Latest news with #VenturaCountySheriff'sDepartment
Los Angeles Times
06-07-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Video: Rescuers hoist hiker from narrow canyon in notoriously dangerous Punch Bowls area
Ventura County emergency crews had to rescue a hiker who suffered a 'traumatic injury' Saturday in a stretch of the Santa Paula Canyon infamous for luring teens to take risky leaps, sometimes with fatal consequences. The victim, who was not identified, was injured in the popular Punch Bowls area roughly 10 miles west of Ojai and had to be hoisted more than 200 feet by helicopter and taken to a local hospital, authorities said. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department did not specify how the person was hurt or describe the extent of their injuries. But the Punch Bowls have long been known as an area for adventurous hikers to leap into the cool waters of the Santa Paula Creek. Although the dive can be exhilarating, Sheriff's Department officials said they respond to dozens of reports of injuries at the Punch Bowls each year, including broken bones, skull fractures and near drownings. Occasionally, those injuries prove fatal. 'The Ventura County Aviation Unit encourages the exploration of our beautiful back country, but would like to remind every one of the potential risks for injuries in these remote areas and the extreme difficulty of these rescues,' the Sheriff's Department said in an Instagram post.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man arrested after selling gun used by minor to take own life: VCSO
An 18-year-old Simi Valley man has been arrested and charged after allegedly selling a firearm to a minor who then used it to take their own life earlier this year. Gun Violence Reduction Program detectives arrested Michael Paz on May 23 in the city of Thousand Oaks following an investigation into the January death of the juvenile, the Ventura County Sheriff's Department stated in a news release on Wednesday. On that day in January, 'Thousand Oaks Patrol deputies responded to the unincorporated area of Thousand Oaks for a report of a suicidal subject,' the news release states. The unidentified juvenile was found with a single gunshot wound and later pronounced deceased at Los Robles Medical Center. 'Through various investigative techniques, detectives obtained evidence identifying Michael Paz as the suspect who sold the firearm to the juvenile,' the Sheriff's Department stated. Following his arrest, the Ventura County District Attorney's Office filed charges against Paz, including unlawful transfer of a firearm, child endangerment, and selling, loaning or transferring a firearm to a Minor. If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health or thoughts of suicide, please seek immediate professional help by calling the nationwide mental health crisis hotline by dialing 9-8-8 on your phone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
4 linked to California-based cargo theft ring tied to Mexico arrested
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. - Several suspects have been arrested in connection with the theft of more than $1.5 million in cargo from various locations across Southern California, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. Investigators believe the suspects are linked to thefts utilizing "fence" locations to store stolen cargo before being transported to Tijuana, Mexico. What we know Between December 2024 and January 2025, a Southern California-based cargo theft crew targeted Camarillo, resulting in over $500,000 in property loss. An investigation revealed the theft crew used stolen vehicles to navigate Camarillo and targeted semi-trucks to steal large trailers filled with retail property. The stolen goods were transported to "fence" locations, with final destinations in Tijuana, Mexico. The investigation led to the recovery of stolen cargo valued at approximately $1.5 million. Victims of the cargo thefts include East Coast-based company E-Lo Sportswear, Amazon, Craftsman, Samsung, TJ Maxx, and Converse. The suspects arrested are identified as Victor Alvarez, Brenda Alvarez, Mauricio Heriberto Gachicoa, and Otto Javier Rivas. They were booked on charges of auto theft, cargo theft, and conspiracy. Each is being held on $250,000 bail. Arrest warrants have been issued for Jose Antonio Hurtado-Bernal and Luis Rivera. What's next The investigation remains active. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of related cargo theft is encouraged to contact Detective Ledesma or Detective Song at 805-388-5115. The Source Information for this story is from a press release published by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department on May 12, 2025.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Theft suspect killed in crash on 210 Freeway following police pursuit that reached 115 mph
A high-speed police pursuit on the 210 Freeway in Los Angeles County ended in a violent collision that killed the suspect. A California Highway Patrol official confirmed that the suspect was pronounced dead at 11:18 a.m. on Friday by L.A. County Fire officials who responded to the crash. The driver was the only one in the car, and no one else was injured in the crash, a CHP official said. The pursuit began in Camarillo with officers from the Ventura County Sheriff's Department and continued through Thousand Oaks and into Simi Valley, where CHP officers took over. Read more: Police pursuit ends dramatically with SWAT team and armored vehicles on home's front lawn The incident began when officers responded to a call about a grand theft in a large department store in Camarillo at around 10 a.m., according to Sgt. Monica Smith of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. Responding officers then identified a vehicle they believed to be involved in the theft and attempted to make a traffic stop. The pursuit began shortly after the suspect refused to pull over for officers. The suspect was driving at speeds higher than 115 mph, according to helicopter footage from KTLA. The crash took place eastbound on the 210 Freeway, just west of State Route 2. The driver plowed into the back of a truck, with the front driver side of the car making a hard impact with the rear passenger side of the truck. Parts of the front and side of the suspect's vehicle were torn off of the car. CHP officers attempted to treat the suspect before L.A. County Fire officials responded and declared the driver dead. Officials from both CHP and the Ventura County Sheriff's Department did not provide any additional details about the suspect. Traffic was closed Friday along the 210 Freeway near the crash scene. One lane of traffic was opened Friday afternoon, but three lanes on the eastbound side remained closed. The transition road from the 210 to the 2 also had three lanes of traffic closed for an unknown duration, CHP officials said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
CBS News
01-04-2025
- CBS News
One dead after Metrolink train collides with car in Camarillo
One person was killed when a Metrolink train collided with a car in Camarillo on Monday afternoon. It happened a little after 2 p.m. near Las Posas Road and Fifth Street, according to the Ventura County Sheriff's Department. "Preliminary investigation determined that a white Lincoln MKC was traveling southbound on Las Posas Road and had stopped for a red traffic signal at Fifth Street," said a press release from California Highway Patrol investigators. "While stopped, the vehicle came to rest on the train tracks." As the train neared the car, the railroad crossing arms activated, police said. "The train was unable to stop in time and collided with the white Lincoln, which was positioned just north of the intersection," the release noted. The impact of the crash pushed the car dozens of feet, where it came to a rest east of the intersection. The train continued eastbound until it came to a stop about a quarter mile from where the crash occurred. The driver of the Lincoln was declared dead at the scene. He has not yet been identified. "The train was carrying five passengers and three crew members, none of whom sustained injuries," said a post on X from VCSD. Anyone who knows more about the incident is asked to contact CHP detectives at (805) 662-2640.
