On 12/15/2025, deputies from the Fillmore Station responded to the 200 block of Casner Way in Fillmore reference a theft which had just occurred. Arriving deputies spoke with the victim and determined a grand theft of landscape equipment had occurred. In summary, two suspects arrived together in a vehicle, quickly loaded thousands of dollars of landscape equipment into their vehicle, and fled the area. A check of the surrounding area was conducted the suspects were not located. The case was then assumed by the Fillmore Detective Unit for further investigation. Over the next month, detectives worked diligently and identified one of the suspects involved in the theft as (S) Kevin Melgar, a 41-year-old Pasadena resident.
On 01/14/2025, at about 11:35 AM, a deputy from the Fillmore Station was dispatched to the area of Carriage Place at River Street in Fillmore reference a theft that had just occurred. The reporting party advised a white van had pulled up and stolen their gardening equipment.
Shortly thereafter, an officer with the California Highway Patrol requested assistance with a traffic stop of a white van near Main Street at Telegraph Road in the unincorporated community east of Fillmore known as Piru. Deputies from the Fillmore Station responded to assist.
When deputies arrived, they learned there was a total of three occupants detained from two different vehicles. The three occupants were (S) Kevin Melgar, (S) Jesus Rodriguez, and (S) Rogelio Bribriesca. All three occupants were from Los Angeles County. Melgar had an active felony warrant for his arrest for firearm possession and unlawful taking of a vehicle. Rodriguez was on active parole from Los Angeles County for a shooting, while Bribriesca was on active post release offender supervision (PROS) from Los Angeles County for burglary.
During a search of their vehicles, deputies located the lawnmower which was stolen minutes prior in Fillmore along with burglary tools and a controlled substance.
The Fillmore Detective Unit responded to assist with the investigation. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement learned all three suspects have extensive criminal histories and have served time in state prison for a variety of crimes to include grand thefts and burglaries. It was also determined that the three suspects had likely acted in concert and conspired with each other to commit the landscape equipment theft.
The three suspects were arrested and transported to the Sheriff’s Fillmore Station for further investigation. At the station, detectives collaborated with patrol personnel, state parole, and the Los Angeles County Probation Agency to determine the three suspects are affiliated to Southern California criminal street gangs.
At the station, detectives obtained additional evidence linking both Melgar and Rodriguez to the grand theft from December in Fillmore.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Melgar was arrested for violations of Penal Code § 182.5 – [Criminal Gang Conspiracy] (2 counts), Penal Code § 487(a) – [Grand Theft] (2 counts), Penal Code § 186.22(b)(1) – [Street Terrorism], Penal Code § 466 – [Burglary Tools], Health & Safety Code § 11395(b)(1) – [Possession of Hard Drug], and an out of county felony warrant. Rodriguez was arrested for Penal Code § 182.5 – [Criminal Gang Conspiracy] (2 counts), Penal Code § 487(a) – [Grand Theft] (2 counts), Penal Code § 186.22(b)(1) – [Street Terrorism], Penal Code § 466 – [Burglary Tools], and a parole hold. Bribriesca was arrested for Penal Code § 182.5 – [Criminal Gang Conspiracy], Penal Code § 487(a) – [Grand Theft], Penal Code § 186.22(b)(1) – [Street Terrorism], Penal Code § 466 – [Burglary Tools], and Health & Safety Code § 11377(a) – [Possession of a Controlled Substance]. They were all transported to the Ventura County Pre-Trial Detention Facility and booked for the aforementioned offenses pending court.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on “X” @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF and @FILLMOREPD, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.
Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
News Release Date: 01/15/2026
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
Booking Photo Release: NO
***
Nature of Incident: Gang-Related Burglary-Theft Crew Arrested
Report Number: 25-160120 & 26-5687
Location: Fillmore, California
Date & Time: 01/14/2026 @ 11:35 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: California Highway Patrol, Fillmore Patrol, Fillmore Detective Unit, California Department of Corrections & Rehabilitation, Los Angeles Probation Agency, Sheriff’s Dispatch
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent , City of Residence, Age
(S) Kevin Melgar, Pasadena, 41
(S) Jesus Rodriguez, Compton, 31
(S) Rogelio Bribriesca, Tujunga, 27
***
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Enlarge Photo

On Saturday, 01/17/2026, at about 12:01 P.M., deputies from the Fillmore Station responded to the Santa Clara River bottom reference a subject chasing other subjects with a knife. Upon arrival, deputies located an adult male victim and corroborating witnesses who identified (S) Ivan Hernandez, 34, as the attacker. Hernandez is a documented criminal street gang member on active parole for a shooting.
Based on the circumstances, deputies from the Homeless Liaison Unit (HLU) responded to assist and coordinated with patrol resources who established a perimeter in the river bottom for where Hernandez sought refuge.
Deputies searched the river bottom with the assistance of the Sheriff’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Unit, Sheriff’s Aviation Unit, and Oxnard Police Dept K9 Unit, but Hernandez was not located.
On Sunday, 01/18/2026, during the early morning hours, patrol deputies from the Fillmore Station conducted a second search for Hernandez in the Santa Clara River bottom. This time, deputies located Hernandez and arrested him for a violation of Penal Code § 245(a)(1) – [Assault with a Deadly Weapon]. During a search of the immediate area, deputies located evidence linking Hernandez to the assault.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Hernandez was arrested for Penal Code § 245(a)(1) – [Assault with a Deadly Weapon], along with a parole hold. He was transported to the Pre-Trial Detention Facility where he was booked pending court proceedings.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes. We are better at what we do because of our community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on “X” @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF and @FILLMOREPD, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.
Prepared by: Sergeant Jarrod Foote
News Release Date: 01/20/2026
Approved by: Captain Jason Hendren
Booking Photo Release: NO
***
Nature of Incident: Parolee Arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Report Number: 26-7198
Location: Santa Clara River Bottom near Chambersburg Bridge, Fillmore
Date and Time: 01/17/2026, 12:01 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol, Sheriff’s Homeless Liaison Unit (HLU), Sheriff’s Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Sheriff’s Aviation Unit, Oxnard Police Dept K9 Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age:
(V) Adult Male, Fillmore
(S) Ivan Hernandez, Fillmore, 34
***
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Ronald Joseph Cole, 19, of Fillmore. Photo credit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office.

On October 25, 1983, Ronald Joseph Cole was reported as a missing person to the Fillmore Police Department. During the reporting, law enforcement was advised that Ronald Cole had been missing since May of 1965 and his last known location was a family residence in the 400 block of Foothill Drive in the city of Fillmore. Family members of Ronald Cole believed he was missing under suspicious circumstances and suspected Ronald Cole’s half-brother, David La Fever, was responsible for Ronald Cole’s disappearance. Due to the suspicious circumstance surrounding Ronald Cole’s disappearance, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office assumed the missing person investigation in August of 1984.
At the time, investigators were unable to find any physical evidence of a crime, a crime scene, or locate Ronald Cole. David La Fever was named a prime suspect in Ronald Cole’s disappearance, but no criminal charges could be substantiated at that time. Ronald Cole’s missing person investigation remained open throughout the years. During the investigation, investigators learned David La Fever passed away on August 12, 2007, in Anchorage, Alaska.
In 2024, Henry County Sheriff’s Office began reviewing a cold case involving unidentified human skeletal remains that were located on October 27, 1966. The remains were located near a creek southeast of Geneseo, Illinois. Included in the remains discovered was a human skull with an obvious bullet hole, classifying the investigation as homicide.
Investigators with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the non-profit organization, DNA Doe Project, in identifying the remains. At DNA Doe Project’s request, a sample of the remains recovered in 1966 were sent to Astrea Forensics for analysis. Astrea Forensics is a laboratory that specializes in extracting genetic profiles from highly degraded forensic samples.
Investigators with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office worked with DNA Doe Project and were able to identify potential family members. In May of 2025, members of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit began working with investigators from the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. Case notes from the Ronald Cole missing person case were shared and information was compared.
On January 10,2026, Henry County Sheriff’s Office investigators received notification from the DNA Doe Project that the unidentified human remains located in 1966 were confirmed to be that of Ronald Cole. Henry County Sheriff’s Office investigators hold jurisdiction of the homicide investigation regarding Ronald Cole.
The Ronald Joseph Cole missing person investigation is one of many cold cases constantly being reviewed by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit continually investigates numerous cold cases through cooperation with outside agencies, working with various forensic laboratories, and utilizing assistance from volunteer organizations to solve and make progress of these types of cases.
Prepared by: Detective Erik Hernandez
News Release Date: 01/14/2026
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina
Photo Release: NO
***
Nature of Incident: Missing Person / Cold Case Update
Report Number: 84- 52993
Location: 400 Block of Foothill Drive, Fillmore
Date & Time: October 25, 1983
Unit(s) Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Bureau, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, DNA Doe Project, Astrea Forensics
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent, City of Residence, Age
(V) Ronald Joseph Cole, Fillmore, 19
***
Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

By Epi Torres
PASADENA, CA – It was a successful weekend for local distance runners as athletes from Fillmore and Piru traveled to Pasadena to compete in both track and road racing events on January 17th and 18th.
Track Standouts at Distance Night
The weekend kicked off on Saturday at Pasadena High School for the January Distance Night meet. Two local freshmen made their mark on the track, both coming away with new personal records.
Ethan Leighton, a freshman at Saint Bonaventure, put on an impressive display of endurance and recovery. Leighton established personal bests in two different events during the meet. He first posted an excellent time of 2:07.39 in the 800-meter race. Just minutes later, he returned to the starting line for the Mile, where he clocked his second personal best of the night with a time of 5:15.61.
Representing Fillmore High School, freshman Damien Santa Rosa took on the grueling two-mile race. Competing in the event for the first time, Santa Rosa crossed the finish line with a strong personal best time of 10:43.02.
Success at the Rose Bowl
On Sunday, the focus shifted to the iconic Rose Bowl for the 2026 Rose Bowl Half Marathon.
In the main 13.1-mile event, Martin Arredondo of Fillmore and Fabian Ochoa of Piru represented the local community. Arredondo finished the half marathon with a time of 1:31:55, while Ochoa completed the course in 1:42:14.
The next generation of runners was also in action as Angel Fabian Ochoa Arredondo, a student at Piru Elementary, participated in the Rose Bowl Rush. The young athlete completed the half-kilometer (one-third of a mile) course. While no official times were kept for the youth event, it capped off a weekend of high-level participation for the Fillmore and Piru running community.

January 20, 2026 –Fillmore, CA– Rio Vista Elementary School education specialist Mariah Perez has been nominated for National Life Group’s 2025-26 LifeChanger of the Year award. National Life Group’s LifeChanger of the Year recognizes and rewards the very best K-12 educators and school district employees across the United States who are making a difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence, and leadership.
Perez was nominated by the parent of a student, Marlene Galaviz, for her student dedication to students and advocacy for inclusion, including for those with special needs. She is humble, kind, consistent in her teaching, and supportive of her students, school, and parents.
Perez helps students in any way she can, whether by coaching the cheering team or selflessly providing resources for her classroom. She is completely committed to all that she does.
“Ms. Perez has personally given both of my children encouragement, building up their self-esteem and showing them that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to,” said Galaviz. “I am impressed with her ability to create relationships with each family and really know each student so well. Ms. Perez continues to find new ways to evolve. I am forever grateful.”
***
About LifeChanger of the Year
Since 2011, LifeChanger of the Year has recognized and rewarded more than 8,600 K-12 teachers, administrators, and school employees in 2,300+ school districts. The program has awarded over $850,000 in cash prizes to winners and their schools for making a significant difference in the lives of students by exemplifying excellence, positive influence, and leadership.
(1) Grand Prize Winner – will receive $20,000 to be shared with their school/district.
(4) Grand Prize Finalists – will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
(10) LifeChanger Award Winners – will receive $3,000 to be shared with their school/district.
(1) Spirit Award Winner – This award is given to the nominee whose community demonstrates the most support for their nomination. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school/district.
(1) Spotlight Award Winner – This award is given to a nominee in a specific discipline each year. The winner will receive $5,000 to be shared with their school or district.
Winners are chosen by a selection committee composed of former winners and education professionals and will be announced in early 2026. Nominees must be K-12 teachers or school district employees. To be considered for an award, nominees must
- Make a positive impact on the lives of students
- Enhance their school or district’s atmosphere, culture, and pride
- Demonstrate exemplary leadership at the school and/or district level
- Possess a proven record of professional excellence
- Show commitment to building a nurturing environment that supports learning
- Adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards
A resource page with ideas for how to celebrate nominees can be found at http://lifechangeroftheyear.com/showspirit/.
Visit https://app.lifechangeroftheyear.com/nomination_detail.cfm?NominationID=... to read Perez’s nominee profile. If you’re interested in nominating someone from your school community, visit www.LifeChangeroftheYear.com.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Cities of Fillmore, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and Ojai would like to address our youth and young adults’ growing use of E-bikes, bicycles, and electric scooters. These vehicles can be useful in reducing traffic and allowing young people a means of transportation other than motor vehicles to school and other activities. However, we have seen recent increases in collisions involving our youth on e-bikes, bicycles, and scooters.
The increased speed provided by E-bikes and electric scooters requires increased care in their use. Traffic rules must be followed, and helmets must be worn at all times. Each type of the above-listed vehicle has specific rules for its use and operation. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has prepared two informational flyers outlining these rules.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the above-listed contract cities are collaborating with local schools, Community Resource Units, and School Resource Deputies to provide in-person education on the rules, regulations, and safe use of E-bikes, bicycles, and electric scooters in our communities.
Electric off-road motorcycles made by Sur-Ron, Talaria, Segway, and many other manufacturers are prohibited on public roads, sidewalks, or parks. These are off-road-only vehicles and are subject to impoundment if they are operated on public roads, sidewalks, or parks. The rider can be subject to citation and/or arrest.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office will focus on education but will also consider enforcement of violations associated with electric motorcycles and their unlawful operation.
The goal is to reduce traffic collisions, ensure safe operation, and prevent injuries, protecting the youth in our communities.

Grand Avenue/Goodenough Road Fillmore Coalition has joined together in seeking assistance for the continued erosion, sediment build-up and debris in Sespe Creek, causing land-loss to property owners. Please sign the petition that Erika Morales has (DM her) and/or come to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors meeting this Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at 9:00a.m. at the VC Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Avenue to speak your mind--our voice matters! See page 2 Letter to the Editor, Cindy Jackson, for more details.