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By Anonymous — Wednesday, January 7th, 2015
 Fillmore Fire rescue crews responded to a traffic accident at Haines Canyon Road and East Telegraph (eastbound Highway 126), on Wednesday, December 30th, at 6:05pm. CHP reported that a semi-truck lost its side paneling, which may have added to the cause of the accident. A white Toyota Prius and white Honda were involved. Two vehicles sustained moderate damage. One person was trasnported to the hospital. No serious injuries were reported. Enlarge Photo |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, January 5th, 2015
Police asking anyone with information to contact them
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On Monday, January 5, 2015, at approximately 3:55 a.m. the Ventura County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from a female resident of the location reporting her husband tried to set her on fire. Deputies from the Moorpark Patrol Station and Ventura County Fire Personnel responded and determined a fire occured. The woman suffered significant injuries and was transported by ambulance to an area hospital. The investigation is continuing. Detectives are actively seeking the suspect identified as Juan Soria Hernandez, described as a Hispanic male, 5'7", 200 lbs., black hair and brown eyes, and facial hair. Soria is believed to be driving a white, 2005 Ford F250 4x4, license 86644S1/CA (see attached photographs of suspect and vehicle). The truck has a white toolbox and fuel tank in the bed and large tires. Suspect has access to firearms. Anybody that sees the suspect or truck is urged to call 911. Anyone with information can contact Detective Peterson at (805) 384-4744. Nature of Incident: Attempt Murder 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). |
 The Fillmore Depot where the orientation will be held as it looked in 1911. Photo credit: Fillmore Historical Museum Archives Enlarge Photo By Anonymous — Monday, January 5th, 2015
The Fillmore Historical Museum will be holding an orientation for new volunteers on Saturday, January 10th. Tours will be given beginning at 1 pm with the orientation starting at 2:00 pm in the Depot. Find out about volunteer opportunities at the museum including: docent (regular shift and/or special events), Fillmore history book project, oral history project, accessioning/data entry. gift shop, gardening/grounds upkeep, re-enactments and community outreach/museum in a suitcase. The Museum is located at 340 Main Street, Fillmore. For more information, call Fillmore Historical Museum 805-524-0948. |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, December 30th, 2014
 A car went off the road into a ditch shortly after 7am in the 1500 block of Riverside Avenue, Bardsdale, according to the California Highway Patrol and the Ventura County Fire Department. Ambulances were called to the area for two occupants, both transported to an area hospital, according to county fire officials. Photos courtesy Sebastian Ramirez. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, December 30th, 2014
 The shooting suspects crash the stolen getaway car into a Palm tree at Highway 126 and Old Telegraph Road, while leaving the crime scene. Photo by Fillmore Gazette staff. Enlarge Photo |
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By Anonymous — Tuesday, December 30th, 2014
 A two-car accident took place on First and B Streets on Friday, December 19th at 6:30pm. Enlarge Photo |
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By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, December 29th, 2014
Police asking anyone with information to contact them
Ventura County Sheriff's Department The Fillmore Police and Fillmore Fire Department were dispatched to a call of a gunshot victim. The victim told police he was walking with his brother in the area of Fourth Street and B Street when they were confronted by suspects in a vehicle who began shooting at them. The victim and his brother were able to run away. The victim was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Shortly after the shooting, a vehicle lost control and crashed in the area of Old Telegraph Road and SR-126. The three occupants of the vehicle were arrested after it was discovered the vehicle was stolen from the city of Ventura. The investigation determined the three occupants of the vehicle were responsible for the earlier shooting and were fleeing the area when they lost control of the vehicle and crashed. The three suspects were arrested and booked for 664/187 PC (attempted murder), 10851(a) VC (stolen vehicle) and 186.22 PC (street terrorism) into the Ventura County Jail – Pre Trial Detention Facility. All three will be arraigned on 12/31/14 at the Ventura County Superior Court. The bails are set as following: Steven Cortez: $1,010,000.00 The Sheriff's Gang Unit is conducting follow-up investigation on the case. Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective Doug Gojkovich at 805 765-0627. Nature of Incident: Drive By Shooting Arrests 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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By Anonymous — Wednesday, December 24th, 2014
 Christmas crowd decended on the Fillmore Fire station Saturday, December 20th for the Annual Toy Drive Give-away. About 1,500 children, more than 300 families, received toys at the popular event, which began 15 years ago. Most of the toys were donated thanks to the Annual Chicken Dinner Toy Drive, a week earlier. As usual, Santa showed up on the department’s ladder truck and had his picture taken with all the nice, not naughty, children. Donations of food were also provided to the families. Fillmore FFA made popcorn and Sespe 4-H made cotton candy for the kids and the young at heart. Helping Santa, besides his elves, was Fillmore Rotary, the Ventura County Sheriffs Fillmore station, and the Fillmore Search & Rescue squad. Fillmore Fire Chief Rigo Landeros was on-hand also helping Santa. Photos courtesy Sebastian Ramirez. Enlarge Photo |
 Arrested for recruiting juveniles into a gang: Brad Beltran of Fillmore 25, Vincent Meraz of Piru 23, Salvador Velgara of San Fernando 26, Damien Virgen of Fillmore 23, Rudy Meraz of Piru 18, Joseph Cabral of Fillmore 25. Enlarge Photo By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, December 24th, 2014
Ventura County Sheriff's Department On 12/19/2014, investigators and deputies served a multi-location search warrant related to an investigation involving the recruitment of two juveniles into a criminal street gang that operates in the Fillmore area. Arrests were made as a result of the investigation. A photo of the gang members and video footage of the gang “Jump in” is available via web link http://goo.gl/J2GQbs. A Spanish audio file of the news story by a Sheriff’s public information officer, Deputy Judith Porter, is available via web link http://goo.gl/dWpykN. On 10/31/14, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit served a search warrant in the City of San Fernando in Los Angeles County at the residence of Salvador Velgara. Velgara is a documented member of a criminal street gang that operates in the city of Fillmore and surrounding communities. Investigators located three firearms and methamphetamine possessed for the purpose of sales. Investigators also located a digital camera that contained two videos of a gang initiation rite known as a “Jump In.” A “Jump in” is a violent introduction to the gang in which the new member is subjected to a physical assault by his fellow gang members. Investigators identified the two subjects being “Jumped in” as juvenile residents of the City of Fillmore. California Penal Code section 186.26 (solicitation or recruitment to participate in a criminal street gang) makes it a felony to recruit someone into a gang with specific enhancements for the use of violence and additional enhancements when the person being recruited is a juvenile. Sheriff’s Gang Unit investigators learned that the “Jump in” took place in March of 2013 in the backyard of a residence in the 300 block of Del Valle Drive in Fillmore, CA. Investigators identified the participants of the “Jump in” as Brad Beltran, Vincent Meraz, Salvador Velgara, Damien Virgen, Rudy Meraz, and two male juveniles who are both age16. On 12/19/2014, a combined team of 36 Sheriff’s Office investigators and deputies served warrants at five locations to retrieve evidence related to the crime. During the service of the warrants, Vincent Meraz, Rudy Meraz and one of the juveniles were arrested for violating Penal Code section 186.26. Brad Beltran and Salvador Velgara who were already in custody on other charges were also arrested by detectives for violating Penal Code section 186.26. Damien Virgen was contacted by phone and later turned himself in. Joseph Cabral was arrested after detectives found a collapsible baton, methamphetamine, and a methamphetamine pipe in his bedroom. Nature of Incident: Gang Members Arrested for Recruiting Juveniles in Fillmore Date & Time: 12/19/2014 @ 0700 hours 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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By Anonymous — Wednesday, December 24th, 2014
 On Saturday, December 20th, at approximately 5:30pm, an eastbound vehicle rear-ended another eastbound vehicle, which struck a third eastbound vehicle. The accident took place on Highway 126, close to the Old Red Barn (Christmas tree farm). The chain reaction caused one of the cars to enter westbound traffic and strike two more cars. Two of the cars overturned, trapping the occupants. Six people were injured, including one infant. All six were transported by ambulances to area hospitals; none of the injuries were life-threatening. The first vehicle that started the chain reaction did not stop; the California Highway Patrol is seeking the driver. Westbound lanes were closed for several hours, with traffic in both directions diverted to the eastbound lanes. Photos courtesy Sebastian Ramirez. Enlarge Photo |
