SPPD Officer Hector Ramirez said the searches had been in the “works for months,” including coordination with other law enforcement agencies, and now “we start planning the next one.” Spencer noted that the SPPD has been conducting regular probation searches since 2005, and “this is our thirteenth or fourteenth one.”Many such actions, said Ramirez, have targeted the Weed and Seed area of the city. “Obviously we include the entire city, but we do gear towards Weed and Seed,” Spencer noted.The Santa Barbara, Port Hueneme and Ventura Police departments, Ventura County District Attorney’s Investigations Unit, Ventura County Probation Department, Department of Homeland Security, Ventura County Parole Department, John Paul Getty Museum K-9 Unit, Guadalupe Police Department and the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department also took part in the searches. “We’ve worked with a lot of these officers and personnel before... they keep coming back,” said Spencer.SPPD Reserves were valued members of the team: “They really came through,” participating in numerous facets of the operation - from booking to sampling to transporting suspects. “Step by step they did it all... I was extremely impressed,” said Spencer.Overall, he added, “I really think these actions have an impact and really encourage people to stay on the straight and narrow. Like Chief (Steve) MacKinnon said last time: it’s a privilege to be on parole or probation” that should not be abused. “The only other thing they can do is ask the judge to max them out” during sentencing to avoid law enforcement follow-up after release.Spencer added that, like others before it, “This operation was extremely successful and sends a strong message to criminals within Santa Paula: the SPPD will not tolerate these subjects committing crimes and/or violating the terms and conditions of their probation or parole. This is a great example of city, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies working together to combat gang and narcotic related crimes within the County of Ventura.”“It’s just an ongoing effort we have done a number of times in the past,” to send a “consistent message that our expectation for those on probation or parole” is to adhere to the law, said Chief MacKinnon. “If they don’t follow the rules we’ll be there, happy to knock on their doors at 6 a.m.”
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Multiple agencies were involved in probation searches on Monday where 17 people were cited for various violations. The probation sweep also allowed various agencies training for drug recognition. Above a Ventura County Sheriff Officer processes one detainee as California Highway Patrol officers watch other detainees waiting for processing. (Photo by Don Johnson) |
17 cited by Santa Paula Police Department
June 06, 2008
Santa Paula Police Department
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula TimesSeventeen people were arrested June 2 in what a Santa Paula Police Department spokesman called just the latest of ongoing probation/parole search actions. Monday’s citywide operation included more than 60 officers and support personnel from various agencies, said SPPD Senior Officer Paul Spencer.Spencer noted the action targeted “gang members and narcotic offenders to ensure they are in compliance with the terms and conditions of their probation or parole.... We broke our record,” with 17 arrests resulting from the 40 houses targeted by 61 members of various law enforcement and support agencies that teamed up for the searches.Arrested were Pascual Escoto, 33, John Rochelle, 20, Maria Montiel, 43, Mayra Montiel, 18, Armando Garcia, 24, Donovan Bustillos, 35, Anthony Nevarez, 21, Rene Vasquez Jr., 20, Daniel Alaniz, 54, Moises Alaniz, 58, Robert Alaniz, 52, Cornelio Perez Jr., 23, and Miguel Reyes, 27, all residents of Santa Paula. Two juvenile males - one 16 and the other 17 - were also arrested.All were arrested for various charges including possession of dangerous weapons, possession of narcotic paraphernalia, resisting arrest, probation violations, and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Additionally, one subject who was found to be in the United States illegally was detained by the United States Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) and is awaiting deportation. “ICE is looking for several more” who were not at home, said Spencer.The arrests were largely without incident, except for one suspect who “fled on foot” but was captured after a brief chase. One woman is facing a felony weapons charge for possession of a cane like a “pruning shear with a hook, considered a dirk or a dagger.” Several residences also drew the attention of the Building and Safety Department for illegal living conditions such as garage conversions.All of the subjects - who were initially transported to the Depot for processing - were found to be under the influence of a controlled substance. In addition, a “Drug Recognition Expert” (DRE) certification site was established to certify California Highway Patrol officers and Ventura County Sheriff deputies as DREs, “court-recognized experts of persons under the influence of narcotics... this was the 12th successful certification site organized by the SPPD and CHP,” said Spencer.Of the approximately 20 DREs within Ventura County, SPPD has four of the certified officers. CHP Sergeant M. V. Shaw noted that DRE training encompasses a two-week class and one-week certification process overseen by the CHP, the state’s lead DRE agency.“This is the real meat and potatoes portion” of training, said Shaw, who noted, “It’s rare that someone uses one kind of drug... usually it’s two or three.”
