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.

Possession of Stolen Vehicle Arrest

On May 5, at approximately 1am, a Ventura Police patrol officer observed a suspicious vehicle in the area of Silver Sands Motel that matched the description of a vehicle recently reported stolen.   The vehicle in question was occupied by the male driver later identified as 38 year old Ventura resident Christopher Thomaier, and a female passenger.  The officer followed the vehicle and confirmed that the vehicle was in fact the stolen vehicle and requested additional officers to assist.

A traffic enforcement stop was conducted in the 3000 Block of Porter Lane.  The driver of the vehicle complied with orders and was taken into custody without incident.

Thomaier was arrested and transported to Ventura County Jail where he was booked for possession of a stolen vehicle. The female passenger was questioned and released at the scene.

Felony Evading, Resisting Arrest, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Burglary Tools Arrest. 

On May 11, at approximately 2am, a patrol officer observed a suspicious vehicle leaving the parking lot of McDonald’s on Telegraph Rd. A records check of the license plate showed the plates to be stolen. When the officer attempted to stop the vehicle driven by 22 year old Ventura resident Shawn Mahoney, it fled at a high rate of speed. The officer went into pursuit. Mahoney drove west on Telegraph Rd, running red lights, at speeds between 60 – 70 mph. Mahoney then turned into the residential area at Bryn Mawr St and drove at a high rate of speed, failing to stop at stop signs.

On Broderick Ave Mahoney leapt from the moving car and fled on foot. Due to the nature of the pursuit, a Ventura Police K9 was deployed and assisted in taking Mahoney into custody in the 300 block of Harte Ave. The vehicle came to rest on the sidewalk on Broderick Ave.

After Mahoney was taken into custody, officers discovered that the license plates were stolen from Oxnard and the vehicle was a separate stolen vehicle also out of Oxnard. Mahoney was arrested and transported to VCMC for treatment of injuries he sustained from the K9.  Once he was medically cleared, Mahoney was booked into the Ventura County Jail for felony evading arrest, resisting arrest, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of burglary tools.

No one else was injured as a result of the pursuit.

Felony Evading, Resisting Arrest, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Parole Violation Arrest. 

On May 11, at approximately 11pm, a patrol officer observed a reported stolen vehicle driving on Kellogg St towards Cedar St. The officer attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle, which fled at a high rate of speed south on Cedar St and then turned west on Center St. The vehicle, driven by 22 year old Ventura resident Christopher Czechorowski, side-swiped a parked vehicle on the south side of Center St then continued to flee west on Center St.

About mid-block of Center St, Czechorowski leapt from the still moving vehicle and fled on foot towards the Ventura Ave. The vehicle struck a set of garbage cans on the north side of Center St and collided into 2 other parked cars where it came to rest. The officer pursued Czechorowski on foot and took him into custody in an alleyway off of Prospect St.

Czechorowski is currently on parole for armed robbery and was arrested for felony evading, resisting arrest and possession of a stolen vehicle. State Parole was contacted and Czechorowski was also arrested for parole violations.

Czechorowski was booked into the Ventura County Jail for the above listed charges. No one was injured as a result of the pursuit. The owners of the damaged vehicles were contacted and the stolen vehicle was returned to the registered owner.

Gang Vandalism, child endangerment

On May 13, at approximately 12:45pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call of a subject spray painting graffiti along the streets listed above.  The witness followed the suspect down several streets and witnessed him tagging several buildings and fences along his path.  The witness pointed the subject out to officers who arrived on scene soon after.

The suspect was contacted and identified as documented Ventura Avenue Gang member, 22 year old Ventura resident Javier Rangel.  Rangel was accompanied by a 6 year old juvenile who was carrying several cans of spray paint, and marijuana given to him by Rangel.  During the investigation it was learned that Rangel handed these items to the juvenile when Rangel saw officers approaching.

Officers located and documented the graffiti along Rangel’s path.  The graffiti was gang tagging commonly associated to the Ventura Avenue Gang.

During the officers investigation they were told Rangel stole the spray paint and other items from a vehicle somewhere along his path.  Officers were unable to locate a victim vehicle.  If anyone has information for any of these crimes, please contact the Ventura Police department.

Rangel, who is currently on probation for Robbery, was booked at the Ventura County Jail for Felony Vandalism, Child endangerment, along with a felony gang enhancement.  The Juvenile was released to his mother at the scene.

Armed Robbery

On May 18, at approximately 6:30pm, the suspect entered the business and walked towards a display case. Once he arrived at the display case, he pulled a knife out of his waist area. An employee who was nearby was in fear, and they fled from the suspect. Once the employee fled, the suspect began selecting various items, cut the security devices off of them and fled from the business.

Responding officers checked the surrounding area but did not locate the suspect. No one was injured during this incident.

The suspect was an adult male of unknown race wearing a hooded sweatshirt. An anonymous tip can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.