Search warrants served in Santa Paula and Ventura related to earlier arrests
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: February 06, 2013
The man behind the wheel of a car containing two Santa Paula men arrested earlier this month wound up in jail himself, and evidence was found that established the gang membership of his passengers after a series of search warrants were served last week.
Santa Paula Police detectives, Ventura Police Patrol officers and detectives as well as SWAT teams from Ventura Police and Oxnard Police carried out search warrant operations starting at 6 a.m. January 31 in the 9500 block of El Cajon in Ventura and two addresses in Santa Paula, in the 200 block of Beckwith Drive and the 100 block of East Ventura Street.
The action was related to a routine traffic stop January 25 that led to the arrest of Julian Nunez, 19, and 22-year-old Omar Ruiz. Nunez was allegedly found to be in possession of a loaded firearm and Ruiz was arrested for a suspected parole violation and street terrorism. Both were booked at Ventura County Jail. No other firearms or weapons were located.
Ventura Police Detectives conducted further investigation of the incident, and as a result a search warrant was obtained for two residences in Santa Paula and the one residence in Ventura.
Although Anthony Hernandez, 27, of Ventura, the driver of the vehicle was not arrested during the January 25 incident, he was taken into custody by the SWAT team at the El Cajon address during the January 31 warrant search. Hernandez was arrested for suspicion of possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a high capacity magazine and ammunition by a felon, possession of body armor by a felon, possession of a controlled substance for sale, and street terrorism.
Police stated the search of the two Santa Paula residences resulted in evidence establishing that Ruiz and Nunez can be documented as gang members.
Hernandez was transported to Ventura County Jail, where Nunez and Ruiz remain.
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