By Joyce Schifanelli — Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
Crime is everywhere, even in Fillmore! What are its causes and effects on our city and what measures are taken to combat criminal trends and behaviors? According to Fillmore’s new Chief of Police, Captain Tim Hagel, and statistics gathered by the Department of Justice, crime varies from year to year, community to community and from neighborhood to neighborhood. Even the frequency of specific criminal activities changes from season to season and is weather related. It is a fact that social issues, suicide and domestic violence peak during the winter holidays while home and vehicle burglaries rise in the summer. Crucial components to combating crime and preventing criminal activities even before they happen include; early recognition of current trends in the local area, superior officer training, teamwork, accessibility, dialogue and a solid relationship with the community. Crime in Fillmore, as in most communities across our nation includes; gang and tagging (the gateway to gang membership) activities, drug use, production and dealing (crystal methamphetamines and cocaine, a serious problem everywhere), domestic violence, homicide, burglary (breaking in), theft (vehicle and property), extortion, robbery (by force), rape, assault, driving under the influence and traffic violations. The difference between Fillmore and uncountable cities large and small across this land is the effectiveness of our police force, in part due to its rapid ability to shift focus, as reflected in the large decrease in crimes committed in our city over the past years. During the period of April through June of 2008, a decrease across the board of 30% is noted compared to the same period in 2007. Although robbery remains steady, this number includes a 9% reduction in burglaries, a 30% reduction in assaults, and a total 43% reduction in violent crimes over the same period last year. Chief Hagel attributes these statistics to the past efforts of former Chief Macedo and his staff, as well as the present ongoing 24/7 efforts of his team. Captain Hagel, a Ventura County native, father, husband and ranch owner (he grows tangerines and avocados), oversees a force that includes a total of twenty-seven officers. A standard day shift includes, four patrol officers, one patrol sergeant, three detectives, two gang officers, one very aggressive motorcycle officer (known as Stinger Bee), and one school patrol officer who shares his time between the high school and the middle school. The violence at Columbine High School in 1999 brought home the need for improved school security measures and new methods of dealing with our students in an age of cell phones, blackberries, instant text messaging, video phones, internet access and blogs. With the installation of the school patrol officer (funded this coming school year through the City’s reserves and the FUSD), there is zero tolerance for gang and drug related activities and probation violators are incarcerated immediately. Unfortunately, this officer makes more arrests and citations during a regular shift than an average police officer. In an effort to improve the situation, regular meetings are attended by school counselors, school principals, the school patrol officer and Captain Hagel. These measures have diminished gang and tagging activity as a whole, along with the work at the North Fillmore Police Station storefront staffed by retired Fillmore Police Officer Max Pina, and counselor Selina Escalo. They interface and provide free counseling to gang members and their families. Nevertheless, Chief Hagel admits that without the support, cooperation and vigilance of the community at large, our city would not be the relatively safe and charming place it is today, in many ways, a mid-twentieth century town in a twenty-first century world. Budget cuts due to an ailing economy might in time force changes in the Department; yet Chief Hagel advises that our first line of defense against crime is secure for at least this fiscal year (July 1, 2008-June 30,2009) adding, “Fillmore is not a good place to live, it’s great place to live.” |
By Anonymous — Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
Midday Friday, the driver of this car lost control heading north up Hillside Drive and crashed into a Pine tree. No cause for the accident was available, and no serious personal injuries were reported. The vehicle suffered substantial damage. Enlarge Photo |
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, August 13th, 2008
On August 9, 2008, at about 7:35 p.m., Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies assigned to the Moorpark Police Department responded to the Walmart Store on Cochran Street in the City of Simi Valley regarding a report of a domestic violence incident that occurred earlier in the City of Moorpark. The female victim reported that she had been hit in the face by her boyfriend and father of her child, Michael Esparza, while she was driving in the area of Spring Road and Tierra Rejada Road. When the victim pulled over and requested Esparza get out of the car, Esparza pushed her out and began driving away with their three-year-old child still inside the vehicle. Esparza’s actions caused visible injuries to the victim. After being pushed out of the vehicle, the victim ran after the car requesting Esparza give her their three-year-old child. Esparza pulled the car over, which allowed the victim to get back in the car. While traveling on Madera Road at Cochran Street, the victim attempted to get the attention of a California Highway Patrol Officer who was driving nearby. Becoming alarmed, Esparza turned into the Walmart parking lot on Cochran Street and fled from the vehicle. Responding Ventura County Sheriff’s deputies were aware that Esparza was wanted for a previous domestic violence incident that had occurred in the Fillmore area and for a violation of parole. Esparza attempted to hide from deputies behind parked vehicles at the location and then ran into the Beverages and More store across from Walmart. Additional Ventura County deputies and Simi Valley Police officers arrived on-scene to assist. Law Enforcement personnel at the scene set up a perimeter around the building, covering all exits while other personnel entered the store in an attempt to locate Esparza. As deputies entered the store, Esparza exited through a back door where he was taken into custody by waiting deputies. Esparza was booked at the Ventura County Jail for a no bail violation of parole warrant and felony spousal abuse charges. |
By Anonymous — Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
Ventura County Sheriff’s Patrol Deputy Thomas Brown, responded to a 911 report of a theft in progress of 55 gallon plastic wine barrels from the Giessinger Winery in the City of Fillmore. The winery is located directly next to the Fillmore and Western Railroad Station. The empty wine containers are valued at $50.00 each. |
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
Sheriff’s deputies arrested two male suspects, Brian Torres 19 and Ryan Noble 18 from Fillmore of a local tagging crew and a female juvenile 17, after a two-day crime spree in the city of Fillmore. Tagging crews have recently expanded their crimes from typically spraying graffiti to firearm violations, drugs, burglaries and violence. While not aligned with a specific local gang, taggers are dangerous and becoming increasingly bold with their activities. |
By Joyce Schifanelli — Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
The ground is sizzling with temperatures rising as high as 812 degrees on a two-acre patch of land in the hills north of Fillmore. Nearly seven weeks ago, firefighters responded to reports of fire and a smoky haze along the parched terrain; however, upon inspection, they encountered no flames, only smoldering dirt and brush. According to other news sources, including the Ventura County Star, the Los Angeles Times, and Fox News, the smoking “hot spot” in the Ventura County section of Los Padres National Forest continues to puzzle firefighters and geologists even after weeks of monitoring. “It’s a thermal anomaly,” said Ron Oatman, spokesperson for the Ventura County Fire Department. David Panaro, a participating geologist with the Ventura County Watershed Protection Agency said, “This is not your usual geological detective story.” Geologists and firefighters surveyed the area, located in the Sespe Oil Field, but they have not made a definitive determination of what is causing the intense heat. Nevertheless, they do have a theory that does not include human activity. The “hot spot” is in an active landslide zone with a history of shifting for more than sixty years. Pockets of gas, tar and oil lie several hundred feet below its cracked surface. Allen King, a retired geologist with the U.S. Forest Service visited the site on Friday, August 1. In his opinion, the smoking ground is “a normal occurrence”. He explained that cracks along the landslide’s slope allow oxygen to enter the earth, and those natural hydrocarbon materials (gas, tar and oil) to “seep out” of the fine-grain shale. Underground combustion is a possible result, and could be as deep as 100 feet. Since 1987, high heat levels have been recorded in the area as many as five times. “Hot spots” are not uncommon in areas around the world with high concentrations of hydrocarbons. The 812 degree temperature, taken last Friday, was measured about a foot below the surface. The depth of hydrocarbon materials “varies tremendously,” says King, also acknowledging that he does not know at what depth combustion is occurring in the oil field. Smoke rose through five cracks in the ground as firefighters cleared brush, and cut a fire line around the area as a precautionary measure. Oatman said that fire officials predict the smoke will come and go until the next heavy rain, when fissures are plugged with water and mud. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management owns the acreage (near the Sespe Oil Field), and leases it to Seneca Resources Corp. The rugged, steep terrain is devoid of buildings and equipment, and gated off from public access. The 3,000 acre Sespe Oil Field, producing nearly 50 million barrels of oil since its discovery in 1887, contains more than 300 oil wells, of which 210 are active. Although Jeff Kuyper, Executive Director of the Los Padres Forest Watch expressed his deep concern on the potential effects of the “hot spot” on the nearby Condor Sanctuary and the forest’s fire prone environment, the Ventura County Fire Department continues to monitor the area daily and does not consider the “hot spot” to be a threat to public safety. Story from CBS2/KCAL 9 Los Angeles |
By Mariandrea Mueller — Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
Part Two
As Held says, "This will be a learning and planning year." |
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Wednesday, August 6th, 2008
On Thursday, July 31, 2008, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Aviation/ S.A.R. Unit was dispatched by the Ventura County Fire Department to an injured person who was electrocuted while working in an orchard near Bardsdale Cemetery. Air Squad 8 was sent staffed with a pilot, two rescue crew chiefs and a flight paramedic. A landing zone was secured a short distance away from the accident site. Daniel Torres 22, of Fillmore, was transported to the landing zone in the back of an ambulance. Once the Air Squad arrived the flight paramedic and a crew chief walked to the ambulance to help prepare Torres for air transport. Torres was brought to the awaiting helicopter and flown directly to Ventura County Regional Medical Center where his care was transferred to the emergency room staff. Torres’ condition and the events leading to the non-fatal electric shock are unknown at this time. |