By FHS Head Football Coach Charlie Weis, M. Ed.

Fillmore is a town built around a culture of hard work, family, and perseverance. These fundamental pillars of our community are deeply engrained in our student athletes. Holding strong to those core values, Flashes football was able to overcome tremendous adversity and accomplish greatness this season. After losing numerous athletes to injuries just prior to the season, they could have lost hope. After dropping three games in a row at home they had every reason to stop believing in themselves. Forced to travel hundreds of miles for 5 straight weeks without a home game, the team could have taken the easy path and coasted through the end of their season. Not a single member of the team did any of those things. Instead, they dug deep and found themselves working harder than ever. They rallied around their teammates, like a family, and supported and encouraged each other. They persevered together. Instead of taking the easy way out, Fillmore strived for greatness. The Flashes finished their season with 6 straight wins, a league title (for the second year in a row), and a playoff berth (for the third straight season). They embodied everything that is great about this community and this school, and they earned their place in FHS history. Now, they take on their next great challenge, the CIF Championship playoffs. This Friday, November 3rd, the Flashes host Cerritos high school at home at 7pm. Cerritos high might be more than twice the size of Fillmore high, but they do not have the heart or the community that we have. Flashes football is calling on their community to come out to support the football team and show Cerritos that we are One Town and One Team, and we will never stop believing in our ability to overcome any odds.

A Fillmore resident was identified and arrested for prowling and peeking into the window of a local residence. On October 11, 2023, at approximately 11:00 PM and on July 20, 2023, at approximately 12:16 AM, the Fillmore Police Department received reports of a prowler in the 900 block of Wileman Street in the city of Fillmore. Both incidents were captured on RING cameras and appeared to be the same suspect.

Fillmore detectives and Fillmore patrol deputies worked at collecting and identifying leads pertaining to these crimes. On October 17, 2023, a news release was sent out requesting the public’s assistance in identifying this suspect. Several photographs of the suspect committing these two crimes were caught on RING camera footage and included in the news release.
On October 24, 2023, at approximately 2:30 PM, the Fillmore Police Station received a telephone call from a local resident who saw a subject matching the description of the prowler after viewing the photographs in the news release.

Fillmore detectives immediately followed up on this tip and they contacted and identified 53-year-old J Ines Robles, a Fillmore resident, in the 200 block of A street in the city of Fillmore. Detectives interviewed Robles and collected additional incriminating evidence linking and positively identifying Robles as the suspect in both prowling crimes. Robles was arrested for two counts of prowling and two counts of peeking.

Nature of Incident: Prowling and Peeking Arrest
Report Number: RB #23-131109 / 2393381
Location: 900 block Wileman Street, Fillmore, CA
Date & Date: July 20, 2023 @ 12:16 AM October 11, 2023 @ 11:00 PM

(S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent
J Ines Robles Fillmore 53

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

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On 10/22/2023, Fillmore patrol deputies responded to a call of a shooting in the area of McNab Court. When deputies arrived on scene, they located numerous shell casings in the street and other evidence indicative of a shooting. The male victim, 22, of Santa Paula, was found to have been transported to the Santa Paula Emergency Room with multiple gunshot wounds and is in critical but stable condition. Detectives from the Fillmore Police Department, Sheriff’s Major Crime’s Bureau, and West County Special Enforcement Bureau responded to the scene and assisted with the subsequent investigation.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is requesting assistance from the public regarding this ongoing investigation. Anyone who witnessed or has knowledge of the circumstances that led to the shooting is encouraged to contact Detective Jaime Gomez at (805) 384-4732. If you prefer to remain anonymous you may contact Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477). Those who wish to share video or pictures of the incident can do so and can remain anonymous by using the following link: https://venturasheriffca.evidence.com/axon/community-request/public/mcna... or by scanning the following QR code:
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Prepared by: Sergeant Gabriel Gonzales
Approved by: Captain Victor Medina

Victor Westerberg
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Get ready to honor our Veterans on Friday, November 10th, with a Veterans Day Concert in the Park, Mac & D Duo @ 5pm-6:30pm, Los Amigos 805 @ 7pm-9pm, City Hall Plaza-see flyer online at www.FillmoreGazette.com, and in next week’s Gazette, page 10. On Saturday, November 11th, come enjoy the Veterans Day Parade at 10am, downtown Fillmore, followed by Veterans Ceremony at Fillmore Middle School (guest speaker Dick Diaz-see bio in Nov. 9th edition of Gazette) and BBQ-Veterans/Active Duty eat FREE, community $15/a plate. See Nov. 11th flyer for information online at www.FillmoreGazette.com, and in next week’s Gazette, page 10. Dual Grand Marshals Vic Westerberg (bio below), and Esmael Alonzo, (bio in next week’s Gazette) will lead the parade, sponsored by Fillmore-Piru Veteran’s Memorial District & Lions Club.

Veterans Day Grand

Marshal Victor Westerberg

Victor Westerberg U.S. Army Sergeant E-5 Vietnam 1967-1968 this year’s Veterans Day Parade Grand Marshal on Sat. Nov. 11th, 2023. Victor Westerberg is a lifelong resident of Fillmore and graduated from Fillmore High School in the class of 1965. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in July of 1966. He served his basic training at Fort Ord, CA. He then was ordered to Fort Riley Kansas to serve 9 months of advanced training with the 63rd Armor a part of the Big Red One First Division. Vic was promoted to Specialist 4th Class before leaving Fort Riley. He was then ordered to Vietnam and was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (The Blackhorse Regiment) he was assigned to an armored personnel carrier as a gunner on the right side of the track. About halfway through his tour he was promoted to Sergeant E-5 and took over command of an armored personnel carrier Lima-33 and spent the rest of his time as a track commander behind a .50 caliber machine gun. Vic served during the 1968 Tet Offensive. He was awarded six times including the Combat Infantryman Badge and The Bronze Star Medal.
Several years after Vic returned from Vietnam he joined the Fillmore Veterans of Foreign Wars Post. Vic held the position of Jr. Vice Commander for a few years and is currently a post trustee. He has participated in funeral services and Memorial Day Services at both Piru and Bardsdale cemeteries.

Mike Duckett a Memorial Board member at the time saw that the Honor Board in the hallway of the Memorial Building was in need of updating and organizing. Mike asked Vic to help with the project. They used Lance Montee a local contractor to build new panels for the wall.

Then Vic and Mike had the task of organizing the names on the panels. Vic has helped many families to get their loved ones name put on the Wall.

For years Vic has compiled a master list of over 700 names of Veterans from the Fillmore/ Piru and surrounding areas. He was instrumental in getting the names printed on a banner to be put in the Memorial Building.
Vic was born and raised in Fillmore. He and his wife Pat have been married for 45 years and they still live in Fillmore. They have a son, David, and daughter-in-law Cathee. Grandson Kyle and his wife Alicia, and two great grandchildren Amelia and Gunnar.

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During the month of October of 2023, law enforcement nationwide, including here in the city of Fillmore, has seen Chevy Silverado pick-up trucks as a target for vehicle thefts. They are being stolen for their resale value and catalytic converters. Because the trucks have a high ground clearance, it makes it easier to get underneath them and quickly cut off the air pollution control devices.

The Fillmore Police Department is asking citizens to be diligent and to make sure that any spare keys to their vehicles are accounted for, stored in a secure location, and not left in the vehicle. This includes any wallet or hide-a keys and key fobs. The vehicles targeted are 1999 -2006 Chevy Silverado pick-up trucks.

Many people have asked what they can do to help protect their vehicles. Here are some tips to help prevent vehicle theft:

• Park in a secured garage when possible or in a well-lit area with surveillance cameras and/or where the vehicle will be seen by a passerby.
• Install motion-sensitive lighting to illuminate driveways used for parking.
• Consider adding security cameras to oversee driveway and on-street parking areas.
• Research catalytic converter anti-theft devices and weigh the pros and cons of having one installed.
• DO NOT leave keys inside the vehicle, make sure to remove any valuable items for the vehicle, and lock the vehicle.

We are asking for our community’s help to prevent vehicle thefts. If you hear strange noises during the night, such as power tools or sawing, if you see a vehicle driving suspiciously slow through your neighborhood or stopped at the side of the road, if you see or hear ANYTHING out of the ordinary, please call the Fillmore Police Station at (805) 524-2233, or Ventura County Sheriff’s Communication Center at (805) 654-9511. The reporting party may remain anonymous. Often, these thieves are caught when an observant resident calls the police when something looks suspicious or does not seem quite right.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office and Fillmore Police Department are committed to increasing and strengthening community partnerships and utilizing technologies and evidence-based practices to enhance collaborative efforts at reducing crime and improving public safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @VENTURASHERIFF, Facebook, Instagram @ VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

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.

Attached is a photograph of one of the recent suspects who was caught on Ring camera stealing a 2005 Chevy Silverado from 300 block of River Street in the city of Fillmore on October 9, 2023.

Nature of Incident: Public Awareness/Vehicle Thefts/Early Model Chevy Silverado Trucks
Location: Various locations throughout the City of Fillmore
Date & Time: October 2023
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Police Department

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

On Sunday, October 22nd, 2023, at 12:25am, Ventura County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a reported fight in progress at Surrey Way and River Street, Fillmore. Arriving deputies found a known subject in possession of a switchblade knife and was cited for PC 21510(a), a crime to carry, possess, sell or give away a switchblade. This is a misdemeanor carrying up to six months jail. A Halloween party was in progress at the Surrey Way address.

On October 18, 2023, deputies contacted and arrested Marcus Ortiz for burglarizing a local church, where he stole a credit card belonging to the church and made numerous fraudulent cash withdrawals.

On the morning of October 18, 2023, church hosts arrived at a local church located in the 1400 block of Bardsdale Avenue and discovered their place of worship had been broken into and burglarized by an unknown suspect(s) during the night.
Patrol deputies and detectives assigned to the Santa Clara Valley/Fillmore Police Station responded to the crime scene and began an investigation. The investigation revealed the suspect had entered the church and forced entry into one of the locked interior rooms where a small locked safe was stolen. The safe contained a credit card belonging to the church.
Further investigation revealed the suspect then used the credit card belonging to the church to make unauthorized ATM withdrawals at several locations throughout the cities of Fillmore, Santa Paula, and Ventura. The suspect was quickly identified as Marcus Ortiz, a local Fillmore probationer. Utilizing several investigative techniques, and with the assistance of Sheriff’s Communication Center-Advanced Real Time Information Center (ARTIC) dispatchers, Ortiz was located at the Pacific View Mall in the City of Ventura.

On October 18, 2023, at approximately 2:00 PM, detectives located Ortiz at the mall, and he was arrested without incident. Ortiz was in possession of evidence linking him to the church burglary and identity thefts. In addition, Ortiz was in possession of an illegal / concealed billy club. Ortiz was subsequently booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility for burglary, three counts of identity theft and possession of an illegal weapon. Ortiz remains in custody with his bail set at $50,000.

Nature of Incident: Church Burglary and Identity Theft Arrest
Report Number: 23-133857
Location: 1400 Block of Bardsdale Avenue, Unincorporated area of Ventura County / Fillmore
Date & Time: October 17, 2023 @ 11:00 PM ~ 3:00 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Santa Clara Valley Station Patrol, Santa Clara Valley Station Detectives, Sheriff’s Communication Center/Advanced Real Time Information Center (ARTIC)

(S)uspects,(V)ictims,(P)arty,(D)ecedent
(S) Marcus Ortiz Fillmore 22

Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon, Fillmore Police Chie