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.

Prowling Arrest

On December 4, at approximately 8:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from a resident in the 2400 Block of Lexington Dr. reporting that she had just returned home and there was an unknown male subject in her backyard. The Reporting party further said that all of her gates were locked and the subject had to jump her fence to gain entry into her backyard.

Officers were dispatched to the area and located a subject matching the description the Reporting Party had given dispatch at the corner of North Katherine Dr. and East Main St. This subject was identified as 27 year old Simi Valley resident Christopher Bruney. Bruney was later positively identified as the subject who was in the Reporting Party’s yard and placed under citizen’s arrest.

After the arrest, Bruney was searched and found to be in possession of a usable quantity of Methamphetamines.

A review of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that Bruney has been recently arrested for brandishing a deadly weapon and Hit and Run.

Theft from Person and Elder Abuse *Update with Arrests*

On November 17, at approximately 3:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of a purse theft that just occurred near the intersection of Potomac Ave. and Kennebec St. The suspect was last seen getting into an awaiting vehicle being driven by another suspect and fleeing the area northbound towards Northbank Dr. The suspect vehicle was described as a white, later model SUV.

During the investigation, officers determined the 73-year-old female victim was walking down the street when she was approached by the suspect. The suspect grabbed the victim’s purse and pulled it from her shoulder. He then got into the awaiting vehicle, which fled the area.

VPD Detectives reviewed surveillance video in the stores where the victim’s credit cards were later used, and identified all (3) suspects, 18 year old Ventura resident Kaleb Dixon, 18 year old Thousand Oaks resident Josiah Shephard and a 16 year old male juvenile from Thousand Oaks.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Stabbing)

On December 6, at approximately 4pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a physical fight in the 1400 block of Chipmunk Circle in the City of Ventura. The reporting party noted that one of the persons involved in the fight was lying on the ground.

Ventura Police patrol officers responded to the area of Chipmunk Circle and located one of the parties involved, later identified as 31 year old Ventura resident Carlos Gonzalez. At about the same time, a Ventura Police officer assigned to the Ventura County Medical Center informed patrol officers that a stabbing victim had arrived at the hospital, claiming to have been stabbed while involved in a fight.

Officers ultimately learned that the victim was walking his dog when he came across Gonzalez and his brother. Gonzalez kicked the victim’s dog and then insisted on fighting the victim. The victim attempted to avoid a fight; however, Gonzalez would not stop instigating a fight. Ultimately, Gonzalez and the victim became involved in a physical fight. During the fight, Gonzalez pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim two times in the upper body. The victim then had a family member drive him to the hospital.

Officers contacted Gonzalez and his brother near the scene of the stabbing and took Gonzalez into custody without incident. Gonzalez was booked into the Ventura County Pretrial Detention Facility for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

The victim’s injuries were moderate, but not life threatening.

Armed Robbery

On December 7, at approximately 5pm, two male suspects entered the Rabobank located at 1171 S. Victoria Avenue in the City of Ventura. At least one of the suspects was armed with a handgun. The suspects demanded money from the bank tellers and were ultimately given an undisclosed amount of cash. After gathering the cash, both suspects fled on foot to a white vehicle that was parked nearby and they were last seen driving away southbound through the parking lot.

Both suspects were wearing nylon stockings over their face and head. One suspect was wearing a grey colored hoodie sweatshirt and dark pants. The other suspect was wearing a dark T-shirt and dark pants.

At the time of the robbery, there were several bank employees and a few customers present inside the bank. One customer was shoved aside as a suspect attempted to gather money off of the counter, but nobody was injured during the robbery.

Sexual Assault and Burglary Arrest

On December 7 at 7am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call from an adult female reporting that she had just been sexually assaulted in a room at the Ventura Beach House Motel, 1220 E. Thompson Blvd. The suspect, later identified as 38 year old vagrant Jesus Arreola, who was known to the victim and others at the motel, was last seen fleeing from the area on foot.

Officers arrived on scene and learned that Arreola had forced his way into the victim’s motel room and assaulted her while she was sleeping. Officers checked the area, but were unable to locate Arreola.

Today, 12/08/18, at approximately 1100 hours, officers saw Arreola walking in the area of E. Main St. and Lang St. He was contacted and taken into custody without incident.

Battery on Police Officer and Felony Resisting Arrest

On December 11, at approximately 9:30pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911call from a resident in the 500 Block of Lincoln Drive reference a subject who was disturbing in the area and appeared to be under the influence. Officers arrived on scene and contacted a subject later identified as 27 year old Simi Valley resident Christopher Bruney who was outside of his car and walking in the middle of the road. Officers ordered Bruney to the side of the road, but Bruney refused and got into his car and drove away.

Officers followed Bruney as he stopped a short distance away. Officers contacted Bruney and asked for his compliance and for him to step out of the car to determine if he was safe to drive. Bruney refused and began to swing his fists at officers, hitting them. Officers attempted to control Bruney who continued to resist, and officers had to deploy a Taser. More officers arrived on scene as Bruney continued to struggle. Bruney was finally taken into custody.

The two initial responding officers suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene and returned to full duty.

After the arrest, Bruney was searched and found to be in possession of a usable quantity of Methamphetamines.