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.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
On August 15, at approximately 11:45am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 911 call of two males in a physical fight outside of Catholic Charities, 303 N. Ventura Ave. Officers arrived on scene and located the 50–year–old male victim, who was found to be suffering from a non–life threatening head injury. The suspect, later identified as 67 year old vagrant Charlie Fuller, was also detained.
During the investigation, officers learned the victim was sitting down to the front of the location when Fuller approached him from behind and began hitting in the back of the head with a bag full of rocks. The motive for the attack is not known.
The victim lost consciousness as a result of the attack, but after receiving treatment at the scene by Ventura City Fire personnel, he refused to be transported to the hospital.
Fuller was booked into the Ventura County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon.
Burglary and Conspiracy arrests
On August 4, at approximately 12pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a report of a burglary that occurred at the Saint Bonaventure High School men’s locker room. The school’s football coach reported that over $3,000 worth of football equipment had been stolen.
Officers spoke with a witness and reviewed surveillance from a nearby business, and discovered that three male juveniles had climbed over a fence into the campus near the men’s locker room. Two of the juveniles were identified from the video footage. Officers made contact with one of the suspect’s parents and confirmed their involvement in the crime. The following day, two of the suspects met with officers and a Street Crimes Unit detective. The suspects admitted to committing the burglary and returned the stolen football equipment.
On August 14, detectives concluded the investigation and spoke with the third suspect, who also confessed to the burglary. All three juveniles were arrested for burglary and conspiracy.
Stolen Vehicle Pursuit and Arrests
On August 17, at approximately 10:30am, an officer was patrolling the area of Moon Dr. and Grand Ave., when he observed a vehicle run a stop sign and attempted to conduct a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as 22 year old Port Hueneme resident Edmund Ellis, failed to yield and a pursuit was initiated. It was determined the vehicle was a reported stolen vehicle out of Oxnard.
The pursuit continued southbound on Grand Ave., during which time Ellis drove at speeds of 30- 40 mph on Grand Ave. and ran several stop signs. He then went eastbound on Ventura Blvd., where in the 6400 block of Ventura Blvd., he pulled into the parking lot of a business. Ellis stopped the vehicle, at which time he and two passengers inside the vehicle, attempted to flee on foot. The officer ordered all three of them to stop and they complied. When additional officers arrived on scene, Ellis, a female passenger later identified as 26 year old vagrant Ashley Nett, and the second passenger, a male, were taken into custody without incident.
Ellis was arrested for felony evading, driving a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property and possession of narcotics paraphernalia. Nett was arrested for resisting arrest and two out of county felony warrants. Both were booked into the Ventura County Jail. The second passenger was released from the scene without charges..
Residential Burglary, Identity Theft, and Possession of Stolen Property Arrest
On August 16, detectives with the Ventura Police Street Crimes Unit concluded a month-long investigation by arresting Vincente Quinonez for several charges that stemmed from a residential burglary. On July 18 at approximately 3pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a report of a burglary that occurred within the 1000 block of Kingston Ln., in Ventura. The victim arrived home to find her residence ransacked and numerous belongings had been stolen. It was later determined the suspect made entry into the residence through an unlocked back door. Ventura Police patrol officers and Street Crimes Unit detectives responded to the scene and quickly learned the victim’s credit cards were used after the burglary. Detectives were able to identify 27 year old Oxnard resident Vincente Quinonez as the suspect who had used the victim’s credit cards at a nearby gas station.
On July 23, Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Quinonez after he was seen driving a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of Port Hueneme. Deputies located credit cards and other property in the vehicle which they believed could be stolen. Street Crimes Unit detectives took possession of the evidence located in the stolen vehicle and confirmed there was property taken from the residence on Kingston Ln. Additional stolen property in the vehicle was later determined to belong to victims of two separate thefts from unlocked vehicles in Ventura. Through further investigation, detectives discovered that Quinonez had used credit cards stolen from those thefts as well.
At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives arrested and booked Quinonez (who was still in custody at the Ventura County Jail for his previous arrest) for residential burglary (felony), six counts of identity theft (felony), two counts of petty theft (misdemeanor), and two counts of possession of stolen property (misdemeanor).
According to the Ventura County Superior Court Website, in 2017, Quinonez was convicted of burglary, driving a stolen vehicle, and possession of a controlled substance.
Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle
On August 22 at approximately 12:30pm, an officer was on patrol in the area Telegraph Rd. and Ashwood Ave., when he observed a vehicle with expired registration. Before the officer could initiate a traffic stop, the driver of the vehicle, later identified as 20 year old vagrant Lamont Hodgins, quickly pulled into the parking lot of a nearby liquor store and went inside.
The officer made contact with Hodgins, who was uncooperative and refused to cooperate with the officer’s orders to exit the store. When additional officers arrived on scene, Hodgins was detained without further incident.
It was determined that Hodgins was driving on a suspended license. During a search, Hodgins was found to have an illegal knife concealed on his person. When officers were searching his vehicle, they found a loaded firearm.
Hodgins was booked into the Ventura County Jail for possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest and driving on a suspended license.
According to the Ventura County Superior Court website, Hodgins was convicted of driving under the influence in 2017.
Fatal Hit and Run Investigation – UPDATE
On August 10 at approximately 8:30pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a Hit and Run collision that just occurred at Ventura Ave and Prospect. As officers arrived on scene, they learned from witnesses that the victim (Michael Pedigo), walked between two parked cars and into the northbound lane of traffic on N. Ventura Avenue. A white four-door vehicle driving northbound struck Mr. Pedigo and immediately pulled over to the side of the road. Without checking on the well being of Mr. Pedigo, the driver and car left the scene. Paramedics from Ventura City Fire and AMR who also responded administered first aid to Mr. Pedigo, and transported him to VCMC.
At 4am, Mr. Pedigo succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the hospital. This is an ongoing investigation, and anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the investigating officer Corporal Al Gomez at 805-339-4474.
On August 15, at 12:30pm, the Ventura Police Traffic Unit arrested 65 year old Ventura resident Juan Caudillo Cisneros for Felony Hit and Run and Destruction of Evidence related to the fatal collision that took place with Michael Pedigo on August 10 at approx 8:30pm at the intersection of Ventura Avenue and Prospect Street.
Through the investigation, Traffic Investigators located what they believed to be the white four-door vehicle involved in the collision. With the assistance of Ventura Police Patrol Officers, the suspected vehicle was located in Ventura. Juan Caudillo Cisneros was stopped by Investigators in the vehicle this morning and damage consistent with the collision was located. After seizing the vehicle for evidence, Traffic Investigators discovered the front windshield had recently been replaced and Juan Caudillo Cisneros was determined to be the driver of the vehicle and had the windshield repaired following the collision.
At this time, it does not appear that Juan Caudillo Cisneros was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the collision. He was booked at the Ventura County Jail.
Vehicle Pursuit and Arrest of Wanted Person
On August 22 at approximately 7:30pm, Ventura Police Department Special Enforcement Team Detectives attempted to contact and arrest a wanted felon in the area of Ventura Avenue and Dakota Drive. The suspect, later identified as 23 year old Ventura resident Ivan Ruiz, was uncooperative and fled in a vehicle.
The detectives went in pursuit of the suspect and followed him into the area of the 500 block of West Ramona Street. The suspect stopped his car and fled on foot from the detectives into the surrounding neighborhood. Additional patrol officers and K9s arrived in the area and assisted with the search.
After approximately 2 hours of searching houses and yards, the suspect was located and arrested. The suspect sustained minor injuries during the arrest. He was treated at the Ventura County Medical Center and later booked on the charges of felony evading, resisting arrest and his outstanding felony warrant.
