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.

Sandra Dillard pleads guilty to murder

Dillard pleaded guilty to a 2021 murder charge. According to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office, Sandra Dillard, 41, fatally stabbed Kelsey Dillon in September 2021; her body was discovered in Ventura two days after she was killed.

Prior to being arrested for Dillon’s murder, Dillard was detained in July of 2022 for grand theft of a firearm after stealing a shotgun from her roommate.

Two days later, Dillard attacked a female deputy at the Todd Road Jail in Santa Paula and was charged with battery on a peace officer.

Negligent Discharge of a Firearm and Carrying a Concealed Weapon Arrest

On February 20, at approximately 3:30 pm , the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a 9-1-1 call from a business in the 3600 block of Harbor Blvd. of a subject shooting a gun out of the window of a white sedan. The caller saw the suspect shoot the firearm in the air, towards his office as it traveled southbound on Harbor Blvd., towards the City of Oxnard. An additional witness was able to provide a partial license plate to the vehicle.

The Ventura Police Department Command Center notified the surrounding law enforcement agencies and a Ventura County Sheriff’s Deputy located the vehicle traveling on Ventura Avenue near Fix Way. The Sheriff Deputy and Ventura Police Officers conducted a high risk stop on the vehicle and the firearm was located.

Witnesses to the shooting positively identified 33-year-old Ventura resident Travis Booth as the passenger who shot the firearm and 34-year-old Ventura resident Jessica Harmon as the driver of the vehicle. The 9mm handgun is owned by Harmon and was seized as evidence. Officers located shell casings on Harbor Blvd. and were unable to locate any impact rounds in the surrounding businesses.

Booth was arrested for Discharge of a Firearm in a Grossly Negligent Manner and Harmon was arrested Carrying a Concealed Weapon in a Vehicle. Booth and Harmon were booked at the Ventura County Jail.

Possession for Sales and Maintaining a Drug House arrests

On February 23, at 5:50 pm, detectives from the Ventura Police Department Street Crimes Unit served a search warrant in the 10 block of West Barnett St. with the assistance of K-9 officers and patrol. The search warrant was related to an ongoing narcotics investigation. Several subjects were located on the property. The search of the residence found a large quantity of fentanyl, methamphetamine, multiple firearms, and stolen property. At the conclusion of the investigation, the following arrests were made: 48-year-old Ventura resident Marcos Angulo was arrested for possession for sales of a controlled substance.

Lee Olson, 34-year-old Ventura resident, was arrested for maintaining a residence for the purposes of the use or sales of a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm with a controlled substance, and felon in possession of ammunition.

Rocky Holbert, 33-year-old Ventura resident, fled from the residence but was arrested by detectives immediately after and he was arrested for delaying a peace officer and a Post Release Offender hold.

Logan Hoyt, 19-year-old Ventura resident, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.

Shooting Homicide UPDATE

On February 19, at approximately 1:00 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a subject disturbing outside a residence in the 11000 block of Mimosa St. As officers were responding to the call the reporting party called back and stated there was now a shooting victim that was inside of their residence.

Officer arrived on scene and located the victim, a 25-year-old male, who suffered from a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim received advanced life support from Ventura City Fire and AMR and was transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

The ensuing investigation revealed that there was a possible altercation in the front yard of the reporting persons residence prior to the shooting. Currently the suspect is outstanding, and the investigation is continuing.

Anyone with any information about this crime is requested to contact the Ventura Police Departments nonemergency line at 805-650-8010.

UPDATE:
The Ventura Police Department has been actively investigating this crime since it occurred. During the course of the investigation information was developed that led to the service of a search warrant today, in the 700 block of West Santa Paula St in the City of Santa Paula. During the service of that search warrant 21-year-old Santa Paula resident Jose Posadas was arrested for the murder.

He was subsequently booked into Ventura County Jail without incident. Posadas has prior convictions of weapons violations, gang violations, stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest.

This investigation is ongoing and anyone with additional information about this crime should contact Corporal Gil Pusen at 805-339-4463.

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 February 1, at approximately 11:00 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 9-1-1 call reference a fight that had just occurred in a parking lot to an apartment complex. Responding officers arrived within minutes and located the victim who was suffering from severe injuries to his face. Ventura City Fire and AMR paramedics attended to the victim on scene and transported him to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation revealed the victim was confronted by the suspect in the parking lot to the apartment complex. The victim feared for his safety and ran for help knocking on doors at nearby apartments. The suspect chased the victim down and began punching the victim and kicked him several times in the head while he was on the ground. The suspect stomped on the victim’s face leaving an impression of his shoe. A nearby resident broke up the attack and the suspect fled in a vehicle.

Officers following up on the case located surveillance video from the apartment complex and identified the suspect as a resident, 25-year-old Ventura resident Coy Duvernay. Officers located the suspect and evidence of the crime in an apartment, and he was arrested. The suspect was booked for Assault with a Deadly Weapon at the Ventura County Jail.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon Arrest

On February 14, at approximately 3:00 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received several 911 calls about a male subject swinging a knife in the Vons shopping center parking lot. Officers responded to the area and detained 38-year-old vagrant Ramon Carbajal, identified as the subject with the knife.

During the investigation, it was discovered that Carbajal was in the parking lot, swinging the knife when he approached several juveniles and began slashing at them. He struck one of the juveniles in the back, not injuring her. The youth fled into a local business and asked to call the police.

Carbajal was arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon and booked at the Ventura County Jail. A search of the Ventura County Superior Court website shows that since 2019 Carbajal has been convicted of ten misdemeanors and felonies, including Vehicle Theft, Vandalism, Petty Theft, Vehicle Tampering, Brandishing with a Knife, Resisting Arrest, Disturbing the Peace, and Identity Theft.

Shooting Homicide

On February 19, at about midnight the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a subject disturbing outside a residence in the 11000 block of Mimosa St. As officers were responding to the call the reporting party called back and stated there was now a shooting victim that was inside of their residence.
Officer arrived on scene and located the victim, a 25-year-old male, who suffered from a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim received advanced life support from Ventura City Fire and AMR and was transported to Ventura County Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.
The ensuing investigation revealed that there was a possible altercation in the front yard of the reporting persons residence prior to the shooting. Currently the suspect is outstanding, and the investigation is continuing.

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.

Body Found in Riverbed

On January 9, at approximately 9:00 pm, a male reporting party called 9-1-1 and spoke to the Ventura Police Department Communications Center. The male said that his female friend, later identified as 35-year-old Christina Lorenzen, was in the Santa Clara Riverbed, yelling for help as flood waters were rising. Ventura Police Communications transferred the call to the Ventura County Fire Department Dispatch Center so that a rescue effort could be launched.

Ventura County Fire Dispatch initiated a swift water rescue effort, using several resources from the Ventura County Fire Department, the Ventura City Fire Department, and the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, including a Search and Rescue team and a helicopter. The rescue resources were unable to locate Lorenzen during their effort. The focus of the search was in the Santa Clara Riverbed in the area of Auto Center Drive and Ventura Road in the City of Ventura.

On January 10, at approximately 6:30 pm, the same caller from the previous evening called the Ventura Police Department Communications Center and indicated that he had found Lorenzen deceased in the riverbed. Ventura Police Department patrol officers responded to the caller’s location and located Lorenzen in a small wooden structure in the riverbed. Lorenzen appeared to have drowned while inside that structure. It appeared that Lorenzen was also living inside of the makeshift structure. The Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office was notified, and they responded to conduct their own investigation.

During rain events, flooding often occurs in both the Santa Clara and Ventura Rivers, making the areas unsafe. The Ventura Police and other public safety agencies encourage anyone living in or frequenting these areas to evacuate during foul weather and seek shelter and services. For the upcoming rain event expected to begin on Saturday, January 14, the County of Ventura is opening a temporary shelter at the Ventura County Fairgrounds, located at 10 W. Harbor Blvd. in Ventura. The temporary shelter will be open from Friday, January 13, through Tuesday, January 17. This shelter is open to anyone in need, but primarily focuses on providing temporary shelter for the homeless population of Oxnard and Ventura.

Additional weather information is available through The Ventura County Office of Emergency Services: www.VCEmergency.com. The community can also stay informed of critical incident updates in their area by registering at www.VCAlert.org.

Felony Vandalism

On January 13, at approximately 4:00 am, an alert passerby informed a Ventura Police Patrol Officer that two subjects were vandalizing a wall on Victoria Avenue in between the northbound and southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway. Officers responded to that area and found two subjects standing on an elevated ledge, spray painting graffiti on a wall on the west side of Victoria Avenue in between the northbound and southbound lanes of the 101 Freeway.

As officers were arriving, one suspect fled on foot onto the 101 Freeway. The second subject, later identified as 26-year-old Ventura resident Jacob Summitt, was unable to flee and became stranded on the elevated ledge. Summitt refused to come down from the ledge for several hours as officers attempted to talk him down.

At one point, Summitt threatened to jump off the ledge in an effort hurt himself. A Ventura Police Crisis Negotiations Team Member responded to the scene and attempted to talk with him, but Summitt continued to refuse to come down. At approximately 0819 hours, Summitt indicated that he wanted to come down off the ledge.

The Ventura Fire Department provided a ladder and Summitt climbed down from the ledge. He was arrested for felony vandalism and transported to the Ventura County Jail.

The damage to the wall was estimated to be several thousands of dollars. Traffic was moderately affected on Victoria Avenue during this event.

Fatal Traffic Collision

On January 13, at approximately 7:00 pm, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call regarding a single vehicle rollover collision in the 7200 block of Bristol Rd. Upon arrival, the vehicle was located on it’s side into a tree and the female driver had been ejected. Lifesaving measures were attempted at the scene, however, the driver had succumbed to her injuries.

Witnesses to the collision said the vehicle was driving erratically at a high rate of speed before losing control while attempting to pass vehicles on the wrong side of the road. The vehicle then struck a tree and wall in the area.

The investigation into this collision is still ongoing and any witnesses are encouraged to contact Traffic Collision Investigator Kyle Halverson at 805-477-3767.

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.

The Ventura Police Department is asking the public for photos or video of a fight reported in downtown Ventura last month.

The altercation broke out around 12:48 a.m. Dec. 5 in the 400 block of East Main Street.

Sgt. Bill Dolan of the department’s major crimes unit said the fight involved two victims, a 29-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, and a group of five to seven male suspects who were believed to be in their early 20s. One victim suffered a non-fatal stab wound to the leg, while the other had a finger nearly severed off and a laceration to the arm.

Dolan said investigators have learned photo and video of the fight exists but have yet to view them. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or recorded parts of the attack is asked to contact Detective Gil Pusen at 805-339-4467 or email [email protected]. Information and media can be submitted anonymously.

Fatal Traffic Collision

On January 8, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call regarding a single vehicle collision into a building in the 4200 block of Market St. Upon arrival, two occupants, the driver and a passenger, were found deceased inside of the vehicle. Antony Moctezuma (21 yrs), Ventura Resident and Agustin De Paz (19 yrs), Ventura Resident

An additional passenger had serious, but not life threatening injuries and was transported to the Ventura County Medical Center for treatment.

Preliminary investigation and evidence at the scene indicate that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed prior to colliding with the building. The investigation into this collision is still ongoing and any witnesses are encouraged to contact Traffic Collision Investigator Chris Wilson at 805-339-4366.

Residential Burglary, Felony Vandalism, and Prowling Arrest

On December 28, 2022, at approximately 3:45 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call from a juvenile home alone, hiding in a closet, reporting that a subject had broken into their home and was still inside.

Officers arrived on scene in two minutes and safely detained a male subject, later identified as 35-year-old vagrant Johnathan Cervantes, as he walked out of the house. While inside the home, Cervantes broke into bedroom doors and vandalized the house, causing over $500 in damage.

During the investigation, it was discovered Cervantes had gone up to at least one additional residence on the street, knocked on the door, and claimed he was from the Ventura County Water Department when the homeowner answered.

Based on Cervantes’s actions, he was arrested for Prowling, Felony Vandalism, and Residential Burglary. Cervantes was booked at the Ventura County Jail.

DUI Collision into a Residential Home

On December 31, 2022, at approximately 1:15 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a single vehicle collision into a residential house in the 10000 block of Jamestown Street. An off-duty Ventura Police Officer heard the collision and witnessed 55-year-old Ventura resident Michael Souter leaving the area on foot.

The off-duty Ventura Police Officer coordinated responding officers to Souter’s location and after a brief foot pursuit, Souter was taken into custody. During the arrest, Souter tried to punch the arresting officer.

The residents of the home were not injured. Souter was booked at the Ventura County Jail for

misdemeanor hit and run, misdemeanor driving under the influence, resisting arrest, and assault on a police officer.

Residential Burglary Arrest

On January 6, 2023, at approximately 7:30 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call from an alert witness reporting a suspicious male subject had entered a neighbor’s residence. The reporting party felt this to be suspicious, due to the fact the residents were away on vacation.

Officers arrived on scene and detained a male subject, later identified as 43-year-old vagrant Michael Nathan, inside of the residence.

During the investigation, it was determined Waites made entry via a broken window and had been squatting inside the residence for several days. He was also found to be in possession of stolen items from the residence.

Waites was arrested for Residential Burglary and booked at the Ventura County Jail.

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.

Fatal Hit and Run Investigation

UPDATE:

On November 3, at 3:34 pm, Ventura Police Collision Investigators and Street Crime Unit Detectives arrested 30-year-old Oxnard resident Frank Godinez Estanol III as the suspect driver in the fatal collision that occurred on April 10 in the area of Thompson Blvd. and Ash St. Estanol was charged with felony hit and run causing death and failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. He was booked at the Ventura County Jail with a bail of $100,000 while he is awaiting further court proceedings.

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On April 10, at approximately 12:30 am, the Ventura Police Department Command Center received a call regarding an injured male lying on his back in the area of Thompson Blvd., and Ash St. Ventura Police Patrol Officers responded and found an unconscious 30-year-old male with a head injury. Paramedics arrived shortly after officers and pronounced the male dead at the scene.

During the investigation, officers determined that the victim was walking north across Thompson Blvd. at the intersection with Ash St. and was struck by a silver sedan traveling westbound. The vehicle fled the area after the collision and was not located. The Ventura Police Department Traffic Unit responded to handle the investigation.

On April 11, Ventura Police Collision Investigators and Street Crime Detectives located a vehicle in the City of Oxnard believed to be related to this collision with a pedestrian. Investigators impounded the vehicle and have authored multiple search warrants related to the vehicle and a person of interest. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Officer Chris Wilson at 805-339-4366.

This criminal investigation is on-going, and more information will be released when it is available.

Stolen Vehicle, Felony Vehicle Pursuit, and Hit and Run Arrest

On November 10, at 8:00 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a 911 call reporting a theft of a work truck from the 2800 block of Sherwin Ave. The victim had a GPS device attached to the vehicle and gave officers a general area where the truck might be.

Officers located the truck on Telegraph Rd and Ashwood St and attempted to stop the vehicle on Victoria Ave. However, the driver, later identified as 30-year-old San Bernadino resident Jorge Vazquez, failed to yield, and led officers on a pursuit. While driving west on Telegraph Ave, Vazquez lost control of the truck and struck a tree at Hobart Park. He then fled from the vehicle.

Officers established a perimeter and, with the assistance of a K9, were able to locate Vazquez in an apartment complex. Vazquez was taken into custody without incident. No one was injured as a result of the pursuit or arrest.

Vazquez was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for Vehicle Theft, Felony Vehicle Pursuit, Hit and Run, and outstanding local and out-of-county warrants.

Possession of Narcotics with a Firearm Arrest

On Nov. 11, at 11:30am, officers were dispatched with Ventura City Fire and Paramedics to a report of two subjects slumped over inside a vehicle in the parking lot at O’Reilly Auto Parts, 147 W. Main St. When officers arrived, they saw what looked like powdered fentanyl in Schroeder’s (Libby Schroeder (23 yrs), Ventura resident) possession. During the arrest an officer was exposed to the fentanyl and had to be treated at the hospital.

The subsequent investigation revealed burglary tools and a loaded firearm in the vehicle. Schroeder was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for possession of narcotics, burglary tools, and possession of narcotics with a loaded firearm.

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.

Stabbing and Rollover Collision

On October 22, at approximately 2:30 am, officers were dispatched to a single vehicle rollover collision on Thompson Blvd., near Seaward Avenue. When officers arrived, they discovered two of the three vehicle occupants had been stabbed several times.

The ensuing investigation revealed the three victims were on the beach promenade near Paseo de Playa when they were confronted by two male suspects in their 20’s. A verbal altercation took place and one of the suspects produced a knife, stabbing two of the three victims multiple times.

While trying to drive to the hospital, the driver became unconscious due to the injuries he sustained from being stabbed. The vehicle struck a curb and overturned. The two passengers with stab wounds were transported to a local hospital where they are listed in critical, but stable condition.

Ventura Police Detectives responded and have taken over the investigation. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Bill Dolan at 805-339-4444.

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.

School Threat with Arrest

On October 4, at 2:30 pm, The Ventura Police Department became aware of an online threat on Instagram directed at Foothill Technology High School.

In collaboration with the Ventura Unified School District an investigation into this incident was conducted. It was learned that the online threat originated from a 14-year-old male student at Foothill Technology High School.

The student was identified, and it was determined that he made online threats against the campus and the student body. He was subsequently arrested for criminal threats and booked into Ventura County Juvenile Hall.

The parents of the student were contacted and cooperated with the investigation. Several weapons were taken into police custody without incident.

The Ventura Police Department and the Ventura Unified School District take all threats to our campuses and students seriously. When adolescents are involved, it is sometimes difficult to determine the intent of these types of threats, as they are occasionally done as a prank or joke. The Ventura Police Department encourages parents to discuss these types of behaviors with their children, as well as the consequences. To learn more about our School Resource Officer program, please visit www.CityofVentura.ca.gov/SROs.

Stabbing

On October 7, at approximately 5:45 am, officers contacted the victim at the Ventura County Medical Center with a stab wound to his leg. The victim said he was riding his bicycle on Ventura Avenue near the intersection of Fix Way when he passed an unknown suspect standing on the sidewalk. The victim believed he was punched by the suspect as he rode by. The victim quickly realized he had been stabbed and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

The victim sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries. Officers canvassed the area and located a crime scene near the intersection. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Ventura Police Detective Sergeant Bill Dolan at 805-339- 4444.

Burglary Arrest

On October 9, at 12:30 pm, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of subjects, later identified as 60-year-old Ventura residnet Melissa Christenson and 35-year-old Ventura resident Shea Flores, making illegal entry into a residence on Franklin Lane.

Responding officers contacted Christenson and Flores inside of the residence. The investigation revealed Christenson was a prior tenant of the residence, however had been evicted from the property in recent months. A subsequent search of Christenson and Flores revealed Christenson to be in possession of a key to the residence and Flores to be in possession of a lock pick device and potential stolen property.

A search of the Ventura County Superior Court’s database revealed that Christenson has prior arrests for being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of medication without a prescription. Flores has prior arrests for driving while under the influence, resisting and/or delaying an officer, possession of brass knuckles, driving on a suspended license and being in possession of a controlled substance

Christenson was booked at the Ventura County Jail for burglary and conspiracy to commit burglary. Flores was booked at the Ventura County Jail for burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, and possession of a lock pick device.

Home Invasion Robbery Arrest

On October 10, at approximately 10:00 pm, the Ventura Police Department Communications Center received a call of a robbery at a residence in the 6900 block of Gull Court. Upon arrival, officers learned that the resident and four friends were in the garage of the residence when a subject, later identified as 21-year-old Ventura resident Andrew Cornish, entered the partially open garage door, pointed a handgun at them, and demanded money and property. The victims gave Cornish serval items and he left.

A short time later, a single-vehicle traffic collision was reported in the area of Thille Street and Johnson Drive. Responding officers noticed the driver, Andrew Cornish, matched the description of the robbery suspect from earlier. Cornish was identified as the robbery suspect and was found to be in possession of several items stolen during the robbery. Cornish was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for Home Invasion Robbery and Driving Under the Influence of Drugs.

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.

Residential Burglary Arrest

On September 9, at 5:00 am, a resident on Ayala St called the Ventura Police Command Center and said that someone had just broken into their residence, and he was following the suspect as she was walking away.

Responding officers arrived on scene within four minutes and located the suspect a short distance from the residence.

The ensuing investigation revealed that the suspect, 32-year-old Ryan Flores, had made entry into the residence through an unlocked front door while the residents were asleep. The residents were awakened from the commotion inside the house and went downstairs. Flores had taken the keys to the residents’ car and was attempting to steal the car from the driveway when the resident confronted her.

Flores fled on foot and was apprehended a short while later.

Flores was booked into Ventura County Jail on charges of residential burglary, attempted vehicle theft, and possession of narcotics.

Vehicle Burglary and Possession of a Firearm Arrest

On Oct.3, the Ventura Police Department Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call of a subject, later identified as Seth Gibson (24-years-old, Ventura Resident) tampering with a vehicle. The caller confronted Gibson but left when he saw that Gibson was holding a gun in his hand. Patrol officers responded to the location and found Gibson inside the vehicle. Investigation revealed he was in possession of a semi-automatic handgun and had burglarized the vehicle.

Gibson was arrested and booked at the Ventura County Jail for vehicle burglary and several gun-related charges including possession of a concealed firearm, possession of an undetectable firearm (AKA: “ghost gun”), and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

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.

Indecent Exposure Arrest

On September 10, at 12:00 pm, officers responded to the area of St. Pauls Drive and Loma Vista Rd. regarding reports of a single male subject engaged in lewd activity in public.

While searching for the subject in the 200 block of St. Pauls Dr., officers located 37-year-old Moorpark resident Richard Pulido actively engaged in the lewd activity. Pulido is on active parole for Indecent Exposure and is a registered sex offender.

Pulido was booked at the Ventura County Jail for violating his parole conditions and engaging in lewd activity in public.

Assault with a Deadly Weapon, Possession of a loaded firearm Arrest

On September 13, at approximately 8:30 pm, officers responded to a report of an assault with a knife that had just occurred in the parking lot of the Pacific View Mall. Upon arrival, officers determined the victim was sitting in his vehicle waiting to pick up his fiancé from work, when he observed a vehicle hit a raised planter as it was traveling through the parking lot. The victim rolled his window down to ask the driver, 38-year-old John Barlow, if he was alright. Barlow began yelling obscenities at the victim, and then exited his vehicle and threw a knife at the victim, which struck the victim’s vehicle causing a visible dent.

The victim exited his vehicle to check on the damage and called 9-1-1. While the victim was on his phone with police dispatchers, Barlow walked over to the victim and punched him in the face, causing him to drop his phone. Patrol officers arrived on scene and detained Barlow without incident. While speaking with Barlow, officers suspected he was under the influence of alcohol. While searching his vehicle incident to arrest, officers located a loaded handgun on the front passenger seat. A records check revealed that Barlow was a convicted felon and cannot possess firearms.

The victim was transported to a local hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Barlow was booked at Ventura County Jail for misdemeanor driving under the influence, felony assault with a deadly weapon, felony vandalism, and (5) additional felonies related to a prohibited person carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle.

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/Carrying a concealed fixed blade knife

The victim was inside his business when he heard something being thrown against his outside wall. The victim confronted 28-year-old Ventura resident Sariah Cundif outside and Cundif pulled a fixed blade kitchen knife. Cundif aggressed the victim and slashed at him several times with the knife. Cundif fled the area and patrol officers located her at a nearby shopping center where she was identified by the victim. Officers located the knife used in the assault concealed in Cundif’s clothing. The victim was not injured in the assault.

Cundif was booked at the Ventura County Jail on the above charges.

Shooting with Arrest

On August 3, at approximately 1:30 am, the Ventura Police Command Center received a call of a shooting that just occurred near the intersection of Seaward Av and San Marcos St. Responding officers arrived within two minutes of the initial call.

The officers learned that the victim was stopped at a red light at the intersection when the suspect drove up next to him and stopped. The victim recognized the occupant as a former acquaintance when the suspect fired several rounds at him nearly striking him. The suspect fled from the scene. The victim had minor injuries due to glass breaking in his face.

The ensuing complex investigation by detectives culminated with the arrest of the suspect, 46-year-old Ventura resident Cleveland Casey, on August 31.

Cleveland Casey was located by detectives at a gas station at Citrus Dr and Wells Rd. During the arrest of Cleveland, he was in possession of a loaded firearm and illegal narcotics.

A subsequent search warrant was served at Cleveland’s residence where an additional firearm and ammunition was located as well as over a pound of suspected fentanyl, over a pound of suspected methamphetamine, heroin, and a large sum of money.

Cleveland was booked into Ventura County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon (firearm), felon in possession of a firearm, possession for sale of controlled substances, and other drug related charges.