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Vol. 12, No. 21 – July 17 – July 30, 2019 – Harbor Patrol Blotter

6-27 2:47pm, received dispatch to medical at 1449 Spinnaker Drive. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with a 50 year old female. Patient was treated and transported to local hospital for further evaluation.

4:20pm, received report of a disabled sailboat in the main channel of the harbor. Officers responded and towed the vessel to their slip in Ventura West.

8:01pm, dispatched to a medical at the 1755 Spinnaker Drive. Officers responded and assisted VFD/AMR with the patient who was transported to local hospital after being treated at the scene for moderate injury.

11:15pm, received dispatch to an unknown medical at 1050 Schooner drive. Officers responded, assisted VFD/AMR with the call, the patient refused help.

6-28 12:15pm, dispatched to a fuel spill at the 1415 Spinnaker Dr. A commercial dive boat spilled red dyed diesel. Crew members and fuel dock employees were actively using absorbent boom and pads to retrieve the fuel. NRC was notified of the spill and it was cleaned up by the crews already working on it.

4:40pm, dispatched to a water rescue in progress at Surfers Knoll LG Tower 1. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 17 and assisted State Parks with four victims caught in a rip current. All victims were safely returned to shore.

6-29 10:47am, received a request for a tow from a disabled electric boat near the patrol dock. Officers took the vessel en tow with Rescue Boat 19 and safely delivered the disabled vessel to their slip in the time share docks.

11:08am, while on patrol in Rescue Boat 17,officers took a 40ft becalmed sail boat en tow out past the #2 “V” entrance buoy. The vessel was heading South.

12:04pm, received a report from VCSO of a disabled 21ft motor vessel near the Harbor entrance. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 17, found the vessel with 5 souls onboard and towed the vessel to the launch ramp safely.

6-30 12:28pm, received and observed a need for assistance for a 34ft sailboat aground near the entrance to the keys in the barranca. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 17, towed the vessel off the sand bar and safely to their dock.

3:43pm, received a report of two lost girlfriends from the boyfriends. They had all been paddle-boarding in the keys and were separated. After an exhaustive search of the harbor, the two missing persons were found at home.

7-03 3:20am, received a dispatch to a vegetation fire at Olivas/HarborBlvd. Officers responded and assisted VFD/CHP with the call. The fire turned out to be a homeless warming fire, it was extinguished without incident.
7-04 2:03pm, received a report of a disabled PersonalWaterCraft being swam out of the surfline at Marina Park. Officers responded in Rescue B-19 and assisted State Parks with towing the vessel out of the surfline and back to the keys.
7-05 9:31pm, received a request from VFD Battalion Chief to check the harbor and surrounding areas for damage from the recent earthquake. Officers search the harbor and surrounding areas but were unable to find any damage.
7-07 6:05pm, dispatched to a water rescue, kite surfer down at the Ventura Pier. Officers responded in Rescue Boat 19 and assisted several agencies with the call. The patient was discovered North of Surfers Point and Ventura Harbor Patrol retrieved his kite and transported it to Ventura Harbor. The victim was uninjured and retrieved his equipment at the Ventura Port District.

Vol. 12, No. 21 – July 17 – July 30, 2019 – 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.

Vandalism Arrest

On June 30, at approximately 6:15pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of several subjects attempting to force entry into the school office at Balboa Middle School in the 200 block of S. Hill Rd. The caller was nearby the school campus and continued to up the dispatcher as officers responded to the call.

When officers arrived on scene, four subjects were detained inside the campus. All four subjects were juveniles and during the investigation officers determined the suspect, later identified as a 17-year-old male, used a permanent marker to write graffiti on several locations and office doors.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the 17-year-old suspect was arrested for vandalism and possession of prescription medication. One additional 16-year-old male juvenile was cited for being a minor in possession of alcohol. The two other additional 16-year-old males were released without charges.

With the summer season upon us and many schools not in session, the Ventura Police Department would like the public to report any suspicious activity seen around the school campuses. Anyone on a school campus while the campus is closed is considered trespassing.

The public can also report any damage from graffiti by leaving a message on the City of Ventura’s Graffiti Removal Hotline number at 654-7805.

Assault with Deadly Weapon and Possession of Methamphetamine Arrest

On July 1, at approximately 12pm, patrol officers responded to a call for service regarding a disturbance. The suspect fled on foot prior to the officers arriving; however he was located nearby by the officers and detained. The investigation revealed the suspect had previously been arrested for trespassing at the location, and on this date and time, he was contacted by the security guard for again trespassing on the property. When the security guard asked him to leave, the suspect pulled out a nine inch long railroad spike, threatened the security guard and held it in close proximity to the guard. The security guard backed away and called 911. While he was doing this, the suspect fled.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the suspect, 26 year old Andrew Martinez, was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon (felony), threatening the security guard’s life (felony), possession of a dirk/dagger (misdemeanor) and possession of methamphetamine (misdemeanor).

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court’s case inquiry system shows since 2016 that the suspect has been arrested four times for trespassing, three times for possession of narcotics paraphernalia, one time for possession of burglary tools and one time for possession of a banned substance.

Possession of Methamphetamine and a Concealed Handgun

On July 1, at 11:54pm, officers responded to a call for service regarding a person passed out behind the steering wheel of a car in a restaurant drive thru. When officers arrived, they contacted the suspect, 30 year old Ventura resident Robert Gray, who was still passed out. A DUI investigation followed and the suspect was arrested. There was a vicious dog inside the car, and Ventura County Animal Control was called to take possession of the dog. After the dog was removed, officers searched the suspect’s vehicle and found a concealed handgun along with methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia. The suspect was arrested for the drugs, the paraphernalia and the concealed weapon.

Vandalism Arrest

On July 7, at approximately 8:15pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a subject tagging near the Cross at 699 Brakey Rd., inside Serra Cross Park. Officers responded and detained a male, later identified as 24 year old Riverside resident Moises Melendez, and a female.

During the investigation, officers spoke to a witness that saw Melendez using a spray paint can to spray graffiti on several locations inside the park. The graffiti, which was found at the base of the Cross and nearby steps, was in excess of $400 and appeared to be gang related.

Melendez was arrested for felony vandalism and a gang enhancement. The female was not arrested and released from the scene.

The public can report any damage from graffiti by leaving a message on the City of Ventura’s Graffiti Removal Hotline number at 654-7805.

Residential Burglary and Conspiracy Arrests

On July 9, at approximately 1:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a possible residential burglary that just occurred in the 900 block of Poli St. The resident, who was home at the time, reported two subjects had just attempted to enter her residence and when confronted, fled westbound from the area on skateboards. Officers responding to the call located the two juvenile suspects a short distance away and detained them.

During the investigation officers learned that the resident was inside her home when she heard a noise in the backyard. She went to investigate the noise and found the two male juveniles near a window, and the screen removed. The juveniles fled from the backyard when confronted by the resident.

Both juveniles were arrested for attempted residential burglary and conspiracy. The resident was not injured as a result of this incident.

Assess your lung cancer risk

One in 16 people will develop lung cancer in their lifetime. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death from cancer – higher than breast, colon or prostate cancer. The good news is that lung cancer can now be found earlier and treated with less invasive methods. By finding and treating lung cancer earlier, patients are surviving lung cancer and living longer and healthier lives.

Learn more about lung cancer, your risk and new treatment methods at a free seminar on July 31 called, “Are You at Risk for Lung Cancer? Surprising Facts About How Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer Has Changed.”

The presenter is CMH’s new lung and heart surgery specialist Dr. Jennifer Wan, one of only 300 board certified women cardiothoracic surgeons in the nation. In addition to cardiac surgery, Dr. Wan specializes in minimally invasive approaches to lung cancer, esophageal cancer and benign foregut disease. She performs thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer and mediastinal masses, as well as laparoscopic and thoracoscopic procedures. She also founded and co-chaired a thoracic tumor board and high-risk lung nodule committee, and helped implement a lung cancer screening program.

The free seminar begins at 6 p.m. on July 31 at the Museum of Ventura County, 100 E. Main St. For reservations, visit http://www.cmhshealth.org/rsvp or call Brown Paper Tickets at 800-838-3006.

Community Memorial Health System is a not-for-profit health system, which is comprised of Community Memorial Hospital, Ojai Valley Community Hospital, the Centers for Family Health, and various outpatient centers serving communities located within Ventura County, California.

Dudley House Speaker’s Bureau

The Dudley House Speaker’s Bureau, along with historic presenter Connie Korenstein and the Talespinners of History, now offer over twenty living history talks for school classes and community groups in need of outside speakers.  Topics include twentieth-century games and toys, Victorian courting customs, the confessions of a displaced southern belle and the women’s suffrage movement.  New topics have been added to celebrate the life and fashions for Downton Abbey fans.  The talks are offered free although donations are encouraged and a mileage fee is sometimes requested.  Please call 805/641-3563 for the complete list.

First 5 Ventura County and Interface Children & Family Services announce locations of Learning sites

First 5 Ventura County (F5VC) is pleased to join Interface Children & Family Services (ICFS) in announcing 13 Neighborhoods for Learning (NfL) locations scheduled to open in late August. Services will be provided across the county with locations in Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura. The sites will help provide essential learning opportunities and services for Ventura County’s nearly 60,000 children prenatal – 5 and their families.

This announcement marks another milestone achieved as part of F5VC’s newly redesigned NfL model. First 5 Ventura County will be investing $2.9 million annually in the First 5 Neighborhoods for Learning, powered by Interface, with classes beginning in late August and early September 2019.

“We are committed to continue delivering Parent and Child Together (PACT) Classes and family support services throughout the county and in neighborhoods where our most vulnerable families and young children reside,” said First 5 Ventura County Executive Director Petra Puls. “Together with ICFS, we have thoroughly reviewed and selected 13 easily accessible locations to serve as neighborhood hubs for early learning and family support services. Many of the sites are in familiar locations, like schools.”

The centrally located NfL locations will offer programs including Parent and Child Together (PACT) classes to help parents and caregivers enhance their knowledge of child development and positive parenting practices to support their children’s learning and development. Parent education classes provide a venue for parents to connect with peers and benefit from social support. Families will also have access to developmental screenings, assistance with care coordination and referral to services such as housing, dental, and Cal Fresh programs.

“We’re excited to partner with F5VC in establishing these prime NfL locations,” said Interface Executive Director Erik Sternad. “The carefully selected NfL sites will allow us to work collaboratively to ensure our Ventura County children and families are served in the best and most cost-effective manner possible.”

“To help us best serve the families with young children, F5VC and ICFS will be hosting a series of local open house events in early August offering opportunities for parents to enroll in classes and engage with the community,” said Puls. “We hope our neighbors will come out and explore all we have to offer and meet our NfL staff.”

The first of these events will be on Tuesday, August 13 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Justin Early Learner Academy in Simi Valley and Sespe Elementary in Fillmore. All those interested in joining the F5VC and ICFS family to learn more about classes and programs are encouraged to drop by.

Additional locations will be announced in the next few weeks. To view a current list of locations and open house opportunities, please visit www.First5Ventura.org

Girl Scouts love state parks

by Kaylie Luedke

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast encourages girls to have outdoor experiences along the Central Coast along with thousands of girls in hundreds of state parks across the United States.

The Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced their first-ever Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend July 13–14 for girls to experience the great outdoors, an integral part of the organization’s all-girl leadership program. Join Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast and thousands of girls in hundreds of state parks across the United States to find adventure, explore nature, and learn what Girl Scouts is all about.

The legacy of Girl Scouts and the outdoors is profound. Studies show that 71 percent of girl members ages 8–14 tried their first outdoor activity through the organization and half would not have had access to outdoor activities and programming if not for Girl Scouts. GSUSA’s cutting- edge environmental conservation; camping; and outdoor science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming is rooted in a passion for adventure and healthy risk-taking combined with taking action to protect the environment for present and future generations. Girl Scouts wants to get even more girls outside through Girl Scouts Love State Parks.

In collaboration with the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD), Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast will hold multiple events to get girls outdoors. From July 13th – July 14th at McGrath State Beach, troops will camp overnight, hear from Park Interpreters about local bird conservation efforts and Chumash history, and do a beach clean-up service project.

“We are so excited to celebrate the love Girl Scouts has for the outdoors”, said Tammie Helmuth, GSCCC CEO. “Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast offers amazing outdoor experiences for girls, including outdoor opportunities at our very own Camp Arnaz Program Center. We are so happy to be able to expand girls’ opportunities to explore the outdoors at our local state parks in the Central Coast.”

Participants can also purchase an exclusive Girl Scouts Love State Parks patch and other related merchandise from the Girl Scout Shop.

Contact Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast at 800-822-2427, or email [email protected] to learn more about Girl Scouts Love State Parks events in the Central Coast.

Discover the best of Ventura Harbor Village’s Sea-Sational Leisure Activities

As if the stunning backdrop of majestic yachts and idyllic sunsets were not enough to entice you when shopping and dining seaside, add to the mix live weekend entertainment, summertime fun of Seaside Kids Club and water sports. The Ventura Harbor Village is the ideal midweek or weekend summer sojourn.

On tap for summer, is Waterfront Wednesdays boasting a host of seaside boutiques/shops, dive and drink specials, liven a mid-summer weekday with the return of this annual favorite from every Wednesday in July and August including live steel drum from noon -3 pm weekly. With something for everyone, families delight in a free Kid’s Scavenger Hunt (complete with prizes,) and get a chance to send a Ventura postcard to friends for free from Noon to 3 p.m.

Check out specials from numerous retailers and boutiques only on Waterfront Wednesdays. Experience “must-seas” play specials offered Wednesdays only including Channel Island National Park Visitor Center for the Marine Sanctuary’s Live Dive program webcast, the Ultimate Escape Rooms, Ventura Boat Rentals, and Ventura Comedy Club.

Leading the pack in what’s hot for kids summertime fun in Ventura, Harbor Village is a sure bet for children with the announcement of the return of its 4rd Annual Seaside Kids Club to be held Thursdays until August 8, from 11 a.m. – noon on the waterfront. Children, ages 3-10, stay busy all summer with a seaside visit where they can explore beyond the classroom with ocean -themed activities, entertainment, bubbles, and crafts boasting materials from Lakeshore Learning. Cost is $5 per child , or become a Seaside Kids Club Member for only $15 for all 5 with special perks. (space is limited weekly.) Sign-in begins at 10:30 AM at the Kelp Corridor outside the Village Carousel & Arcade.

Steel Drum Saturdays features an upbeat tropical vibe, celebrate the return of this popular live steel drum performance each Saturday in July and August from 1-4 p.m. at the seaside Promenade Stage.

Make a day of it arriving early to shop, relax, and dine or stop by of the Village’s top-rated restaurants for dinner with fresh seafood and refreshing hand-crafted cocktails. Live Summer Music Sundays comprises of a variety of duos and trios from 1-4 p.m. on the oceanfront Promenade Stage. Dine, sip and relax as live music spills out throughout the Village with an option to sit back and listen to music on the scenic patios, or on the water aboard a kayak, SUP, electric boat, and paddle boats for the best floating seats in the harbor. Celebrate SEA-sational summertime with these top events and activities at Ventura Harbor Village. For a complete calendar listing visit- VenturaHarborVillage.com

Free lunches to children and teens this summer

Avenue Library in partnership with Ventura Unified School District and Ventura County Public Health Agency, is offering free lunches to children and teens on the west side this summer. The Lunch at the Library program is sponsored by a grant from the California Library Association

The Lunch at the Library helps ensure no child or teen in the west side of Ventura goes hungry during their summer school break. The program is open to all children and teens up to 18 years of age. There is no sign-up or income verification necessary. Children and teens are offered a healthy lunch along with fun activities at the Avenue Library.

The lunch continues through Thursday, July 25. Lunches are first come, first served, and are served at 11:30am, Mondays through Thursdays before the library is open to customers. Fun activities like crafts and story times follow immediately after lunch along with the summer reading program in the afternoon.

The Avenue Library is located at 606 North Ventura Ave. See hours of service at https://www.vencolibrary.org/locations; 805.643.6393.

Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship Award winners

2019 Scholarship Award Winners Annika Kinnaman, Bryce Weinell and Labiba Sardar.

The Ventura Police Officers’ Association (VPOA) is pleased to announce the winners of the 16th annual Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship. The scholarships are to honor Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell, who was shot and killed on August 7, 1978. Sergeant Dowell is the only officer in Ventura’s history to die in the line of duty.

In selecting scholarship recipients, the VPOA considered academic achievement, school and community service, financial needs, and the following requirements:

Applicants must:

  • Be entering his/her freshman through senior year in college;

  • Plan a course of study related to the field of public service;

  • Ventura resident or have graduated from a high school in Ventura within the past three years, or a Ventura Police Department employee or employee’s child.

  • Have a grade point average of 3.0 or better (based on a 4.0 system);

  • Maintain a grade point average of 3.0 or better if selected as a recipient;

  • Submit a resume of school and community activities, including a copy of transcripts through the most recent semester;

  • Submit an essay of 1000 words or less on “Service, what it means to me”;

  • Submit a letter of reccommendation from a public servant.

1st Place $5,000.00 Annika Kinnaman

2nd Place $3,500.00 Bryce Weinell

3rd Place $2,000.00 Labiba Sardar

The VPOA would like to thank all of the applicants and congratulate the 2019 winners of the Dee Dowell Memorial Scholarship!

“Be honest, be safe, and look forward to each day.” –Sgt Dee Dowell