratically at a high rate of speed before losing control while attempting to pass vehicles on the wrong side of the road. The vehicle then struck a tree and wall in the area.
The investigation into this collision is still ongoing and any witnesses are encouraged to contact Traffic Collision Investigator Kyle Halverson at 805-477-3767.
