In the aftermath of the arrest of convicted sex offender John Albert Gardener III for the rape and murder of Chelsea King, and possible involvement in the murder of Amber DuBois, questions may have surfaced regarding how convicted sex offenders are tracked and monitored locally.

Since 2006, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department has been part of a grant funded multi-jurisdictional task force dedicated to monitoring registered sex offenders. The state funded Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement (SAFE) Team for this region is a tri-county effort between San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura County, with the overall grant administration conducted by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Department.

The mission of the SAFE Program is to identify, monitor, arrest, and assist in the prosecution of habitual sexual offenders who violate the terms and conditions of their probation or parole, who fail to comply with the registration requirements of California Penal Code § 290, or who commit new sexual assault offenses through proactive surveillance and arrest of habitual sexual offenders.

The tri-county region has a total of 2219 registered CONTINUED »

On Monday, 3-8-2010, the Ventura County Sheriff’s East County Narcotic Street Team, the Simi Valley Police Department’s Narcotic Unit and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation concluded a month-long investigation into the activities of Carlos Castro and Juan Moreno. They were suspected of selling cocaine and methamphetamine from their apartment in the 800 block of Warwick Ave, in Thousand Oaks. On the evening of March 8th, investigators served a search warrant at their apartment and found a small quantity of methamphetamine and cocaine, as well as other evidence of drug sales. Both Moreno and Castro were arrested and booked into the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and will be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on 3-10-2010.

Location: 850 Warwick Ave, City of Thousand Oaks

Date & Time/ RB#: 3-8-2010 / 6:00 p.m.

Unit Responsible: East County Narcotics Street Team- Simi P.D. Narcotics- District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigations

Suspects City of residence Age
Juan Carlos Perez Moreno Thousand Oaks 29
Carlos Enrique Castro Thousand Oaks 31

Officer Preparing Release: Sgt. Robert Thomas

Follow-up Contact: Sgt. Robert Thomas (805) 383-8710

Date of Release: March 9, 2010

Approved By: Captain B. Norris

On the morning of 03-04-10, at about 1100 hours, a witness reported two Hispanic males loading items into a silver Honda Odyssey van while the van was stopped in front of a residence on Vista Lago Drive in the unincorporated area of Ventura County near Simi Valley. The witness thought this was suspicious and contacted law enforcement. The vehicle sped away from the neighborhood after being seen. The vehicle was involved in a single vehicle traffic collision near Vista Lago Drive and Madera Road as it tried to drive away from the area. After the collision, witnesses saw both suspects exit the vehicle and run eastbound through the business complex adjacent to the Albertsons Madera Road shopping center.

Law enforcement personnel from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, including the K9 unit, and the Simi Valley Police Department responded to the scene. They set up a perimeter of the surrounding area. Through this collaborative effort, a male subject fitting the description of one of the van’s occupants was contacted by a Simi Valley Police Department officer in the 200 block of Royal Avenue. This male subject was identified as being one of the occupants of the vehicle. He was later identified as Ronnie Ortiz. The other male suspect eluded capture.

During the on-scene investigation, several electronic and computer equipment items were found in the van. These items were later identified by the resident(s) as belonging to them.

Ortiz was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail and is waiting arraignment on the following charges: residential burglary and giving false information to a police officer.

Location: 200 Block of Royal Avenue, Simi Valley, CA.

Date & Time/ RB#: March 4, 2010 @ 1:00 p.m. / 10-5289

Unit Responsible: Moorpark Investigations

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses Address Age
(S) Ronnie Ortiz Pacoima 18
(S) Unknown male

Officer Preparing Release: Detective Ed Ilano

Follow-up Contact: Detective Scott Hardy (805) 532-2715

Date of Release: March 5, 2010

Approved By: Captain Eric Dowd

During the last part of February 2010, Sheriff’s gang investigators received information that David Castro was selling narcotics in the Sheriff’s Department jurisdiction. Castro, a Santa Paula gang member, was wanted for violating his parole and had a no bail warrant for his arrest. He was listed as an armed and dangerous fugitive.

On Friday night, at about 6:00 P.M, Sheriff’s gang investigators located Castro as he got into a car in the 900 Blk of Santa Barbara Street, Santa Paula. Investigators followed him to a fast food drive through on Harvard Blvd where they approached him on foot. As officers approached Castro’s vehicle, he removed a loaded handgun from his waist and attempted to hide it from officers. He was taken into custody without incident. In addition to the handgun, Castro was found in possession of 3 ½ ounces of methamphetamine and over $1,000 dollars in cash. The handgun determined to have been stolen from a residential burglary in the City of Ventura.

Castro was arrested on a number of charges including felon CONTINUED »

On Thursday, March 4, 2010 Ashley Eaton, of Whole Foods Market presented the Ventura County Sheriffs Department’s East Valley Volunteer Search and Rescue Team with the extremely generous donation of $3,560.25. The money was raised through the Whole Foods Market 5% day program, which donates a percentage of their daily proceeds to local organizations.

The East Valley Search and Rescue Team is comprised of 25 volunteers who collectively donate thousands of hours each year in searching for lost and missing persons. In addition the group also conducts evidence searches, provides staffing for major events, and provides training for other agencies. The team also responds throughout the state during mutual aid requests from other counties in need of personnel for wilderness searches and missing persons cases such as the recent Chelsea King search in San Diego County.

The proceeds from this event will be used to purchase much needed equipment such as radios, rescue ropes, and foul weather gear for the team members.

Location: 740 N. Moorpark Rd. Thousand Oaks CA 91360

Date & Time: March 4, 2010 1500 hrs.

Unit Responsible: Sergeant Underlin – Sheriff’s Aviation / SAR Unit

Officer Preparing Release: Sergeant Frank Underlin

Follow-up Contact: Sergeant Frank Underlin #947-8196

Date of Release: March 4, 2010

Fillmore Police Blotter
02/17/10 to 02/23/10
Theft Vehicle
02/17/10
1100 Block El Paseo St.
Vandalism
500 Block Saratoga St.
Theft Residential
250 E. Telegraph Rd.
Battery
500 Block A St.
Theft Identity
800 Block 4th St.
Search Warrant
600 Block Maple Ct.
Drunk in Public
200 Block Fillmore St. CONTINUED »

The Sheriff’s Gang Unit arrested three suspects in connection to a carjacking that occurred last Sunday morning. The three are believed to be Oxnard gang members.

On 2-21-2010, at about 4:45 AM, Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a call of a carjacking in the unincorporated area of Nyeland Acres. During the initial investigation, deputies learned that at about 4:00 AM, a male suspect approached a parked vehicle in the 2900 block of Friedrich. The car was occupied by a male and female victim who were sleeping. The male suspect opened the driver’s door and began beating the male driver. The suspect ordered the female to get out of the car or he would kill her. When the female got out of the car, the suspect brandished a knife and ordered the male victim to drive him away.

The suspect had the male victim drive him around the unincorporated area of Oxnard for about 45 minutes. During the kidnapping, the suspect made several phone calls. While driving in the area of Alvarado and Ventura Blvd, El Rio, the male victim jumped out of the moving vehicle and escaped. Neither victim was hurt. The car was later found abandoned at Vineyard Ave and Ventura Blvd, Oxnard.

The Sheriff’s Gang Unit took over the case and was able to identify the male suspect as Jose Casillas. Gang Investigators believe that as Casillas drove the male victim around Oxnard, he called Marco Gutierrez. Investigators believe that Casillas told Gutierrez he had kidnapped the male victim and asked him for advice. Investigators believe that Gutierrez told Casillas to hold on to the male victim and drive him to Gutierrez’ house in the 2400 block of Colonia Ave, in Oxnard. The male victim was able to escape before Casillas made it to Gutierrez’ residence.

On Wednesday, gang investigators located Casillas and his brother, David Lopez, as they reported to their probation officer at the Oxnard probation office. They were found to be in possession of some of the victims stolen property and arrested. On Thursday, gang investigators contacted Marco Gutierrez as he left his residence and arrested him.

Throughout the investigation, gang investigators served several search warrants and recovered all of the victim’s stolen property. This included a stereo that had been stripped from the vehicle.

Jose Casillas was booked into the Ventura Jail on numerous charges including Carjacking, robbery, and kidnapping for the purpose of robbery. He remains in custody on $265,000 dollar bail. Marco Gutierrez was booked into the Ventura County Jail for conspiracy to commit kidnapping. He remains in custody on $105,000 dollars. David Lopez was booked into the Ventura County Jail for accessory after the fact and possession of stolen property. He remains in custody on $25,000 dollar bail.

RB#:10-4340

Location: 2900 Block Friedrich, Oxnard

Date & Time: 2-21-2010/0345

Unit Responsible: Gang Unit

Suspects Charge City of residence Age
1) Casillas, Jose Kidnap/Carjacking Oxnard 19
2) Gutierrez, Marco Kidnap/Carjacking Oxnard 18
3) Lopez, David Possession stolen Oxnard 21
Property/ Accessory

Officer Preparing Release: Sgt Schierman

Follow-up Contact: Sgt Schierman 654-2856

Date of Release: 2-26-2010

Approved by: Captain B. Norris

On February 26, 2010, members from the Sheriff’s Department East County Narcotics Street Team, the Simi Valley Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Bureau of Investigation concluded a three-month investigation of narcotics sales and money laundering. As a result of this investigation, Jeremy Hernandez was arrested today for 17 felony counts of money laundering.

On December 16, 2009, Hernandez was arrested by narcotics investigators for possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana for sale following a search warrant at his residence. A subsequent investigation revealed that Hernandez had laundered thousands of dollars in cash that were proceeds from his drug dealings. Hernandez was arrested at the Todd Road Jail where he is being held pending trial related to the original arrest. Hernandez will be arraigned on March 1st at 9:00am in Ventura County Superior Court for these new charges.

Location: Todd Road Jail, Santa Paula, CA

Date & Time: February 26, 2010, 3:00 P.M.

Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff Narcotics Unit, Ventura County District Attorney’s Office Bureau of Investigation, Simi Valley Police Narcotics Unit

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of residence Age
Jeremy Hernandez Moorpark 18

Officer Preparing Release: Det Jeff Barry, DA Investigator
Follow-up Contact: Sgt Robert Thomas 805-383-8700
Approved by: Captain O’Hanlon

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department is submitting a grant application to the State of California in hopes of receiving a state Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) grant. The Sheriff’s Department is seeking approximately $80,000 for use in replacing its old and outdated motorcycles and quads, and for labor reimbursement at its Lockwood Valley Sub-Station.

The Lockwood Valley Sub-Station is responsible for approximately 610 square miles of area in the northern backcountry of Ventura County. This includes many areas of the Los Padres National Forest and the Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area.

The funds will help establish off-road patrols on the OHV trails of both areas for the purposes of enforcement and public education. It will also assist in establishing new public signs in OHV areas, and creating free OHV maps and brochures for the public. The new equipment will also provide reliable off-road equipment to use during search and rescue operations.

California State Parks provides CONTINUED »

CA. Vehicle Code

21809. (a) A person driving a vehicle on a freeway approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying emergency lights, ( )1 a stationary tow truck that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, or a stationary marked Department of Transportation vehicle that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, shall approach with due caution and, before passing in a lane immediately adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle ( )1 , tow truck, or Department of Transportation vehicle, absent ( )2 other direction by a peace officer, proceed to do one of the following:

(1) Make a lane change into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the authorized emergency vehicle, tow truck, or ( )3 Department of Transportation vehicle, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, if practicable and not prohibited by law.

(2) If the maneuver described in paragraph (1) would be unsafe or impracticable, slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.

(b) A violation of subdivision (a) is an infraction, punishable by a fine of not more than fifty dollars ($50).

(c) ( )4 The requirements of subdivision (a) do not apply if the stationary authorized emergency vehicle that is displaying emergency lights, the stationary tow truck that is displaying flashing amber warning lights, or the stationary marked Department of Transportation vehicle that is displaying flashing amber warning lights is not adjacent to the freeway or is separated from the freeway by a protective physical barrier.

Added Sec. 2, Ch. 375, Stats. 2006. Effective January 1, 2007.
Amended Sec. 1, Ch. 175, Stats. 2009. Effective January 1, 2010.