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.
Identity Theft, Commercial Burglary Arrest
On November 30 at 10:00 am, Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Detectives (SCU) began an investigation into 25 year old vagrant Eric Wimberley, who was a suspect in several uses of stolen credit cards over the weekend. During the investigation, SCU located Wimberley at a motel in Ventura along with 50 year old vagrant Lisa Preciado and 43 year old vagrant Shawntelle Martinez. Preciado was also a suspect in identity theft using credit cards stolen from unlocked vehicles over the weekend. Martinez was a suspect of a commercial burglary from the Pacific View Mall.
While searching the motel room, detectives located the stolen credit cards, property purchased with the stolen credit cards, stolen property, and identification from the victims of thefts from unlocked vehicles.
Wimberley and Preciado were arrested for multiple counts of Identity Theft. Martinez was arrested for Commercial Burglary. All three were transported and booked at the Ventura County Jail.
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Wimberely has prior convictions for grand theft, identity theft with a prior conviction for identity theft, and petty theft. Preciado has previous convictions for possession of a controlled substance and identity theft with a prior conviction of identity theft. Martinez has prior convictions for shoplifting, giving false information to a police officer, and petty theft.
Negligent Discharge of a Firearm, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, Unlawful Firearm Transfer
On December 7, at approximately 8:45 pm, VPD officers responded to a call of a man firing a handgun into the air at the intersection of Mission Ave and Ventura Ave. Multiple officers responded in an attempt to locate the armed subject.
After officers arrived and were conducting a search, additional gunfire could be heard in the neighborhood. Officers continued to search the area. Eventually one of the officers on the call located a subject matching the description a short distance away from the original call. The officer safely detained the suspect with the assistance of other officers and K9 unit. The subject was found in possession of a loaded, concealed semi- automatic handgun. The recovered firearm was determined to be obtained through an unlawful transfer.
The subject, 25 year old Ventura resident Christopher Montoya–Bogarin, was ultimately arrested for Negligent Discharge of a Firearm, Carrying a Loaded Firearm, Carrying a Concealed Firearm, and Unlawful Firearm Transfer.
No involved parties were injured as a result of this crime or arrest.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding the crime should contact the Ventura Police Watch Commander at (805) 339-4416.
Narcotics Arrest
On December 9 at 10:00 am, members of the Ventura Police Department SCU unit conducted a search warrant at the above address as a result of a month-long investigation into narcotics sales. Narcotics detectives using investigative tools were able to identify a primary suspect as Justin Spinelli.
SCU detectives found and detained 27 year old Ventura resident Justin Spinelli. During the execution of the search warrant and the subsequent investigation, detectives discovered that a large quantity of Alprazolam, a homemade or improvised firearm, and inside Spinelli’s apartment.
As a result of the investigation, Justin Spinelli was arrested for 11375(b)(1) H&S – possession of Alprazolam for sales and 29800(a)(1) PC – possession of a firearm by an addict, both of which are felonies. He also was booked in on an active misdemeanor warrant.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court shows that Justin Spinelli has a prior arrest for vehicle theft and shoplifting.
