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.
Lewd Acts with a Child Arrest
On July 12 at approximately 1am, Ventura Police Patrol officers contacted a 13-year-old female juvenile who alleged 26 year old Ventura resident Wade Austen Allen sexually assaulted her inside a camping trailer in the City of Ventura. Ventura Police Detectives took over the investigation which resulted in the corroboration of the child’s disclosure of the sexual assault. On July 18, at 1am, VPD Detectives located Allen in the 2900 block of Johnson Drive, and he was taken into custody. Upon contacting Allen, Detectives found usable quantities of cocaine and ecstasy in his possession. Allen was arrested for lewd acts with a child, an outstanding DUI warrant, and various narcotics charges.
Detectives are actively seeking any additional victims. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Det. Alyse Quiroz (805) 339-4413.
Narcotics Arrest
On July 16, at approximately 4:50pm, SCU detectives were conducting a follow-up on an investigation of a commercial burglary. One of the suspects was attempting to sell stolen property from the burglary on an internet site. Detectives using investigative tools were able to identify the suspect as 24 year old Ventura resident Nicholas Gebber.
During the investigation SCU detectives located and detained Gebber attempting to sell the stolen merchandise. While taking Gebber into custody, investigators located additional stolen property, narcotics, and items used to sell narcotics.
Detectives continued their investigation by conducting a probation search of Gebbers’ residence where they contacted 58 year old Ventura resident Larry Gebber. During a search of the residence, investigators located a large amount of methamphetamines and items used for the sales of narcotics. The contraband was located in Larry’s control, during an interview at the residence Larry admitted to the possession of these items. Detectives took him into custody without incident.
Nicholas Gebber was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for possession of stolen property and possession of narcotics for sales.
Larry Gebber was arrested and booked at Ventura County Jail for possession of narcotics for sales.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court shows that Nicholas Gebber has prior arrests and convictions for multiple property and drug-related crimes. It also shows Larry Gebber has prior arrests and convictions for multiple property and drug-related crimes.
Brush Fire
On July 21, from approximately 10:45am – 1:00pm. Ventura City Fire personnel and units responded to multiple reports of a brush fire in the area of Ventura River, near Highway 101 & Main St. First arriving unit reported a 50’x50’ wind-driven vegetation fire in medium/heavy brush with a moderate rate of spread, no structures threatened, smoke and ash impacting adjacent bike path and Main St traffic. Rotor-wing aircraft dropped buckets of water to reduce the intensity, while fire engine crews used progressive hose lays and hand crews cut handline to surround the fire, cutting off its forward progress within 40 minutes. Total containment and thorough mop-up was accomplished within 2 hours. The cause/origin of the fire was determined to be accidental, resulting from a motorized bicycle which ignited some light grass, final size of fire determined to be just under 1 acre. No injuries were reported at the time of this release. No photos or further information available at this time.
Commercial Burglary and Resisting Arrest
On July 22, at approximately 3:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a commercial burglary in progress at a business in the 3600 block of Arundell Cr. The female suspect, later identified as 25 year old vagrant Sariah Cundiff, was reportedly attempting to break into a business using an axe. As officers arrived on scene, Cundiff fled from officers on foot into a nearby self-storage yard.
With the assistance of a Ventura Police K-9, officers began searching several trailers inside the yard. The K-9, Miles, alerted to Cundiff hiding inside a trailer. When she refused officers orders to come out of the trailer, the K-9 was deployed. Cundiff was taken into custody without further incident.
After being cleared at VCMC for injuries she sustained during the arrest, Cundiff was arrested for commercial burglary and resisting arrest.
A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Cundiff has a prior conviction in 2018 for possession of a stolen vehicle and in 2017, she had eight convictions for charges of battery on a police officer, burglary, resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, under the influence of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, identify theft, petty theft, trespassing and vandalism.
Takeover Robbery
On July 24, at approximately 11:15am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a take over robbery at Arroyo’s Fine Jewelry. As officers arrived at the location, they learned that suspect #1 (a black male adult with short hair, thin build, wearing a white dress shirt and dark pants) came into the store alone and told the clerk that he was there to pick up jewelry he had on layaway. As the clerk went to the back of the store to retrieve the jewelry, the suspect followed the clerk and struck him on the head with a handgun. As this happened, suspect #2 (a black male adult with a heavy build, wearing a light-colored shirt) came into the store and covered the front door with a tarp. The two suspects then filled trash bags with several pieces of jewelry from the display cases. The cash value of the stolen property is not known at this time. The two suspects then left the store and entered a vehicle parked to the front of the store. The vehicle was occupied by a third unknown suspect inside.
This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call 805-339-4488.
Commercial Burglary and Grand Theft Arrest
On July 6, the victim called the police department and reported a subject had stolen personal and store property from the counter of the Shell Gas station located at 2440 S. Victoria. The crime was captured on store video surveillance. During the investigation, the suspect was seen entering the business and taking the property while the clerk was distracted.
On July 14, the same suspect entered the Pacific View Mall located at 3301 E Main St. after closing hours. While inside the Mall the suspect forced entry into the Sunglass Hut kiosk and took property from a display rack and then left the Mall with the merchandise.
SCU detectives began investigating both crimes and using evidence located from the scenes were able to identify the suspect as 29 year old vagrant William Bershers.
On July 25, at 5:30pm, SCU Detectives located Bershers loitering in the 5000 block of Telephone Rd. and with the assistance of Ventura Police Patrol officers took him into custody without incident. Bershers was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for Grand Theft and Commercial Burglary.
A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Bershers has prior arrests and convictions for multiple property and drug related crimes.
