VCSD helicopter joined in Saturday
search for despondent S. Paula man
December 31, 2014
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A Santa Paula man was arrested the day after SPPD Officers, fearing for his safety following an alleged domestic dispute Saturday, called in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department to search the riverbed.
Although the unidentified man was not found, he was taken into custody the next day.
According to Commander Ish Cordero, the incident occurred December 27 when SPPD officers responded to an airplane hangar on East Santa Maria Street, in a complex west of Santa Paula Airport, to a report of a domestic dispute.
“When our officers got there the male subject was gone but supposedly was armed,” said Cordero.
And, he added, “There was concern he had run into the river bottom and would do himself some harm... “
Sgt. Cody Madison said the incident involving the man, in his late 30s, and spouse, was reported Saturday at 3:52 p.m.
Officers first responded to the hangar where the incident was reported suspecting the man was still inside.
“We called him out but it turned out he was not inside the hangar,” and since it had become dark the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department helicopter was called out to search the Santa Clara River bed where it was believed the man had fled.
“Evidently, he was despondent, suicidal so that’s why we responded the way we did,” said Madison.
The man was located Sunday - “He might have called himself in” said Madison - and arrested by Santa Paula Police without further incident for suspicion of domestic violence at about 2:40 p.m.
