Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Locations:
1) 600 Block Collins Drive, El Rio
2) 4800 Block Joan Way, El Rio
3) 3400 Block Orange Drive, Nyeland Acres

(S)uspects, Age, City of residence, Charge
1) Ruben Flores, 28, El Rio, Robbery/Kidnapping
2) Abel Contreras, 37, El Rio, Robbery/Kidnapping
3) Lizbeth Contreras, 27, El Rio, Robbery/Kidnapping

On 9-18-2008, the Sheriff’s Gang Unit served two search warrants as part of an investigation into an El Rio robbery where the suspects fired a shotgun round into a vehicle. During the service of the search warrants, three suspects were arrested for a variety of charges that include robbery and kidnapping.

On 9-16-2008, at about 9:45 PM, deputies were called to a residence in the 600 block of Collins Drive to investigate a report of shots fired. When they arrived, they found the residents were the victims of a robbery. Witnesses reported that shortly before the robbery, a female resident (victim) and her 6-year-old son were
sitting in a vehicle parked in their driveway when two males and two female approached the victim. The two females attacked the victim and stole her purse.

During the attack, the victim’s family members walked out of their house to investigate the sounds of a fight. They were confronted by one of the male suspects. The male suspect pointed a shotgun at the family members and forced them back into the house. As the suspects fled, the male suspect fired one shotgun round into the victim’s car. No one was injured during the attack.

The Sheriff’s Gang Unit was able to identify three of the four suspects and obtain a search warrant for their residences. On 9-18-2008, they served the search warrants and were able to arrest all three suspects. Ruben Flores, Abel Contreras, and Lizbeth Contreras were all arrested for a variety of offenses that include robbery
and kidnapping. They were booked into the Ventura County Jail and are all being held on $100,000 bail.

Investigators are still looking for the unidentified second female. Anyone with information about this crime is urged to call the Sheriff’s Gang Unit at 654-2856.