Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Sheriff Bill Ayub has released the 2021 crime statistics for all areas served by the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office. The report shows a 5% overall increase in Part I crimes, as defined by the Uniform Crime Reporting statistics of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In 2021, the number of incidents involving violent crimeincreased 3%. Property crimes increased 5%, while residential burglaries showed a decrease of 10%. Changes in crime trends became evident throughout the year, and some could be attributed to our communities transitioning out of the pandemic. During the pandemic, we saw some of our crime statistics sharply decline due in part to more people being home and many businesses having reduced activities. In 2021, our crime statistics began a return to pre-pandemic levels while remaining at historic lows.

“Suppressing crime requires continuous vigilance, adaptive strategies, and a strong relationship with the public we serve,” said Sheriff Bill Ayub. “Steady increases in organized thieves entering our county from surrounding areas to commit catalytic converter thefts, organized retail theft, and commercial burglaries have driven the increase in reported property crimes. We remain committed to continuously adjusting our approach to address and defeat emerging crime trends.”

The UCR report can be found here: https://s29762.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Sheriff-Year-End-UCR-2... Each geographical area in Ventura County is unique, and crime trends vary from city to city.

Nature of Incident: Sheriff releases 2021 crime statistics
Prepared by: Captain Cameron Henderson
Approved by: Sheriff Bill Ayub

Central and Main Streets circa 1970s.
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Central and Main Streets today.
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Church of Religious Science circa 1972, which was founded by Reverend Mildred Hinckley, and was located on River Street in Fillmore.
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Article from the Fillmore Herald March 16th 1972 reading “The Junior Girl Scouts point to their interesting window display in the Patterson Hardware store window to celebrate Girl Scout Week. From left are Shanna KcKeown, Troop 115; Lori Elkins, Troop 523; Shanna KcKeown, Troop 115 and Donna Viscioni. Donna’s father was the artist and sign maker for this project. (Herald Photo).
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This article was compiled by Rachel Fernandez who attends California State University Channel Islands and is interning at the Fillmore Historical Museum.

Although times have changed, some things never change and history does tend to repeat itself. We see below what was happening in the city of Fillmore 50 and 100 years ago in March of 1922 and March of 1972 and can then make our own comparisons to the world and city of Fillmore today in March of 2022.

50 Years Ago - March 1972:
On March 9, 1972, it was reported that tropical weather and lack of rain was hurting farmers. The temperature was a record-breaking 90 degrees. Fruit was also growing smaller than usual due to the lack of rain. This particular month of March was known as the seventh driest March in a span of 67 years.

March 12, 1972 marked the beginning of Girl Scout Week. This week paid homage to the first troops which started in Savannah, Georgia in 1912. The Girl Scouts had very fun activities planned during the week which included Girl Scout Sunday, Homemaking Day, Citizenship Day, Health and Safety Day, International Friendship Day, Day for Arts, as well as Out of Doors Day. Some of the girls listed were Kenny McKeown, Lori Elkins, Shanna McKeown, and Donna Viscioni.

It was published in the paper on March 16th, 1972 that Jeanine Richie Boon and Vernal Williams were the first couple to get married in the Church of Religious Science. The church was newly built at the time, founded by Reverend Mildred Hinckley and designed by Elmer Devore. The church was located on River Street. The congregation no longer exists today since its closure in the early 2000’s, but the building is now a preschool and child care center.

100 Years Ago - March 1922:
On March 3, 1922 there was a search for the unknown killer of Adolfo Escota. However, a suspect was named which was Luiz Cabral, who was never charged. Escota was said to have owed Cabral a sum of money. On March 10, 1922 there was another killing reported in which the victim was named Charles Atencio. The killer at the time had escaped but on April 7, 1922, he was identified and sentenced. His name was Augustine Cabral, whom we could find no relation to Luiz Cabral. However, he only pleaded guilty to one of the murders, that of Atencio. His attorney was named James Holingsworth.

100 years ago, there was an ongoing pandemic: the “Spanish” Influenza. By March of 1922 the influenza was nearing its end. Originally beginning in 1918, the cases reported in 1922 were mostly mild cases and far less than in 1918. At the time there were only a thousand cases reported in all of California. The influenza finally came to an end later in the year of 1922. One of the more known names in Fillmore who succumbed to the influenza was Vinnie Hinckley, daughter of Dr. J.P. Hinckley. She was only fifteen.

The prohibition era hit Ventura County before the 1920’s. As early as 1903, anti-saloon ordinances were being passed. On March 17, 1922 it was published that Colonel Dan Morgan Smith made an address in Fillmore. Col. Morgan Smith was known for being the commander of the Battalion of Death in WWI. Colonel Morgan Smith led his battalion in France and went into battle with 1120 men and came out with only 327 men. Although he was known for leading the Battalion of Death, he gave an address in Fillmore about prohibition under the auspices of the Anti-Saloon League and advocated for the approval of the Wright Bill which was a bill that would determine the fate of prohibition in California.

Almost 50,000 years ago, a meteor struck what is now known today as Winslow, Arizona. In the year 1903, miners began to try and locate the main body of that meteor. Local Fillmore men were a part of the crew trying to locate the body of it. These men included Ross Buckman, Isaac Wammock and his son, as well as Leslie Carter. Fragments of the main body were found at a depth of 1000 feet. This crater is still to this day one of the most well-preserved meteor craters in the world.

City Council discussed Ordinance 22-937 to prohibit accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units in very high fire hazards zones. Above is a map of Fillmore highlighting the high fire hazard severity zone, which was shown at last night’s meeting.
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7.A PUPLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 22-01, ORDINANCE 22-937, TO PROHIBIT ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS AND JUNIOR ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS IN THE VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD ZONE AND FINDING OF EXEMPTION FROM CEQA Vote - Approved, 3-0. (MEMBER MARK AUSTIN AND MAYOR PRO TEM LYNN EDMONDS NEEDED TO RECUSE THEMSELVES SINCE THEY LIVE IN AREA)

7.B AUTHORIZATION TO PURCHASE ONE PUBLIC WORKS AND FACILITIES DEPARTMENT MAINTENANCE VEHICLE.
Vote: 5-0 Approved.

7.C 3 YEAR LEASE WITH MENDOCINO RAILWAY FOR THE RAILROAD “TICKET BOOTH” BUILDING.
Vote: 5-0 Approved.

City Council discussed Ordinance 22-937 to prohibit accessory dwelling units and junior accessory dwelling units in very high fire hazards zones. Above is a map of Fillmore highlighting the high fire hazard severity zone, which was shown at last night’s meeting.

On Saturday, April 9th 11:30am, in the alley next to the Fillmore Police/Sheriff Station, the City of Fillmore will honor of Max Pina, Fillmore Police SGT., VCSO Deputy and City of Fillmore Resource Officer, for his decades of service with the citizens and youth of Fillmore. Thank you to Fillmore City Manager Dave Rowlands and Fillmore Police Chief Capt. Garo Kuredjian for their support and suggestions that helped with the location and décor of the sign. The Mayor
and Fillmore City Council Members, along with Ventura County Sheriff and Undersheriff, will be attending. Please join Max’s family and friends at the celebration!

Dave and Crackers ready to hit the road for their cruise.
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By Carina Monica Montoya

It’s anything but a dog’s life for this pooch. His name is Crackers, known around town as “the dog riding in the back of a convertible Mercedes”. Crackers is a 9-year-old Jack Russell terrier that literally knocked on Dave Andersen’s door one night in 2014. He was hungry, thirsty, and alone. Dave and his wife fed him and gave him a comfortable bed to sleep before taking him to the Fillmore Animal Hospital the next morning to find out if he was microchipped. Although he was microchipped in Oklahoma and the information listed his birth date as November 2012, he was not registered and there was no one to contact. Days passed and no one claimed to be missing a dog. The rest is history.

Standing at about 15 inches tall and weighing 14 pounds with a broken coat, which means his coat is a combination of a rough double coat and wiry fur, he is built for sports such as surfing. Crackers’s skills are as good as the likes of Duke Kahanamoku, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, who is known for his incredible balance and coordination on a surfboard, except Crackers’s incredible balance and coordination skills are riding on top of a convertible roof cover. It really is not as easy as it looks. With his little hip-width ratio distributing weight equally between both legs, gravity’s pull is what keeps Crackers in position while he rides on the vehicle in motion. It’s all science. Newton’s law of motion describes movement of matter which contributes to maneuverings and the ability to stay atop something without falling, not to mention the fact that Crackers is always securely tethered down.

Most people are delighted to watch Crackers surf the streets of Fillmore. With approximately 300 million olfactory receptors in his nose, he can catch all the smells in the air, and he enjoys the feel of being outdoors with the wind running through his fur, and clocking miles without having to actually run them.

The Scottish believe that if a stray dog follows you or enters your home, it is a sign of new friendship to come, one that will be faithful, sincere, and caring. This is what Crackers has been to the Andersens and what the Andersens have been to Crackers. He shares the Andersen’s home with Sophie, a rather large 35-pound Yorkie mix. Together they patrol the property, but Crackers has proven to be more of a guard dog so Dave promoted him as director of security.

Dave, a longtime farmer originally from Monterey, first moved to Los Angeles where he met his wife. After his son was born, the Andersens relocated to Fillmore in 1998 because of its wide-open space, country-feel, country-hospitality, and friendly people. It was the perfect place to raise a child and build a business in agriculture marketing, buying and selling fruits and vegetables from the farm to buyers around the country.

Fillmore has been a wonderful place for the Andersens to settle and call home, and Crackers couldn’t have picked a better house to choose for his new forever home.

By Jan Lee

“Farie Tales and Flowers” is the 2022 theme for the Fillmore Flower Show. It will be held at the Active Adult Center at 533 Santa Clara Street in Fillmore. If you want to enter single stem flowers, arrangement, bouquet, potted plant or dish garden, bring it to the Adult Center Saturday morning, April 9th, between the hours 7:30a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Judging begins at 10a.m. so don’t be late! It costs only $5 for unlimited entries. All youth entries are FREE. If you want to come to see all the lovely entries, viewing hours are 1:00p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday afternoon.

During the viewing hours, there will be live music. The plant sale will also be open during the afternoon hours. In addition, there will again be the cafe with coffee and sweets. For children there will be a table where they can plant something to take home. Viewing is free. Don’t miss the Fillmore Flower show. Even if you stop by for a few minutes on you way from a game, on your way to the store or on your way home from church, you will be glad you came.

For those of you thinking about entering something in the flower show, the following are comments from the judges you may find helpful:
• rose blooms, when looking from the top, should be perfectly round holding their point triangular in shape (the point is the very center of the bloom)
• some buds were too tight, should be open some
• blooms should be fresh, not wilted
• roses need to be de-budded (remove buds that are not the main flower)
• single stem flower should have a leaf
• check entries for bugs!
• in arrangements, blooms shouldn’t touch each other, filler can touch blooms
• bouquets and arrangements should be proportionate to container

Join the fun. Come to the Fillmore Flower Show April 9th and 10th.

The Alumni Dinner
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CALLING ALL FILLMORE HIGH ALUMNI!! The applications are in. The grading and scoring starts next week. Come on out to this year's Alumni Dinner Event on SATURDAY JUNE 11TH, 2022, and meet our 2022 Alumni Scholars. The FHS Alumni Association has awarded out thousands of dollars to Graduating Seniors for decades. This year will be no different. We hope you make plans to come to this year's Dinner and welcome this years recipients to our Alumni Family. In the past recent years, the Alumni Association has served well over 600 Alumni annually and their guests, and expect to do the same this year. The Award winning Caterer, DJ's California Catering (Ventura) will be serving up their delicious dinner along with their special hors d'oeuvres (for the early arrivals). Included with dinner is Coffee, Tea, and Water. Also included this year is a live Band, and two DJ's for your dancing and listening pleasure. Your paid dinner reservation guarantees your entry to the event. Social hour starts at 3:00pm, and Dinner starts at 6:00pm. Dancing and listening to music starts at 7:30pm. THIS EVENT TENDS TO SELL OUT so we encourage you to confirm your reservations online by going to www.fillmorehighalumni.com/events

Adrian Beserra, 18, Piru, Ca.

[At press time, according to Sergeant Hollowell of the Ventura County Sheriff ’s Department, “Charges remain subject to reinvestigation.”]

An 18-year-old Piru resident was arrested for attempting to rob an elderly victim.

On March 12, 2022, at approximately 9:30 pm, deputies responded to a 911 call of an attempted carjacking in the Piru area. An elderly resident reported to have been battered by a known suspect who entered his home and attempted to steal his vehicle. The suspect was unsuccessful at stealing the vehicle and fled the area on foot prior to police arriving.

Members of the Fillmore Detective Bureau, Sheriff’s Major Crimes Bureau, and Sheriff’s Gang Unit responded and took over the investigation. The suspect was positively identified as a Piru resident named Adrian Beserra.

On March 13, 2022, at about 1:30 pm detectives located and arrested Beserra in the Piru area. Beserra was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail for violations of Attempted Robbery, Burglary, Elder Abuse, and Conspiracy to commit a crime. Beserra remains in custody with his bail set at $105,000. His court date is set for 03/15/2022.

Anyone with information pertaining to this crime or any other crimes are urged to contact the Fillmore Police Department at (805) 524-2233 or the below-listed detective. The reporting party may remain anonymous.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has established a secure database to log information about who has security systems. If you would like to register your system and allow authorities to contact you, should a crime occur in/or near where your cameras are installed we ask that you email the Fillmore Police Department at fillmorePD.CameraShare@ventura.org.

Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

Community: News Story - Suspect Arrested for Attempted Robbery, Burglary, and Elder Abuse
Nature of Incident: Suspect Arrested for Attempted Robbery, Burglary, and Elder Abuse
Report Number: RB# 22-32545
Location: Highway 126 @ Main Street, Piru
Date & Time: March 14, 2022 @ 4:30 PM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Detective Bureau, Fillmore Patrol Services, Sheriff’s Gang Unit, Sheriff’s Major Crimes
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(A) Adrian Beserra, 18, Piru, Ca.
Prepared by: Detective John Lemar
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian, Fillmore Police Chief

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 this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

Ventura County Sheriff’s Office leads the effort to collect supplies to provide humanitarian aid to the citizens of Ukraine.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with the Ventura County Fire Department is assembling a surplus of ballistic vest, helmets, and medical supplies that have reached their recommended life span. Although the collected items can no longer be used by the agencies, they will provide a layer of protection to those providing medical care to the citizens of Ukraine.

“Our hope for this equipment, which has helped to keep first responders safe right here in our own community, is that it will help to save lives in the struggle for Ukraine’s future,” said Sheriff Bill Ayub.

The items will be collected countywide and shipped to Ukraine where they will be distributed.

Prepared by: Sergeant Timothy Lohman

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

A 36-year-old Fillmore resident was arrested for stealing several security cameras that belong to the city of Fillmore causing thousands of dollars in damage.

On February 23, 2022, a deputy noticed several city-owned security cameras were missing from an area near the high school. Detectives began an investigation which revealed the cameras had been stolen in the middle of the night. Detectives were able to positively identify the suspect responsible for this crime as a Fillmore resident named Isaac Halcon.

On March 10, 2022, detectives located and arrested Halcon for this crime. Fillmore Detectives along with members assigned to the Sheriff’s Gang Unit served a residential search warrant at Halcon’s residence in an attempt to recover the cameras. The cameras were not found however, a stolen Harley Davidson motorcycle was recovered in the garage of Halcon’s residence.

Halcon was booked at the Ventura County Main Jail for the crimes of vandalism, grand theft, and being in possession of a stolen vehicle. His bail was set at $30,000. Halcon has since posted bail with a court date of March 28, 2022.
Anyone with information pertaining to this crime or any other crimes are urged to contact The Fillmore Police Department at (805) 524-2233 or the below listed detective. The reporting party may remain anonymous.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office has established a secure database to log information about who has security cameras. If you would like to register your information and allow authorities to contact you, should a crime occur in/or near where your cameras are installed we ask that you email the Fillmore Police Department at fillmorePD.CameraShare@ventura.org.

Join us in the fight on crime by following us on Twitter @fillmoresheriff, Facebook, Instagram @VCSHERIFF, and with Nixle by texting your zip code to 888777 to receive local law enforcement and public safety alerts and advisories.

Nature of Incident: Suspect Arrested for Vandalism and Grand Theft
Report Number: RB# 22-25001
Location: 900 Block of Hinkley Lane / Fillmore
Date & Time: March 10, 2022 @ 8:40 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Detective Bureau and Sheriff’s Gang Unit
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Isaac Halcon, 36, Fillmore, Ca.
Prepared by: Detective Frank Valdez
Approved by: Captain Garo Kuredjian, Fillmore Police Chief

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 this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).