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Vol. 14, No. 04 – Nov 18 – Dec 1, 2020 – 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 and Battery Arrests

On November 4, at 1:45 pm, the Ventura Police Department received a call of a battery that had just occurred on the 5400 block of Ralston Street. The victim, an adult female, had been sitting in her parked vehicle with her teenage daughter, waiting for a scheduled appointment in a nearby office building when the suspect, 41 year old vagrant Seth Dees, approached the vehicle. They had their windows partially down and Dees shouted at them for no known reason. When the victim shouted at Dees, asking him to leave, Dees poured his beverage into the open window and onto the victim. Dees left the area on foot and the victim called police.

As police were responding to and investigating the battery, Dees committed a residential burglary at a home in the 5500 Block of Ralston Street. The residents had left the front door open while doing chores and were in a rear area of the home when they heard noises near the front door. They walked to the front of the residence and found Dees, a stranger, in their home. They confronted him and he left the residence. After Dees was gone, they noticed a wallet had been stolen. The victims called police and gave a description of Dees, who officers located nearby. Dees was identified as the person who battered the first victim and burglarized the residence. He was arrested for both crimes. The stolen wallet was in Dees’ possession at the time of his arrest.

Dees has a lengthy criminal history. The Ventura Police Department arrested him on 10/29/20 for a sexual battery on Victoria Avenue. He was released from the Ventura County Jail on 11/2/2020. A review of the Ventura County Superior Court public records website revealed Dees has over 25 other prior arrests since 2004. The arrests include but are limited to Criminal Threats, Possession of a Deadly Weapon, Possession of a Concealed Dirk or Dagger, Resisting Arrest, Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Vehicle Tampering, Trespassing, Engaging in Lewd Conduct, and Aggravated Trespassing.

Firearms and Narcotics Arrest

On November 8, at approximately 10:30 pm, a Ventura Police patrol officer pulled over a vehicle for a vehicle code violation. The officer determined that the driver, 35 year old Ventura resident Aaron Sheridan, was driving on a suspended license. During the course of the investigation, officers located a concealed and loaded handgun, methamphetamine, and additional ammunition inside the vehicle.

Sheridan has multiple prior felony convictions precluding him from owning or possessing firearms. He was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for several felony firearms violations including possession of a controlled substance with a firearm.

Hot prowl residential burglary, vehicle theft, petty theft, hit and run arrest

On November 9, at approximately 2:00 am, officers responded to suspicious circumstances involving a hit and run that occurred when a reporting party saw their neighbor’s vehicle leave the victim’s home erratically and strike a parked car. The vehicle then fled the area.

Responding officers arrived and determined that the suspect in this case had entered the victim’s unlocked car parked in the lot adjacent to their home. The suspect removed a garage door opener from the unlocked car, opened their garage, and burglarized the home while the victims were inside sleeping. The suspect loaded property into a pickup truck that was parked in the garage and fled, committing the hit and run on a parked car in the process.

Shortly after, an unrelated reporting party called the Ventura Police Command Center to report a hit and run in the area of Telephone Rd and Wells Rd. The vehicle description matched the stolen truck. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the vehicle initially.

While searching for the vehicle, an officer observed the stolen vehicle parked in an alley southeast of Telephone Rd and Portola Ave. Additional officers responded to assist. While standing by for additional officers, the suspect came out from a nearby apartment and entered the truck. Officers safely detained the suspect, 18 year old Ventura resident Joseph Key. Evidence linking the suspect to the burglary, vehicle theft, theft, and both hit and runs were obtained through the investigation. The suspect was booked for first degree residential burglary, vehicle theft, petty theft, and two counts of VC hit and run. The vehicle and property taken from the home were returned to the owner.

Additional garage door openers not related to the initial victim were located but their owners are currently unidentified.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Terrorist Threats Arrest

On November 10, at approximately 6:45 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 9-1-1 call reference the suspect throwing various items on his neighbor’s lawn. While officers were enroute, the suspect threw a hatchet at his neighbor, almost striking him in the head, while also verbally threatening to harm him.

When officers arrived on-scene, the suspect ran inside his residence and refused to exit. The suspect then began throwing items outside through open windows, and he could be heard breaking items inside. After negotiating with the suspect for almost an hour, he opened his garage door and was taken into custody. The suspect, 50 year old Jeffrey Karrh, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and terrorist threats. Nobody was injured as a result of this incident.

Felony DUI with injury, felony hit and run with injury

On November 10, at approximately 10:00 pm, VPD officers responded to a hit and run in the area of Webster St and Hill Rd. Officers located a victim who was retrieving items from his parked vehicle when a white sedan struck him as well as two parked cars. Fortunately, the victim sustained only minor injuries. The suspect vehicle sustained heavy damage as a result of the collision, but the driver was still able to flee in the vehicle.

Within a few minutes, VPD and CHP received a call of a possible collision in the area of Wells Rd and Citrus Dr. A CHP unit located a heavily damaged white sedan in the area of Carlos and Pajaro. VPD officers arrived and made contact with the driver of the vehicle, 44 year old Ventura resident Lamarvie Valentine.

Investigation on scene determined that this was the vehicle and driver involved with the collision on Webster St and Hill Rd. The driver was given field sobriety tests and determined to be driving impaired, with a BAC of over twice the legal limit of .08.

The driver was arrested for DUI causing injury, BAC over .08 causing injury, hit and run from an injury collision, and hit and run causing property damage.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding the crime should contact the Ventura Police Watch Commander at (805) 339-4416.

Recovery of Stolen Property, Possession of Stolen Property Arrest, Possession of Controlled Substance Arrest

On November 12 at 11:00 am, the Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Detectives (SCU) and Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department were in the Santa Clara River Bottom on a stolen property investigation. The detectives located a vagrant camp belonging to 44 year old Jason Garner. Inside the camp were two stolen motorcycles, reported stolen from the city of Ventura. Garner was arrested for possession of the stolen vehicles and possession of narcotics. Garner was transported and booked at the Ventura County Jail.

Detectives continued searching the river bottom vagrant camps and located another stolen motorcycle, reported stolen from the city of Ventura. They also found a high-end stolen mountain bike taken from the harbor area and multiple industrial propane tanks stolen from a nearby business. All the stolen property was returned to the right rightful owners.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Garner has a prior arrest for assault with a deadly weapon and prior convictions for possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, petty theft, and possession of a dirk or dagger.

SCU would like to remind everyone to register their bicycles online, document any serial numbers on power tools, and take photographs of expensive property. Having a record of serial numbers helps VPD return any recovered stolen property to the owner. Please also remember to lock your vehicles and leave nothing valuable in your cars.

Vol. 14, No. 04 – Nov 18 – Dec 1, 2020 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

Thursday
10-29

 6:45am, dispatched to a fire near Riverhaven. Officers assisted VFD with extinguishing the small warming fire. PD was questioning two persons nearby.

Friday
10-30

 4:46pm, received a request to contact two dog owners with their dogs off leash near Surfers Knoll. Officers responded, found the pair as reported. Both were reminded of the leash law and requested to avoid one another to keep the peace.

Saturday
10-31

 9:35am, observed a heavy fog bank move in. Officers headed out in the Fireboat to escort some out riggers and small boats back to the harbor that were observed before the bank came in. Two outriggers and a small boat were assisted.

12:15pm, received report of an agitated transient attempting to purchase ice cream at a village store. Officers responded and followed the individual to the fuel dock, he attempted to purchase items. He was escorted out of the Harbor.

Sunday
11-01

 1:37pm, receiving multiple reports of aggressive and dangerous driving by participants of the presidential rally in VIM lot. Advised of limited resources to contain the large crowd and that Ventura PD has been advised and is responding.

2:35pm, while on patrol in Rescue B-17, observed a novice Standup paddler collide into Portside dock and fall into the water. Officers pulled the person out of the water and transported to big beach in the keys. No injuries were sustained

Wednes
11-04

 7:45am, received a report of a female transient sleeping near the boatyard and NPS offices. Officers responded and contacted the female. She believed the area was public land and that she could camp there. She was informed of the laws of special districts and given information for assistance to find housing.

5:39pm, dispatched to a boat fire in VWM B-dock. Officers responded in the fireboat to a 38ft M/V with an exterior fire that was being extinguished by boaters with extinguishers and dock fire hose. Harbor Patrol and VFD ensured that the fire was out and were assessing damage and the cause.

Saturday
11-07

 8:29am, received report of a dead body floating under the bridge in the barranca. Officers responded and found a realistic human sized companion doll in the area.

11:30am, while on patrol in the truck, contacted by concerned citizen that a sea bird, a grebe was entangled in seaweed near the South Jetty. Officers found the bird as reported, captured for sea bird rescue volunteer for rehabilitation.

1:54pm, dispatched to ocean rescue at the Ventura Pier. Officers responded and due to conditions had a delayed response. The victim was rescued by State Parks

4:15pm, dispatched to ocean rescue at Ventura Pier. The kite surfer was rescued by State Parks downcoast side of the Pier. Response delayed due to weather.

Sunday
11-08

 11:06am, dispatched to a medical alarm in the Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded with AMR/VFD to the call. The 93 y/o patient was suffering from multiple aliments and was transported to local hospital for evaluation.

2:00pm, dispatched to a public service, canopy pinned onto roof in Ventura Marina Community. Officers responded and assisted VFD with securing it.

6:06pm, contacted 3 persons attempting to launch a small lake-type boat. They had just purchased it, wanted to try it out. Convinced them not in a gale at night.

 

Ventura police officer involved in fatal shooting

Magana’s firearm was later recovered at the scene.

At approximately 7:30 PM on November 5th, Oxnard Police Officers were in pursuit of an armed suspect involved in an Oxnard shooting when the suspect‘s vehicle entered the city of Ventura.

As the pursuit transitioned to surface streets from the 101 Freeway, the Oxnard Police Department requested assistance from Ventura Police. During the pursuit, officers successfully deployed spike strips twice in an effort to disable the vehicle and bring the pursuit to an end.

The suspect’s vehicle was disabled in the area of Harbor Blvd and Seaward Ave., and the driver exited his vehicle at that location and fired at officers. The suspect, Javier Magana, 32, of Thousand Oaks, was pronounced deceased at the scene shot by Ventura police. A preliminary coroner’s investigation said Magana died from a gunshot to the chest. The shooting officer was identified as Joaquin Ortega, a 23-year veteran of the Ventura Police Department. Ortega works with the K-9 unit as part of the agency’s patrol division. Magana’s firearm was later recovered at the scene. No officers or bystanders were injured.

The shooting remains under investigation by the Ventura Police Department.

Vol. 14, No. 04 – Nov 18 – Dec 1, 2020 – Movie Review

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Mandalorian – Disney+

3 out of 4 palm trees
Breeze rating from 1 to 4 palm trees, 4 being best.

Mandalorians were known across the universe for their bounty hunting skills, were never allowed to take off their helmets, and took on their life’s mission with the simple statement “This is the way.” Mando (Pedro Pascal) was respected among the Mandalorian tribe and taken in as a child after his parents were killed as part of a special group known as the “foundlings”.

Mando took a bounty from a special client referred to him by Greef Karga (Carl Weathers), head of the Guild of bounty hunters. Mando met the client, an Imperial leader, who gave him the tracking fob for the quarry and promised him a huge bounty if successful. Mando followed the fob to a desert planet where he met an Agnaught named Kuiil (Nick Nolte) who agreed to take him to the location of his bounty. Upon arriving Mando teamed up with a bounty droid to take out a small army of bounty hunters and eventually found his quarry, which was just a childlike Baby Yoda.

Some jawas had dismantled his ship and Mando had to barter for the parts, agreeing to fight a giant Mudhorn to get its prized egg. The Mudhorn was winning, but just as Mando was ready to collapse it appeared that Baby Yoda lifted the Mudhorn from the ground with his mind until Mando could stab it. Baby Yoda passed out and slept for several days on the way to be delivered to the Imperial leader, where Mando received a large bounty of precious metal bars.

Mando took the bars to the Mandalorian leader for a new suit of armor, and while thinking about his time with Baby Yoda, seemed to feel somewhat guilty. Mando went back and fought the Imperial troopers to retrieve Baby Yoda with the support of all the other Mandalorians appearing on jetpacks with guns. Mando escaped to Sorgan, where he met a Rebel Shock Trooper named Cara Dune (Gina Corano) and teamed up to take out raiders terrorizing the village.

Mando got a message from Greef asking him to help reclaim Nevarro, using Baby Yoda as bait to kill the Imperial leader and offering to let Mando keep the child and clear his name. Mando picked up Cara to help fight, along with Kuiil to look after Baby Yoda. While Cara and Mando were on the ship arm wrestling Baby Yoda thought Cara was hurting Mando and used his special powers to choke Cara without touching her, which triggered Kuiil’s memory about having heard of such special beings in the past while he was serving the Imperial force.

Greef met Mando in the desert where they were attacked by dragons, seriously injuring Greef. Baby Yoda came over, put his hand on Greef’s arm and healed him instantly, causing Greef to kill the other bounty hunters and reveal his original plan to betray Mando. They all went to town but were pinned down by Imp forces lead by Moff Gideon (Giancarlo Esposito) who was thought to be dead. Kuiil was killed and Imp soldiers retrieved Baby Yoda, but the nurse droid rescued Baby Yoda from troopers in the desert and came back on a speeder to help Mando and Cara fight.

Pinned down with no escape, Baby Yoda formed a force field to protect them against the trooper attack, then collapse in exhaustion. Cara and Greef escaped with Baby Yoda and the droid stayed behind to help Mando, who needed to remove his helmet to get the medical attention needed to save his life. They joined Cara and Greef and headed for the ship, but came upon a pile of Mandalorian armor which Mando knew had been killed to support his mission. The Mandalorian leader appeared and upon seeing Baby Yoda explained it too is a foundling and was now in Mando’s care as its father until he could return it to its own kind.

Season 1 – 8 Episodes

Vol. 14, No. 04 – Nov 18 – Dec 1, 2020 – Ventura Music Scene

There’s no doubt about it, the drive-in theater live concert events are about the only way you can take in a full band performing live music, and of course it’s the safest way if the folks in your car are quarantine buddies, so I’m happy to see more of these events popping up such as the one in Camarillo, and before you judge, keep an open mind because this one is serving up opera! The Ventura Music Festival has partnered with POP (Pacific Opera Project) and they boldly state, “If you think you hate opera, you haven’t seen a POP performance!” It all takes place for a limited time in the United Methodist Church parking lot at 291 Anacapa Drive. Coming up over the weekend of the 20 and 21 is a double bill featuring the US premiere of two rare, comic one-act Gluck operas, La Corona and Il Parnaso Confuso. Take a chance, take the family and enjoy some opera! Get more information at VenturaMusicFestival.org.

The Canyon Club at Oxnard Performing Art Center continues to add more concerts (see listings on this page) and they are typically of the tribute band variety with upcoming shows highlighting bands such as Van Halen, The Beatles, Elton John (the early years) and more.

Here in Ventura, Concerts in Your Car has Kaskade on November 20 (sold out), Bush the following night on November 21, Yachtley Crew on November 27, and Iration on December 4. They’re also offering up some opera on December 6 with a live performance of Carmen presented by Opera SB; then on Saturday, December 12, the Ventura County Ballet will provide entertainment to get you into the holiday mood with two performances of The Nutcracker (5 and 8 pm). For more information on any of these shows, go to www.ConcertsInYourCar.com.

NAMBA Arts continues to host live-streaming events every other weekend out of their studios. The next one will be held on Sunday, November 22 with Delta by the Beach, Solstice, FILI, Freda Ramey, String Planet, and the Rayjay & Flattop Tom Blues Duo. These events help keep Namba alive with a cover of $10 per performance which are hosted by Doc Ventura. You can look them up on Facebook or go to www.NambaAarts.com for details.

Quick Notes: Camarillo Barrelworks is offering live music solo/duo again (see listings); have dinner with “Frank” at Prime Tuesdays and Thursdays with Danny D; the Swillys play Grapes and Hops the night before Thanksgiving; Teresa Russell plays Wednesdays at Surfside Seafood in Port Hueneme, and Brittney Burchett with Ben Buttner plays Four Brix Winery on Sunday November 22.

Watching the fluctuation of the number of COVID-19 cases, it’s more important than ever to be diligent when venturing out, please do your part and social distance and wear your mask to help reduce the spread of the virus.

Do you have any music-related news or upcoming shows (online or live) you want help publicizing? Please send all information short or long to [email protected], and for updated music listings daily, go to www.VenturaRocks.com.

A sendoff for Haole Boy

by Amy Brown

In an afternoon full of smiles, tears and flowered leis, a bouquet of colorful surfboards forms a ring beyond the breaking waves—a vibrant, floating tribute to a four-legged native son of Ventura at his favorite surf spot. Haole’s Memorial Paddle Out was held at The Cove, near the pier in Ventura, and was attended by a crowd of socially distancing-cognizant celebrants of the surfing dog phenomenon’s life, love and legacy.

Haole Boy had been wowing crowds since 2013, when he climbed on his owner John Murphy’s surfboard at Mondos and started surfing with virtually no instruction. A star was born, and the talented yellow Labrador’s skills drew attention right away. He went on to work with A Walk On Water (AWOW) program, helping teach kids with developmental disabilities to surf and be comfortable on the waves. He soon became the poster child for canine surfing stoke in surf competitions and events from California to New Jersey.

His ‘mom and dad,’ Kim and John lost him to his long battle with cancer on May 13th of this year, and wanted to create an event to allow his many fans a chance to pay their respects to him. “We brought one of his actual surfboards, and asked everyone to either sign it or write a special message,” said Kim, who paddled out at the event with Haole’s brother Primo on her board.  “Guests were given flowers to offer to the ocean, and those who chose not to paddle out gathered on the beach to witness it, honoring him from there.”

Haole’s fans span the world, in fact, a number of them flew or drove long distances to attend the memorial. Tammy and John Norton, who own three Labs—one yellow, one chocolate, one black—travelled from Surprise, Arizona to participate in Haole’s sendoff. “We came because he was such an inspiration to all of us,” said Tammy, who connected with Haole and his family through Haole’s Instagram account. “He made me want to do better in life, as a mom, and as a person.”

Others came because they had first-hand experience with his special brand of surf therapy. Colleen Fairbanks is a teacher and has participated in AWOW events with her students for five years, and her family drove to the event from Canyon Country. “I’ve never seen a dog more docile, what he did with kids was absolutely magic—he was just a calming soul.” She shared that three of her students had the opportunity to actually surf with Haole. “It’s like he knew what they needed, when they saw him get out on the waves, then the kids were willing to try it themselves. So we are just here today to honor him, John and Kim.”

Haole’s family is continuing his legacy, with a brand attributed to him, Haoleboylife.com, which offers surf lifestyle merchandise for humans and canines alike, and will donate a portion of its proceeds to AWOW, as well as the Brodie Fund, a non-profit based out of NJ, that provides grants to families that can’t provide treatment for pets with cancer. “We hope to continue to give back and be a part of other animals receiving the care that they need,” Kim shared. “The best gift of all is the gift of time. After his diagnosis we got 21 months with him.”

Kim shared what she said in the middle of the ring of surfboards in the water, overcome with emotion and barely able to get the words out, “It overwhelmed me to see so many people in that ring of love out in the water, knowing that our sweet Haole Boy touched the heart of each and every one of them.  John, Primo and I are so very grateful.”

Ventura childcare providers protest for state help

Ventura County Supervisor Steve Bennett spoke at the rally.

Child care providers were joined by parents, advocates and elected officials outside the Ventura County Government Center on Saturday, October 24, to demand state leaders stop ignoring California’s child care crisis. With scores of child care businesses closing in California each week, they rallied to demand Governor Newsom and legislators take action to support early educators who have taken on the added responsibility and expense of supporting distance learning for children who don’t have technology at home or whose parents are working in frontline roles.

Steve Bennett, Ventura County Supervisor stated “The United States is one of the worst countries of all the industrialized countries of the world in terms of how much we fund child care. It is one of the major reasons why we have growing income inequality in the United States.”

“Childcare was already in a crisis before the pandemic. Quality childcare can be hard to find, or too expensive, for hardworking families. All while more than 2.7 million children who are eligible for state subsidized childcare fail to receive it and fall through the cracks…More than 5,000 family child care providers have been forced to shut their doors in 2020. That’s fifty to seventy thousand less children being served.” said Jack Hinojosa, CEO of Child Development Resources.

Maricruz Ruiz, who opened a new childcare in Ventura in the past year has had multiple family members test positive for COVID-19 and lost both her uncle and her grandmother to the disease:

“It’s been an incredibly difficult year. As we all know, starting a new business is never easy. It’s especially difficult when tragedy strikes; not only for our family, but for the world as a whole.”

COVID-19 has made California’s childcare funding crisis into a full-blown catastrophe. More than 5,000 family childcare providers have been forced to close their doors since the start of the year, and that was before an additional state pay cut was triggered on September 30. What we know from the Great Recession is that without assistance from the state, many of these small businesses will likely never reopen, impeding California’s recovery.

With physical classrooms closed to slow virus spread, home-based providers have taken on the added costs of distance learning (such as upgraded wi-fi and additional staff) to support school-aged children so their parents can work on the frontlines of COVID-19. Yet while they are now caring for children all day, family childcare providers are only reimbursed at the same rate they were paid for these children during school breaks and vacations, not when such intensive learning was required.

A recent study showed provider costs associated with the pandemic and move to distance learning have increased by up to 75%. Without increased investment from the state, providers will no longer be able to continue spending their own money to support children in distance learning, if they are able to keep their doors open at all.

Child Care Providers United California (CCPU) is a union of family childcare providers across the state who are members of SEIU Local 99, SEIU Local 521, and UDW/AFSCME Local 3930.

Ventura City Hall lights up in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

Photo by Richard Lieberman

Ventura City Hall was lighted in pink every night through October to mark Breast Cancer Awareness month. City spokesperson Heather Sumagaysay said “The city of Ventura proudly recognizes Breast Cancer Awareness month. Although this year COVID-19 prevents us from holding outreach events, by lighting up City Hall, we want to continue to support breast cancer awareness, which is vital.”

 

Ventura Music Festival’s “Virtually Yours” celebrates the composer’s 250th birthday

Beethoven’s electric guitar

by Richard Newsham, VMF consultant

Beethoven unleashed a musical revolution when he began creating music tailored to the piano rather than the harpsichord.

Like Bob Dylan’s shocking move from acoustic to electric guitar, Beethoven—over a lifetime of composing 32 ground-breaking piano sonatas—totally remade the form for the modern instrument.

His imagination was sparked by the 1800s’ transformation of piano technology and design.

The piano had more keys for both bass and treble than the harpsichord and a sustaining pedal that “opened up fresh possibilities of resonance, dynamic range and attack.”

Beethoven’s “inner ear” conceived music that existed even beyond these technological advances—full of physical intensity that shocked his contemporaries to stark, inscrutable and montage-like pieces that compel 21st century listeners to agree with Chuck Berry’s lyrics: “Roll over Beethoven, gotta hear it again today!”

And so VMF is celebrating his coming 250th birthday by presenting 10 sonatas in a cycle over 8 weeks.

Two “Virtually Yours” concert-programs introduced by VMF Artistic Director Nuvi Mehta will each feature two Beethoven sonatas performed by pianist Adam Golka, including the celebrated Appassionata and Pathetique.

VMF’s “Music Connects” digital series will roll out the remaining six sonatas – one per week, starting December 17 when Beethoven officially turns 250.

The celebrated pianist Adam Golka will also be interviewed and has created video commentaries for each sonata, featuring a leading physicist, poet, artist and the like on their unique relationship to the music.

“Virtually Yours” Dates & Times: Sundays at 4pm on 11/15 and 11/22.

Admission is free thanks to sponsor underwriting. Each program is viewable for one week. Reservations are required at VenturaMusicFestival.org. Registrants will be sent links to Zoom or other selected platform.