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.
Felony Vandalism, Conspiracy, Battery on a Peace Officer & Resisting Arrest
On May 7 at 12:30am, the Ventura Police Command Center received several 911 calls from residents in the 1500 block of Echidna Place who were reporting having heard what they believed to be someone spray painting near the community pool house.
As officers arrived on scene they observed the suspect, 18 year old Ventura resident Alberto Lara, spray painting graffiti on the exterior walls of the pool house while two females stood by as lookouts. Officers approached the group, announced their presence and attempted to detain the trio. One of the females, 18 year old Ventura resident Juliana Munoz refused to cooperate with the officers and fled on foot. Munoz was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit, yet she continued to resist by spitting and kicking at the officers.
Lara was placed under arrest and booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony vandalism, criminal conspiracy and providing false identification to a peace officer. Munoz was booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony vandalism, criminal conspiracy, battery on a peace officer and resisting arrest. The third suspect was determined to be a juvenile and was issued a citation for felony vandalism and criminal conspiracy before being released to a guardian.
No officers were injured as a result of these arrests.
Multiple Commercial Burglaries
On May 12 at 1am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a report of multiple window smashes in the 300 block of Ventura Ave. As officers arrived on scene they detained several juveniles who were fleeing down the street. During the course of the investigation it was discovered that one of the juveniles, a 15 year old female Oxnard resident, had smashed the window to a coin laundromat and entered the business to steal property. She then moved down the street and smashed a glass door and entered into another store to steal property. When she was detained, she still had the property on her person. The other two juveniles were found not to have been involved in the burglaries, however were out past curfew and were issued citations and released to parents.
The suspect in the burglaries was arrested for two counts of felony commercial burglary and released to parents. The Ventura Police Department would like to remind parents there is a curfew for juveniles under 18 from 10 pm until 6 am.
Brandishing a Replica Firearm in a Threatening Manner, Negligent Discharge of an Air Gun and Obstructing a Police Officer Arrest
On May 17, at approximately 6:15am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call from the clerk of Motel 6, 3075 Johnson Dr., reporting that there was a subject in the parking lot armed with a handgun. It was reported the subject, later identified as 31 year old vagrant Spencer Westerberg, was standing near a parked vehicle, waving the gun around and pointing it in different directions, including in the direction of Highway 101.
When the first officers arrived on scene and attempted to make contact with Westerberg, he got into the vehicle and started the engine. Westerberg refused numerous orders by the officers to turn off the vehicle and exit the vehicle. Additional officers arrived on scene and using the Department’s armored vehicle, the officers blocked Westerberg’s vehicle to keep him from leaving the parking lot. After additional orders, Westerberg exited the vehicle was taken into custody.
During the investigation, officers determined the handgun was a BB gun, although Westerberg admitted to shooting several BB’s towards vehicles on the freeway.
Westerberg was arrested and later booked into the Ventura County Jail for brandishing a replica firearm in a threatening manner, negligent discharge of an air gun and obstructing a police officer. Westerberg received a minor injury to during the arrest, but did not require a medical clearance.
There were no other injuries as a result of this incident.
Hit and Run and Driving a Stolen Vehicle Arrest
On May 17, at approximately 10:30am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a none injury hit and run traffic accident that just occurred near the intersection of Loma Vista Rd. and Palomares Ave. The caller reported the suspect vehicle, a black Chrysler sedan, collided into their vehicle and was last seen fleeing westbound on Loma Vista Rd.
As officers were responding to that location, additional callers reported a second hit and run accident that just occurred at the intersection of W. Barnett St. and Snow Ct., describing that a similar described vehicle hit a parked vehicle and the driver fled on foot. Officers arrived on scene and located the suspect driver, later identified as 24 year old Ventura resident Brittany Caro, walking in the area and detained her. Shortly after being detained, a relative of Caro’s called from a residence in east Ventura to report that Caro had stolen her vehicle.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Caro was arrested for hit and run and stolen vehicle. After being medically cleared from VCMC for minor injuries she sustained during the second accident, Caro was booked into the Ventura County Jail.
No citizens were injured as a result of these incidents.
