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Arrest of Multiple Subjects in Gang Related Assault, Thousand Oaks
By Ventura County Sheriff Department — Monday, August 1st, 2011
 Ventura County Sheriff's Department On June 6th 2011, at 12:15 AM, Sheriff’s patrol and investigative units responded to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon that had just occurred in the City of Thousand Oaks. The initial incident began when several males engaged in a verbal argument at the Borderline nightclub in Thousand Oaks. Two male victims attempted to leave the nightclub and avoid further conflict. The victims got in their vehicle and fled onto the 101 Freeway. Five unidentified male suspects got into their vehicle and pursued the victims. During a two-mile car chase, the suspects repeatedly used their car and rammed the victim’s car, causing severe damage. The victims attempted to elude the suspects on Rimrock Road however, the suspects rammed the victim’s vehicle at a high rate of speed, thus disabling it. The suspects quickly exited their vehicle and proceeded to launch a violent attack on the two victims causing severe injuries. At one point, a suspect brandished a handgun and threatened to kill both victims. The two victims were able escape on foot, eluding further attack. The suspects fled the scene. The two victims later flagged down a responding patrol deputy. Within 24 hours of the assault, the Thousand Oaks Police Department - Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) and East County Major Crimes Unit were able to identify the five suspects as members of a criminal street gang, which originated in Yucatan, Mexico. Within one week, four of the suspects were arrested. As a result of the investigation, two of the suspects were also identified as being wanted for a previous brandishing of a handgun at local restaurant in the prior month. During this past month, members of the Special Enforcement Unit, Detectives, Patrol, and special agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations Unit obtained court ordered search warrants and searched nine residences, as well as numerous places of employment in Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. The extensive searches netted ten additional arrests of gang members. As a result of the June 6th incident, fourteen gang members and associates of the gang are in custody and facing both Felony assault charges and federal deportation proceedings back to Yucatan Mexico. Four of the gang members are facing felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon. As a result of the investigation, the task force uncovered evidence indicating that these gang members had committed other unreported violent crimes, such as robbery and thefts targeting undocumented Mexican Nationals as victims. The end result of this investigation reflects the Thousand Oaks Police Department policy of zero tolerance with gang violence. As a reminder to our citizens, 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 a crime. Call and report a tip in English or Spanish at 800-222-TIPS (8477). Location: Rimrock Road, Thousand Oaks |
