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Vol. 9, No. 20 – July 6 – July 19, 2016 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

6-15 5:12pm, received a dispatch to a traffic accident at Spinnaker and Navigator from FCC.  Officers responded and assisted Ventura Fire, PD, Gold Coast ambulance with the two car collision.  Eight people were treated and four were sent to local hospital for evaluation.

 

  
6-16 2:50pm, received a report of a fall victim at the restrooms in the village.  An elderly female slipped in the restrooms.  Officers responded and attempted to assist the patient.  She refused medical care and self-transported to local hospital for evaluation of an injured wrist.

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6-17 3:53pm, received a report of a 12 year old girl complaining of sting ray strike from State Parks lifeguards at Harbor Cove lifeguard tower.

5:19pm, received a report of a car accident at Harbor Cove beach parking lot.  Officers responded and found an intoxicated person who attempted to leave the scene.  Ventura PD arrived, investigated and eventually arrested the individual.

 

 

  
6-18 11:48am, received a report of a dismasted sailboat near the South Jetty from State Parks lifeguards.  Officers responded and assisted the disabled vessel.  It was released at the Launch ramp without incident.

9:39pm, received a dispatch to a beach fire from FCC.  Officers responded and assisted Ventura fires extinguish the small fire in the Arundel.  Several juveniles were issued warnings for the violation.

 

 

  
  6-23 10:47pm, received a complaint of a loud party on a boat in Ventura West Marina.  Officers responded and found four people having a conversation on a boat.  A warning was issued for the noise complaint and the party disbanded.
  6-24 8:55pm, received a report of an overdue boater.  After a brief investigation the boater was safely located and in no danger.
  6-26 7:00am, officers assisting with the Breath-of-Life Triathlon: setting swim buoys and assisting with lifeguarding the swim heats.

1:52pm, officers on patrol assisted State Parks with an injured Personal Water Craft operator.  They transported the patient to Harbor Cove beach to be further assessed.

2:07pm, received a report of a dog bite in the Harbor Village near the Hat store.  Officers responded and assisted a young child with a minor injury to their finger.  The child was released to their parents and no further care was needed.
  6-27 3:02pm, received a dispatch to a penetration injury at the Ventura Yacht Club.  Officers responded and assisted a young girl who was stabbed in the foot by the wind indicator from the mast of a sailboat.  The patient was transported to local hospital for further evaluation and care for the puncture.

 

 

 

Vol. 9, No. 20 – July 6 – July 19, 2016 – Police Reports

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 21, at 10:50am, officers from Ventura Police Department responded to a call of a possible purse snatching with the female suspect being chased by a citizen.  Officers arrived and found that the citizen had successfully detained the suspect nearby.

Investigation revealed that 50 year old Oxnard resident Rosemary Gutierrez had entered nearby residence and pretended to be interested in renting the property from the owner.  When the owner allowed her inside, she initially stole a cell phone, but then replaced it.  After doing that, she saw the victim’s purse and concealed it in her own bag.  The victim noticed her purse missing and confronted Gutierrez, who ran.  The victim’s son chased Gutierrez and detained her until police arrival.

Prowling Arrest

On June 24, at 4:45am, a homeowner in the 900 block of Jonquill Avenue was awakened by loud noises coming from their enclosed rear yard.  The victim, along with his dog, immediately entered their yard and found the suspect, 21 year old Saticoy resident Manuel Ambris attempting to hide.

The victim detained Ambris while a family member contacted the Ventura Police Department.   Officers arrived on scene a short while later and took Ambris into custody without incident.

Attempted Robbery, Identity Theft and Felony Resisting Arrest 

Diaz 1988028On the June 24, at approximately 3:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a subject, later identified as 30 year old Ventura resident Jesus Diaz, who was inside the Bike Depot, 239 W. Main St., attempting to purchase bicycles with a stolen credit card.  Prior to officers arriving on scene, it was reported Diaz left the business on foot, and was still in possession of the stolen credit card.

A California Highway Patrol officer was in the area and monitored the call being dispatched.  He began searching the area and located Diaz on Mission Ave. near Olive St.  The CHP officer contacted Diaz and tried to detain him.  As the officer was placing him in handcuffs, Diaz punched the officer in the face and fled on foot.  The CHP officer, who was not injured, chased Diaz on foot as additional officers responded to assist.  Diaz was captured a short distance away and taken into custody without further incident.

Employees became suspicious and called the person on the credit card and confirmed it was stolen.  When confronted, Diaz attempted to take a different bike and a struggle ensued with one of the employees as he tried to forcefully take the bike.

Diaz also had several misdemeanor warrants out for his arrest.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon 

On the June 25, at approximately 7:15pm, the victim arrived at VCMC and reported to the Ventura Police officer assigned to the emergency room that she was the victim of a stabbing.  Rieger was suffering from a non-life threatening stab wound to her arm.  She said the suspect was her sister, 46 year old Ventura resident Colette Reiger.

During the investigation, the victim said she went to the family’s residence in the 3000 block of Seahorse Ave., to confront Rieger about using her makeup.  Both started to verbally argue, during which time Rieger armed herself with a screwdriver.  Reiger stabbed the victim in the arm with the screwdriver.

Officers responded to the residence and took Reiger into custody without incident.  After being medically cleared for a minor injury to her hand that she said happened during the altercation, Reiger was booked into Ventura County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon.

Robbery Arrest

On June 27, at approximately 4am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from Burke who was the victim of a robbery. Officers arrived on scene and Burke told them he had been walking westbound on Thompson Blvd from Sanjon Rd when he was confronted by two suspects. One of the suspects pulled a knife and demanded his property. Fearing for his safety, the victim gave up his property and the two suspects fled the scene.

The victim went to a local motel where he contacted 911. Officers began searching for the suspects, who were both located in the area. Both suspects were positively identified as 24 year old Oxnard resident Emmanuel Cisneros and a 16 year old Hispanic male from Oxnard, and both were arrested.

Stolen Vehicle Pursuit and Arrest  

On June 28, at approximately 7pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from an off-duty police officer reporting that he observed what he knew to be a stolen Ford Raptor pickup in the parking lot of Jack in the Box on Citrus Dr.  The vehicle had been stolen out of Santa Paula.  The officer also identified the subject driving the stolen vehicle as 33 year old Santa Paula resident Nick Wilson, a wanted felon.  As officers were arriving on scene, Wilson had gotten into the vehicle and started leaving the area.

Officers saw the vehicle stopped on Citrus Dr. near Wells Rd, and attempted to conduct a traffic stop.  Wilson failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated.

The pursuit continued, and proceeded to enter westbound on highway 126.  Wilson exited at Kimball Rd., and then continued on several streets on the east end of the city.  He ultimately began driving on Northbank Dr.   Officers then found that Wilson had collided into several parked vehicles near the corner of Potomac and Northbank, and fled on foot.

The pursuit covered a distance of approximately 10 miles, with speeds reaching a maximum of approximately 100 mph.

Shortly after the collision, residents began calling dispatch, reporting that Wilson was running through their backyards in the 1700 block of Powell Dr.  Officers set up a perimeter and began a yard to yard search for Wilson, using the assistance of a Sheriff K-9 Unit.

Child Death Investigation

On June 29, at approximately 8:15am, the Ventura City Fire Department and Ventura Police Patrol Units responded to a call at a residence on Bell Way in Ventura in reference to a child who was injured as a result of a fall from a crib. When Fire personnel arrived on scene the child was found unresponsive and was immediately transported to Ventura County Medical Center. The child was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

Due to the circumstances of the call, the Ventura Police Department Major Crimes Unit responded to take over the investigation. As a result of the investigation, Ventura PD Detectives determined that the mother of the victim, 27 year old Ventura resident Jessica Navarro, physically assaulted the child and caused his death.   Navarro was booked at Ventura County Jail for 273ab PC, assault on a child causing death.

 

Orientation being held July 7th to learn about visiting Ventura’s sister city – Loreto, Mexico

Loreto was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula.

For the first time since former Ventura Mayor Cheryl Heitmann officially exchanged keys to the city with Loreto, Mexico, in 2015, the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee is inviting Venturans to travel with them to explore their sister city.

Planning is underway for biannual visits to Loreto including hotel and non-stop flights from LAX. These trips are meant to promote and strengthen the sister city relationship between the cities, and the cost of the trip includes a donation to support the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee whose objectives include collaboration on tourism, culture, education, environment, and business initiatives.

Loreto is a small city of approximately 17,000 people that sits on the east coast of Baja California, facing the Sea of Cortez. It was the first Spanish settlement on the Baja California Peninsula and is the starting point for the historic El Camino Real corridor that follows north along the ancient route of the Spanish missions.

Loreto is also home to Loreto Bay National Park where Coronado, Del Carmen, Danzante, Montserrat and Santa Catalina Islands are home to over 800 species of marine life. With breathtaking cliffs, spectacular beaches and dramatic rock formations, these islands are a perfect landscape for the ecologically-minded or those who delight in a vast array of marine life.

The public is invited on July 7 at O’Brien Hall, San Buenaventura Mission, at 6:00PM. For more information, visit visitventuraca.com/sistercity. Trip inquiries should be directed to Stephen Joyce with Ventura Travel Professionals at 218-1962.

For more information on, or to join the Ventura/Loreto Sister City Committee contact Fiorella Calderoni at [email protected] or visit visitventuraca.com/sistercity.

Ventura City Fire and Police Departments respond to single vehicle accident

In the early morning hours of July 3rd, Ventura City Fire and Police Department responded to a report of a single vehicle accident with a trapped victim by Victoria and Ralston.

IMG_6603When fire crews arrived they discovered a passenger vehicle that had hit a traffic camera pole as well as a tree in the median of Victoria. Firefighters using hydraulic rescue tools to cut and pry the vehicle from the victim were able to free the trapped driver 45 minutes after their arrival. The extrication was complicated by the extensive damage to the vehicle which entangled the drivers’ legs under the dashboard. While the extrication was taking place, additional firefighters provided advanced life support to the driver and worked to suppress any fire potential from the vehicles’ leaking fluids.

Once extricated, one adult male was transported to a local trauma center with non-life- threatening injuries.

Public invited to free Civil War talk on July 6 at the Olivas Adobe

Members of the public are invited to attend the Olivas Adobe Historical Interpreters (OAHI) general meeting at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, July 6, at the Olivas Adobe, 4200 Olivas Park Drive in Ventura, to hear about OAHI activities, and the “Native California Cavalry and its activities and impact during and after the Civil War” by the featured speaker, Museum of Ventura County Director of Education & Outreach Megan Gately.

“Hear about local Union soldiers and their triumphs and tragedies during the mid-1800s. Learn about the California Column, the Civil War’s most Western battle and the shock waves from the East Coast felt out here in the West,” says Ms. Gately. Along with stories from the Civil War, she will present artifacts from the museum’s collections. A social hour with snacks begins at 5:30 pm with the presentation at 6 pm.

Megan Gately has a bachelor’s degree in Education and History from the University of Arizona, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Policy from Arizona State University. She has worked extensively with historians and educators at the Arizona Historical Society and the Minnesota Historical Society. She also served as the founding director of education and outreach at the Museum of the Horse Soldier in Tucson, AZ. Megan has returned to her native Southern California—she is originally from Solvang and went high school in Thousand Oaks—to continue her career in museum education at the Museum of Ventura County, which is celebrating 103 years serving the community.

“The OAHI offers weekend training programs to become a docent at the Olivas Adobe, dress in period costumes and share the multi-cultural history of this landmark site through school field trips, weekend tours and special events,” says OAHI President Rose Burtchby.

City of Ventura and State Parks Urge Safety for July 4th Holiday

Enhanced beachfront patrol to ensure a safe and clean Ventura

The City of Ventura and State Parks urge citizens to ensure a safe and enjoyable 4th of July holiday by observing local laws that prohibit fireworks in the city of Ventura. Ventura Police, Fire and State Parks will provide increased law enforcement presence on the sand and beachfront area to mitigate the use of illegal fireworks and keep citizens and their property safe.

Given the dry and potentially dangerous conditions from the ongoing drought fire safety is a priority. Even a sparkler can cause injury or start a fire from dying embers hitting dried out vegetation or a shake shingle roof. Residents are encouraged to attend a professional fireworks show such as the Ventura Rotary Club Fireworks Show & Family Picnic held at Ventura Community College.

“On behalf of the fire department, we wish residents and visitors an enjoyable and safe holiday,” said Fire Chief David Endaya. “We urge everyone to refrain from using fireworks, especially with the dry conditions.”

Fireworks pose a significant risk to health and safety and civil infractions for possession or use of fireworks in the city of Ventura carry a penalty of $424. Violators are liable for damages and fines. Ventura police and fire departments will be patrolling neighborhoods throughout the city for fireworks violations.

The City and State Parks are also gearing up to keep Ventura beaches clean from litter that is often left behind by beachgoers and visitors on the 4th of July weekend. The City will be placing more than 100 temporary trash bins, donated by Harrison Industries, on the sand and public areas at Ventura’s busiest beaches including two miles of San Buenaventura State Beach. Convenient and readily accessible bins will help prevent litter from adversely impacting water quality and our beaches.

“We want to keep Ventura beaches looking good,” said State Parks Ventura Sector Superintendent Tyson Butzke. “The holiday always brings more guests and trash to the shoreline. We want to remind visitors to protect our shared environment by picking up their trash.”

The City is also hosting a Volunteer Beach Cleanup July 5, to clean up leftover debris in key areas. Volunteers can sign up at www.cityofventura.net/volunteer.

How safe are Ventura County’s Special Education Schools?

by the Grand Jury

When parents send their children to school in the morning, they trust their children will have a productive day of learning in a safe environment. Similarly, when teachers report to work they hope to focus their efforts on teaching without fear for their safety and that of their students. Unfortunately, with the increase in school violence over the past several years, children, parents, and teachers no longer feel as safe as they once did.

The 2015-2016 Ventura County Grand Jury opened an investigation based on a public complaint about safety in the Phoenix schools in Ventura County. The Phoenix schools servestudents with serious emotional disturbance from all of Ventura County and the Las Virgenes Unified School District.

From this investigation, the Grand Jury learned that Phoenix schools provide an intensive educational program for their students through low enrollment and high staff-to- student ratios. Although Phoenix students often act out in frustration, the staff is well trained in, and regularly uses, techniques to de-escalate hostile behavior at the earliest possible stage. Despite the consistent use of positive behavioral interventions, administrators at the Phoenix-Airport campus call law enforcement an average of two to three times weekly for situations they are unable to de-escalate. However, responding patrol officers may not have Crisis Intervention Team training to be able to deal effectively with these emotionally disturbed students. The Grand Jury also learned that it is the position of the Ventura County Office of Education that having a dedicated School Resource Officer would escalate rather than defuse volatile situations in the Phoenix schools.

The National Education Association has established best practices regarding school safety. These practices recommend that schools partner with law enforcement (and social service agencies) to promote a safe environment. Ideally, a sworn School Resource Officer should be dedicated to one school and work collaboratively with staff and students to build positive relationships and to support administration with crisis intervention.

The Grand Jury recommends that the Ventura County Sheriff and the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools formalize a collaborative relationship to increase law enforcement presence on all Phoenix campuses. Additionally, the Grand Jury recommends that the Ventura County Sheriff ensure that any patrol officers who may be called to respond to a Phoenix school have Crisis Intervention Team training. Finally, the Grand Jury recommends that the Ventura County Board of Education authorize and seek funds for a dedicated School Resource Officer for the Phoenix-Airport campus.

The complete report may be accessed at www.ventura.org/grand-jury; click on the Annual Reports tab and consult “Fiscal Year 2015-2016.”