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Female Sexually Assaulted Near Santa Paula
KVTA News Monday May 20, 2013
A female was sexually assaulted near Santa Paula Monday morning. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department says that around 9 AM a female was walking alone along Santa Paula Street near Peck Road in the unincorporated area just west of Santa Paula. Deputies say a male suspect confronted her, displayed a knife, and forced her into a nearby orchard. The suspect then sexually assaulted the female. He was last seen running westbound on Santa Paula Road towards Briggs Road. Deputies say the victim sustained minor physical injuries but did not require medical aid. The suspect was described as a white male, 20-30 years of age, about 5'7" tall with a medium build. He was wearing dark clothing, including a hooded sweatshirt. In February, there was a similar incident in the same area. At that time, the suspect was described as a Hispanic male, about 35 to 45 years old with a large belly. At this point, detectives say they've not ruled out that the two incidents might be related. Residents of the area are being cautioned to beware of suspicious subjects. Anyone with information about the assaults or possible suspects is urged to call Detective Matt Delahuerta at (805) 384-4740. If it's an emergency, always call 9-1-1. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for any information that leads to an arrest and charges being filed in this case. Their number is 1-800-222-8477.
Oxnard Trio Gets Prison For Ponzi Scheme
KVTA News Monday May 20, 2013
Three Oxnard residents were sentenced today to federal prison for their roles in an investment scheme that the US Attorney's Office says bilked nearly 800 investors nationwide out of $27 million. Two brothers, 65-year-old Alan Flesher and 62-year-old Wayne Flesher, and 65-year-old Nancy Carol Khalial, ran Oxnard companies Unlimited Cash Inc. (UCI) and Douglas Network Enterprises Inc. (DNC). Federal prosecutors say it was a Ponzi scheme to get people to invest in a device known as Ad Toppers which was supposed to generate revenue by selling advertisements to top brand name companies that would run on top of ATM's and vending machines. Prosecutors maintain the trio used most of the $41 million they raised from investors to pay their own expenses, plus salaries and sales commissions to make it look as if they had a legitimate company making money for investors. Prosecutors say some of the money also went to some investors to make it look as if they were making money on their investment when in fact most of the Ad Toppers that were supposed to be purchased with the investors' money were never bought or placed in businesses. All three defendants pleaded guilty last July to 17 counts of mail fraud and admitted the companies were nothing more than a Ponzi scheme. Alan Flesher was sentenced Monday to 210 months in federal prison. His brother Wayne received 72 months, and Khalial was sentenced to 48 months. They were also ordered to pay more than $27 million in restitution.
Ojai Man Dies In Motorcycle Crash
KVTA News Monday May 20, 2013
A Ventura County man died in a motorcycle crash in Santa Barbara County Sunday. It happened shortly before 6 PM in the area of El Bosque Road and East Valley Road (192) in Montecito. The motorcycle collided with a car. The motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene. He was a 57-year-old man from the Ojai Valley. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department said Monday they were not ready to release the man's name yet. The CHP, which is investigating the crash, says alcohol does not appear to be a factor. They say their investigation is continuing.
Two Injured In 101 Crash In Ventura
KVTA News Sunday May 19, 2013
(Photo courtesy Ventura City Fire Department)
Two people were injured Sunday night when their vehicle flipped over on the southbound 101 in Ventura. The crash was reported around 8:45 PM on the freeway between Highway 33 and California Street. The vehicle rolled over but ultimately ended up back on its wheels up against the guardrail. Two people were injured including an adult female passenger who was extricated from the vehicle by Ventura City firefighters. Both individuals were taken to VCMC, their conditions unknown. The CHP was investigating the crash. The right lane of the freeway was partially blocked during the incident.
Man's Anger Over Vehicle Being Towed Lands Him In Jail
KVTA News Sunday May 19, 2013
Ventura police say a man was arrested Saturday night for vandalism and making terrorist threats because he was angry his vehicle was towed from the beach parking structure. Shortly before 10 PM Saturday night, the parking lot attendant at the structure on Harbor Boulevard called police to report that a man who was angry over his vehicle being towed from the structure had struck the parking kiosk window with his fist, causing damage. She also told police the man had said he was coming back to shoot her. The suspect then fled the scene. She provided the license plate number of the vehicle in which he left and police tracked it down to the 1800 block of Topaz Avenue. They identified the suspect as 52-year-old Tracy Blackwell of Ventura. Blackwell's family members told officers that he was very angry and might have a gun. The family members convinced Blackwell to surrender peacefully, and he did. No one was hurt. Police say they seized as evidence several firearms and ammunition found in the residence.
Simi PD Arrests Five Transients
KVTA News Sunday May 19, 2013
(Photo courtesy SVPD)
Simi Valley police arrested five transients Sunday morning during the investigation of their encampment in the area of East Street and Chain Drive. One of the officers had prior contacts with all five individuals and knew they were on probation and were subject to search terms. During their investigation of the camp and those five individuals, two men and three women, police found illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia, burglary tools and several realistic looking replica firearms.
Two Injured In Gang Related Fight
KVTA News Sunday May 19, 2013
Simi Valley police are investigating what they believe was a gang related incident that left one person stabbed and another injured by a baseball bat. It happened Saturday afternoon around 4 PM in the Arroyo Wash north of Rancho Simi Park at 1765 Royal Avenue. Police say a citizen told them that several subjects were in the wash and it appeared they were getting ready to fight. Police say they arrived on scene in less than two minutes to catch and arrest a juvenile suspect who was assaulting another juvenile with a baseball bat. Police say while taking that suspect into custody, they found a second victim who had been stabbed. The stabbing victim was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The victim who was injured by the baseball bat was treated for minor injuries and released to a parent.
Driver Arrested After High Speed Pursuit
KVTA News Sunday May 19, 2013
An Oxnard man was arrested early Sunday morning after allegedly leading Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies on a high speed chase down the 101 into the city of Ventura. Ventura police say it happened around 1:30 AM Sunday. The pursuit on the 101 involved three suspects in a Jeep that was traveling at more than 100 miles per hour. The Jeep got off the freeway in west Ventura where the suspects threw a gun out the window in the 500 block of Cedar Street. Police recovered the gun as the chase continued into downtown Ventura. SB sheriff's terminated the pursuit in the 100 block of Kalorama where the suspects jumped out of the Jeep and ran. The Jeep kept going and hit a parked car. Ventura police, with the help of deputies, set up a perimeter and searched for the three suspects. Police searched several locations that were called in by residents. At one, in the 800 block of Poli, police found 23-year-old Edward Salvador of Oxnard hiding in a detached garage. Salvador, who is believed to have been the driver of the Jeep, was taken into custody, but not before he struggled with officers, so much so, they deployed the K-9 to subdue him. The search for the other two suspects continued for another 90 minutes but was ultimately called off when they could not find those two other men and the calls from residents ended.
Arrest In Rash Of Oxnard Vehicle Burglaries
KVTA News Saturday May 18, 2013
Oxnard police say they've arrested a Santa Paula man who is on early release from prison in connection with a rash of thefts from vehicles in one of their neighborhoods where they've had a lot of that type of crime recently. They say that Oxnard patrol Officer Jonathan Martin spotted 46-year-old William Warden Carroll of Santa Paula hiding among some parked cars around 4:30 AM Saturday morning in the area of Azalea and Mariposa streets. Police say Officer Martin found Carroll is possession of a large amount of stolen property including credit cards, electronics, and other personal items. Police say they determined that Carroll had stolen the items from several unlocked vehicles in the area. Carroll was arrested for petty theft with priors, possession of stolen property, being under the influence of drugs, and being in violation of his release under what's known as the PRO's program. That's the program where certain offenders are released from prison early under the provisions of Assembly Bill 109.
Ventura DUI/DL Checkpoint
KVTA News Saturday May 18, 2013
Ventura police conducted a sobriety/driver's license checkpoint Friday night and early Saturday morning and while they did not make any arrests for DUI, they did arrest one person for felony possession of Ecstasy. The checkpoint was located on Thompson Boulevard between Laurel and Ann streets. It ran from 9 PM to 2:15 AM. A dozen citations were handed out for driving without a license. Three citations were issued for driving on a suspended license. Five drivers were cited for having an open container of alcohol in a vehicle. Two drivers received citations for violating their provisional license restrictions, and four vehicles were impounded.
Panga Boat Found In Santa Barbara County
KVTA News Friday May 17, 2013
(Photo courtesy Santa Barbara County Sheriff)
Santa Barbara County sheriff's deputies say a resident discovered another abandoned Panga boat on Arroyo Quemada Beach, north of Refugio State Beach Friday morning. Deputies and other law enforcement personnel responded and found the 35-foot craft on the sand with clothing, fuel containers, and other miscellaneous items nearby. While no marijuana was found, plastic packaging used in its smuggling was found near the boat and up the path to the roadway. The area around the boat was searched on the ground, in the ocean, and from the air, but no suspects or drugs were found. This is the second time a Panga boat was found in that area in recent months. The last time, on March 17th, more than a ton of baled marijuana was found in the bushes near the roadway. The coast along Ventura and Santa Barbara counties has become a frequent landing point for human and drug smugglers, usually using Panga boats.
Arrest Made In Thousand Oaks OD Case
KVTA News Friday May 17, 2013
Snap, crackle, a Thousand Oaks teen got popped this week by police for allegedly providing rice crispy-like treats, possibly laced with marijuana, to two teenagers who overdosed. On May 10th, deputies were called to Los Cerritos Street to a report of two minors who had overdosed. They found the juveniles very lethargic and hallucinating. They were taken to Los Robles Medical Center for immediate treatment. Narcotics detectives were able to determine where the juveniles had obtained the treats. The detectives gathered enough information and evidence to obtain a search warrant for the residence of a 17-year-old who lives in the 800 block of Tamlei Street in Thousand Oaks. They served that warrant Thursday afternoon. Deputies say they found evidence of the substance used to lace the treats and the cooking implements used to make them. Detectives say the suspect, whose name was not released because of his age, was located elsewhere, arrested, and booked into juvenile hall on drug sales and child endangerment charges. Detectives maintain that marijuana can be a powerful and addictive drug with debilitating effects. They are concerned that its use by juveniles appears to be on the increase. Detectives say it's important for parents who suspect their children are using marijuana to address the issue and if they have questions they should call their local authorities.
Arrest Made In Oxnard Shootings
KVTA News Friday May 17, 2013
(Photo courtesy OPD)
Oxnard police say they've made an arrest in connection with a double shooting last month in the 600 block of Devonshire Drive that left a young man and a young woman wounded. Police say following a month long investigation they arrested 19-year-old Ruben Anthony Hernandez of Ventura. His is charged with attempted murder with a special enhancement that the shootings were gang motivated. He was booked into the Ventura County Jail Thursday with bail set at $2 million. He is due in court Monday. Police say the shootings happened on April 22 shortly before 8 PM. They say an 18-year-old female and a 19-year-old male were walking in area of Devonshire and F Street when they were confronted by 3-4 Hispanic males. Police say words were exchanged between the two groups and one of the suspects pulled out a gun and started shooting. The female victim was found on Devonshire with what police described as a minor bullet wound to her back. The male victim was found a block away suffering from gunshot wounds. Both victims were taken to local hospitals where they were treated for what were described as non life threatening wounds. Police say there were two other victims, both teenage males, who were not struck by gunfire. Police are still looking for at least two other suspects.
Disturbance Leads To School Lockdown In Oxnard
KVTA News Friday May 17, 2013
KVTA News Friday May 17, 2013
