On Friday, July 11th, at 5:30pm, multiple units were called out to a traffic collision eastbound on Highway 126 near the LA County Line, claiming two lives. The highway was closed for over an hour. Photo credit California Highway Patrol.
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On Friday, July 11th, at 5:30 p.m., the Ventura County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Fire, AMR Paramedics, Air Squad, and California Highway Patrol were dispatched to a reported traffic collision eastbound SR126 near LA County Line. According to the California Highway Patrol in a statement “Officers have concluded that a 40-year-old Fillmore man was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe westbound on the road when the vehicle traveled into the eastbound lane and directly into the path an oncoming 2016 Subaru for unknown reasons. A 46-year-old man driving the Subaru died at the scene, emergency crews found him trapped in the driver’s seat and unresponsive his residence was not provided. The Fillmore man was transported by helicopter to Los Robles Regional Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, where he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead. Three other men in the Tahoe were taken by ambulance to Heary Mayo Memorial Hospital for treatment for major injuries. It’s not clear what their relationship was to the driver. A third vehicle, which was a red Tesla, was struck by debris from the crash but sustained little to no damage. No arrest was made, and the involvement of alcohol or drugs is still unknown. The highway was partially closed for a little over an hour in the vicinity of crash while the helicopter was on scene and CHP officers investigated the crash.
The identities of the two deceased individuals have not been released yet by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office.

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On Tuesday, July 15, at about 11am, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents called the Fillmore Sheriff’s Communication Center and reported they were being followed around by an aggressive female driver in a silver Toyota sport utility vehicle. The ICE agents reported the female began following them while they were traveling eastbound on SR-126, just outside the Fillmore city limits. The federal agents drove to the Fillmore Police Station parking lot in an effort to de-escalate tensions and prevent dangerous traffic related issues. While at the police station deputies contacted the parties involved, kept the peace, and determined no crime had been committed. The female driver, an Oxnard resident, was warned on the use of a PA system installed on her vehicle while operating a motor vehicle, pursuant to California Vehicle Code section 27007. All parties left the area a short time later without any further incident. Videos of the woman talking over her PA system can be found at www.FillmoreGazette.com.

UPDATE: On 07/08/2025, Camarillo Traffic Investigators and Fillmore Detectives arrested (S) Myryam Castillo from Fillmore for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for her involvement in a double fatal traffic collision that occurred on 07/02/2025.

On 07/02/2025, at approximately 2045 hours, deputies responded to the area of 1305 Ventura Street in reference to an injury traffic collision. Upon arrival, it was determined two vehicles collided head on in the west bound lanes of Ventura Street west of “D” Street.

During the investigation, Camarillo Traffic Investigators obtained evidence establishing Castillo had consumed alcohol prior to driving her vehicle. Castillo drove her car across the two-way center turn lane of Ventura Street, eventually traveling east in the west bound lanes. The front of Castillo’s vehicle struck the front of (D) Maria DonDiego’s vehicle. The collision resulted in the death of DonDiego and Castillo’s five-year old son. Two other children were also seriously injured in the collision and treated at local hospitals.

On 07/08/2025, Camarillo Traffic Investigators and Fillmore Detectives arrested Castillo for two counts of Penal Code section 191.5 - Gross Vehicular Manslaughter While Intoxicated. Castillo was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and later released after posting $100,000 bail.

Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information about the incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Bradley Bordon at (805)-388-5146 or bradley.bordon@ventura.org.

Prepared by: Deputy Bradley Bordon

News Release Date: 07/09/2025

Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Booking Photo Release: NO

By Heritage Valley Blazers, Kenny Leighton

Ethan Leighton and Carlos Marin have both qualified for the USATF Junior Olympic National Championships in Savanah Georgia next week.

The T&F season has been a long one for these two athletes, starting in February here in Fillmore and culminating next week in Savannah GA.

Ethan who competes in the 13–14-year-old division will run in his favorite event the 800m, he is also scheduled to run the 4X800 meter relay with members of Valley United Striders out of Valencia.
Ethan has had a strong 800m season winning 5 of 6 league meets and placing 2nd in the Conference championships. Ethan’s post-season found him competing against some of the best 800m runners on the west coast, each week improving his time and gaining the experience needed to race in these large meets, lowering his personal best to a 2:11.09. Having qualified and receiving invites to the Nike Outdoor National Championships in the 400m and the New Balance Outdoor championships in the 800m. Ethan made the decision to attempt to qualify and take the USATF qualifying route which took him to Cerritos, Las Vegas and finally to Savannah. This will be his last race has a youth competing for HV Blazers, in the fall he will be attending St Bonaventure where he will run XC, Track and his first love acting for the Drama club.

Carlos, who competes in the 8U division and will be competing in the 1500m has had an equally successful year. The conference does not run the 1500m but rather the 1600m, he won 4 of the 5 meets and placed 1st in the conference championships. Once post season started Carlos moved to the 1500 where he competed against some of the west coast’s best 8u 1500 runners. Beginning his quest for a ticket to Savannah Carlos competed in Cerritos 3 times, at the West Coast Classic, the Jets invitational, and the USATF Association meet then to Las Vegas for the regional championships and ultimately getting that qualification to Savannah. With this being early in Carlos’s running journey with the Blazers his coaches are looking forward to continuing to help him grow and continue to be successful on the track.

Both Ethan and Carlos are also members of the Fillmore Condors Cross Country club, and both competed in the USATF Junior Olympic National Cross Country championships in December 2024 in Indiana with Carlos being a member of the team that took Overall 3rd place in the 8u division.
The Fillmore Condors are currently holding signups as they prepare for the 2025XC season.

Photo credit Ventura County Sheriff’s Office
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On 07/05/2025, just before midnight, Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 text reporting a stabbing at Jackson Camp, which is about two miles past the Punch Bowls in the unincorporated area of Santa Paula.
Due to the remote and rugged terrain, nighttime conditions, and seriousness of the incident, the Aviation Unit was immediately activated. The air response included a flight medic from the Ventura County Fire Department. Ground resources from both the Sheriff’s Fillmore Station and Ventura County Fire Department assembled at a staging location at Thomas Aquinas College while awaiting air transport.
Detectives from the Fillmore Bureau of Investigation and Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau also responded to the staging area.

At approximately 1:30 AM, on July 6, the Aviation Unit flew deputies to an area near the Jackson Campground. Deputies hiked through brush and darkness to the campsite, where they quickly located and detained the suspect, identified as (S) Colin Maki, a 35-year-old resident of Los Angeles.

Shortly after, the adult male victim – also from Los Angeles – was located and airlifted by the rescue helicopter to Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), where he received treatment for a single stab wound to the chest.

The Aviation Unit also flew detectives into the campsite to begin their investigation. Preliminary findings revealed Maki had been involved in an altercation with another camper. During the altercation, Maki stabbed the victim with a knife.

Maki was arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon (Penal Code § 245(a)(1)). He was airlifted back to the staging area, evaluated at Santa Paula Hospital for medical clearance, and subsequently booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. Maki was later released after posting bail.

This incident highlights the collaborative efforts of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Ventura County Fire Department in responding to emergencies in challenging and remote locations.

The Ventura County Aviation Unit is a partnership between the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and the Ventura County Fire Department. Together the agencies provide staffing to the unit and respond to a variety of missions to include firefighting, search and rescue, medical calls, and law enforcement. The unit is staffed 365 days a year with highly trained Firefighters and Deputy Sheriffs. The Aviation Unit patrols and responds to all cites and areas of Ventura County regardless of which municipal police or fire department has primary jurisdiction.

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: 07/07/2025
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
Booking Photo Release: NO

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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).

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On Wednesday, July 2nd, at approximately 2045 hours, deputies responded to the area of 1305 Ventura Street in reference to an injury traffic collision. Upon arrival, it was determined two vehicles collided head on in the west bound lanes of Ventura Street west of “D” Street.

Paramedics and Firefighters arrived a short time later and treated a total of six people. Five parties were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment. One female adult, 28 of Oxnard, was treated on scene, but succumbed to her injuries. One of the occupants, a five-year old Fillmore child, was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.

Next of kin notification is pending by the Ventura County Medical Examiner’s Office. Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information about the incident is encouraged to contact Deputy Bradley Bordon at (805)-388-5146 or bradley.bordon@ventura.org.

Prepared by: Deputy Bradley Bordon
News Release Date: 07/03/2025
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon
Booking Photo Release: NO

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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).