Train vs. Pedestrian
On Monday, January 4th, at 8:56 p.m., the VPD was notified by Union Pacific officials regarding a pedestrian being struck by a freight train on the railroad trestle near the intersection of California Street and Harbor Boulevard. Officers found the victim lying on the railroad tracks. Ventura Fire personnel pronounced the victim dead at the scene.
According to the train conductor, the northbound train was travelling at approximately 35 mph as it approached the train trestle, when the victim was seen walking on the tracks. The victim had her back to the train. The conductor began sounding the warning horn, but the victim did not respond or move from the train’s path. All emergency attempts were made to stop the train, but the train did not stop in time and struck the victim.
It has been determined that it was a suicide.
Possession of a Loaded Firearm
On Monday, January 4th, at 2:45 p.m., the VPD received a call from a residence in the 200 block of Ute Lane, reporting that a female family member had just left the residence with her husband, Fred Norris, and that the family member had injuries as a result of a physical bout with Norris. Norris and the family member were visiting and had left in a vehicle.
Officers saw the vehicle traveling on Ventura Avenue and initiated a traffic stop. Norris, who was driving, came to a stop.
Officers determined the female was injured as a result of domestic violence. In addition, officers searched Norris’ vehicle and found two concealed and loaded firearms inside.
Norris was arrested and booked into the VC Jail.
The female victim refused any medical attention.
Foot Pursuit
On Thursday, January 7th, at 12:41 p.m., Special Enforcement Team detectives were in the 100 block of Comstock Drive conducting a follow up on an investigation when they saw a wanted person, Jason Pulido, walking in the area. As they attempted to stop Pulido, he ran. After a brief foot pursuit, Pulido ran into a residence and barricaded himself inside. Additional officers and resources arrived in the area to assist. After 90 minutes, Pulido came out of the house and surrendered. He was taken into custody and later booked at VC Jail.
Foot Pursuit
On Friday, January 8th, at 2:25 p.m., Patrol Task Force officers were investigating an ongoing problem of trespassers and illegal campers in the area of the 2500 block of Vista Del Mar Drive. As the officers approached the vagrant camp, Lindsay Fleischer and Christopher Cruz fled. They ran onto the 101 freeway, which impacted the traffic flow, the officers pursuing them. Because of the safety concerns, a traffic break was enacted on the southbound 101 freeway near Seaward which stopped all southbound traffic in that area. As the traffic break was set up, the suspects were able to hide from officers, and once the traffic break was in place, a large area search was conducted. During the search, both suspects were located and arrested.
Fleischer and Cruz were booked into VC Jail. No one was injured during this investigation.
Vehicle Burglary
On Saturday, January 9th, at 11:57 a.m., an alert citizen who was surfing at Surfer’s Point saw the suspect looking inside of her car, which was in the parking lot adjacent to the beach. The victim paddled back to shore, and by the time she reached the parking lot, the suspect had opened all four doors of the car and was inside of the vehicle, rummaging. The victim confronted the suspect, grabbed him to prevent him from leaving and held him until officers arrived.
The suspect, Gordon Gleason, was detained by officers. He had found the victim’s hidden keys and accessed the locked car with them. He was later booked at VC Jail. The victim did sustain a minor injury during the incident, but medical aid was not necessary.
Armed Robbery
On Monday, January 11th, at 2:45 p.m., the VPD received a call of a theft that occurred at the Winco on 4750 Telephone Road. Officers responded to the scene and attempted to locate the suspects, but they were not located.
Officers learned that the suspects selected several items in the store and concealed them in a bag. Both suspects exited without paying for the items and were contacted by a loss prevention (LP) officer for Winco. After the LP officer asked one suspect to return the stolen items and to go back into the store, she refused to comply. The second suspect then brandished a Taser at the LP officer and told the LP officer to let her go. The LP officer backed away both suspects fled.
On January 12th, at 1:45 p.m., the Oxnard PD received an anonymous call from a citizen reporting that the female suspect, Maria Lopez, and the male suspect, George Martinez, were seen at a park in Oxnard. The caller had recognized Lopez and Martinez as being pictured on social media. Officers from Oxnard responded to the park, Mandalay County Park, 1600 Harbor Boulevard, and detained them.
VPD took custody of Lopez and Martinez. Both were transported booked into the VC Jail.
Prowling
On Wednesday, January 13th, at 11:48 a.m., the VPD received a call from a construction worker reporting a subject prowling near a residence in the 2900 block of Seaview Avenue. The caller was working at a nearby residence and witnessed the subject, Paul Parish, entering several backyards. Officers found Parish in the backyard of a residence and detained him.
Officers determined Parish was not one of the homeowners and did not have permission to be on any of the properties he was seen entering. Parish was arrested and later booked into the VC Jail.
Prowling
On Friday, January 15th, at 7:34 a.m. the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from a resident in the area of the 8300 block of Balboa St., who reported seeing two subjects walking up the driveway of a neighbor’s residence. The caller said they did not recognize the subjects as living at the residence.
Officers arrived on scene and observed the two subjects near the corner of Balboa St. and Lakewood Ave.
As the officers attempted to detain the subjects the male, later identified as Domingo Cervantes(36 years, Ventura Resident), immediately fled on foot towards Highway 126. Officers lost sight of Cervantes as he ran onto the highway, although several motorists then began calling saying he was running onto the center divider. With the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, vehicle traffic was briefly stopped while officers searched the highway. Cervantes was spotted and attempted to flee a second time, but was taken into custody without incident.
The female, later identified as Angelica Cacho (24 years, Ventura Resident), was immediately detained when stopped. She was later arrested and booked into the Ventura County Jail for prowling, providing false information to officers and misdemeanor warrants.
After being treated at VCMC for a hand injury he sustained while fleeing from officers, Cervantes was booked into the Ventura County Jail for prowling, resisting arrest and a felony warrant.
Bank Robbery
On January 15th, at 3:21p.m., the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call from an employee of Chase Bank reporting that a bank robbery had just occurred at the bank branch at 2499 Harbor Blvd. Upon arrival of the officers, they determined the suspect (White Male, 55-60, Bald, wearing a blue t-shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes) had already fled the bank and was last seen leaving the area on foot.
During the investigation, officers learned the suspect entered the bank and approached the counter. He handed the clerk a note stating he was robbing the bank and demanded the clerk give him money. No weapon was seen. The clerk gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of money, and he fled the bank.
Vagrants Booked
On January 15th, at 2p.m. officers with the Ventura Police Department Patrol Task Force were attempting to locate a wanted subject who was possibly living in the Santa Clara river bottom adjacent to the 3700 block of Olivas Park Dr.
As the officers searched the area they located the wanted subject, Sarah Fox ( 56 years, vagrant Ventura) and two other subjects identified as William Kemp (51 years, vagrant Ventura) and Tracy Hurst (47 years, vagrant Ventura). All three were detained as the officers conducted a records check.
Hurst and Kemp were also found to have outstanding warrants for their arrests and all three were taken into custody without incident.
During his arrest Kemp was found to be in possession of over three ounces of suspected methamphetamine and a large amount of US currency.
All three suspects were escorted out of the river bottom and transported to the Ventura County Main Jail and booked.
