Witness Intimidation Arrest
Ventura County Sheriff's Department
Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Location: 2000 block of Woodrow Avenue, Simi Valley
Date & Time: January 27, 2010, 5:00 P.M.
Unit Responsible: Ventura County Sheriff Narcotics, Simi Valley Police Department’s Narcotic Unit, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office

(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses City of residence Age

Wesley Vanderlinden Simi Valley 24
Julian Vanderlinden Simi Valley 18

On January 27, 2010, the Sheriff’s East County Narcotics Street Team, the Simi Valley Police Department’s Narcotic Unit, and the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office concluded an investigation of witness intimidation. On January 5, 2010, Wesley Vanderlinden was arrested for sales of Ecstasy. On January 22, 2010, Wesley Vanderlinden was released from custody after posting bail of $115,000. On January 26, 2010, Wesley Vanderlinden and his brother Julian Vanderlinden tracked down a witness to the original narcotics arrest and assaulted this witness causing injury and also threatened to kill the witness in an attempt to dissuade the witness from testifying in the criminal case.

Both suspects were arrested on January 27, 2010. A search warrant served at the suspect’s residence in Simi Valley resulted in the seizure of money, three ounces of marijuana, and evidence of sales of marijuana. Both suspects were arrested and booked for dissuading a witness by violence, criminal threats, burglary, and conspiracy. Julian Vanderlinden was also arrested for possession of marijuana for sale. Bail was set at $200,000 for both suspects and they will be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on 1-29-2010.