S.P. Police Department: Couple arrested following brandishing of replica gun, carjack attempt

    September 09, 2011
    By Peggy Kelly
    Santa Paula Police Department

    A man who allegedly brandished a replica gun that he later used to strike a motorist whose car he demanded was arrested on a variety of charges on Labor Day, according to a Santa Paula Police spokesman.

    Sgt. Ryan Smith said the incident occurred Monday, September 5 at approximately 5:13 p.m. 

    Uniformed police officers responded to a report of a man with a gun and possible armed robbery in progress in the area of the 300 block of Sycamore Street. Officers found a male resident was allegedly threatened by the suspect and ran inside his house to escape the gunman and protect his family.

    “When the subject was outside waving his gun,” the resident had his five children go into another room and lay down on the floor. “Obviously,” said Smith, “it was very traumatic for the children.”

    Meanwhile outside the residence a vehicle arrived in the area and the suspect demanded the car. “The driver wouldn’t give it to him and the suspect hit him in the head with the gun.”

    Officers arriving in the area had observed the suspect driving a vehicle and followed it to the area of Santa Paula Street and Ojai Road, where a “High Risk” stop was conducted. The driver and a female passenger were detained and identified as Jaime Aguiniga, 34, a resident of Santa Paula, and passenger Gladis Ambriz, 23, Oxnard.

    Located in the vehicle was a replica semi-automatic pistol and a “substantial quantity of methamphetamine.” Smith said, “Further investigation revealed Aguiniga committed multiple crimes.”

    He was arrested for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a replica firearm, child endangerment, attempted carjacking, criminal threats, and possession and transportation of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales. Ambriz was arrested for tampering with evidence, and being an accessory to Aguiniga’s crimes. Both subjects were lodged at the Ventura County Jail. 

    Smith said the incident is still under investigation, and “Anyone who witnessed this incident is encouraged to contact the Santa Paula Police Department,” at (805) 525-4474.





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