Brush Fire Near Fillmore And Piru Is 62 Acres, 20% Contained
KVTA News Tuesday June 18, 2013
(Photo courtesy Robert Pano)
More than 75 firefighters appear to be getting the upper hand on a brush fire burning in the hills and canyons north of Highway 126 between Fillmore and Piru. Dubbed the "Condor" fire because it's burning south of the Hopper Mountain Condor facility, the fire has burned 62 acres and is 20 percent contained. Fire retardant fixed wing air tankers and some of the water dropping helicopters were released from the fire after its forward progress appeared stopped. The fire broke out around 3:30 PM. Firefighters from throughout the regional, including engine companies, hand crews, bulldozers and the air support, all responded to the fire which was burning in light to medium brush near some orchards. No structures were in immediate danger. The condor facility was not threatened and Highway 126 was not directly impacted although a lot of fire equipment was using the highway to get to the fire. Getting to the fire and establishing a water supply presented the initial challenge for firefighters. Cause is under investigation.
Deputies Investigate Assault On Trail Near Upper Ojai
KVTA News Tuesday June 18, 2013
Deputies and firefighters responded to a report Monday of an assault victim on the trail leading to the "Punch Bowls" recreation area behind Thomas Aquinas College near the Upper Ojai. The incident was reported around 6 PM. They interviewed a number of hikers coming off the trail while the sheriff's helicopter searched overhead to see if they could find a victim or suspects. During that time, two individuals reported showed up at the Santa Paula Hospital ER with significant injuries consistent with a beating. No victims were found on the trail. Deputies investigated the incident which appeared to have been an assault or a fight among several individuals in the "Punch Bowls" area. But they say everyone involved was uncooperative. There were no reports of arrests.
Fatal Ventura DUI Suspect Due In Court
KVTA News Tuesday June 18, 2013
The Oxnard man arrested in connection with a fatal DUI crash near Ventura last Friday morning is due in court today. 25-year-old Jose Rodriguez is facing a murder charge in connection with the crash on southbound Victoria Avenue that claimed the life of 21-year-old Esmaralda Bello of Oxnard. The CHP, jail and court records indicate that Rodriguez was on probably for a 2012 DUI when he crashed his 2008 Infinity of the side of the road. That is why he was booked on a murder charge. Rodriguez is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon. He remains in jail on $500,000 but he is not able to post bail because the INS has placed a hold on him as an illegal immigrant.
OPD Looking For "Person Of Interest" In Homicide
KVTA News Monday June 17, 2013
(Photo courtesy Oxnard PD)
Oxnard police are seeking public help in identifying what they call "a person of interest" in the slaying of a woman earlier this year. On Saturday March 9th the body of 42-year-old Pamela Sue Silva was found on the ground in the 1300 block of South "E" Street in Oxnard. Why she was killed and who killed her is still very much unknown at this time. But detectives are trying to piece together her activities prior to her body being found and they've released a security photo of a man she was seen with in the hours before she was found dead. They are not calling this man a suspect in her death, only a person of interest. They're hoping he might be able to shed light on her last hours. The image was captured at a business in the 1300 block of Saviers Road in the afternoon hours of March 9th. Anyone with information that could help is asked to call Oxnard PD, Detective Martin Perez at (805) 385-7680. They can also provide confidential tips at (805) 982-7070 or at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org
Child Struck And Killed By Car In Camarillo
KVTA News Sunday June 16, 2012
The authorities have released more details about Sunday's tragic incident in Camarillo that claimed the life of a boy. Deputies say that shortly after 5 PM 12-year-old Joseph Johnson of Camarillo was riding bicycles with two friends northbound on Carmen Drive along the west side of the street when he tried to cross Carmen at Edgemont Drive and collided with a 2000 Toyota Avalon driven by a 79-year-old Camarillo woman that was also traveling northbound on Carmen. Joseph was rushed to Los Robles Medical Center in Thousand Oaks where he was pronounced dead at 7:15 PM. Deputies say Joseph was not wearing a helmet at the time of the collision. The crash is still under investigation by the Camarillo Traffic Bureau. Anyone who might have witnessed what happened or is aware of anyone who might have seen it is asked to contact the Camarillo Police Department at (805) 388-5100.
Oxnard Police Investigate Shootings
KVTA News Sunday June 16, 2013
(Photo of VPD Bearcat-courtesy Rodney Marquez)
Oxnard police are investigating a shooting incident Sunday in which the initial reports from witnesses indicated the suspect apparently killed himself, but police are not so sure that's how it happened. It was reported around noon at a house at the intersection of Syracuse Drive and Lincoln Court. When police arrived, they found one shooting victim and were told the suspect was holed up in a motor home parked in the driveway of a house at 1910 Lincoln Court. The man they found with multiple gunshot wounds was rushed to the hospital to undergo surgery and is now listed in stable condition and is expected to survive. Meanwhile, officers secured the area and set up a perimeter around the house and motor home looking for the other man. Several surrounding homes were evacuated or the residents told to shelter in place. Streets were blocked off. Police made several attempts to try to make contact with the suspect in the motor home, but received no response. SWAT was called in, along with two armored vehicles, one from Oxnard, the other from Ventura PD. Those vehicles helped evacuate other residents. The robot was used to check out the area around the motor home. Police deployed a flash-bang grenade, and several less lethal rounds at the motor home in an attempt to get the suspect's attention, but they received no response. Finally, around 4:30 PM, a K-9 was sent into the motor home followed by officers and they found the body of a man believed to be the suspect. But police are not ready to call him a suspect and are saying they don't know exactly what happened between the two men.
Gilroy Man Shot By Ventura County Deputies
KVTA News Sunday June 16, 2013
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department says one of their deputies shot a man Saturday night in Westlake Village after the man rammed one patrol vehicle and attempted to run down another deputy. The incident began when deputies out of the Thousand Oaks Police Department responded to a hit and run crash on Westlake Boulevard around 9 PM Saturday. Deputies were checking the area for the suspect vehicle when one of them found a vehicle that matched the description in the area of Lakeview Canyon Road and Agoura Road. The department says when the deputy tried to stop the vehicle, the driver fled through a shopping center at the northwest corner of Lakeview and Agoura. The deputy followed the driver as he sped eastbound on Agoura Road in the westbound traffic lanes. They say the suspect vehicle continued eastbound and intentionally rammed a marked sheriff's patrol car traveling westbound on Agoura Road. Deputies say the suspect then reversed his vehicle and headed back toward the deputy who had been pursuing him. By then, that deputy had gotten out of his patrol vehicle and was in danger of being run over by the suspect's vehicle. That's when that deputy fired several shots at the suspect vehicle. Deputies say the suspect then tried to drive away, but the deputy whose patrol vehicle had been rammed initially rammed the suspect's vehicle and pushed it to the curb to prevent the suspect from moving. Deputies say the suspect, who they identified as 33-year-old Rogelio Gutierrez of Gilroy, suffered several gunshot wounds and was taken to Los Robles Medical Center for treatment. Anyone who witnessed any portion of the incident and has not talked with investigators is asked to call Sgt. Ian Laughlin at the Sheriff's Major Crimes Bureau (805) 383-8791 or (805) 384-4737.
Ventura County Deputies Shoot Hit And Run Suspect
KVTA News Saturday June 15, 2013
Ventura County sheriff's deputies shot a hit and run suspect Saturday night in the Los Angeles County portion of Westlake Village. Sgt. Eric Buschow told KVTA News from the scene that it began around 9 PM when Ventura County deputies responded to a report of a hit and run crash on Westlake Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. At some point shortly thereafter, they spotted the suspect vehicle and a brief pursuit began that ended up at Agoura Road and Lakeview Canyon Road in Los Angeles County. Buschow says it was at that point that the Ventura County deputies shot the suspect. The deputies were not hurt. The suspect, a male, was taken to Los Robles Medical Center, his condition is unknown. Buschow says they're now trying to sort out exactly what happened and there are no other details.
Oxnard Police Raid Indoor Pot Grow
KVTA News Saturday June 15, 2013
(Photo courtesy Oxnard PD)
Oxnard police say they've busted a large indoor marijuana growing operation. They say that Thursday morning narcotics officers served a search warrant on a warehouse in the 2200 block of Statham Boulevard in Oxnard. The search warrant was the result of a month long investigation. Police say during the search they found a large concealed indoor marijuana growing operation. There were 1000 plants and 20 pounds of dried marijuana estimated to be worth $3.5 million. They also found hyroponic growing equipment worth $150,000. It included numerous ultraviolet light, water pumps, air filters, and growing materials. Police say two people were found at the warehouse and were arrested in connection with the growing operation. Both were booked into the Ventura County Jail with bail set at $250,000. Police say their investigation was helped significantly by several anonymous tips, many to the city's Narcotics Hotline at (805) 982-7084.
Two Men Shot On Ventura Beach Promenade
KVTA News Saturday June 15, 2013
Two young men were shot along the Ventura Beachfront Promenade early Saturday morning and police are looking for two suspects. Ventura police say the incident happened around 1:43 AM on the promenade near the Crown Plaza Hotel. Police say the male victims are both 23-years-old, one from Ventura and the other from Simi Valley. They were walking along the promenade when the suspects confronted them and one of the suspects attacked one of the victims. Police say during the attack, one of the suspects started shooting both victims multiple times. The suspects then fled, running across Harbor Boulevard near California Street. Police described the suspects as two Hispanic males in their late teens or early 20's who were wearing dark clothing. The victims were taken to the hospital to be treated for their wounds. Police say those wounds do not appear to be life threatening. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective Sutherland at (805) 339-4467.
Oxnard Man Arrested For Murder In Fatal Crash
KVTA News Friday June 14, 2013
Update--The driver of the vehicle involved in a fatal crash near Ventura early this morning has been arrested for felony murder and DUI in connection with the crash. Court records indicate that 25-year-old Jose Rodriguez of Oxnard was on probation for a DUI conviction last year at the time of the crash. His bail has been set at $505,000 and he's due in court Tuesday. The victim of this morning's fatal crash on Victoria Avenue has also been identified. The Medical Examiner's Office says 21-year-old Esmeralda Bello of Oxnard died from injuries sustained in the crash. CHP Officer Dave Webb tells KVTA News that Rodriguez was southbound on Victoria south of Olivas Park Drive around 2:20 AM this morning at a high rate of speed when he failed to negotiate a curve. The car went off the right shoulder of the road, hit a large bush and continued to plunge down an embankment, rolling over several times. It ended up on its top in a field about 60 feet over the side of the road. Bello was pronounced dead at the scene. She, like all the occupants of the vehicle, was wearing her seat belt but she was partially ejected out the rear window. She was in the rear right passenger seat. Rodriguez and a passenger in front seat were injured and were taken to the hospital. Rodriguez was later released and jailed. The CHP says he was driving under the combined influence of alcohol and drugs. Southbound Victoria was closed at Olivas Park for almost seven hours.
Major Security Exercise In Ventura County
KVTA News Friday June 14, 2013
A major security exercise will be played out next week, the largest of its kind in Ventura County. It will involve more than 90 local, state, and federal agencies including the military and law enforcement. Even the Canadians are involved with two large warships already docked at Naval Base Ventura County ready to go. The exercise is part of what's known as the Center for Asymetric Warfare's Coastal Trident 2013 Regional Maritime Security and Response. It will include the Navy, Marines, the Coast Guard, law enforcement agencies, the Port of Hueneme. There will be exercises at sea and in the air between Ventura County and Anacapa Island and on land in the Oxnard and Port Hueneme areas. The exercise will run Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 8 AM to 6 PM each day.
Taxpayers To Foot Big Legal Bill To Defend Accused Gang Members
KVTA News Friday June 14, 2013
Ventura County taxpayers are going to be footing a very large legal bill for the defendants in a wide ranging case involving more than two dozen alleged gang members accused of drug dealing and other crimes at the direction of a member of a notorious prison gang. There are 27 defendants in the case which alleges a unique alliance between a member of the prison gang known as the Mexican Mafia, and local street gangs in Ventura County. The Ventura County Public Defenders Office can represent only one of the defendants because of potential conflicts of interest. Eight of the defendants are being represented by several separate private attorneys who take cases the Public Defenders Office can't handle because of such conflicts of interest. That group, known as Conflict Defense Associates (CDA), work under an existing contract with the county. But that group cannot handle any more than those eight defendants. So several other private attorneys have been hired to represent the remaining defendants. The county estimates this year's cost for those extra attorneys to be an additional $500,000. The county is expected to have to spend that much again next year too on those defendants. Ventura County Supervisors will be asked at their meeting Tuesday to approve spending that money. They really have no choice based on Supreme Court rulings regarding the right of indigent defendants to have council.
Oxnard Man Admits Killing His Mother
KVTA News Friday June 14, 2013
An Oxnard man has admitted killing his mother. 29-year-old Nathan Preston Friday changed his plea to guilty of first degree murder in the death of his mother, 55-year-old Sheryl Tye of Oxnard. Tye was found dead in October of 2011 in her apartment in the 2000 block of North Ventura Road after a worried family member had asked police to check on her well being. She had been killed with a sharp object. Her son Nathan was arrested 12 days later in the 1600 block of Rose Avenue. He remains in jail and will be sentenced on July 26th.
Guilty Plea In Ventura Store Shooting
KVTA News Friday June 14, 2013
A 19-year-old Ventura man has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and attempted robbery in connection with an incident at a Ventura convenience store three years ago. Dylan Fields was 16-years-old when he entered the 7-Eleven Store on Bristol Road in Ventura armed with a gun. Fields tried to rob the store but struggled with the clerk. Police say during that brief struggle Fields shot the clerk in the chest. Fields fled the scene but the incident was captured on the store's security camera. Police say Fields was aware they were looking for him and turned himself in two days later. The clerk recovered from his wound. Fields will be sentenced on July 30th. He remains in jail.
Certain Type Of Burglary On Rise In Ventura County
KVTA News Friday June 14, 2013
The Ventura County Sheriff's Department warns there's been a trend in burglaries recently involving residential and commercial buildings undergoing fumigation. Deputies say several structures that have been tented for fumigation are being broken into and burglarized. It's happening while the tent is still on the building. The suspects cut the tent, force entry into the building, and then steal jewelry, money, and electronics. Deputies are recommending residents remove items of value that can be easily removed and take them with you while the building undergoes fumigation.
Simi Teacher Pleads Guilty To Sex Charges
KVTA News Thursday June 13, 2013
Update-The Simi Valley elementary school teacher arrested this week for having sex with her 6th grade student has pleaded guilty. 32-year-old Malia Brooks changed her pleas to guilty this afternoon, just a day after being arraigned on the five count felony complaint accusing her of having a sexual relationship with the boy who is under the age of 14. Brooks will be sentenced to six years in prison and will have to serve at least 85% of it. Brooks taught 6th grade at Garden Grove Elementary School's IMPACT Academy since 2004. Her attorney Ron Bamieh tells KVTA News that his client suffered a mental health problem that caused what happened. He says her mental health issues relate to her abuse by an adult when she was a teenager overseas. She'll be sentenced on August 23rd and for now she remains in jail on $2 million bail.
Ex Oxnard Cop Sentenced For Fraud
KVTA News Thursday June 13, 2013
A former Oxnard police officer was sentenced today for committing workers compensation fraud when he worked for the department. The judge suspended the sentence for 28-year-old Edward Idukas and placed him on 60 months formal probation. He also ordered him to serve 120 days in the Ventura County Jail or Work Furlough program beginning in September. And the judge ordered Ikukas to pay restitution to the city of Oxnard in the amount of $120,000. Court records indicate Idukas has already paid $70,000 of that. Prosecutors say Idukas claimed in December of 2009 that had had injured his back while bending over at his locker. He ultimately was placed on temporary totally disabled status. The DA's office say over the next several months, Idukas remained on disability and received disability pay. During an investigation, however, it was discovered that during that time Idukas was playing baseball on a weekly basis in a local adult baseball league. Investigators observed Idukas engaged in prolonged physical activity without any evidence of pain or discomfort. After that, charges were filed against him. He ended up pleading guilty to those charges in March of this year.
